Celebrations

The FSD board meeting started on April 8 with Trustees celebrating the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC). In the 2022/23 school year, representatives from the 7th and 8th grades of the district’s junior high and K-8 schools started meeting with administrators to discuss challenges faced by students, share positive outcomes from programs and policies, contribute student voices to the annual Local Control Accountability Plan, and implement a community service project in their respective schools.

Nicolas Junior High and Ladera Vista School of the Arts SSAC members focused on backfilling losses experienced by students from the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Parks Junior High (PJH) provided hygiene kits for local Orange County youth after discovering that over 27,000 OC students go without necessities like toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo daily.

Beechwood and Fisler Schools held “tech-free” daily events that supported in-person interactions while putting all electronic devices down. Students focused on screen time assessment and enjoying the social and mental support they missed out on with constant social media and video games.

FSD Performance Academy Review

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Dr. Adaina Brown (a Performance Academy (PA) parent), shared the inception, progress, and future of the PA Program offered at Rolling Hills Elementary (RHE) and PJH School. PA allows students in grades 6-8 to attend in-person school for core subjects at RHE and PJH schools during the mornings and then participate in independent intensive physical education training after 1 pm. This program allows students to attend various athletic programs offered in the Southern California area.

Transportation and program tuition costs are the parent’s responsibility, as is finding the correct fit for performance program participants. Last August, FSD contracted with the athletic academy Delta Sports (DS), which agreed to offer scholarships to qualified students, upgrade their insurance to district specifications, and pay a fee for field use at PJH during school hours.

Back in May 2024, 71 families indicated an interest in the program. However, only 46 (42 boys and 4 girls) students initially entered the program beginning in the 2024/25 school year.  From various Performance Program family testimonials, DS provided students and families with the rigor and sports training expected of these athletes and will end the year with 43 students.  As of the April 8 board meeting, 64 students have expressed interest in next year’s program, including 27 previously enrolled students. There are 34 out-of-district students who have transferred into the district to join the program.

Trustees had concerns about the program. Some trustees received other sports academy requests to participate in the on-campus aspect of the program. Superintendent Dr. Bob Pletka said that due to the Civic Center Act, the district cannot take bids for school facilities use. However, he is happy to speak with other sports academies about schedules and access if they meet district criteria and after accommodating all students’ facility access during the school day.

Trustees Vanesa Estrella, James Cho, and Ruthi Hanchett voiced concerns about equity and parent costs for these programs. Trustee Estrella wanted the district to compile a price comparison from different performance academies, and Trustees Cho and Hanchett wanted the district to explore a district-led program open to all students. Unless the performance academy is in school facilities, the FSD administration lets parents decide between programs and their fee schedules.

Trustees noted the significant administration time to develop a niche program for fewer than 100 of the district’s 11,500 students. While it benefits those in intensive sports training, they should consider the impact on resources available for all FSD students.

Trustee Cho expressed concern about outside programs using new gymnasiums funded by bond “N” money. The trustees can set community use fees and aim to prioritize these facilities for student use. They will discuss the agreement with Delta Sports next month and continue to monitor the program.

Contract Update

The board approved updated contracts for teachers, staff, and administrators, as well as a new position combining bus driver and food worker roles to secure full-time employment for qualified drivers.
The next FSD regularly scheduled board meeting is on May 13 at 6 pm.