District reports staffing, registration and outreach ahead of school year; announces backpack giveaway and summer professional development

District administrators updated the board on staffing, student registration and outreach ahead of the coming school year, and highlighted a small slate of summer professional development trips. Human-resources and site staff said they are continuing to recruit for remaining certificated and classified positions, with interviews scheduled for subject-area openings and campus-safety roles. “We are busy filling our last few positions,” a human-resources presenter said, adding that classified testing and interview days have been ongoing. Superintendent Dr. Mendez reported on professional development attendance: the district sent a team of 63 to the PLC conference in Las Vegas and will send a team of about 61 to an AVID Summer Institute on July 29. “We had the largest group there from any one school district,” Mendez said of the PLC conference, and described ongoing Williams visits scheduled for Aug. 18 at Rosemond High Early College campus and Rosemond Elementary School. Staff reminded parents that transitional kindergarten (TK) and preschool seats are filling quickly and urged families to complete registration and submit required documents. The district also announced a Parent and Community Center backpack giveaway and ice cream social running Monday, Aug. 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., continuing through Aug. 8; staff said Southern Kern students will be given priority for backpacks and supplies. Board members heard brief construction and operations updates and approved routine consent and personnel items later in the meeting. What’s next District staff will continue candidate interviews, post hires as filled, complete Williams visits and carry out the backpack giveaway outreach the first week of August.