Fullerton School District Board meets at 6pm at District Headquarters, 1401 W Valencia Dr, Fullerton.

For agenda, go to: http://www.fsd.k12.ca.us or call 714-447-7400

Superintendent Dr. Bob Pletka opened the February 20 FSD board meeting by praising Acacia Elementary’s Principal Rachel McCormick and the Acacia staff for their steadfast actions protecting students during a domestic violence incident earlier this month, which caused Fullerton Police Department to partially lock down the school and surrounding neighborhood for most of the day. Teachers and support staff provided for all the children’s necessities for hours, then reconnected students with parents securely and orderly.

Preschool

FSD offers ten preschool locations throughout the district’s school sites. Valencia Park and Richman Drive Elementary Schools offer a full-day, year-round preschool program (8am – 4pm, M-F, 239 days a year). Enrollment in year-round preschool requires a parental work or school schedule and includes a sliding scale of fees. Six other FSD elementary schools offer a California State Preschool Program (CSPP) free of charge with morning and afternoon 4-hour session options. Sunset Lane and Beechwood Elementary offer a tuition-funded preschool with optional morning session schedules. The FSD Preschool Program is open to Fullerton residents who will turn three by December 1 of the current school year and goes until they transfer to Transitional Kindergarten or reach age 5. The program ratio is one adult to 8 children and one teacher to 24 students.

The nationally recognized program is staffed by licensed instructors from the California Department of Social Services and conforms to all California education guidelines. Assistant Director of Education Services Daniella Arbizzi and Preschool Program Director Emily McDougall explained that preschool teachers follow the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education, which encourages independence, imagination, and curiosity in early learners. All preschoolers undergo two kindergarten readiness assessments each year, with staff using the Early Development Index (EDI) to assess physical health, including vision and hearing screenings, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, general knowledge, and communication capabilities. The program offers opportunities for parents to volunteer, attend family nights, join the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), and attend seminars covering early literacy, toilet training, and family resiliency.

Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, Dr. Adaina Brown, presented a long-postponed rate increase for the Beechwood and Sunset Lane tuition-based programs. New tuition prices are comparable with local Orange County public and private preschool tuition costs (ranging from $600-$950). The Trustees approved the tuition-based program’s new morning schedule, and beginning in August 2024, tuition will cost M-F $620, M/W/F $345, and T/Th $165 a month. Registration for August 2024 begins February 26; for information, call 714)447-7499.

Superintendent News

Dr. Pletka continued addressing concerns about repercussions for students who repeatedly utilize abusive and disrespectful language with school staff. Current legislation limits ramifications for students who repeatedly generate unproductive school environments for teachers and other students. Dr. Pletka will work with State Senator Josh Newman and Assemblyperson Sharon Quirk-Silva to craft legislation supporting school staff when they enforce respectful boundaries. Dr. Pletka believes it neither serves staff to endure the unending abuse nor the child who has “reached the age of reason” but does not have the understanding to find help to deal with the trauma that creates the need to lash out with verbal abuse. This affects only a small percentage of FSD students, but Dr. Pletka needs more options to address this situation. Trustee Bev Berryman said the district does students a disservice by ignoring such behavior, and they have a responsibility to provide everyone with a safe and supportive education environment, which includes supporting consequences for abusive actions and words.

Term Limits

Trustee Aaruni Thakur requested to discuss the feasibility of enacting board member term limits. Trustee Thakur says he feels more removed from understanding elementary school parent issues as his children enter junior high, so term limits personally appeal to him.

Dr. Pletka explained that the trustees cannot impose term limits onto the FSD school board; they can vote to place a term limit proposal on a ballot. According to the OC Registrar’s office, the cost for this action varies. If FSD has a prior initiative on the ballot, like a district-wide bond, then the term limit initiative costs an additional $10K to place it on the ballot. If FSD only places a term limit initiative on the ballot, the cost is $100K. This price does not include the cost of any consultants or public surveys.

Trustee Bev Berryman believes that people can connect to families and communities in many ways and that school district boards benefit from being composed of a mix of newly elected members and experienced trustees. Members should always be open to hearing from their constituents and families. The different trustee voices combine fresh ideas with institutional knowledge, creating an informed direction for the district.

Trustee Hilda Sugarman trusts Fullerton community members to elect trustees that reflect parents’ educational goals for children. She never wants to limit community election choices. Trustee Ruthi Hanchett sees term limits’ positive and negative aspects, so she is still undecided.

Board President Leonel Talavera said he greatly respects the trustee’s district knowledge, which helps him make future decisions. Term limits would affect future board members and not just the current board. This was a discussion item, and no vote was taken at this time.

If you would like to let your board members know how you feel about preschool or term limits for board members, contact them by email: leonel_talaver@myfsd.org; hilda_sugarman@fsd.org; beverly_berryman@myfsd.org; ruthi_hanchett@myfsd.org; aaruni_thakur@myfsd.org

The next FSD School Board meeting is March 12 at 6pm.

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