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Superintendent reports staffing, campus projects, AI discussions and student supports at Rescue Union meeting
Summary
Superintendent Jim Schumake updated the board on AI policy discussions, targeted staffing for Lake Forest, PBIS facilitator additions, construction timing, local solar rollout per site and a campus—omfort dog; he also noted a tentative settlement with the teachers association and ongoing work with CSEA.
Superintendent Jim Schumake told the Rescue Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees about multiple operational and program updates affecting staffing, student supports and campus construction.
"We're adding some additional staffing at Lake Forest next year in recognition of the fact that that school needs some additional resources to deal with some of the challenges that they have," Schumake said, describing a district meeting and a June 5 student and staff support-team session that will include psychologists, a TOSA, counselors, teachers, classified staff, the principal and district coaches to "define everyone's lane."
Nut graf: the superintendent—rief covered several administrative actions that affect day-to-day student supports and facilities planning, including pilot policy work on artificial intelligence, added behavioral supports, construction progress and phased connection of solar systems.
Schumake summarized a countywide "deep dive into AI" he and others attended and said boards and high schools are assessing a TK—2 approach to AI policy so expectations are consistent across grade levels. He said the county conversation emphasized policy, educator training and student expectations, and cautioned the board against adopting overly prescriptive rules that would quickly become obsolete.
On student supports, Schumake described the district pproach to targeted staffing and behavior support: the district will add PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) facilitators next year, including one at Rescue and one at Lake Forest, and has a counselor at every site with two counselors at Green Valley. He said the district is expanding non-instructional supports to reduce staff burnout and to make roles clear.
Construction and facilities updates included Lake Forest, Pleasant Grove and other modernization work. Schumake said the Lake Forest gate removal date moved from May 9 to May 23 because of underground work and that the district is coordinating fencing removal with high-travel days such as open houses, graduation and fifth- and kindergarten dvancement events. He cautioned that Marina remains contingent on multiple perfect conditions because of limited off-site parking.
On solar projects, staff told the board that sites will be connected "as they come up on board," and the superintendent said the contractor, a local company called Excite Energy, is incentivized to connect sites as they become ready.
Schumake also shared community and extracurricular highlights including a unified basketball event, a forthcoming unified track meet and a campus comfort dog named Abby that staff trained and cleared for campus presence after a community survey of allergies and phobias. He said Abby has helped students self-regulate and act as an adjunct support at Lake Forest.
The superintendent thanked the district bargaining team for reaching a tentative settlement with the teachers association and said other bargaining with CSEA remains ongoing. He credited collaborative bargaining for preserving programs and staffing.
Ending: these items were presented as a superintendent—riefing (discussion only); no binding board actions were taken on the facility schedule, staffing additions or AI policy at the meeting.
