Document 6557061

Perris Union High School District
Newsletter
THE “SUPES” ON…...
October 2014
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
William F. Hulstrom
Superintendent’s Message
The following
is an excerpt of
the speech I
gave on August 5, 2014 to
all employees.
As a series of
snapshots of
our
accomplishments in
2013-14, it bears repeating: So,
let’s start off by talking about our
District-wide accomplishments for
2013-14…they are numerous,
and in advance I want you to
know this list is not exhaustive, so
if I leave some off the list that you
feel should be on the list I apologize in advance.
President
Joan D. Cooley
Vice President
David G. Nelissen
Clerk
Edward Agundez
Member
Carolyn A. Twyman
Member
DID YOU KNOW
Did you know staff has access to
emergency information and updates?
Staff Hotline for Emergency
Announcements and Updates:
(951) 92-ALERT (922-5378)
(Please note this line is not monitored)
Emergency updates on website:
www.puhsd.org/emergency/info
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Superintendent’s Message
1
Educational Services
2-3
Business Services
3-4
Human Resources
4
Smarter Balanced Assessments,
otherwise known as CAST, with
ongoing professional development was not a top-down initiative. Rather it was a collaborative
effort from classroom teachers,
our support staff in technology,
with input and support from Administration. We were also fortunate to have the full support of our
Governing Board, and it started
more than five years ago.
Last school year, was our initial
year in implementing Common
Core in English Language Arts
and Mathematics. As with Scholar+, the experts are our own
classroom teachers working in
conjunction with Educational SerAs a District last year, we put vices to design and implement
10,000 Chromebooks in the Common Core lessons, units, and
hands of our students to take to formative assessments.
school and bring home at night
and on the weekends, becoming Last school year for the second
the first District in California to roll year in a row, the Perris Union
-out such an ambitious plan. High School District had the highAlong with that, every classroom est percentage of English Learnteacher was offered an iPad or ers scoring Early Advanced or
other suitable technology to assist Advanced on the CELDT in Riverthem in implementing Common side County. I thank our staff for
Core. No one is saying that the making a concerted effort to help
best technology in the hands of our English Learners become
students and teachers is the only proficient in reading, writing, lisanswer to better prepare our stu- tening, and speaking.
dents for college and the world of
work. Yet, with 73 percent of our Officially 73 percent of our stustudents and their families below dents are receiving free breakfast/
the poverty level and a great per- lunch.
That percentage has
centage just above that line, it grown sharply since the Great
makes me proud that our students Recession. However, it has also
are using the same tools they will grown because our Nutrition Seruse whether in college, the mili- vices Department is working so
tary, or world of work.
hard to make certain every eligible student is identified and fed.
Let me be clear…rolling out We actually believe the real numScholar+ with Common Core, ber is closer to 80 percent, so all
AVID instructional strategies, and of us have our work cut out to
by Dr. Jonathan L. Greenberg
identify these students and families who qualify.
As a District, we are very proud of
where we are going with Career
Technology Education. Many of
you know that our two Agriculture/
FFA Programs are some of the
largest programs of their kind in
both California and the rest of the
country. At last count, Perris High
School’s Agriculture Program is
the sixth highest in terms of students enrolled in America, with
Heritage High School now up to
eighth. Meanwhile, Project Lead
the Way is taking off at all our
schools.
Also, quietly behind the scenes,
we are growing our Parent University Program. In that program
parents are learning what they
can do to support their middle and
high school students. Session
topics include proper nutrition,
exercise, and technology including how to navigate both Infinite
Campus and Haiku, the learning
management system used by
teachers and students.
Opportunities for acceleration and
credit recovery were offered this
summer on a large scale. We
had 230 students complete many
A-G courses, getting a stepahead with credit advancement.
A+ credit recovery had an average of 289 students who took the
opportunity to ‘eradicate’ failing
courses, with a total of 854 courses recovered. Over 300 students
entering 9th grade participated in
summer bridge offerings, getting a
head start in math and health
courses.
Page 2
Educational Services
The Perris Union High
School District is an exceptional district. Tremendous
endeavors in the past year
produced
tremendous
accomplishments as our
instructional teams designed units of study and
assessments, technology
for students, and staff generated new insights
and instructional creativity aligned to Common
Core State Standards. PUHSD has truly become a leader in educational excellence and
all staff, students, parents, and administration
deserve to take a bow.
by Marcy Savage, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
Parent and Community Outreach
Response to Intervention (RTI)
We are very pleased to announce that Perris
Union High School District will be entering into
Year 2 of our partnership with the City of Perris’ Live Well Campaign for Champions for
Change. Five schools have been selected to
participate in the Champions for Change
(PHS, HHS, PLHS, Academy, and CMI), a
continuing program to help Perris residents
eat well, get fit, and live healthier, happier
lives. The 2014-15 program features free
workout sessions, healthy cooking classes,
and more family-friendly community events.
Look for a schedule of events on the district
website.
All school sites
are working in
cooperation with
the Special Education Site Leadership teams to
create Response
to
Intervention
(RTI). Response
to Intervention is a 3-tiered approach to supporting student needs. By incorporating Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS),
many staff members work together to provide
Level 1 support to students. Our District Intervention Support (DIS) counselor and various
non-profit community support agencies provide Level 2 support while our ERMHS therapists provide Level 3 support. Meetings are
being held to discuss ways to offer supports to
students who are experiencing academic and
behavioral challenges. The intent of RTI is to
support more students in being successful in
school and reduce the number of dropouts
and suspensions at each school site.
Dr. Pedro Noguera
RIGOR + A-G= FUN!!!
We are now in the year
of implementation, requiring all of us to blend
our efforts and provide
the best ever for our
students.
We hit the
ground running with a
grand opening to the
school year. Dr. Pedro
Noguera, dynamic scholar, speaker, and expert on educational issues and change
opened our professional development with
steps to achieve excellence for all. He emphasized that we have to do things differently. We must be committed to building relationships, committed to know our students, and
committed to give them a chance to learn and
demonstrate their mastery. Emphasis was
made to identify and eliminate practices that
contribute to student failure, therefore, we
cannot afford to let failure become the
norm. Shared leadership must reign for all of
us where we are all voices for healthy public
education. He further emphasized that together, we must face the hurdles in providing
equal education to all and unveil the solutions
to overcome them. Together, we must be
committed to cultivate talent in all students
and make a difference.
The 2014-15 school year opened with a full
slate of courses for students of all abilities. In
addition to the core subject of Language Arts,
Math, Social Studies, Science and Physical
Education, we continue to offer an impressive
array of courses in the Visual and Performing
Arts, World Languages, Career Technical
Education, Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement, Agriculture, and Project Lead the Way
(PLTW).
From an academic standpoint, the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in
both Language Arts and Math is well under
way, with other content areas making tremendous strides as well. Our teachers have extended enormous hours of hard work and
brilliance as they design units of study and
assessments, promoting effective instruction
and learning.
Great things are happening throughout our
District. This summer we sent seven teachers
to intense professional development training
for Project Lead The Way that included: Gateway To Technology, Principles of BioMedical
Sciences, Human Body Systems, Introduction
to Engineering, Engineering Design & Development, and Digital Electronics. Teachers
returned exhausted, excited, and enthused.
The intensity and rigor of these courses is
simply unmatched. Our teachers spent numerous hours on homework and projects to
prepare for the class and even longer nights to
complete assignments. If you think students
get tired of doing homework ask any of them
who attended the training and they will tell
you, it was intense!
Declining Suspension Rates for Violence
In reviewing Perris Union High School District’s suspension data for last semester, incidents which involved violence on our campuses has declined significantly, in comparison to
previous semesters during the past three
years. Correspondingly, the California Department of Education (CDE) released data which
reveals that suspension rates have been on a
decline in California over the past two years.
In their briefing, CDE reports that suspensions
are down 14% across the state, and expulsions are down 12% for the 2011-12 and 2012
-13 school year. This report concludes that
schools across the state are taking more proactive measures in order to reduce suspension rates.
Infinite Campus
Students who take PLTW courses have an
understanding of how education is relevant to
their lives and future careers and they get
excited. PLTW offers a different approach to
learning and teaching. Through activity, project, and problem-based curriculum, PLTW
gives students a chance to apply what they
know, identify problems, find unique solutions,
and lead their own learning. For teachers, the
engaging, rigorous professional development
model provides tools to empower students
and transform the classroom into a collaboration space where content comes to life (from
PLTW mission statement).
We look forward to helping shape the lives
and futures of our students and influencing
their post-secondary decisions. PLTW provides opportunities to develop highly transferable skills in collaboration, communication,
and critical thinking, which are relevant for any
coursework or career.
Infinite Campus has gone through some drastic changes for teachers, and while there have
been growing pains, everyone is to be commended for their efforts with the new grade
book (and instruction) layout.
Special
THANKS to the Tech TOSAs for being receptive and helpful to everyone! Over the last few
weeks much feedback from teachers on how
the new Campus Instruction could be improved has been shared and please, “KEEP
IT COMING!” Feel free to email suggestions or
concerns to [email protected].
We
continually submit feedback from our teaching
staff to IC Support in the interest of improving
your experience with the program.
Page 3
More from Educational Services…
Special Programs
Dual Enrollment

Congratulations to Heritage High School and
Perris High School for receiving the 21st. Century Assets Grant, as they were awarded over
$295,000/year for five years. This is a stateadministered, federally funded program to
establish or expand before-and after-school
programs that provide students with academic
enrichment opportunities and supportive services that help them meet state and local
standards in core content areas.
Perris UHSD is in its second year of Dual
enrollment offerings, in which qualified high
school students earn college and high school
credit while meeting graduation requirements.
Dual enrollment creates access for high
school students participating in postsecondary education opportunities and the
benefits of Dual Enrollment include:


Business Services
Welcome back!
The
2014-15 school year is
certainly off to a great
start! With so many new
staff members over the
last few years, including
new staff members within
Business
Services,
I
thought the start of the
school year would be a
good opportunity to introduce (or reintroduce)
those of us that serve within Business Services, and the functions we serve to support
you.
The primary purpose of the Business Services
division is to support and facilitate the educational process by providing clean, safe and
well maintained facilities, technology support,
financial services, safety programs, operational support services, student transportation and
food services. Within the Business Services
division, we strive to administer the various
resources entrusted to the school district in
the most efficient and innovative manner possible.
Fiscal Services
Chris Rabing, formerly an Assistant Principal
at Heritage High School became the district’s
Director of Fiscal Services on July 1st. Chris
and his Department are responsible for the
accounting of finances, student attendance,
payroll, and associated student body funds of
the school district, as well as building and
monitoring the District’s budget. Chris, with his
instructional background, brings a wealth of
knowledge to Fiscal Services and Business
Services as a whole as we strive to support
school sites and the District’s educational
programs.
Purchasing
In March, the District welcomed Nick Newkirk
to our team as the District’s Purchasing
Agent. The Purchasing Department processes all purchase orders and contracts for the
District. Nick works with vendors on a routine
basis to negotiate contracts and obtain the
best possible prices and services for our
school sites. Purchasing is also responsible
Reduces college costs for students and
families.
Reduces the length of time it takes for
students to obtain their academic and/or
career goals.
PUHSD earned over 284 credits and a significant cost savings to students and their families for the 2013 Fall Dual Enrollment Program.
Increase college credits awarded to high
school students.
by Candace Reines, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services
for receiving, warehousing, asset management, and records retention. Nick takes his
obligation to our community very seriously in
obtaining maximum value and providing reliable resources.
Risk Management
Under the direction of Judy Miller, Director of
Risk Management and Environmental Safety,
the Risk Management Department is committed to providing a safe environment for students and staff. Risk Management is also
responsible for managing employee health
benefits, employee safety, health programs
and training, workers compensation, property
and liability exposures, student accident insurance, environmental concerns, emergency
preparedness, and the District’s energy management program.
In August, Crystal
Guimond, previously my Administrative Assistant, was promoted to Supervisor of Risk Management, a position funded by safety credits
earned as a result of our innovative safety
programs.
Technology
The Technology Department is dedicated to
support the District’s instructional programs
and operational needs.
They are responsible for network services,
hardware, software applications, and support
of all computers and technology tools within
the District. However, given that technology is
highly integrated into daily instruction with the
District’s Scholar+ 1:1 Program, the Technology Department also supports the shift in
teaching and learning to prepare students with
digital literacy and technology skills. It is a
main priority of the Technology Department to
ensure students receive frequent and appropriate access to technology that allows them
to learn, analyze, research and create. As
such, the Technology Department has two
dynamic, multifaceted leaders. Joe Williams,
formerly a Technology Teacher on Special
Assignment (TOSA), academic coach and
English teacher became the District’s Director
of Technology in January 2014. Having an
instructional leader at the head of Technology
is what we refer to as flipping the Technology
Department. This allows for instruction to be
the primary focus and ensures technology
enhances the delivery of instruction. Joe’s
right-hand, a Perris High School graduate,
Shane Pinnell, was promoted to Supervisor of
Information Technology in May. In addition,
the District has four full-time Technology TOSA’s, and CMI has one, each with the responsibility to work with teachers and students on a
daily basis to provide technology integration
support.
Facilities Services
Facilities Services is comprised of maintenance and operations as well as facilities planning and construction. Heading up Facilities
Services is Art Fritz, Director of Facilities Services. Art, along with Mike Eisenhauer, Supervisor of Maintenance and Operations and
the plant supervisors at each of the three high
schools provide for clean, safe and wellmaintained schools. They are responsible for
the planning and implementation of long range
and preventative maintenance, performing
grounds upkeep, and providing training and
supervision for custodial work within the District. Being a member of the Perris community, Art strongly believes that students, parents,
District staff, and the community should take
pride in each and every one of our school
sites.
Given the size and scope of our facilities construction projects, Hector Gonzalez was promoted from Facilities Project Manager to Director of Facilities in March and is responsible
for facilities and planning within our District. This encompasses a wide scope of functions including planning, zoning and design/
engineering, implementing new construction
and modernization projects, and implementation of the overall District Facilities Master
Plan. Currently Hector is administering nearly
$73 million in facilities construction projects,
including the final phase at Pinacate Middle
School, closing out Phase 1 and beginning
Phase 2 at Perris High School, closing out the
STEM building at Heritage High School, as
well as managing the planning for our new
middle and high schools.
Page 4
More from Business Services….
Nutrition Services
Kim Marksbury joined the District last December as the Director of Nutrition Services. Kim
is responsible for the breakfast, lunch and
snack programs at all of our school sites. The
Nutrition Services Department is made up of a
team of food and nutrition professionals that
are dedicated to students' health, well-being
and their ability to learn. They support learning
by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness practices. Meals, foods and
beverages sold or served at our schools are
required to meet state and federal regulations
which are based on the USDA Dietary Guide-
lines. Kim and his team strive to provide our
students with access to a variety of affordable
and appealing foods that meet the health and
nutrition needs of students.
Transportation
The Business Services division is responsible
to oversee transportation services which are
contracted through Hemet Unified School
District.
This includes not only home-toschool transportation, but also transportation
for special education to non-district run programs as well as for field trips, school activities and athletic events.
Front Office
Last, but certainly not least, it gives me great
pleasure to introduce the newest member of
the Business Services division, Anna
Fetzner. Many of you know Anna as she has
worked as a secretary at Pinacate Middle
School, a school secretary at both The Academy and Paloma Valley High School, and most
recently as the certificated personnel technician in Human Resources. Anna began as
the Administrative Assistant in Business Services last month, and like all of us in Business
Services, is here to serve you. Please do not
hesitate to contact any one of us as we are
always glad to help!
Human Resources
by Tonya Davis, Executive Director, Human Resources
It is an exciting time to be a classified staff member
in the Perris Union High School District. The District has offered more professional development
growth opportunities targeted toward classified
employees than ever. The 2014-15 school year will
be dedicated to a special project we are calling
CSI: Perris. The Clerical Support Initiative (CSI)
project will focus on providing workshops and training for many of our clerical staff on the subjects of
customer service, teamwork, active listening, technical skills and time management strategies. Lori Ortell, Executive
Assistant and I are working closely with our Administrative Assistant
Team (Robin Burns and Mayra Chavez—Human Resources, Anna
Fetzner - Business Services, Christine Harris - Educational Services
and Sara Rico - Superintendents Office) to ensure that our clerical
support team has the tools to support the Administrative and Certificated staff in their mission to implementation Common Core and Instructional Technology.

Human Resources
As this is the October Edition of “Supe’s On”, I
would like to update you on the many changes that
have taken place in the past year. While the majority of our hiring, particularly for certificated staffing,
takes place during the summer, I wanted to share
with you what has taken place this past year with
regard to positions being filled, some by folks new
to our district, and many filled by current employees through promotion. Since Fall of 2013 we have:
As part of the changes mentioned in the paragraph above discussing
new hires and promotions, we in the Human Resources Department
are in the process of undergoing some changes to our Department as
both of our Personnel Technicians have been promoted to Administrative Assistants, one within our Department and one who has moved to
the Business Department. As many of you know already, Ms. Mayra
Chavez, was promoted to Administrative Assistant under the direction
of Ms. Tonya Davis, Executive Director of Human Resources. A familiar face to those who know the California Military Institute; Mr. Juno
Fernandez, who has served as the Principal’s Secretary for the past
few years will replace Mayra. Ms. Anna Fetzner will serve as the Administrative Assistant to Ms. Candace Reines, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. We are very proud of both Mayra and Anna as their promotions are well deserved. While we are sad to lose
Anna from the department, we are happy to recognize and welcome
her replacement, Ms. Debra Medina, who comes to us from the Human Resources Department in the Fallbrook Elementary District.


Please be sure to congratulate Anna, Mayra, and Juno on their promotions, and be sure to welcome and introduce yourself to Debra as you
come by the office or communicate with her by phone or email.
by Steve Swartz, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
First of all, on behalf of the Human Resources Department, welcome to the 2014-15 School Year!



Hired 54 new, highly qualified teachers and counselors
Hired 5 Teacher on Special Assignment Technology Coaches as
part of a well-rounded professional development and teacher
support program
Hired 1 Teacher on Special Assignment Mathematics Coach
Hired 38 new classified staff in a variety of positions
18 Certificated Administrative positions were filled this year, 15 of
which were promotions filled with current certificated management or PSEA bargaining unit members

13 Classified Management positions were filled this year, 9 of
which were in house promotions
Hired 4 Educationally Related Mental Health Services Therapists
With regards to negotiations, a 3-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached with CSEA with a number of concerns regarding
contract language addressed and clarified. A 2-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached with PSEA with both sides commenting that the process was very cooperative and collaborative. Continuous participation in the Perris Relationship Council (PRC) and miniPRC meetings, along with Site Relationship Council (SRC) meetings,
have generated phone calls and informal conversations evidencing
significant progress toward what is becoming a consistently collaborative relationship; one characterized by resolution being the norm, with
grievances being the exception. In addition, this year witnessed the
creation of the initial Collective Bargaining Agreement with the California Military Institute Teacher’s Association, a 3-Year Agreement characterized by a very collaborative process.
As always, we in the Human Resources Department want to be just
that to you; both Human and a Resource to you. Never hesitate to
contact us if we can be of assistance to you in any capacity.
Have a great year!