During the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) meeting on Jan. 18, the school board heard from Silver Strand Elementary School Principal Jennifer Moore and recognized new and retiring employees.
The Board of Trustees also approved a $198,860 contract to purchase and install a walk-in refrigeration/freezer combo using Child Nutrition Program grant funds, which Trustee Whitney Antrim applauded.
“I’d like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding program and Child Nutrition Services … they’re making amazing strides for our students and everyone’s nutrition needs,” Antrim said. “This wouldn’t be possible without them.”
Silver Strand special education program growth
In her annual report for Strand Elementary School, Moore highlighted notable progress in math across all grade levels and areas of growth in science for fifth-graders and in English Language Arts (ELA) for third- and fourth-graders.
Additionally, Moore shared that there was a significant increase of 40.47% in the percentage of third to fifth-grade students with disabilities meeting/exceeding ELA standards, rising from 23.81% in the 2020-21 school year to 64.28% in 2022-23.
There was also a 46.43% growth in third to fifth-grade students with disabilities meeting/exceeding math standards, increasing from 14.28% in 2020-21 to 60.71% in 2022-23.
Moore credited the expansion of the elementary school’s special education program to the inclusion of a new full-time school psychologist in all CUSD elementary schools in 2022.
“Since I have been at Silver Strand, there has been a revolution in special education,” Moore said. “I think when I arrived at Silver Strand, we had one education specialist and a program that was not designed to meet a wide spectrum of students. Over my tenure with Silver Strand and work with the district and student services department, we have expanded our program to really be available for students from mild to intensive disabilities.”
This growth was further supported by the addition of program specialists at each site, the hiring of an extra special education specialist for Strand Elementary, and the introduction of stipends and training for general education and special education co-teachers in fall 2023, alongside other educational aids.
Moore highlighted key areas of focus, such as ensuring alignment across grade levels, addressing chronic absenteeism through family awareness, continuing the development of staff support and boosting participation in PTO meetings and School Site Council.
New ethnic studies graduate requirement
In her Learning Department Report, District Senior Director of Learning Megan Battle announced that starting in the 2024-2025 school year, all CHS ninth-grade students must complete a nine-week Ethnic Studies course and a nine-week Freshman Islander Experience course.
An option for 11th-grade students to meet their English graduation requirement will include the addition of an Ethnic Literature course.
These courses fulfill the California Assembly Bill 101 mandate, which requires a one-semester ethnic studies course for students graduating in the 2029-2030 school year.
Battle said that Principal Karin Melina has discussed these courses with current teachers on campus who will likely teach them next year. They are currently working on coming up with course outlines, syllabi and course material.
“The main reason why we wanted to start a year earlier was to really vet materials — what’s working, what’s not working — so we can fine-tune up before it becomes the actual requirement.”
-District Senior Director of Learning Megan Battle.
“The main reason why we wanted to start a year earlier was to really vet materials — what’s working, what’s not working — so we can fine-tune up before it becomes the actual requirement,” Battle said.
The courses will be on the CHS course selection forms when they go out at the end of this month.
911 dial safety update
As of January 2024, CUSD has enhanced its telephone systems to comply with Kari’s Law and Section 506 of the Ray Baum’s Act.
This upgrade ensures that when 911 is called, emergency dispatch officers receive additional location information. Simultaneously, an automated call will notify front office staff if someone at that extension is in distress.
“I think that is a huge update to the safety and security of our schools,” Board President Alexia Palacios-Peters said.
Additionally, a Community Partners Workshop will be held on March 26 at 5 p.m. in the CUSD Board Room.
New CHS assistant principal
Superintendent Karl Mueller welcomed the new Coronado High School assistant principal, Timothy Kusserow, who started his position on Jan. 11.
“He … brings with him a wealth of experience and I know the Coronado High School staff and student body are excited to work with [him],” Mueller said.
Kusserow is filling the position of Interim Assistant Principal Craig Collins, who succeeded the high school’s previous assistant principal, Shane Bavis, in the fall of 2023. Bavis agreed to resign due to an incident on May 24, 2023 involving students receiving “inappropriate” material on their smartphones.
Student volunteer recognition
Earlier in the meeting, the board along with the President and CEO of the Coronado Schools Foundation (CSF), Michelle Gilmore, recognized CHS students Jack and Grace Elardo.
The Elardo siblings, who have been raising funds for Coronado’s public schools since 2017, were awarded the 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award for CSF.
In 2023, the pair generated funds through different avenues, such as $1,380 from yard card signs, $859 from Coronado Shores Water Park sales, $427 from Coronado’s Talent snack bar and $4,940 from Artisans Alley.
“The reason that I thought that we should recognize them, though, is not just this year, but year over year, with all their busy schedules, athletics, and all the busy things that are coming towards them, the total they’ve raised is $36,582.”
-Michelle Gilmore, President and CEO of the Coronado Schools Foundation.
“The reason that I thought that we should recognize them, though, is not just this year, but year over year, with all their busy schedules, athletics, and all the busy things that are coming towards them, the total they’ve raised is $36,582,” Gilmore said.
Celebrating retirees
The board thanked three longstanding CHS employees, Ben Bernardy, Davin Heaphy and Bill Lemei, who are retiring mid-year.
Bernardy, a member of the CHS maintenance and operations team, is retiring after working for the school for four years.
Heaphy is a CHS social science teacher who has taught in CUSD since 1995.
Lemei has taught at CHS since 2000 and is retiring from his role as a math and physics teacher.
In other matters:
- The board thanked Rajeev Jain, spouse of the late Susan Larson, a teacher at Silver Strand Elementary School, for donating $1,000. The funds will be used for Silver Strand programs and maintenance of the Memorial Garden.
- A proposal for the 2023-2026 Successor Contract negotiations was presented to the CUSD by the board and the Association of Coronado Teachers (ACT). The proposal included clarifying language and incorporating an additional article related to dual enrollment.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the District Office.
