FUHSD board hears proposal for added year of math for graduation

During the Monday, Jan. 11 meeting of the Fallbrook Union High School District Board of Trustees, the board heard a presentation from staff outlining the addition of one year of math, three in total, to be added to graduation requirements for incoming freshman students.

"This pathway, if approved, the 3-year math, would start with our incoming freshmen and we would like to start communicating and educating our parents on it as soon as possible," FUHSD Superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez said.

The presentation was made by Emily Toone, director of Curriculum Instruction, English Learner and Language Programs with FUHSD and Steve Martinez, assistant principal at Fallbrook Union High School.

Martinez showed and explained a slide that included assessment score totals of students that hadn't taken a third year of math and those that do, explaining that with a third year of math required, more students would assess at or beyond assessment standards.

"With the little bit more work, they can easily meet the standards," he said.

"I just want to add one other point which is that this assessment does matter for our students who are going to the community college," Toone said. "Because what they score will actually determine their placement at the community college for their math level."

By their junior year, Martinez said, students who came into Fallbrook High with Math 8 under their belts will have more choices to make on which direction they want to go in.

"Students can go into Integrated Math 3, they can go into An Introduction to Data Science, they can go into Math 2 with Analysis," he said. "Their choices get pretty heavy their junior year and then their senior year they can choose to go and do some Math 3, AP Stats. Precalculus and I believe Honors Precalculus as well."

The information regarding the presentation is available at https://4.files.edl.io/3da9/01/13/21/175112-07fac3ed-b1ef-4c11-af59-93436bc91b64.pdf.

The board also recognized Dennis Johnson, Transportation Technology Instructor at Fallbrook High.

"Our transportation technology teacher has been named one of the top 100 Visionaries in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning," Garza-Gonzalez said. "Mr. Johnson will be recognized in April at the annual global leaders conference. He was selected among many based on the overall reach which refers to the total number of different people or groups exposed to the product or service in addition to the popularity of the business offering."

"Basically my mindset has always been this is a business, I look at my students as my customers," Johnson said. "My goal is always to give them the best I can, so any exposure that I've had to be able to do things differently is what I look to do."

Jeeda Gabriel, Director Student Services for the district, gave an update on CTE programs within the district.

"Every student will participate in innovative and engaging learning experiences and will have the opportunity to engage with business, industry and community organizations," she said. "And will be able to achieve industry credentials and/or college credits. They will have the academic and technical skills needed to pursue additional education and they will develop the understanding and knowledge that ethical behavior and workplace skills are integral to successful employment."

Gabriel showed a graphic explaining the district's established pathways in the CTE program.

"We're pleased to inform you that next year we will be adding Digital Media Production (1 and 2) as a concentrator and 3, 4 as an AP capstone," Gabriel said. "These courses will take the place of our current film courses. There are several advantages for doing this: offering students another option for learning film or fine arts credits, will dovetail nicely with a career-related IB program, will offer students the opportunity to earn college credits one correlates with Palomar, give students the chance to demonstrate competency in a career-related field for college and career that supports the California state dashboard. The classes are already established and robust."

The board then heard reports from the superintendent, principals at Fallbrook High and Ivy and Oasis High, as well as board members.

In agenda items, the board approved the second reading of the Governance Handbook, the second reading of the new Board Policies and Administrative Regulations, and the second reading of the revisions to Board Policies, Administrative Regulations and Exhibit, as presented.

Trustee Elana Sterling was appointed to represent FUHSD on the Trustee Review Committee Meeting.

The board also approved the Audit Report for Fiscal Year 2019-20, the Bond Audit Report for Fiscal Year 2019-20 and approved Resolution No. 09-2021 to increase minimum reserves from 3% to 6%, and approved the replacement of lighting in the Bob Burton Performing Arts Center.

They also approved the recommendation to select Balfour Beatty Construction for Fallbrook High School modernization projects lease-leaseback preconstruction and construction services.

The trustees also approved the second reading of the CTE/VAPA New Course: Digital Media, the second reading the new International Baccalaureate courses that included IB Spanish Initio SL, IB History of the Americas, and IB Dance SL.

The board also approved the consent agenda, which included COVID-19 purchases to support students.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].