4 EDCAL April 2 , 2018
Secondary Education Council tackles key issues
Crechena Wise , Region 14 principal in ABC Unified School District , was elected co-president of the ACSA Secondary Education Council at its last meeting of the fiscal year .
Wise , leader of Gahr High School , was just appointed to a full three-year term on the council . She will share leadership duties with council President Cynthia Rapaido , principal in South San Francisco USD .
The Secondary Ed Council tackled a dense agenda for its March 15 meeting , including an update and feedback session on the California School Dashboard with Shanine Coats of the Performance , Planning and Technology Branch of the California Department of Education .
Coats said there is money in the state budget for improving the Dashboard , and asked region secondary leaders for insight into how the new accountability system can get better . She acknowledged concerns that it ’ s hard to get reports , citing coding issues , and said a separate alternative school site is expected to be available in the fall .
Coats said the CDE is working on federal requirements , with chronic absenteeism expected to be measured in the fall . Missing 10 percent or more of school days is considered chronic absenteeism . English learner reclassification measures will also be ready in the fall , but it might be two more years before it results in color coding .
Also on the agenda was an update on medical marijuana and public schools from ACSA Legislative Advocate Laura Preston . Senate Bill 1127 , Hill , D-San Mateo , is one to follow , she said . The bill would authorize the governing board of a school district , county board of education , or the governing body of a charter school , K-12 , to adopt a
Crechena Wise takes notes for the council during a discussion on the NASSP Breaking Ranks Framework .
policy that allows a parent or guardian to possess and administer prescribed medical marijuana on school grounds , excluding in a smokeable or vapeable form . In all likelihood , space would have to be designated for this activity .
Preston said the fact that marijuana remains illegal at the federal level is an obvious concern , and all we can do is what ’ s in the best interest of California children . SB 1127 would create an opt-in situation , with liability a concern . In addition , grants could conceivably be withheld for perceived infractions of federal law . Preston said she has tried to narrow the scope of the bill , but points out there are very few children who would fall under the law .
Other bills that are moving at the Capitol include Assembly Bill 2285 , outof-state applicant credentialing legislation ; AB 3149 , substitute teacher legislation ; and 10 or so sexual harassment bills .
The council heard a report by Elsbeth Prigmore , at-large appointee to the Educational Options Council . She said there is a task force working with the State Board of Education on the dashboard for alternative student status . The task force is also studying trauma and attendance issues .
Prigmore said her council and the task force are working to fill an overarching need to help ed options kids make successful transitions – from regular to alternative school and from school to college or career .
“ Our kids don ’ t start the race like every other kid ,” she said . “ Our kids kind of start the race with no shoes on .” Ultimately , alternative education is about how to “ best serve those children even when they don ’ t know they need to be served ,” she said
Mark Anderson , principal at Marshall Fundamental School in Pasadena USD , led a conversation on applying the Breaking Ranks Framework for School Improvement . The National Association of Secondary School Administrators initiative includes three facets : collaboration , personalization , and curriculum and instruction .
Anderson asked council representatives , “ By March of 2022 , what would we like to have accomplished ?” Discussion surrounded developing the “ what ” school districts need to know about Breaking Ranks to implement it by 2019 , and “ why ” and “ how ” to use it thereafter .
Another discussion took place regarding a secondary / high school strand at the 2018 Leadership Summit in November . Council members agreed that a session on how to develop assistant / vice principals is needed . Other ideas bandied about for break-outs included a CIF update , connection with the Dashboard and trauma-informed care .
Honors were handed out for service on the council to : Darrin Kitchen , Region 2 , and Crechena Wise , Region 14 . Other honorees not in attendance included : Mohammad Warrad , Region 3 ; Tom Huynh , Region 8 , Robin Torres , Region 15 ; and Anna Pedroza , Region 18 .
CLEAR social justice event now slated for April
Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts , the CLEAR Spring Social Justice and Equity Institute 2018 is now scheduled for Friday , April 27 .
“ Intentional Activism : Moving Leaders Beyond Courageous Conversations ” is the theme of the event presented by the Center for Leadership , Equity and Research and Illuminate Education . The Central Valley spring institute is a one-day gathering bringing together P-12 , business and community leaders from 7:30 a . m . to 3:30 p . m . at the Picadilly Inn Airport in Fresno .
Sessions will focus on strategic forms of “ intentional activism ” in order to meet the needs of underserved students and communities . In addition , there will be a special presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award for CLEAR founding Executive Director Ken Magdaleno to honor his work and lifelong dedication to equity .
Magdaleno , who serves as director of
doctoral programs in educational leadership at CSU Fresno and as co-director of the Collaborative Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership ( CODEL ) between CSU Channel Islands and CSU Fresno , is one of the institute ’ s main speakers , along with Abram Jimenez , vice president of education for Illuminate Education .
Jimenez works with district leadership teams to develop improvement communities . He engages district leaders in comprehensive data-informed inquiry cycles to develop systems for strategic improvement , differentiated academic instruction , RtI , SEL and behavioral support . Before joining Illuminate Education , Jimenez was the chief of schools in the San Francisco Unified School District .
Register for the Social Justice and Equity Institute at http :// clearvoz . com / registration-3 . Questions may be directed to Liz Molina at lmolina @ clearvoz . com .
Clear your calendars now to attend one of the summer residential programs for school leaders , held at UCLA each summer . Participants have said their experience was life-changing , and have said it helped them achieve a clear vision of their leadership path and how to get others to follow in their journey . These events sell out each summer so be sure to sign up early .
Principals ’ Summer Institute June 24 – 30 , 2018
Institute for New and Aspiring Principals June 25 – 29 , 2018
acsa . org / summerprograms
ACSA launches Targeted Assistance program for district leaders
ACSA is pleased to be able to offer a new program , Targeted Assistance , to assist one of the most challenging positions in education : the superintendent . The work of superintendents has increasingly become defined by their ability to navigate the complexities and challenges of political pressures and conflicting interests ( local , state , and national ), superintendent governance , unpredictable school finances , labor relations , school bonds , standards-based reform , and greater demands for accountability of increased student performance through state and federal legislation . Targeted Assistance is being led by former county and district Superintendent Tom Armelino and former Fresno USD Superintendent Mike Hanson . They will ensure that experienced superintendents , district leaders , industry experts and ACSA partners are available to share successful practices , knowledge and experience . When assistance is requested through a brief questionnaire on our website an ACSA representative will contact the superintendent requesting our services in one of three key focus areas :
• Labor relations / negotiations : From proposal to agreement Fiscal analysis and contract review . Review , analysis and development of bargaining proposal . Direct assistance at the bargaining table .
• Governance : Effective board-superintendent relations Developing practices to create a partnership of professionalism and ethical standards , trust and efficiency with clearly defined roles . Developing a common vision with clear goals , targets , outcomes and a monitoring system . Developing a formal superintendent evaluation process focused on student performance and board expectations .
• School bonds / facilities : Strategies to ensure success Assist with the development of a facilities master plan and needs assessment . Assist with selling and issuing bonds , financing , credit ratings , RFP and RFQ process , and working with stakeholders . Plan , manage , and help facilitate projects including working with the citizen ’ s committee , architects , and contractors to avoid mistakes and ensure the successful completion of projects . Superintendent Lisa Andrew of Hollister ESD was among the first to take advantage of this new program from ACSA . She said she could see how advantageous it would be as they entered in negotiations . “ This program allowed me to provide the most effective research-based professional development , in-the-moment coaching , for my new negotiating team that has members who are new to their position ,” Andrew said . “ We needed an experienced negotiator that could coach – not tell – the team what to do . The ACSA Targeted Assistance program provided us an experienced negotiator who sat shoulder-toshoulder with our lead negotiator during negotiations .” “ We have also utilized his expertise to design our strategy and communicate negotiation details to our board , staff and community .” Former Superintendent John Roach , who also co-leads ACSA ’ s New Superintendent Seminar Series , works in the Targeted Assistance program and explained the process once they speak with a superintendent . “ We ask questions to make sure we understand that the help they are seeking is something we can provide ,” Roach said . “ If the superintendent wants assistance in building a relationship with a board member , for example , we might attend a board meeting to get a sense of the dynamics . Then , we might meet with the superintendent to discuss possible next steps and follow up with regular telephone conversations .” As Roach noted , this program is tailor fit to a district leader ’ s situation , and the services provided depend entirely on what they are looking for . Each individual superintendent and district presents a unique situation , and ACSA assistance will be targeted to the individual needs of each case . The new ACSA Targeted Assistance program is something many superintendents might want to consider , Roach said . “ I tell superintendents to add as many tools to their tool belt as they can ,” he said . “ Consider which tool works for you in each situation . Learn more about what is available from ACSA and use it if it matches your need .” Andrew agreed . “ If a superintendent is truly interested in building staff capacity , this is the program for them ,” she said . “ I have seen the skills and strategies taught during teacher negotiations transferred to classified negotiations , when the Targeted Assistance staff is not present . The benefits of a Targeted Assistance coach far outweighs the cost .” Armelino can be reached at tarmelino @ acsa . org . Information about the Targeted Assistance program can be found on the ACSA website at www . acsa . org / targetedassistance .