The Board of Trustees met last night. Here are highlights:
Resolution in support of Hispanic Heritage Month. MVWSD recognizes the indelible mark our Hispanic and Latino community members and students make and have made on our community. You can read the resolution here.
Monta Loma Elementary Field Fence. After a three-year process, the Board approved option one (page 48) as a conceptual design for fencing with the goal of balancing school field use and community access during the day. At the direction of the Board, staff presented three options for fencing at the August 17 board meeting. Staff then held community feedback sessions, in addition to the feedback received over the past two years. The Board also held a special meeting on August 28 to receive additional feedback. Information about the process is here: mvwsd.org/montalomafield. Now that a concept has been approved, the next steps in the process are schematic design, which may have minor changes, preparation of construction documents, state review, bid period, award of contract, and then construction.
Literacy Update and Dyslexia Support Plan. Staff members described MVWSD’s assessments and supports for reading instruction. To help address gaps in student reading skills, MVWSD will continue using the i-Ready Universal screener for students in grades K-3 to identify students with reading difficulties or who are at risk for dyslexia. All students will be supported through our MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports). MVWSD has also started the process for the adoption of a new elementary English Language Arts curriculum based on the science of reading. View the presentation here.
Early Literacy Update. Our district is committed to improving literacy skills in our earliest learners. Recognizing the pivotal transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” that occurs in the third grade, MVWSD has established an early literacy team to ensure that students are reading at grade level by this critical milestone.
In Spring 2023, only 67% of second graders in our district were reading at or above grade level, with 14% reading at the Kindergarten level. Some of the lowest scores were at Castro, Monta Loma, Mistral, and Theuerkauf schools. In response, MVWSD formed an early literacy team consisting of a Director of Early Literacy, five reading intervention teachers, and five instructional assistants. The team's approach involves data-driven, tiered support. Intervention cycles, lasting nine weeks, are tailored to students’ needs based on various data sources, including i-Ready assessments. Notably, 150 students from Castro, Mistral, Monta Loma and Theuerkauf have been identified for reading intervention, while others will receive support from classroom teachers. New students may be added into subsequent intervention cycles through the Universal Data Cycle and Coordination of Services Team (COST) processes within MTSS. View the summary and presentation here.
Joint Meeting with MVLA, MVWSD, and the City of Mountain View for Shoreline (Education Enhancement Reserve Joint Powers Authority). A joint agency kickoff meeting will be held on September 18. The purpose is to help all agencies move forward in a constructive framework for future collaboration around the tax increment from Shoreline that is diverted to the City as part of the current agreement. For more information, check the district’s Shoreline webpage.