Washington Unified honors custodians and transportation staff, celebrates Washington Middle College’s national gold award; student board member reports strongCA

Washington Unified School District trustees opened their Oct. 23 meeting in West Sacramento with a series of recognitions for campus staff and students, then heard a student board report highlighting recent academic gains at Washington Middle College High School.

Georges Kazanis, the district’s executive director of communications, led the recognitions and asked the board and audience to thank custodial staff who ‘‘often arrive before the day begins and leave long after the last bell.’’ Kazanis also presented statistics about the district’s transportation operation: 22 bus drivers, 2 van drivers, 12 bus assistants and a total of 24 routes that transport about 1,400 students daily. He said the transportation team logged 296,793 miles last school year and has driven 85 field trips so far this year.

Principal Lane of Washington Middle College High School described the school’s application process for the National Center for Urban School Transformation award, saying the submission was ‘‘35 pages’’ and covered three years of data including subgroup achievement and attendance. Lane said the center visited campuses and selected seven schools nationally; Washington Middle College received a gold designation. "This is three years of hard work and dedication by this tiny little staff," Lane said, noting the school’s small staff size.

Student board member Masha Rachmanova reported academic results and student activities from Washington Middle College. "For the past three years, 80 percent of our students have met or exceeded their English CAASPP scores," Rachmanova said. She also reported that 50 percent of students met or exceeded math standards over the past two years and 75 percent met or exceeded the science standard for students taking the CAASPP. Rachmanova said the school has more than 200 students this year and has formalized three new student clubs; she also described a new middle‑school superintendent advisory council that began this year.

Trustees acknowledged the district’s custodians and transportation team with thanks and invited staff forward for photographs. The board did not take formal action related to the recognitions; the items were presented for celebration and information.

Looking ahead, Rachmanova said Washington Middle College will host a fall festival and represent Korean culture at the district’s Oct. 29 multicultural celebration.