Headline News
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Dear RUSD Community,

There are some wonderful parent education events happening from January to March, brought to you by the Marin County Office of Education and the Let's Talk Series. These events are designed to provide valuable insights and strategies to support your child's development and education. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with experts and connect with other parents who share your interests and concerns. For more detailed information, please visit the Parent/Guardians Education Events section of this newsletter.

Board Appointment
The board will be appointing a new board member due to Sherry Wangeneheim stepping down because of her relocation. Please watch for more information on how to apply, as we will soon provide details on the application process and the qualities we are seeking in a new member. Feel free to email me with any questions or if you would like to discuss the role further. We are eager to find someone who shares our commitment and vision for the future..

YouthTruth Survey
We Need 15 Minutes of Your Time for the YouthTruth Survey - The YouthTruth survey is now open. Please follow this link  to complete the survey. Please complete one survey per child. This helps us to understand your perspective and make improvements to your child's school. This is the main survey we use to analyze culture, belonging, connectedness, etc. Thank you for your time!

Kind regards,

Dr. Kimberly McGrath

Superintendent

Reed Union School District

"We are even stronger together!"

Follow Us On

The Board of Trustees reviewed the following items at the Regular Board Meeting on January 13:

Bel Aire Elementary Spanish Program Report
The Board received a report highlighting the integration of Spanish language and culture into the Bel Aire curriculum. The program includes clubs, weekly TV segments, cultural events, field trips, pen pal exchanges, and community partnerships. The report emphasized alignment with the District’s strategic plan and a focus on experiential learning and language acquisition for students.

Board of Trustees Update
Trustees discussed holiday activities, governance development, and continuous improvement, with an emphasis on fostering a culture of inclusion and collaborative leadership. Trustees also referenced ongoing winter programming, community engagement through surveys, and the importance of data-driven strategies to support district advancement.

Superintendent Update (Reported on Behalf of the Superintendent)
Dr. Kim reported on a successful January professional development day focused on staff wellness and mental health, the smooth transition to Revolution Food for school meals, and continued community engagement related to facility bond exploration. Updates also included clarification of district facility use policies and efforts to improve outreach and transparency.

OPEB Actuarial Study
The Board reviewed an actuarial report showing a net retiree health liability of $1.5 million. The District currently contributes $200,000 annually toward a dedicated trust intended to achieve full funding. The Board reviewed data related to retiree demographics and projected costs and discussed ongoing evaluation of contribution strategies with the goal of eventually covering annual expenses through investment returns.

California State Data Dashboard Report
The Board reviewed data indicating strong overall academic performance across the District. The report also highlighted continued challenges with chronic absenteeism, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. Trustees discussed ongoing efforts focused on targeted interventions, attendance initiatives, and improved access for all student groups.

Election or Provisional Appointment of New School Board Trustee
The Board discussed options for filling a trustee vacancy, including holding a special election or proceeding with a provisional appointment. Considerations included cost, timelines, and community impact. The Board reached consensus to proceed with a provisional appointment process, emphasizing transparency, clear application criteria, and timely public communication.

School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
The Board reviewed and approved the annual SARC, which presents retrospective, state-standardized data on district performance and demographics. Community feedback was discussed, with minimal changes noted due to statutory data requirements.

Wellness and Belonging Task Force Action Plan
The Board approved the proposed action plan focused on inclusive, social-emotional learning-aligned curriculum, behavior supports, and increased student and parent engagement across all grade levels. Trustees expressed strong support for the plan and discussed the importance of clear metrics, cross-site consistency, community partnerships, and the role of counseling staff. The plan includes steps for measuring effectiveness and ongoing evaluation.

Independent Auditor’s Report for Fiscal Year 2025
The Board approved the Independent Auditor’s Report, which found no financial deficiencies and confirmed that the District maintained adequate reserves. Trustees noted a non-financial compliance finding related to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, which will be addressed through upcoming agreements. Clarification was provided that the audit’s reference to the Foundation is standard due to its separate audit process.

School Board Trustee Compensation
The Board discussed potential updates to the trustee compensation policy following changes in state law under AB 1390. After discussion, the Board decided to table the item for future consideration by the full Board and to allow for additional community input. Discussion points included the voluntary nature of current service, financial and equity considerations, and the need for further information and public discussion.

These FREE events are designed to support you and your families throughout the school year.

Marin County Office of Education

Discover a series of engaging and informative events designed for parents and caregivers, scheduled from January through March. These sessions offer valuable insights into child development, effective parenting techniques, and strategies to support your child's education.

Let's Talk Parent Series

Community discussions take a deeper dive into the Let’s Talk topics on the website with guest facilitators and topic experts. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to share their experiences and best practices in a safe, solution-oriented environment. Register for one of our community discussions here.

Strengthening Partnerships for Students with Disabilities
2025–26 Webinar Series Fourth Thursday of the Month from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. The California Department of Education, Special Education Division, in partnership with the Seeds of Partnership project, invite you to join this engaging webinar series. Sign up here .

A January tradition we’re proud of

Every January, the Foundation for Reed Schools delivers the first half of its $2 million annual commitment to the district with a $1 million distribution, supporting the specialist programs and people our students rely on all year long.

This week, President Michelle Wilson and Executive Director Mickey Hubbell presented
the check to the school board.

Thank you to our families, community donors, and sponsors for making this commitment
possible, year after year.

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Dear Families,

As we begin the new year, thank you for the many ways you support our schools and our students.

A quick reminder of how the Foundation supports our district:

• While property taxes and public funding support our schools, they do not cover the salaries of all specialist teachers
• The Foundation for Reed Schools bridges the gap between state funding and what our schools truly need
• The Foundation has committed $2 million to RUSD for this school year
• This represents approximately 11% of the district’s overall budget
• For perspective, the average cost of private PreK–8 education in Marin County is $28,478 per year
• Our Foundation funded specialist programs are a key reason our schools are comparable to (if not stronger than!) a private school education
• The suggested donation is $1,893 per student: Our $2M goal across 1,056 students comes out to $1,893.

Our fundraising efforts are off to a strong start with just over half of families participating, BUT there is still important work ahead. Our goal is 100% family participation and every gift at ANY level meaningful to your family helps strengthen our collective impact.

If you have not yet pledged or donated, I invite you to consider participating today to help ensure that your children continue to receive a rich, well-rounded public education.

With gratitude,
Mickey Hubbell
Executive Director
Foundation for Reed Schools

RUSD PTA is seeking engaged PTA members to serve on the 2026 Nominating Committee for the PTA Executive Board. The committee will consist of five members and one alternate. Familiarity with all three school sites and their volunteer communities is preferred, but not required.

This is a short yet meaningful commitment, with approximately four meetings held in February and March, and the goal of presenting a final slate of candidates by late March. Serving on the Nominating Committee is a great way to support strong leadership and ensure continued success for our PTA.

👉 If you’re interested in participating or would like more information, please reach out to RUSD Parliamentarian Tracey Paull by January 30th.

PTA members interested in serving on the committee will be voted on by the PTA membership through a confidential online survey. To be eligible for consideration—or to cast a vote—members must be in good standing and current with their PTA dues.  (It’s not too late, you can pay your PTA dues HERE).

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.