Pleasant Grove students present AVID strategies as superintendent spotlights staff, recruitment and facilities

Superintendent Jim Schumach and Pleasant Grove Middle School students presented a progress update on the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program during the Rescue Union Elementary School District board meeting, followed by a superintendent report covering staff promotions, a new recruitment-and-referral push, facilities updates and the district garden.

The presentation featured students explaining AVID practices such as Cornell notes, Costa's levels of thinking and annotation keys, and showing college and career boards. Molly Griffin, vice principal at Pleasant Grove, and Vera, the school's principal, led the presentation with several students speaking about field trips and AVID routines. Student speakers described using Cornell notes as a study tool and explained how AVID binders are prepared and distributed to students.

The presentation demonstrated how AVID strategies are used across Pleasant Grove. "The AVID binder system is an essential component of AVID," Molly Griffin said, describing binders stocked with tabs, pens, highlighters and earbuds that students can receive for a donation on Puma Walk. Students who spoke listed colleges and careers they researched and explained how field trips, including visits to UC Davis and Folsom College, helped motivate them to consider higher education.

In his superintendent's report, Jim Schumach highlighted six board focus goals and tied examples to each: student support, staff support, commitment to community, fiscal accountability and facilities management, plus a brief “something to make you smile.” He announced that Molly Griffin has been named principal at Jackson Elementary (remaining in the district) and thanked staff for recruitment efforts that include a referral bonus program he said targets hard-to-fill roles such as bus drivers, instructional assistants and food service workers.

Schumach also noted Pleasant Grove activities: an AVID team that built more than 400 binders over the summer; a special-education chili cook-off; expanded elementary sports opportunities; an International Women’s Day event held at Lake Forest; progress on a near-complete construction project at Pleasant Grove that is expected to save money over 25 years; and the development of a district garden producing food now shared with the central kitchen. He praised staff for organizing small-group instruction and social-emotional supports, illustrated by a classroom practice using color-coded feeling cards.

Board members and attendees praised the student presentations. One board member said, "You all got up and did such a good job. Some of you didn't even have notes. You were just, like, professionals." Another board member asked whether Pleasant Grove would consider becoming an AVID demonstration site; presenters said the school would be interested but noted requirements such as the need for high school tutors and the 72-item Coaching and Certification Instrument (CCI) data collection needed for AVID certification.

The district and school representatives emphasized continuation and scaling: AVID materials and an online interactive notebook were described as central to maintaining compliance and evidence for the CCI. Staff said AVID coaching is supported by a SCOE (Sacramento County Office of Education) AVID coach who provides professional development and that the program requires ongoing tutoring and documentation.

The presentation concluded with the board thanking the students and staff, and with discussion about opportunities to continue AVID supports into high school via clubs or coordinator roles.

The AVID presentation and superintendent report occupied the first portion of the meeting and were presented before several personnel, budget and consent votes later in the agenda.