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Carver and Valentine principals outline elementary goals: safety, PBIS, restorative practices and small class sizes
Summary
Elementary principals and district staff presented site-level actions supporting the board’s four goals, highlighting safety drills, PBIS platinum recognition, restorative-practices training, small class-size targets and partnerships for wellness and enrichment.
Principals from Carver and Valentine elementary schools presented to the San Marino Unified Board of Education on Oct. 14 how their sites are implementing the district’s four board goals, emphasizing safety and wellness, positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), restorative practices, small class sizes and community partnerships.
Principal presenters told the board both elementary schools received platinum recognition from California PBIS and now serve as model sites. They said PBIS routines and restorative-practices trainings aim to reduce office referrals and suspensions by teaching students conflict-resolution skills, morning meetings and classroom circles. The principals said both schools will continue annual safety drills — earthquake, fire and critical-incident trainings — and closely coordinate site safety plans with the San Marino Police and Fire Departments.
Site leaders reported data-driven wellness work: in the first 40 days of the school year elementary sites referred eight students to the Titan wellness center and 25 students were receiving services at the time of the presentation. Principals said counselors teach Second Step social-emotional lessons and that site teams analyze behavior and attendance data to target interventions.
On class sizes and staffing, principals said enrollment increased at both elementary schools but the district is maintaining class-size averages of 24 or fewer students in transitional kindergarten through third grade and 28 or fewer in fourth and fifth grades. They credited PTA fundraising, the San Marino Schools Foundation, Partnership for Awareness and other community partners for supporting staff positions and programs and said site leaders regularly review budgets with business services to align resources with student needs.
The presentation also described curriculum and enrichment initiatives: plans for a dual-enrollment middle-school class in partnership with Pasadena City College, med-arts internships for high-school students, schoolwide implementation of Universal Design for Learning strategies, small-group instruction cycles and exploration of AI tools for personalized learning. Principals noted student leadership programs — including student councils and student-led cafeteria menu planning that comply with state nutrition guidelines — and schoolwide cultural events that engage families.
Board members thanked site leaders for the report. No formal board action was necessary; principals said they will continue to return data and implementation updates to the board.
