Headline News

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Upcoming Parent Ed Event - Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain & Rapidly Changing World - Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Learn more here.  Register here.

Best regards,

Dr. Kimberly McGrath
Superintendent
Reed Union School District
"We are even stronger together!"

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The Board of Trustees reviewed the following items at the RUSD Board Meeting on October 8: 

1. Administrative Update – Bel Aire Elementary Principal Mr. John DiCosmo reported on activities at Bel Aire and interviewed four students on their role as Junior Coaches.
2. Board of Trustees Update – The Board of Trustees updated their recent activities including, attending Del Mar’s Back to School Night, the Marin County School Board meetings, the Ranch Board meeting, Challenge Day at Del Mar, the food services committee meeting, a Reed school site visit, the Bel Aire cross country race at Stinson, and a 4th grade parent talk. The Board also recognized the Jewish holidays, and Trustee Jacqueline Jaffee expressed gratitude for the community as her terms winds down.
3. Superintendent Update – District Superintendent Dr. Kimberly McGrath reported on current activities and events in the District, including implementation of the Strategic Plan and the LCAP, creation of an LCAP advisory board and a Budget Advisory Committee, and math curriculum pilots.
4. Reserve Policy Update – Mr. Jeffrey Small from Capitol Public Finance Group presented information regarding the potential development of a Board Policy on financial reserves for the District. The Board then discussed their desire for additional data and community input.
5. Annual Board Report on English Language Learner (ELL) Program – Coordinator of Educational Services Ms. Nicole Trickett and Intervention Specialist/ELL Grade Level Coordinator (GLC) Ms. Jennifer Conde presented on the District's English Language Learner (ELL) program.
6. Safety Plan for 2024-2025 School Year – The Board reviewed and approved the District’s Safety Plan.
7. 2024-2025 Certificated Substitute Rate of Pay – The Board approved an increase to the certificated substitute rate of pay with an effective date of November 1, 2024.

The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2024. The Board encourages all community members who are interested in the District’s financial reserves and a potential Board Policy regarding reserves to provide public comment in advance or at the meeting.

Date : 11.08.24 Pledge Day!

A big PTYay to our Reed PTA Towntastic Co-Chairs, Nikki Perlman and Sarah Reid.  As the first Reed-wide community building event of the school year, Towntastic plays an important role in welcoming new families to the RUSD community and reuniting returning families after the summer break. Towntastic Co-Chairs, Nikki and Sarah did an amazing job bringing the entire Reed School community together for an evening of fun, friendships, and “Reed goes Green” creations. They went the extra mile putting together this beloved Reed annual tradition by giving it a farmers market spin and providing complimentary fresh Mandarin oranges, carrots and snap peas for all to enjoy, in addition to recruiting a great team of volunteers, and streamlining the concessions check out process to ensure that families spent more time visiting with each other than waiting in line for food. Thanks to generous parents like Nikki, Sarah and all of our PTA volunteers, the RUSD PTA can continue its mission to enrich the lives of our children and the school community.

Measure B
Join the RUSD PTA in supporting Measure B!

What is Measure B?

Measure B is a responsible plan to replace outdated and deteriorating high school classrooms and prevent cuts to instructional programs. It provides $289 million in locally controlled funding to address the most urgent and essential needs at each high school, as the State does not provide dedicated funding for school facility repairs and improvements.

Didn’t we just vote on a bond measure for local high schools?
Measure A on the March 2024 ballot would have provided $517 million in funding to repair and upgrade local high schools, which is the full cost of the needed upgrades identified in TUHSD’s Facilities Master Plan. Measure A fell a few hundred votes short of the 55% voter support needed for approval. Measure B is a scaled-down proposal that focuses on the most urgent and high priority facility improvements.

How is Measure B different from the prior bond proposal?
Measure B is 44% smaller than the bond proposed in March and has a scaled-down project list that focuses only on the projects at each high school that are most urgent and essential. The tax rate for Measure B is $18 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value), or about half the cost of the prior bond proposal.

What is the state of TUHSD high school classrooms, labs, and facilities?
While TUHSD provides students with a high-quality education, local high school classrooms, labs, and facilities are more than 60 years old, are deteriorating and need urgent upgrades. The last significant upgrades to local high schools occurred when voters last approved bond funding nearly 20 years ago.

Will all local high schools receive funding from Measure B?
Yes, the detailed and specific project list for Measure B allocates funding to each high school for the highest priority projects on each campus. The funding is split equitably among all high schools.

Specifically, what types of projects would Measure B fund?
Funding from Measure B would be used to replace the most outdated and obsolete classrooms, science labs, technology, and equipment; replace leaking roofs and inefficient heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems; replace outdated and deteriorating temporary portable classrooms.

What if I don't have children in local high schools?
Even if you don’t have school-age children, Measure B is a smart investment. High-quality schools protect and strengthen the value of our homes and enhance the quality of life in our community.

Who supports Measure B?
Measure B is supported by a broad coalition of teachers, parents, students, and education leaders like Marin County Superintendent of Schools John Carroll and Mary Jane Burk (ret). Local elected leaders like Congressman Jared Huffman, County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, and former Supervisor Katie Rice endorse Measure B along with many members of our local city councils and elementary school district boards of education. Respected organizations like the League of Women Voters and Marin Democratic Party recommend a YES vote.

To learn more about the proposed projects, visit https://www.yesonbtuhsd.org/proposed-projects

Thank you for supporting Measure B and Voting YES on B!

Fall Fiesta at Bel Aire

Our annual fall Bel Aire event is back - Fall FIesta on October 24th.  We've added inflatable obstacle courses, a professional photo booth, pumpkin arts & crafts, carnival games and dinner you can purchase for the family.  Grab you Bel Aire students, their siblings and your whole family for a fun evening!  We've broken up all the volunteer responsibilities into bite size pieces so you can help us supervise a game and still have time to enjoy the event with your kiddos. 

We need MANY volunteers to make this event possible - PLEASE SIGN UP HERE TO HELP FOR FALL FIESTA HELP

Fall Musical at Del Mar - Tickets on Sale Now!

Rehearsals are in full swing for "Broadway Bound: A Musical Theatre Revue" presented by the Del Mar PTA, directed by Ms. Derby and starring nearly 30 of our very talented Del Mar students. 

The performance is scheduled for Thursday, November 14, at 6:30p.

You won't want to miss this show highlighting scenes from beloved musicals, including Grease, Les Miserables and Six! Purchase tickets here.

We are also looking for a few parent/guardian volunteers to help before and on the day of the performance. Please sign up here.

See you on Broadway!

RUSD Mission & Vision: Each student will be challenged and inspired to reach their fullest intellectual, social-emotional and creative potential to positively impact the world.