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Milpitas Unified reports gains from high‑impact tutoring as board reviews midyear LCAP; parents press for gym and safety action
Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Milpitas Unified Board received a midyear LCAP update showing increases in dual enrollment and reported gains from AirTutors and in‑school TOSA interventions; public commenters urged a task force on high‑school gym capacity and raised urgent student safety concerns.
Milpitas Unified School District leaders told the board on Feb. 10 that districtwide high‑impact tutoring and newly expanded in‑school intervention supports helped a subset of elementary students make substantial “stretch” gains, while trustees and the public pressed officials on facilities planning and student safety.
Dr. Shannon Sosa, coordinator for intervention programs, described a two‑pronged approach: virtual small‑group tutoring provided by AirTutors (three times weekly, groups of three to four for 45‑minute sessions) plus in‑school Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA) who deliver targeted Tier‑2 instruction during the school day. "This extra dosage of tutoring has been crucial for ensuring that the student does not have continued learning gaps," Sosa said, citing examples of students who reached grade‑level performance after layered supports.
District materials presented at the meeting said AirTutors served about 161 unique students in reading and about 146 in math during the first cycle, and that several historically underperforming subgroups — including McKinney‑Vento students, foster youth and long‑term English learners — showed measurable progress in many sites. Sosa stressed that tutoring works in partnership with strong Tier‑1 instruction in classrooms and singled out the intervention TOSAs as critical connectors to classroom teachers and families.
Business Services and Learning & Development staff also presented the district’s midyear LCAP update. The board was told that base LCFF funding projections rose modestly from the budget adopted in June; A–G (college‑preparation) course completion stood at roughly half of graduates, dual‑enrollment participation had grown, and chronic absenteeism had dropped districtwide by about 2.2 percent since the prior comparison. Staff noted a troubling increase in chronic absenteeism among unhoused students and said transportation and wraparound supports remain priorities.
Public comment framed the district conversation. Sabrina Ortega of the Milpitas Trojan Athletic Booster Club urged a board‑led task force to plan a new high‑school gym, arguing “This isn't…a scheduling problem. This is a facilities problem” and proposing a capital‑raise plus bond approach to reduce voter burden. Separately, a grandfather, Victor Conurs, described multiple threats against his grandson and urged urgent follow‑up beyond referrals to counseling: “My grandson is afraid to go to school right now...they started talking about shooting him,” he said, and asked the superintendent for an immediate investigation and follow‑up to protect students.
Superintendent Jordan told the board staff would follow up with site administrators on safety concerns and provide a report; business staff said a district cost‑management recommendation will return to the board at the March 10 meeting. Board members also set a March 10 date for a second reading of a required new policy and approved several routine consent items and a Black History Month resolution.
