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Elementary principals outline curriculum, wellness and outreach; board discusses class size and data
Summary
Principals from Captain Cooper, Tularcitos and River Elementary described districtwide elementary progress on math (I-Ready), ELA/ELD planning, social-emotional supports and family engagement; trustees asked about I-Ready adoption, data sources and outreach to Spanish-speaking and outlying families, and a parent later urged the board to prioritize smaller class sizes at Tularcitos.
Three elementary principals — Kara Gober (Captain Cooper Elementary School), Ryan Peterson (Tularcitos Elementary School) and Therese Phillips (River Elementary School) — presented a snapshot of strengths and next steps aligned with the district strategic plan.
Principals described I-Ready math coaching and a districtwide rollout (adopted at the end of 2021–22 with year-one implementation in 2022–23), data systems used to track progress (DIBELS, phonics surveys, STAR reading and I-Ready diagnostics) and plans to pursue a consistent ELA/ELD curriculum. "All teachers across the sites are using the same math curriculum, ensuring consistency and a shared instructional foundation," one principal said.
On student wellness, presenters described Heart-Centered Connections professional learning, Second Step classroom lessons delivered by teachers as part of a weekly program, small-group counseling and 1:1 supports provided by counselors and social workers. On family engagement, principals described personal outreach, targeted events and efforts to reach Spanish-speaking families and families in outlying communities.
Board members asked about the timing and evidence of success for I-Ready; Superintendent Sharon Ofek clarified adoption timing and noted the district uses multiple data points, now consolidated in a single platform to inform interventions. Trustees also asked how often Second Step lessons occur (teachers deliver them weekly or multiple times per week) and what outreach is done for families who face barriers to engagement.
During the nonagendized public-comment period, parent Alice Saunders described a petition (215 signatures at the time spoken) urging the district to proactively reduce projected class sizes at Tularcitos, citing enrollment growth at that site and asking the district for transparent student-to-teacher ratios and consideration of additional staffing.
This item was information only; no action was taken tonight on class-size allocations. Superintendent Ofek reminded the public that enrollment for next school year opened March 2 and that site principals and ongoing enrollment data will inform staffing decisions before the June budget and staffing deadlines.
