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SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF AVILA BEACH, LOS OSOS, MORRO BAY, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO

COMMUNITY UPDATE - SUMMER 2018

Layout and Production by staff of SLCUSD Superintendent’s Office

2018 California Distinguished Schools and

Exemplary Districts State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Tom Torlakson recently announced Del Mar

and Teach Elementary Schools were among

the 287 elementary schools statewide being

honored under the Distinguished Schools

Program.

“These schools implement outstanding

educational programs and practices that help

California students realize their potential, and

put them on the path to achieve their

dreams,” Torlakson said.

San Luis Coastal Unified was also recognized as

a California Exemplary District Awardee for 2018. Only 23 districts statewide received this level of distinction. The award goes to districts that have demonstrated both a Positive Culture and Climate, as

well as Exceptional Strides in Student Achievement. Information regarding these awards can be found here.

WHAT’S INSIDE… President’s Message

Letter from Dr. Prater

Blue Ribbon Committee Report

Blue Ribbon Committee Outreach Forums

Measure D Update—Under Construction

New High School Leadership

CL Smith and Pacheco New Leaders

Teachers of the Year

Employees of the Year

Summer Meal Program

Food Services Receives Grant

Adult Success: In the Classroom & Beyond

Elementary Summer School

Summer Camps

Representing Del Mar Elementary, L-R: Walt Millar, Amy Shields,

Ellen Sheffer, Mary Harper, Jenny Appell, Tom Torlakson, Janet

Gould, Patricia Michniuk, Asher Weitzen, Kathryn Eisendrath-

Rogers, Eric Prater

Representing Teach Elementary, L-R: Walt Millar, Amy Shields,

Robyn Friedman-O’Leary, Guy Crabb, Janet Crabb, Tom

Torlakson, Darla Batistic, Angie Whitaker, Shawna Robson, Eric

Prater, Ellen Sheffer, Kathryn Eisendrath-Rogers

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SAN LUIS COASTAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month, subject to adjustments for holidays

or special circumstances. The public is always welcome to attend and provide input.

President’s Message What are the ingredients for a great school district? First, it takes an intentional plan for

student achievement with data-driven goals, supported by a balanced budget. Then, a great

school district must have outstanding teachers, support staff, administrators, facilities,

curriculum, and professional development. Finally, it must have the strong and ongoing

support of its community. I’m proud to say that San Luis Coastal has a good measure of

each of these ingredients, and because of this, I am convinced we are a great school district.

This year, Los Osos Middle School was one of twenty-two newly designated middle schools in the state to

be named as a prestigious “Schools to Watch.” To put this in perspective, only 3% of all California middle

schools receive this honor. Del Mar and Teach Elementary were the only two schools in our county to be

named by the California Department of Education as California Distinguished Schools. Monarch Grove was

named as an Honor Roll School by the Educational Results Partnership.

These are high honors, but it doesn’t stop there: San Luis Coastal was only one of 23 out of nearly 1000

state districts to receive recognition as a California District of Excellence. This is a tremendous honor that belongs to each and

every member of our school family and Central Coast communities.

But, the Diablo Canyon Power Plant will soon be closing. This

means an on-going annual revenue reduction of $8,000,000, nearly

10% of our entire budget. Our citizens’ Blue Ribbon Committee has

made a number of recommendations to help maintain the quality of

our schools as we weather this certain loss.

Working as a community, we will bring together all of the

ingredients necessary to continue San Luis Coastal’s legacy of

excellence. With this effort, we will give our students an

outstanding, equity-driven education.

District Priorities

INNOVATE High Quality Instruction and Support Technology Access and Innovation

GOVERN Transition from Diablo Closure

Measure D Projects Establish Education Foundation

Programmatic Alignment Pre K-12

EMBRACE LCAP Success Indicators

Accountability Achievement Common Ground Task Force

Mark

Buchman Walt

Millar

Jim

Quesenberry

Marilyn

Rodger

Ellen Sheffer,

Clerk

Chris Ungar,

President

Kathryn

Eisendrath-Rogers

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LETTER FROM DR. ERIC PRATER, SUPERINTENDENT The daily interactions between adults and students give me hope and inspiration. I am proud of our school

district and all the people who make our schools wonderful places for students.

Each morning I walk my dog, Finn, around the Sinsheimer Park property adjacent to San Luis Coastal’s

Corporation Yard and Bus Barn. During these early hours, I am able to witness the professionalism and

dedication of the Buildings, Grounds & Transportation staff who represent a portion of our district’s 1,000

employees. These hardworking people start their day long before a student steps foot on campus, doing

their part–often behind the scenes–to ensure the school sites and transportation vehicles are ready for our

kids. I’m grateful for their dedication to our district and the students they are called to serve.

Last week, I passed my son’s room and noticed a hand-written card

sitting on his desk. I couldn’t help myself and I read it. It was a

touching note of appreciation written by one of his teachers, Mr.

Greer. In it, he took the time to acknowledge something unique and

positive in one of his students - who just happened to be my kid. It was kind, thoughtful, and reflected his teaching soul. I know my son is

not the only one who receives these kind recognitions from our

teachers, and I wanted to express my gratitude for the excellent and

critical work they all do. Whether it’s through a well-timed note or a

high-five, our teachers play a key role in nurturing our students.

There were so many inspiring stories this year that really showcased the culture of San Luis Coastal. In

April, the “Today” show featured San Luis Obispo High School and its creative approach to reducing stress

in students. A C.L. Smith family’s efforts to raise money for Jack’s Helping Hand gained national attention—

and a visit from Kobe Bryant—on “The View” in May. Jack’s Helping Hand got another boost of support

through an Adult School program in collaboration with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Women’s

Honor Farm when 60 hand-sewn western-style vests were donated to the nonprofit. And at Bishop’s Peak,

a six-year-old first grader made headlines when she raised $2,700 selling hot cocoa and cookies to benefit

the family of firefighter Cory Iverson who lost his life fighting the Thomas Fire.

As you know, we are working closely with Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham and Senator Bill Monning to

support Senate Bill 1090. This bill, if passed, will provide much-needed revenue to San Luis Coastal in the

coming years and help mitigate the impact of the Diablo Canyon closure. Last week, SB 1090 passed through

the State Senate 31-4 and now awaits discussion in the State Assembly. Much will play out this summer,

including visits by our staff to the Governor’s office. I will keep you posted.

Thank you for making this a successful school year.

Have a safe and relaxing summer.

“We learned about gratitude and

humility—that so many people had

a hand in our success, from the

teachers who inspired us to the

janitors who kept our school

clean...and we were taught to value

everyone’s contribution and treat

everyone with respect.”

— Michelle Obama

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Blue Ribbon Committee Outreach Forums San Luis Coastal’s budget will be negatively impacted by the

closure of Diablo Canyon and by increases in STRS and PERs

contributions. In April and May, Dr. Prater hosted six

forums—three for staff and three for the entire community.

At those forums, Ryan Pinkerton, Assistant Superintendent of

Business Services, reviewed the district’s budget and outlined

the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Committee

Report.

To reach those unable to attend the forums, Mr. Pinkerton

recorded his presentation and shared it on social media, the

District’s website, and via email. After viewing the

presentation or attending the forums, staff and community

members were invited to participate in an online survey.

The survey results will be shared with the Board of Education and used to develop a plan to bridge the

budget gap The goal is to have a multi-year plan in place by the end of the 2018-19 school year.

SLCUSD CONTACT INFO:

www.slcusd.org

1500 Lizzie Street

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

805.549.1200

district@slcusd.org

Facebook.com/SLCUSD

@SLCUSD

Who Took the Survey?

A total of 296 people participated in

the Blue Ribbon Committee Report

Community Outreach Survey.

Certificated Staff: 90

Classified Staff: 70

Managers: 13

Community Members: 27

Parents with Enrolled Students: 96

The Blue Ribbon Committee presented their report at the December 12, 2017 Board meeting. In it, they

identified Revenue Enhancements and Cost Containment measures to help alleviate the impact of the loss

of tax revenue from the closure of Diablo Canyon.

Revenue Enhancements

Parcel Tax

Surplus Property

Interdistrict Attendance Fees

Foundation

Cost Containments

Attrition/Early Retirement

Class Size Increase

School Closure

Health Care Cap

Salary Reductions

There is not one means to solve the problem.

It will take a combination of revenue

enhancements and cost containment strategies

to balance the budget.

Blue Ribbon Committee Report

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Measure D Update—Under Construction

San Luis Obispo High School: New Math

Building—restrooms and 12 classrooms

San Luis Obispo High School:

New student support center

and performing arts space

Morro Bay High School: New S.T.E.A.M. Complex

with space for art, ceramics, electronic media,

engineering and robotics, and restrooms.

Morro Bay High School Track and Fields Project

includes a new synthetic track, field improvements

and ADA bleacher improvements.

WEBSITE

For more information

and to follow the

progress of all the

Measure D Projects,

visit the

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New High School Leadership From Rebel to Pirate

After Heather Contreras finishes her thirteenth year at

Fontana Unified School District where she taught English and

entered the administration world while building lasting

relationships, she will bring her experience to the Central

Coast. She says, “I am thrilled to be joining the San Luis

Coastal Unified School District team and working in unison

with all stakeholders for the good of our students! I move

onward from the life of a Rebel to become that of a Morro

Bay Pirate with much gratitude for what was and much

excitement for what will be!” Morro Bay High School

welcomes their new Assistant Principal.

Above Par

Jeff Cadwallader and his family are excited to

be relocating to the Central Coast this summer

as he takes a position as Assistant Principal for

Morro Bay High School. He has been in

education for twelve years as a high school

math teacher and a Dean of Students. When

not working hard at school, he can be found

hitting a round of golf, at a baseball game, or

coaching one of his three children as they

participate in their own sports. “I am very

excited to join the Morro Bay community.”

Earned Her Tiger Stripes

Jessica Miller has been with San Luis Coastal for eight years,

teaching 4th, 5th, and 6th grade and serving as an

instructional coach and intervention coordinator. She is

originally from the Los Angeles area and moved to San Luis

Obispo to attend Cal Poly where she received her

undergrad in Liberal Studies with minors in child

development and psychology and, later, her master’s degree

in Educational Leadership and Administration. In her free

time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, going to the

beach with her dog, and watching her husband play baseball.

“I am so excited to join the San Luis Obispo High School

team as Assistant Principal!”

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Personnel Department

For information on job opportunities, how to become

a teacher, and tips on how to be successful in your job

search, visit the Personnel Department’s webpage.

A New Superstar

Aaron Black will be joining the CL Smith Superstars next fall as

their new principal. He has been with SLCUSD for the past seven

years, working as a Dean of Students for two years at Morro Bay

High School and the past five years as an Assistant Principal at San

Luis Obispo High School. Mr. Black is excited to join the CL Smith

Community.

A Pirate Comes Ashore

Chris Jones was selected as the new principal of

Pacheco Elementary School. For the last five years,

Mr. Jones has served as assistant principal at Morro

Bay High School. His previous experience includes

teaching Spanish and social studies. With a passion for

bilingual education and working with the Spanish-speaking community, Mr. Jones is excited to join the

team at Pacheco!

CL Smith and Pacheco Welcome New Leaders

Nine teachers were nominated as Teachers of the Year, with Emily Cappellano from Baywood Elementary

selected as the District Teacher of the year. The other eight teachers were:

Teri Block—Los Ranchos Elementary

Sandi Emrick—CL Smith Elementary

Daniel Fahy—Morro Bay High School

Jan Fetcho—San Luis Obispo High School

John Kersten—Monarch Grove Elementary

Charles Pearson—Laguna Middle School

Shawna Robson—Teach Elementary

Joshua Waldman—Los Osos Middle School

If you see any of these deserving members of staff, please take a moment to congratulate them.

“Our teachers work tirelessly to provide high-quality

instruction and support to a diverse range of student

learners, which is why our students are showing steady

improvement across all subjects. Our classified employees—

often unsung heroes—are at the heart of our organization

while our administrators are proven, remarkable leaders

who are devoted to the success of all students.”

—Dr. Prater

Congratulations to the Teachers of the Year

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San Luis Coastal Unified School District employs

some amazing people. Each year, a handful are

recognized for their work and contributions.

Nominated and selected by their co-workers, each

individual exemplifies the qualities the District

values in employees. They are true examples of the

great staff throughout the District.

Employees of the Year Recognized

Clerical Support: Pat Schiavo

“Pat is an invaluable employee at Los

Osos Middle School. She truly has the

pulse of the school. She is aware of all

the roles that need to be played in the

office and can slide into whatever role

needs to be covered.”

District Teacher of the Year: Emily Cappellano

“Emily’s rapport with the students and parents helps

create a learning environment that is extremely

positive, upbeat, caring, and filled with high

expectations. Her positive demeanor and eagerness

to grow students is contagious.”

School Support: Kari Riegel-Parks

“Kari has always been dedicated to

student achievement. She has worked

with some of the most challenging

student behavior seen by her teacher

in the past sixteen years.”

School Support: Teri Wright

“Teri is truly dedicated to making

sure the students of Del Mar are

instilled with the love of reading;

encouraging them to discover books

that can inspire, spark, and ignite

learning.”

Physical Support/

District Employee of the Year: Wendy Hall

“Wendy embodies the school rules: Take care of

yourself, take care of each other, take care of this place.

Wendy wants to make Bishop’s Peak a school where

teachers are able to focus on teaching high-quality

lessons and students are able to focus on learning.”

Manager/Administrator:

Amy Shields

“Amy is a fierce advocate for

student learning and professional

growth. During her tenure, there

have been seismic shifts in teaching

and learning.”

These employees were recognized at the May 15,

2018, School Board Meeting for their outstanding

commitment and dedication to students, sites, and

the District overall. Mark Nakamura

photographed the event and created a slide show

that can be viewed here.

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San Luis Coastal’s Food Services Department is gearing up for a free summer meal program this year to

feed all kids and teens in the community. Free meals will be available at eight different locations

throughout the district this summer. They are offered at no charge to anyone age 0-18, whether they are

summer school students or community members. There is no paperwork or sign-up necessary.

SLCUSD’s Food Services Department is proud

to be dishing up spaghetti and meatballs with

fresh local produce and Edna’s breadsticks. Summer Meal Program

June 18-July 19

Closed July 4th

Monday-Thursday

Breakfast and Lunch

Pacheco Elementary CL Smith Elementary 261 Cuesta Drive 1375 Balboa Street

Laguna Middle School Los Osos Middle School 1150 Los Osos Valley Rd. 1555 El Moro Avenue

Monday-Friday

Breakfast and Lunch

Hawthorne Elementary 125 Story Street

Baywood Elementary 1390 9th Street

Tuesday-Thursday

Lunch

San Luis Obispo Library 995 Palm Street

Morro Bay Library 625 Harbor Street

Food Services Receives Grant San Luis Coastal Food Services was selected to receive the California-grown Fresh School Meals Grant in

the amount of $125,000! These funds will be used to create a

culinary garden at Laguna Middle School where students can

grow herbs and produce to use in the school meal program.

There will be opt-in teacher trainings and a garden educator

to assist with lessons and hands-on garden experiences.

There is also a large equipment component to the grant for

an automatic tray sealing machine with compostable

film and containers and other kitchen processing

equipment.

Food Services Team

says farewell to their

old pack out machine.

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San Luis Coastal Adult School is proud to serve

adults needing their high school diploma and high

school equivalency for over 50 years. For fourteen

of those years, Mr. Jack Mitchell has guided and

instructed hundreds of students to success.

Mr. Mitchell delivered on the promise to treat each

student with the respect, support and individualized

attention they all deserve. His knowledge and

experience will be greatly missed as he transitions

(once again!) into retirement, but his legacy will not

be forgotten. Parke Godar is shadowing and gleaning

wisdom from Mr. Mitchell and will replace him in

the fall.

Adult Success: In the Classroom and Beyond!

San Luis Adult School’s High School Diploma and

Equivalency programs are also held at San Luis

Obispo County Jail with our instructor, Barbara

Hoffman, leading the way. She works tirelessly to

provide quality instruction for incarcerated adults

and establishing seamless transitions for inmates

upon release. Her passion and heart have made a

great impact on this underserved population!

Although many automatically think about the GED

when adults are looking to finish their education,

SLC Adult School is breaking the mold and helping

students complete their diploma in a traditional

sense along with preparing students for the HiSET, another nationally recognized high school

equivalency option.

The Adult School streamlined the orientation

sessions for students where they take an

assessment and outline their academic and career

goals. Once a student is enrolled in either high

school diploma or high school equivalency, he/she

receives individualized instruction and a unique

learning path to ensure persistence. As instructors

meet with students, they tailor the education path

that best suits the individual.

The Adult School is pleased to receive both state

and federal monies to help improve our efforts.

Through AEBG (Adult Education Block Grant) and

WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity

Act) funds, they are able to collaborate with a

consortium of providers (Templeton Adult School,

Lucia Mar Adult School, and Cuesta College) to expand their approach to adult education.

These ongoing relationships with other adult

schools in the county have strengthened the

program and improved the ability to help students

achieve success. Upon completion, the Adult School

helps students to navigate their next steps. They

have a direct referral process established with

Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College, American

Job Centers of California, and Eckerd Workforce

Development. All of these agencies function

collaboratively to help adult students fulfill their

ambitions for academics and employment.

For the 2017-18 school year, dedicated teachers

awarded 47 diplomas to adult students along with

16 high school equivalency certificates. Their

student-centered approach and belief in the power

of learning has proven once again that all people,

regardless of age or past experiences, are deserving

of quality education.

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PARTNERSHIPS SLCUSD maintains critical partnerships with private and public entities to ensure the diverse and unique

needs of our students and staff are met. These are just a sample of those partnerships.

Elementary Summer School Elementary Summer School will be offered at Baywood Elementary for

students living on the coast and at Hawthorne, C.L. Smith, and Pacheco

Elementary for students in San Luis Obispo. Classes are designed to help

students who need additional time or support in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students selected for

summer school are provided a half-day program that runs nineteen days that includes both breakfast and

lunch. Students attending Summer School will enjoy both individualized online learning and outdoor learning

fun.

New this summer, in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County YMCA, 4th and 5th grade students

attending Baywood Elementary are part of a five day a week, whole day program called Camp Thrive.

Students attend an academic program in the morning and a summer camp in the afternoon.

Summer Youth Camp Whether your child is interested in robotics or dance, wrestling or volleyball, cheerleading or soccer, San

Luis Obispo High School has a summer camp for them! With nineteen different camps starting in June and

ending in August, parents and students have a wide variety to choose from. Visit their website for more

information.

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SLCUSD SCHOOLS

Elementary Schools Laguna Middle School

John Calandro, Principal

Scott Schalde, Asst. Principal

596-4055

Los Osos Middle School

Andre Illig, Principal

Karl Blum, Asst. Principal

534-2835

Baywood

Jennifer Dinielli, Principal

534-2856

Bishop’s Peak

Dan Block, Principal

596-4030

Del Mar

Janet Gould, Principal

771-1858

Hawthorne

James McMillen, Principal

596-4070

Los Ranchos

Marlie Schmidt, Principal

596-4075

Monarch Grove

Lara Storm, Principal

534-2844

Pacheco

Rick Mayfield, Principal

596-4081

Sinsheimer

Jeff Martin, Principal

596-4088

C.L. Smith

Joyce Hansen, Principal

596-4094

Teach

Darla Batistic, Principal

596-4100

SLCUSD Adult School

Sally Ames, Coordinator

549-1222

Bellevue-Santa Fe

Charter School

Holly Warrick, Principal

San Luis Coastal is the chartering

agency for Bellevue-Santa Fe.

Middle Schools

High Schools Morro Bay High School

Dr. Kyle Pruitt, Principal

Sean Allstot, Asst. Principal

Chris Jones, Asst. Principal

771-1845

Pacific Beach High School

Chris Dowler, Principal

596-4023

San Luis Obispo High School

Leslie O’Connor, Principal

Aaron Black, Asst. Principal

Nick Frost, Asst. Principal

Julie Mamo, Asst. Principal

596-4040

Executive Cabinet

• Eric Prater, Ed.D., Superintendent •

Kim Holmes, Exec. Asst. to the Superintendent • Ryan Pinkerton, Asst. Supt./Business Services •

Mandy Dawson, Executive Assistant • Kimberly McGrath, Asst. Supt./Educational Services •

Valarie Harrigan, Executive Assistant • Diane Frost, Executive Dir., Student Support Services •

Tambra Moore, Administrative Assistant • Christin Newlon, Director of Personnel Services •

Peggi Charlesworth, Administrative Assistant • Amy Shields, Elem. Director - Learning & Achievement •

Debra Hill & Jessica Rodriguez, Administrative Assistants

STUDENT POPULATION

7460