The May 17, 2018 Coronado Unified School District board meeting was a meeting of recognition, pleas from CUSD staff members for wage increases, and approvals of a variety of previously heard or reviewed topics which included the rate restructure for the preschool extended day and childcare extended day programs.
The meeting began with Board Recognition congratulating Coronado 2017-18 Teachers of the Year from each school. The teachers recognized with this honor are Eric Bachman from Silver Strand Elementary School; Eveleen Coker from Village Elementary School; Amy Steward from Coronado Middle School and Sandy Davis from Coronado High School. The principals of each school presented and spoke of the highlights of each of the honored teachers.
Continuing on the theme of acknowledgments, next to be honored on behalf of the World Language Department, were five Coronado High School students, Andrew Harmez, Stefany James, Padraig MacGabann, Sinead MacGabann, and Maitreya Miotto. Not only are these student trilingual, they are also tri-literate – they read, write and speak three languages fluently.
Coronado Police Chief Frooman introduced the new CUSD School Resource Officer whose term is 2018-2021, Officer Grace DelBagno. She is replacing much loved and respected Officer Sherri Mannello who has been in this position for the past four years. Chief Frooman again thanked Officer Mannello for helping develop and define the SRO position and its duties. She has also spent time training Officer DelBagno so she will have an easy transition and foundation from which to work. Officer DelBagno has been with CPD for about a year and a half. It is important to note that the CHS ASB class wanted to participate in the selection process and the Chief felt this was a reasonable and good idea. For the oral portion of the interview selection process, there was a student, a teacher, and a police department representative present. Chief Frooman is confident in the selection and believes Officer DelBagno is the right officer for the job for the next three years.
During the “Comments from the Audience,” the board heard from seven CUSD teachers, each using their three minutes to strategically speak on issues within the schools which impact the students and families of Coronado. From growing class sizes with out of balance ratio of IEP students to non-IEP students and how both sets of students are shortchanged for teacher time; the ability to attract and retain quality educators due to the below average rate of pay for CUSD teachers; to spending less money now to save for the future, rather than spending what we have now to improve the educational experience now. There was also commentary regarding the salary schedule for CTA vs. CTE teachers wherein the duties are the same but the salaries are not. And the need for more special education teachers based on the number of students in need. It was noted that only three special ed teachers in the district have stayed more than seven years and that 16 have stayed no more than a year. These teachers are being charged with teaching 40 children rather than the expected 28 students.
The meeting moved into voting and approvals of previously heard or presented subjects which included the approval of rate restructure for the preschool extended day and childcare extended day programs. This approval will impact families of children from Pre-K up to sixth grade. The details of the restructure were not discussed at this meeting other to mention that the hourly charges previously being billed to families will now be charged at a daily rate which will help “some families.”
To hear the and view the meeting in its entirety: http://coronadousdca.swagit.com/play/05172018-868
