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Superintendent outlines new K'1 reading program, $20k-plus in MEF grants and community partnerships
Summary
The Moreland superintendent announced a districtwide foundational reading initiative (systematic phonics/UFLI) for kindergarten through second grade, described roughly $20,000 in fall enrichment grants awarded to 13 recipients across seven schools through MEF, and highlighted partnerships including a free STAR camp with the San Jose Police Department and upcoming enrollment dates.
Speaker 4, the superintendent, presented the district's fall updates during the Moreland Board of Trustees meeting and outlined several items intended to affect classroom instruction and community engagement.
"This year, we launched the foundational reading initiative in our kindergarten through second grade classrooms where we now include systematic phonics instruction," Speaker 4 said, identifying the program materials as UFLI-related instructional resources and describing classroom activities that let students manipulate letters to form words. The superintendent said the phonics component complements small-group reading instruction already in use.
Speaker 4 also summarized recent parent- and school-leader engagement at the district President's Council, noting discussions about emergency protocols and parent pick-up procedures. "We sort of re communicated out what the parents should do when there's an emergency," Speaker 4 said, adding that following protocols helps keep everybody safe.
The superintendent thanked the Moreland Education Foundation (MEF) for fall enrichment grants: "I believe it was over 20 some thousand dollars worth of enrichment grants that went out to our schools this fall," Speaker 4 said. The transcript identifies 13 recipients across Moreland's seven schools and the homeschool study program; the superintendent's wording indicates an amount in excess of $20,000 but does not specify an exact total.
Speaker 4 described a partnership involving a STAR camp sponsored by the San Jose Police Department that included Anderson students. "We did not pay a dime since it's free to our students and their families in our school district," the superintendent said, crediting volunteer patrol officers and other community partners for enabling the opportunity.
Practical reminders followed: the superintendent said winter concerts will include a BDS performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and an honors band concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 16, and that fall 2026 enrollment will open Jan. 12, 2026, with outreach via an annual report and postcards. The superintendent also urged the community to participate in the Moreland food drive, noting a partnership with West Valley Community Services and an online donation link via QR code; pickup of food barrels was described as underway.
The superintendent closed by thanking staff and families, reminding the community there will be no school next week for Thanksgiving break, and returning the meeting to the board chair.
Why this matters: the reading initiative changes classroom instruction for early grades; the MEF grants and community partnerships represent targeted local investments in students; and the enrollment timeline and events will affect family planning for 2026.
