Sonoma Heights presents site improvement plan: personalized learning, MTSS, PBIS and enrichment

Sonoma Heights Elementary staff presented the school’s academic program, supports for at-risk students and continuous improvement plan to the Humboldt County School District Board of Trustees on April 8.

Presenters described a multi-tiered approach: tier 1 direct instruction, tier 2 targeted interventions and tier 3 intensive supports delivered through a district MTSS framework. Staff said they have implemented PLC/TLC cycles on Wednesday half-days — planning, teaching and assessing in short cycles — and that second grade ran a new four- or five-week grouping cadence for targeted instruction, enrichment and remediation.

The school reported highlights including a booster fundraiser that raised nearly $20,000, a planned digital marquee grant application with MGM, expanded STEM activities under “Books and Bots,” monthly PBIS rewards and a Father–Daughter dance. Staff also said GATE and high-achieving program supports will expand next year and GATE teachers will begin weekly in-town support.

Sonoma reported progress on attendance: chronic absenteeism was 22.8 percent at the time of the presentation, down roughly three percentage points from the prior year; the school’s target is a 5-percentage-point reduction. Teachers described classroom practices such as learning-style inventories for third and fourth graders that feed into personalized education plans and use of LETRS training for reading instruction. The board thanked Sonoma staff for the presentation and asked questions about implementation and metrics.