Educationally Speaking

Thank you to the Village News for graciously permitting me to write a monthly column regarding items related to the Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD). My hopes are that readers will have a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our schools and school district.

One of the district’s responsibilities to its students and the community is to improve its effectiveness in providing quality educational programs and services. The Board of Trustees has adopted districtwide goals that are designed to focus our improvement efforts during the school year.

Identified below are those goals with a brief commentary:

The FUHSD will support a rigorous academic program with an emphasis on closing the achievement gap for all students. Aggressive efforts are being implemented to increase student knowledge, with specific attention to supporting our English language learner and special education students.

The FUHSD will utilize frequent and ongoing use of assessment data, including analysis of student work leading to data based decision making for teachers and administrators. Teachers and administrators are increasing the frequency of use of student work and achievement data to make decisions about how best to make curriculum and instruction modifications in order to increase student learning.

The FUHSD will provide opportunities for ongoing, job-embedded, professional development that encourages effective teaching and learning for classroom teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators. The district is continuing its commitment to support the professional growth of all employees.

The FUHSD facilities will provide a safe, clean, healthy and accessible learning environment and support changing technology and community use. Efforts to improve student safety are supported by the recent installation of perimeter fencing and by increased guidance and counseling support for students.

The FUHSD will continue to seek opportunities for cost savings and economic efficiencies while providing a fiscally sound budget plan that both supports the district educational mission and provides for a stable reserve balance. The district is committed to attaining the greatest educational benefit possible for the financial resources that it has. While the good news is that the state budget has been signed and there is a small cost-of-living adjustment increase to our budget, the district did have to implement some expenditure reductions in order to ensure that the budget is fiscally sound.

The FUHSD will continue the process of recruitment, selection and hiring that provides for an effective, qualified work force. Employing and retaining quality personnel must be one of the highest priorities for the district.

The FUHSD District will cultivate and coordinate dialogue among members of the learning community for the purpose of maintaining an environment of open communication, trust, mutual respect and integrity. This is a significant priority for the district. It does require that each of us, regardless of whether we work at a school, at the district office, in the community or at home, model the communication, trust, respect and integrity that we expect of others.

Achievement of these goals requires our collective commitment and efforts. No one individual or small group of people can accomplish these goals alone. Regardless of your role or relationship to the district, I hope that you will be a positive influence in our efforts to improve.

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