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Paramount Unified board reviews preliminary CAASPP results, approves consent and personnel resolutions unanimously
Summary
The Paramount Unified School District board reviewed preliminary CAASPP/CAST results showing 40% of students met or exceeded standards in ELA, 22% in math and 19% in CAST, discussed deeper data review and instructional steps, introduced new administrators and student board members, and approved consent and personnel items 5–0.
The Paramount Unified School District board on Aug. 14 received preliminary CAASPP and CAST results for 2023–24 and discussed next steps for instruction and data review while unanimously approving its consent calendar and several personnel resolutions.
Director of research and student information (presentation) summarized districtwide figures, saying the district enrolled about 12,000 students last year, with roughly 21% English learners and 14% students with disabilities. “You can see that 40% of our students met or exceeded in [English language arts] in the most recent school year,” the presenter said, and “22 percent of our students met or exceeded” in mathematics. On the California Science Test (CAST), the presenter gave a districtwide met-or-exceeded rate of about 19% and emphasized the data are preliminary and not yet comparable to county or state dashboards.
Board members pressed for deeper analysis of the underlying factors. Board member De Leon urged a rigorous review beyond headline percentages: “This is what I want. I want to look at more data,” she said, noting that examining which schools excel and why should guide purchases of instructional tools and interventions. Dr. Nelson (district leadership) replied that the services and instructional teams are cross-referencing data and that “there will be more opportunities for you as a board to see data so you make informed choices,” and described planned targeted professional development and literacy and math supports for identified grades and student groups.
The presentation highlighted next steps the district will pursue, including targeted instructional support for K–2 foundational literacy, differentiated instruction via universal access for K–5, AVID Excel and English-language supports for secondary English learners, and professional development on math instructional practices and California frameworks. The presenter cautioned that these were preliminary numbers and that official comparative dashboards from the California Department of Education will arrive later.
Separately, the board introduced two student board members — Olivia Pulido (Paramount High School senior campus) and Casey Hammonds (Odyssey STEM Academy) — and welcomed three newly appointed administrators: Rebecca Johns (assistant principal, Collins Elementary), Joseph Garcia (special education program administrator), and Dr. Courtney Smith (special education program administrator). Student board members offered brief reports on registration, senior activities and fall sports.
On routine business, the board approved the agenda and the consent calendar (items 10.1–10.35) and passed multiple pupil and personnel service resolutions (Res. 24-11, 24-12, 24-13, among others) by roll call; each motion was recorded as passing unanimously (5–0). The board also previewed several CSBA-recommended policy updates and a newly implemented employee handbook for later action. The meeting adjourned after setting a special meeting for Aug. 17 and the next regular meeting for Sept. 11.
Votes at a glance - Approval of Aug. 14 agenda: passed 5–0. - Consent calendar (10.1–10.35): passed 5–0. - Pupil/personnel service resolutions (Res. 24-11, 24-12, 24-13, etc.): passed 5–0. - Motion to adjourn: passed 5–0.
What’s next The presenter said official CAASPP/CAST comparative data will be released by the California Department of Education in coming months; the board asked staff to bring ongoing, disaggregated data and observational evidence so the district can evaluate which practices and tools to scale.
