The Communications Office & Printing Services Department

A Vital Network for the District & Community!

Annual Report2008-2009

Linda R. Bardere, APR, Director

Board of Education

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE STAFF MEMBERS

Linda R. Bardere, APR, Director

Maria Garcia, Communications Officer

Nettie Rocha-Kaseno, Secretary III

Corina Borsuk, Public Relations/Technician-Writer/Photographer

Iris Guardiola, Translator/Interpreter

Mark McKenzie, Translator/Interpreter

Shari Morgan, Publications Assistant

Delilah Nunez, Senior Publications Assistant

Belinda Schmidt, Publications Assistant

Barbara Sims, Clerk I/Switchboard Operator

Vicki Wood, Secretary

Susan Zavala, Scholarship Secretary

PRINTING SERVICES STAFF MEMBERS

Richard Carlos, Reprographics Supervisor

Veronica Lopez, Lead Reprographics Operator

David Chavez, Reprographics Operator

Cesar Guzman, Reprographics Operator

Tisha Hernandez, Reprographics Operator

Ron Lawson, Reprographics Operator

Christina Oates, Clerk II

Alfredo Quesada, Reprographics Operator

BOARD OF EDUCATION

COMMUNICATIONS/COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Mr. Danny Tillman, PresidentDr. Barbara Flores, Vice President

Ms. Louise A. AyalaMrs. Teresa Parra Craig

Mrs. Judi PenmanMrs. Lynda K. Savage

Dr. Elsa O. Valdez

Beyond Publicity!Communications/Community Relations Department

Annual Report for 2008-2009

I n the San Bernardino City Unified School District, the Communications/Community Relations Department includes Communications and Printing Services. The department translates District publications for Spanish-speaking parents, prints vital instructional materials for students, and is responsible for managing the District’s

high-volume switchboard and reception area for the Board of Education building.

Printing Services is part of the Communications/Community Relations Depart-ment. Every year, the Printing Services staff produces all printed materials for the

54,727 students of the San Bernardino City Uni-fied School District; this includes everything from District letterhead to student workbooks. Printing Services produces well over 54 mil-

lion impressions annually. Some of the ser-vices offered by Printing Services include: business stationery, including letterheads, envelopes, and business cards; certificates; newsletters; elementary yearbooks; gradu-

ation programs; dis-trict forms; including shelf forms; color copies; posters, and banners, and bulk-mailing services. Some major proj-ects we print are math, and language arts assessment tests, traditional, and year-round calendars, and over 194 consumable workbooks for our kindergarten through sixth-grade students.

“I know how important the school calendar is to families,” said Richard Carlos, reprographics super-visor and San Gorgonio High School graduate.“ Par-ents rely on this information each year, and they plan their family activities around the calendar.”

“Updating District forms for parents and for school sites is an an-nual task that I know is essential to the operations of the District,” said Belinda Schmidt, publications assistant.

“It’s always fun to put together the elementary school yearbooks. It gives us great insight to what’s going on at the schools. It’s wonderful to see how many parents are involved at their children’s schools. The year-books bring it home when we put together the special events pages and award ceremony pages,” said Shari Morgan, publications assistant.

“Not only have I designed student/parent handbooks for high school stu-dents,” says Delilah Nunez, senior pub-lications assistant and San Bernardino High School graduate, “I have also worked closely with the high school coaches on their souvenir books.”

All elementary consumable workbooks for language arts and math

are printed by the Communications Department, saving

hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Linda Bardere, director of Communications, works

closely with English Learner Programs and Elementary

Instruction to make sure the items are printed in the most

cost-effective manner. “When a teacher brought to my attention the chal-

lenges teachers face with the large amount of materials printed, I pulled

together a team to create a more efficient printing plan for the next school

year,” explained Linda Bardere.

The District has 58 shelf forms used by em-

ployees in the daily operation of the District.

These forms are updated and

translated by the Commu-

nications Office prior to be-

ing sent to the District print

shop.

Graphic Design Work

Department or Division

Board of Education 134

Educational Services 124

Student Services 57

Business and Finance 59

Nutrition Services 2

HR-Classified / M&O 37

HR-Certificated 47

Employee Relations 17

Deputy Superintendent 7

Superintendent 135

Research & Technology 7

Facilities / Operations 0

Communications 287

District Police 4

Other 201

Department/Division Total 1,118

SCHOOLS

Elementary 160

Middle 62

High 478

Other 24

School Total 724

GRAND TOTAL 1,824

Special Parent Letters and Notifications

T he Communications Office wrote 39 emergency letters during the 2008-2009 school year when school sites needed to quickly inform parents about an incident that affected the school community.

On many of these occasions, the Communications Office also recorded Intouch messages in English and Span-ish using the automated calling system to notify parents of the situtation affecting their child’s school. Districtwide emergency announcements affecting multiple school sites are also prepared by the Communications Office. When an emergency occurs at a school, the District’s Commu-nications Office assists the site by writing, translating, and sometimes recording an emergency message. On the chart to the right, you will find a list of schools receiving emer-gency letters and the number of students enrolled at each site.

DATE SCHOOL SITE FAMILIES NOTIFIED

9/8/08 Alesandro Elementary 675 2/11/09 Burbank Elementary 386 2/4/09 Cajon High 2,785 2/20/09 Cajon High 2,785 2/25/09 Cajon High 2,785 9/10/08 Cajon High 2,785 6/9/08 Cajon, N. Park, Hillside, AVHS 7,028 6/10/08 Cajon, N. Park, Hillside, AVHS 7,028 4/29/09 Cole Elementary 420 2/17/09 Del Rosa Elementary 827 2/18/09 Del Rosa Elementary 827 4/27/09 Districtwide 51,660 5/6/09 Districtwide 51,660 1/8/09 Emmerton Elementary 521 3/3/09 Golden Valley Middle 950 3/4/09 Golden Valley Middle 950 5/27/09 Jones Elementary 476 4/22/09 Kimbark Elementary 462 10/6/08 King Middle 980 12/18/08 King Middle 980 4/1/09 King Middle 980 6/22/08 Muscoy Elementary 714 5/18/09 Muscoy Elementary 714 1/15/09 Newmark Elementary 561 8/28/08 Roberts Elementary 687 3/25/09 Rodriguez PREP HI 793 3/25/09 Rodriguez PREP HI 793 10/13/08 Rodriguez and Emmerton Elementary 885 1/12/09 San Andreas High 525 1/14/09 San Bernardino High 2,223 3/2/09 San Bernardino High 2,223 1/5/09 San Gorgonio High 2,896 1/16/09 Shandin Hills Middle 1,156 5/4/09 Shandin Hills, Lytle Creek, Barton 2,476 9/24/08 Wong Elementary 655 10/20/08 Wong Elementary 655

TOTAL NUMBER OF FAMILIES NOTIFIED 155,906

Intouch Messages from July 2008 through June 2009

13 Messages

Student Date School/Subject enrollment

10/20/2008 Bing Wong–Power Outage (655)

10/29/2008 Hunt–On Lockdown (724)

10/29/2008 Hunt–Lockdown lifted (724)

12/18/2008 King Middle School–Hazardous

5/1/2009 Cole Reopens–H1N1 flu (416)

5/2/2009 Cole Remains Closed–H1N1 flu (416)

5/4/2009 Barton Closed–H1N1 flu (530)

5/4/2009 Lytle Creek Closed–H1N1 flu (785)

5/4/2009 Shandin Hills Closed–H1N1 flu (1,127)

5/5/2009 All Schools Reopen–H1N1 flu (54,727)

5/5/2009 Cole Reopens–H1N1 flu (416)

5/5/2009 Lytle Creek Reopens–H1N1 flu (785)

5/5/2009 Shandin Hills Reopens–H1N1 flu (1,127)

Conditions (969)

Translation Services

T o support non-English speaking parents, the District’s Communications Office has two Spanish-language in-terpreters/translators who provide services to help the District communicate clearly with all parents. All Dis-trict sites are staffed with bilingual employees; however, the Communications Office is able to support the

school sites by translating major District publications and urgent documents for the students in the District. Many of the translated documents are sent to the Communications Office publication assistants for layout and graphic design before they are sent to Printing Services. This process allows for a seamless flow of information to the families of the 18,000 English learners enrolled in the District.

“I am glad to support our Spanish-speaking parents by providing transla-tion and interpretation services so they participate even more in their child’s educational experience,” Iris Guardiola, Spanish language translator/inter-preter and San Bernardino High School graduate said.

“It pleases me to know that through the translation and interpretation services I provide, our Spanish-speaking parents are able to be more in-volved in their child’s school and education. The children are the ones who ultimately benefit, because the more their parents are involved, the better they are able to do in school.” Mark McKenzie, Spanish language transla-tor/interpreter.

TRANSLATION JOBSAccountability 16 Facilities/Operations 10

Affirmative Action 5 Health Services 1

Alternative Programs 2 Research & Technology 18

Business & Finance 3 Secondary Education 1

Communications 172 Student Services 1

Deputy Superintendent 12 Transportation 1

District Police 5 Visual & Performing Arts 1

Educational Services 1 Youth Services 27

Employee Relations 2 TOTAL DEPARTMENT JOBS 278

TRANSLATIONS FOR SCHOOLS Elementary 91 Districtwide Interpretations 3

Middle 37

High 41

TOTAL SCHOOL JOBS 463 TOTAL PROOFREADING JOBS 1,363

.

Translated items are sent to pubications assistants for layout and design or returned to the school site.

.

. Translated items are sent to Printing Serivces and returned to the school site.

School sites submit documents to Communications for translation.

Promoting Scholastic Achievement

T he San Bernardino Community Scholarship Association provides a vital service to students and philanthropic

groups in the San Bernardino community. Susan Zavala, the secretary for the Scholarship Association, sees

first hand the impact scholarships have on recent high school graduates. “When I give a scholarship check to

a student, it is very rewarding to see their smile of appreciation,” said Susan Zavala, scholarship secretary and San

Gorgonio High School graduate.

The Class of 2009 set a District record for earning col-

lege scholarships with $5.6 million awarded to District

students. Scholarships are typically awarded based

on a combination of academic achievement, charac-

ter, community service, extracurricular activities, and

need. During the last 10 years, the total annual amount

of scholarships awarded has increased by $4.2 million.

The chart below shows the rise in scholarships for Dis-

trict students. The Communications Office facilitates

the distribution of the scholarship funds for over 105

scholarship donors.

Arrowhead Country Club Women’s Golf Association president and scholarship chairperson Georgette Williams said, “Kudos and big thanks for all the help Susan Zavala gives our group.”

District Scholarship History

S C H O L A R S H I P S A W A R D E D

$1,471,013

$3,773,535

$3,575,552

$4,448,763

$3,414,383

$4,016,081

$3,748,291

$2,793,790

$4,600,412

$5,694,412

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

108 Outstanding Students Honored by the Board of Education

E ach school year, the Communications Department creates a year-long schedule for the Outstanding Student

Award (OSA) presentations. Congratulatory letters are sent to parents, and principals receive a letter and re-

minders prior to each Board meeting presentation. Communications provides the school sites with forms to

list the accomplishments of the Outstanding Students

and Nettie Rocha-Kaseno, secretary III, uses the in-

formation when she writes a script for the Board presi-

dent. Publication assistants design not only the certifi-

cates but also the souvenir bumper stickers given to

each honoree.

“I have written hundreds of scripts highlighting the accomplishments of

our students,” says Nettie Kaseno-Rocha, secretary III. “I am so proud of our

students and I can tell how important the awards are to the students and to

their families.”

QUESTFOR

QUALITYCom

muni

ty and School A

lliance

CaSA

T he Community and School Alliance Foundation,

better known as CaSA, is a non-profit, community-

based organization committed to improving the

quality of education in the San Bernardino City Unified

School District. CaSA encourages the support of innovative

classroom programs by offering teachers grants to imple-

ment their ideas. The Communications Office coordinates

and provides clerical support to CaSA, promotes their annual

teacher mini-grant programs, and designs the cover of the annual Tabloid

publcation. Since CaSA’s creation in 1986, more than $400,000 in mini grants

have been awarded to San Bernardino and Highland teach-

ers.

“Working for the Communications department

means having the opportunity to serve

every student, every school, and ev-

ery department every day,” said Vicki Wood, Secretary and Pacific High

School graduate.

Employee Recognition Programs

T he Communications Department has expanded the District’s employ-ee recognition programs to improve staff morale, recognize employee and site accomplishments, show appreciation to employees,

and highlight for the community the level of professional excellence that is prevalent in the District workforce.

The Communications Department coordinates the following employee recognition programs:

Golden Apple Awards and Dinner

Crystal Apple Awards

Superintendent’s Classified Employee of the Year Awards Dinner

Superintendent’s Certificated Employee of the Year Awards Dinner

Summit Award for Managers

25- & 35-Year Awards

Retiree Reception

Schools of Achievement

During the 2008-2009 school year, the Communications De-partment planned recognition events for 339 employees. Employ-ees received special invitations, flyers, certificates and letters of recognition for the outstanding work they provide to students in the District.

“Our employees are the backbone of the District, and recogniz-ing them helps ensure that our workforce feels appreciated for the great work they do on behalf of our students,” Maria Garcia, Com-munications officer said.

During the 2008-2009 school year, more than 46 resolutions were written by the Communications Office. The special resolu-tions recognize the accomplishments of individuals and organiza-tions in the community or offer a final tribute to the family of a deceased District employee.

Promoting District Achievements

W hen our high schools are recognized by Newsweek magazine for being among the nation’s top schools, it is because the Communications Department acts as the

point of contact, gathering the information from the high schools, the CDE, and the Research department,” said Corina Borsuk, pub-lic relations technician/writer/photographer and San Bernardino High School graduate.

Groundbreakings and Grand Openings

T he Communications Department plans groundbreakings and grand openings, and other Districtwide special events.

Community Support

T he Communications/Community Relations Department fully supports the efforts of community organizations devoted to helping District students.

Community Support

T he Communications/Community Relations Department fully supports the efforts of community organizations devoted to helping District students.

Did you know….In 2008-2009 the Communications Department:

Provided more than 439 hours of clerical support to the San Bernardino Community Scholarship Association.

Handled over 500 calls daily from parents, community members, and employees each day at the Board of Education building.

Provided 40 hours of clerical support to CaSA (Community and School Alliance) for their meetings, publication of The Tabloid, and coordination of the CaSA teacher grant program.

Led a record-setting pledge drive benefiting the Arrowhead United Way, which provides essential services to hundreds of District students.

Launched an award-winning website, sbcusd.com, to help facilitate communication with parents and community members.

Assisted the Native Sons of the Golden West with school dedication ceremonies by arranging the time and location for each event.

Promoted the annual Fourth Grade Essay contest on California history for the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Managed the Adopt-A-School program with businesses and organiza- tions in Highland and San Bernardino.

Planned and coordinated the Spring and Fall Century Club Breakfast meetings for the Superintendent, which provide key community leaders with the opportunity to participate in a discussion with Superintendent Arturo Delgado.

Assisted local Rotary Clubs by promoting and coordinating the schools’ participation in the annual Duncan Webb Awards luncheon and diction- ary project.

Design and print graduation materials for all high schools, including commencement programs, scholarship programs, admission tickets, and award programs.