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Alisal Union trustees hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy report on learning gains, pilot SmartPass and PBIS work
Summary
Principal Jose Juan Urquizo told the board that MLK Academy’s SBAC scores improved (ELA +9.2 points; math +8.5) and described a science camp, a pilot SmartPass digital hall-pass, and PBIS initiatives. Trustees praised progress and asked operational questions about SmartPass and PBIS metrics.
Principal Jose Juan Urquizo presented Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy’s recent assessment and program updates to the Alisal Union School District Board of Trustees, saying the school has improved its English language arts and math outcomes and is strengthening systems to sustain growth.
Urquizo said SBAC English language arts scores rose by 9.2 points, moving the school from “red” to “orange” on the state dashboard, and math increased by 8.5 points and is now “yellow.” He attributed gains to tighter tier‑1 instruction and targeted interventions and said I‑Ready benchmarks showed a 6% increase in students at or above grade level between August and November.
“We are not adding initiatives. We are tightening systems,” Urquizo said, describing monthly early‑literacy teams, standardized PLT protocols and targeted learning walks to connect leadership to classroom practice.
Trustees also viewed student and teacher clips from a fifth‑grade science camp. A student identified as Angel said, “I like this campsite … you get to go on hikes” and described hands‑on learning such as touching a salamander.
On operations, Urquizo demonstrated SmartPass, a digital hall‑pass system piloted at MLK. He said restroom passes are preset at seven minutes and the system reduces office lines, allows students to create passes, and stores data that may be used in parent‑teacher conferences and in drills to identify student locations during emergencies.
“We use it so everyone stays safe and we know where everyone is at all times,” Urquizo said of SmartPass. Board members asked whether it prints passes (staff answered it is fully digital), whether it supports reunification, and whether there are plans to expand it beyond MLK; staff said schools use different local systems and expansion has not been district‑directed.
Assistant Principal Milky Hernandez outlined PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) work: a refined school‑wide PBIS matrix, training with a county consultant, a check‑in/check‑out tier‑2 system, and family “cafecitos” to build alignment with parents. Urquizo identified three measurable priorities for MLK: increase proficiency by 8%, double family participation, and reduce disciplinary incidents by 25%.
Trustees commended the presentation and asked follow‑up questions about SmartPass timing and PBIS fidelity. Clerk Leticia Garcia praised the use of student voice and data, saying the presentation provided “lots of evidence.”
The board did not take a separate action on the presentation; it served as information for ongoing site and district planning.
