Parents, students and taxpayers in the Hemet Unified School District are invited to attend a series of meetings this month to discuss new local control accountability plans, which are required by the state’s control funding formula approved last spring.
HUSD Superintendent Dr. Barry Kayrell presented an outline of the plans at the district’s Jan. 7 meeting. Along with additional education funds, the 2013-14 state budget requires California school districts to prepare an annual local control plan.
Kayrell plans to release the completed plan in March and intends for the board to adopt it before July.
Eight priority areas are to be addressed. Besides student achievement and engagement, the state specified other student outcomes, parent involvement, school climate, course access, credentials and materials and implementation of the Common Core Standards.
Additional funds for implementing Common Core Standards were allocated for this year and also available next year. HUSD’s allocation will be about $4.5 million and plans for its use were approved at the district’s Nov. 19 meeting.
HUSD has scheduled another meeting for 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Hemet High School Theater to discuss the new Common Core State Standards.
Staff will be available to discuss questions about CCS from kindergarten through high school.
The local control plan will have to include actions to implement the priorities and explain how district expenditures comply with these action steps.
“The key is aligning the plan to the budget, creating annual goals for all student groups, measuring our progress and meeting our strategic goals,” Kayrell said in an email. “All of our folks are working very hard generating an action plan that meets the eight areas of focus, and aligns the funds in a strategic manner to meet the diverse needs of our students.”
If HUSD plans to spend funds on anything, the action has to be included in the plan, according to Board Director Vic Scavarda. One of the areas, which he will follow, is funding for technology to ensure students can comply with future testing needs.
While he is comfortable with Idyllwild’s resources, Scavarda is concerned with HUSD’s high schools, whose enrollments exceed thousands of students.
“It’s going to be difficult to implement fully without technology to back up the students,” he said. “This is a big deal to be sure ample technology is available to support the kids.”
Districts with more students from low-income homes or who are learning English as a second language or are in foster care will receive a larger share of state funds, aimed at programs and resources to raise student achievement.
LaFaye Platter, Deputy Superintendent, Human Resources, said that the District has opened negotiations with the Hemet Teachers Association. Subjects to be discussed include salaries and other compensation, collaboration time and articles 7 and 12 of the current contract.
The community meetings began last week, a schedule of future meetings accompanies the story. Kayrell’s presentation can be viewed at the HUSD website at www.hemetusd.k12.ca.us.
