From the Superintendent: Creating Safe Learning Environments for Our Students

This commentary, by Supt. Bill Kowba, was published in the Aug. 26, 2011, edition of Gay San Diego. 

Providing a safe learning environment is a critical element that all schools must focus on if we are to achieve our goal of providing our children a quality education.

To reach this goal, The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education created a Safe Schools Task Force to develop strong policies and proceduresfor schools to ensure that our students can interact in a safe and secure learning environment, one free from any threat to their safety and well-being from their peers or any others in the school setting.

The Safe Schools Task Force is made up of citizens, community organizations and district staff who are passionate about eliminating all bullying in all forms on our school campuses. The task force includes representatives from several community organizations, including representatives from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and allied community.

The task force developed and presented a viable new antibullying policy that was adopted by our Board of Education last spring. That policy clearly states in part:

Board of Education will not tolerate any student or staff member being bullied (including cyber-bullying), harassed, or intimidated in any form at school or school-related events, (including off-campus events, school-sponsored activities, school buses, any events related to school business), or outside of school hours with the intention to be carried out during any of the above.

Over many years, San Diego Unified School District has consistently identified race, gender, religion, and other elements as “protected” groups in our efforts to make schools inclusive and accepting environments for all students. We are now adding LGBT students to this list. It is important to begin and maintain a dialogue about this newly identified group in efforts to make our classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, gymnasiums, and sports settings safer for all.

All students are at risk of being bullied, harassed or called names on campuses, but lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students face particularly hostile school environments. LGBT students come in all colors and ethnicities and represent all religious and socioeconomic groups.In our drive to improve the climate for all students, we are not looking to change any stakeholders’ beliefs. Rather we are focusing our work on changing behavior.

Allowing or ignoring LGBT bullying is not acceptable and, in fact, is in opposition to our anti-bullying policy and fundamental to create safe schools. Research has shown that the most effective bullying prevention programs have certain common characteristics, especially a broad-based understanding andconsensus among school staff so that people enforce the same expectations consistently.

As we begin this new school year, I am asking all of our San Diego Unified staff to review the anti-bullying policy and to be vigilant to instances of harassment and bullying. Our expectation is that any bullying situation in theworkplace at our administrative offices or at any of our campuses will be reported immediately so that prompt action is taken to protect our students, staff and parents.

During the next few months, the safe schools task force will be finalizing more detailed administrative procedures for all of us in the district to follow that will help us maintain safe school environments throughout our district.

We will keep the community posted on our progress with this important effort.

San Diego Unified's Accountability Score at Highest Level

California's Largest Districts

District Score Growth Garden Grove 815 13 San Diego 798  13 San Francisco 796 5 Long Beach  766 7 Sacramento 759  6 Los Angeles 728 19 Oakland 726 8 Fresno 717  6 San Bernardino 713 14 Source: California Department of Education

Top San Diego Unified Results

Elementary School Scores La Jolla Elementary, 982   Torrey Pines Elementary, 989 Elementary Top Growth Sherman Elementary, 95 Cubberley Elementary, 62 Middle School Scores Marshall Middle School, 932 Muirlands Middle School, 897 Middle School Top Growth Innovation Middle, 43 Millennial Tech Middle, 40 High School Scores Scripps Ranch High, 883 San Diego High International Studies, 873 High School Growth iHigh Virtual Academy, 60 Twain High, 50

California's Academic Performance Index (API) results for 2011 show San Diego Unified's overall score nearly at the state's target 800 score, with 104 schools scoring at 800 or above and 28 scoring 900 or higher.Among other large districts around California, only Garden Grove exceeds 800, at 815; San Diego is second with 798, San Francisco third with 796. The results were released Aug. 31.

"I want to congratulate the students, teachers and staffs at all of our schools for their excellent showing," said Supt. Bill Kowba. "What is particularly impressive is the growth that has come despite several years of historic budget cuts."

The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure is used by the federal Department of Education to determine if a school or district meets the act's annual growth standards; those that do not are placed on Program Improvement after two years. Four San Diego Unified schools exited Program Improvement as a result of these test results: Garfield High School, Kimbrough and Rosa Parks elementary schools, Garfield High School, and the King/Chavez Arts charter school.

Despite the improved scores, 113 schools are now on Program Improvement, up from 95 last year. School targets increased by about ten percentage points over 2010. However, because of differences between the state and federal standards, 20 schools met the California API target of 800, yet are on Program Improvement according to the federal government.

"California has some of the most rigorous standards in the nation and these schools excel," said Kowba. "Yet parents at these schools will receive a letter saying that their school is failing. That just is not true."

San Diego Unified's Board of Education has supported changes in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), including those advocated by state Supt. of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, who has called these schools "mislabled."

Torlakson noted that statewide, 55 percent of elementary schools, 43 percent of middle schools and 28 percent of high schools were 800 or above. In San Diego Unified, 59 percent of elementary schools met target, along with 48 percent of middle schools and 26 percent of high schools.
Despite the increase, for the third year, San  Diego Unified did not make its AYP under NCLB. In its third year of Program Improvement, the district will be required to take corrective actions that are yet to be identified. San Diego Unified entered Program Improvement in 2009.

Among student groups, some achievement gaps continued to slowly narrow. For example, while White students had a gain of 12 API points to 890 and Asian students' scores rose 10 points to 878, Hispanic or Latino students were up 14 points to 735 and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students increased 14 points to 746.

"We're pleased to see these achievement gaps continuing to narrow," said Kowba. "Eliminating these gaps is one of the key missions of our district."

For scores of districts and individual schools, go to the state's website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/index.asp

From the Superintendent: State Budget Proposal Still Means Tough Choices for 2011-12

While our new governor, Jerry Brown, came out strongly in favor of education in his budget message, the district is still expecting another year of cuts — possibly $120 million -- to the 2011-12 general fund. This is on top of the $400 million cut over the last three years. In his budget message, the governor pledged to keep funding at its current levels, stating "Schools have borne the brunt of spending reductions in recent years...” At San Diego Unified, our staff is still analyzing what this budget will mean to our district.

Each year, the governor submits a budget proposal to the legislature in January. School districts must start planning their next-year budget based on this proposal, submitting a balanced budget by June 30. In past years, the legislature has debated far past the July 1 start of the fiscal year, making the situation extremely challenging for the district. This year, Gov. Brown has asked the legislature to have next year’s budget completed by March so a package of tax increases can be submitted to voters in June. We hope they follow this schedule. Making their job easier is the passage of Prop. 25 last fall, which eliminated the two-thirds requirement for passing the state budget.

While we appreciate the Governor’s support of K-12 education, his proposal delays some payments to school districts until 2012-13 and assumes that voters will provide $2 billion to schools (statewide) by extending current income tax rates.

In addition, San Diego Unified's costs are increasing and we will no longer have federal stimulus dollars in 2011-12. Keeping next year’s budget the same as 2010-11 means we cannot afford as much.

We will continue to provide regular updates on the status of our budget. The Board of Education will hold several special budget and regular business meetings over the next few months. Most meetings are televised on ITV Channel 16 and video streamed on our website. In addition, check for frequent updates on our budget web page at www.sandi.net/budget.

As we face an even more difficult budget cycle, we hope you stay involved with your schools and contact your state legislators to let them know what you think.

BILL KOWBA

Supt. Says Back-To-School Was Smooth

Appears on morning news and talks about the first week of school and other topics. Watch video from KUSI-TV»

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From the Superintendent: Welcome Back to School

Today, we welcome back more than 132,000 students to our schools. Thank you to all of our teachers, principals, school support staff and central office employees who have been working so hard to make sure that the start of school is a success.


As we start the new school year, I have been sharing the same message with all of our employees. That singular message is that the success of our students should always be at the forefront of our minds. Remember our mission statement as we begin anew, refreshed and refocused:

"All San Diego students will graduate with the skills, motivation, curiosity and resilience to succeed in their choice of college and career in order to lead and participate in the society of tomorrow."

We had great success at our schools last year. Everyone is excited about continuing that positive momentum throughout the 2010/11 school year for our students and families. Parents, thank you for the privilege of serving your children. Welcome back to school!

BILL KOWBA

IN THE NEWS: Supt. Kowba Talks Back-to-School

Interview covers school opening on Tuesday, Sept. 7, budget and test scores.
Watch video from Fox 5 San Diego»

Board Appoints Deputy Superintendents for Instruction, Business

Two key leadership positions have been filled by San Diego Unified's Board of Education: Nellie Meyer will be Deputy Superintendent Academics and Phil Stover as Deputy Superintendent Business.

The appointments complete key pieces of new Superintendent Bill Kowba's team as each will lead significant portions of the district's operations.

"Stover and Meyer will provide dynamic and experienced leadership to their teams at San Diego Unified," said Kowba. "We're very fortunate to have them, especially with the significant challenges we face in the future."

Meyer has spent her educational career with San Diego Unified, most recently appointed an Area Superintendent, while continuing her role as Interim Deputy Superintendent for Academics. She has also served as Chief High School Improvement Officer, Assistant Superintendent for High Schools, Chief Elementary School Officer and Executive Director for the Dropout Prevention Program. She began her career in education in 1982 as a teacher's assistant, becoming a certificated teacher in 1989. She has also been a principal and vice principal, all in San Diego Unified. She is a doctoral candidate at San Diego State University.

Stover is currently Interim Chief Financial Officer with San Diego Unified, after being appointed Interim Chief Special Projects Officer in 2009. In 2000, he founded The Portolan Group, a consulting company that assisted school districts in improving their support services departments. He began working with San Diego Unified in 2006 as a consultant, working on a reorganization of Physical Plant Operations. He has also worked as a consultant for 25 school districts, including 10 of the nation's largest.

The Board made the appointments in a rare Saturday session on July 17.

"I know I speak for the Board when I say the pool of applicants was diverse and highly qualified," said Richard Barrera, Board President. "I know our two new Deputy Superintendents will work very well with Superintendent Kowba and help us move forward."

Each will supervise a key aspect of the district's mission and report directly to Superintendent Kowba. Deputy Superintendent Academics is the key instructional staff member who will oversee the new Area Superintendents structure that includes the implementation of new initiatives such as bringing University of California A-G requirements to all students, increasing the high school graduation rate, reducing absenteeism and improving performance on standardized tests. The Deputy Superintendent Academics will also lead the plan for individual student goals such as improving individualized instruction and challenging students to excel.

The Deputy Superintendent Business has responsibility for staff and functions ranging from school maintenance to food services to construction of new facilities. Goals set by the Board of Education and Superintendent
include effective multi-year planning, increased use of technology to become more efficient, and ensuring that our schools are safe, attractive neighborhood learning centers. Non-teaching services are key in creating a comfortable environment for learning and providing support needed to keep students safe.

IN THE NEWS: New Schools Chief Addresses District Issues

Supt. Bill Kowba was a guest on the KPBS-FM talk show "These Days" on Wednesday, July 14. Listen to the show and read a transcript at the KPBS-FM website»