La Jolla Cluster Association Update
- Non-Profit Status - Parent representatives John May and Lisa Bonebrake have met and are working to complete documentation for the LJCA to become a 501(c)(3) organization. We need the nonprofit status because of the money that we will be earning and spending on the speaker series.
- Community Education Committee On April 26th we are bringing in Lynn O'Shaughnessy, local author of the Amazon bestseller, “The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price.” Tickets are $10. The talk begins at 6:30 pm at Parker Auditorium, LJHS. The committee is looking for individuals and companies that would like to sponsor our community education events. To learn more, please contact Sharon Jones at sharonlj@san.rr.com.
- Finance Committee - After meeting with board member Scott Barnett and district operations officer Phil Stover in October, the LJCA board decided not to facilitate a community-wide meeting about district finances. The financial picture continues to change quickly, with budget numbers and board decisions changing weekly. For this reason, the LJCA board chose to instead link published articles to our site to help keep our community informed. In addition, SDUSD's homepage of website has its governmental take action petition up and running. Everyone can go to www.sandi.net, click on "Have Your Voice Heard" at top right, and it takes you to the petition to ask state legislators to change budgeting process and deadlines for public education.
- Intra-Cluster Activities Committee – Teachers from all three LJ elementary sites met in January to begin shared professional development for next year’s changes related to math curriculum standards. Thank you Girard Gourmet for giving us a discounted rate so we could provide a nice lunch to our educators. Parent Rep Alison Lee is following up with principals to gain feedback re: what went well and where there is room for improvement, as well as possible plans for next year.
- Transitions -- Natascha Vossen and the Muirlands Foundation volunteers are reaching out to smooth the transition between 5th and 6th grades. The Muirlands Open House was successful with more than 140 parents registered for the event and food provided by volunteers. Natascha also arranged for Muirlands parents with ties to each of the three elementary schools to host informal coffees in their homes (Feb/March) for the parents of incoming 6th graders. This way, anxious parents can ask questions of current MMS parents in a comfortable and casual environment.
- School site foundation leaders and principals from grades K-8 recently met to share information and plan for 2012-13.
- District Relations Committee – Complying with San Diego Unified Board’s implementation of a “Community Based Education Reform Model,” LJCA has been surveying and meeting with teachers, administrators, and staff in order to develop a document which would potentially become a partnership agreement between the La Jolla Cluster of schools and the district.
- Technology Committee – Technology teachers from each of the sites met January 9 at the Muirlands Middle School library and discussed current challenges, ideas, equipment, and coordination among schools. The committee will meet again in April.
- Safety/Transportation Committee - The La Jolla YMCA is trying to gauge interest in setting up a bus route for Muirlands and La Jolla High. The YMCA is offering transportation that is safe and reliable from the La Jolla YMCA, Hidden Valley and Mt Soledad to Muirlands and La Jolla High. The bus will leave on the following times: 6:45 AM - La Jolla Y; 6:55 Hidden Valley (at the Bottom of the Hill); 7:05 Mt Soledad Cross. The bus will be staffed by a certified drive and a Y staff member, and will drop the students off in front of the school. The bus will cost $75 per month. Currently the YMCA is trying to assess whether or not there is enough interest in such a program. They do need a critical volume of students to make this a cost-effective venture. Please contact the YMCA ASAP to let them know if you are interested in such a service. If interested please Contact Jen Rivieccio ASAP at (858) 453-3483, ext. 145 or jrivieccio@ymca.org.
- Be sure to check our Press Room page to stay updated on important educational and SDUSD issues.
Want to share a comment, question or suggestion about
SDUSD budget cuts,
or our educational system in general?
Post it on our blog: www.LaJollaCluster.BlogSpot.com
SDUSD budget cuts,
or our educational system in general?
Post it on our blog: www.LaJollaCluster.BlogSpot.com
The La Jolla Cluster Association represents La Jolla High, Muirlands Middle,
and Bird Rock, La Jolla and Torrey Pines elementaries.
and Bird Rock, La Jolla and Torrey Pines elementaries.
Please click here to see a list of representatives from each school.