FUHSD deals with mask mandate, teacher's death, school assessments

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s notice that COVID-19 mask mandates for students in California would be lifted effective March 12, Superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez of the Fallbrook Union High School District announced at the Feb. 28 school board meeting that the district would not impose its own requirement for masks.

The governor made the announcement earlier that day and the superintendent said it wasn’t clear if teachers and staff would also be able to go without masks. And though students would no longer be required to wear masks, Garza-Gonzalez said students would also be welcome to continue to wear masks at the discretion of their parents.

At the beginning of the meeting, following the flag salute and roll call, there was a moment of silence for Oscar Ledesma, a FHS student, and two former teachers, Garland Dunbar and Dave Evens. Each died in recent weeks.

Later, when announcing the Fallbrook’s Finest winners for February, Garza-Gonzalez said one of the recipients, math teacher Shelley Fox, died over the weekend. “Her absence is deeply felt by all,” the superintendent said.

The district’s web page has not been updated, says “Shelley Fox teaches Integrated Math 1 and is passionate about connecting math to the world outside of school. Outside of school she loves to ride e-bikes with friends, read at the beach, cook international foods, and learn to code in Python.”

Later, the superintendent thanked the Fallbrook Elementary School District for sending counselors to the high school to support grieving students and fellow teachers.

Damon Gallegos, the Fallbrook High School student representative to the board, said 40% of students at the school were on the recent honor roll. Garza-Gonzales explained the list was for students who achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Later in the meeting, Emily Toone, director of curriculum and instruction, talked more about achievement in a mid-year report about the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan. She outlined the three goals: student and family engagement, college and career readiness, and implementation of standards.

Toone said LCAP is a tool for local educational agencies to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes.

She said the report shows the district has an increased percentage of students showing proficiency in ELA and math, increased parent engagement, a higher percentage of integrated math 1A students with a C or higher grade, and an increased percentage of students who score conditionally ready or ready on the early assessment program in ELA and math.

In addition, the percentage of students on track for A-G completion in 12th trade has increased, and students in AVID and the dual immersion program are demonstrating academic success on unit assessments, she said.

Toone noted that the graduation rate at Ivy High School, the district’s continuation high school was 71%, up by 11%. At Fallbrook High School, the graduation rate was 81%. Oasis High School, with its independent study program has an 89% graduation rate.

Toone said the impact of COVID-19 was significant in the district not making greater strides.

“Though scores are not as high as we would like, it’s good to see them moving in right direction,” said Eddie Jones, board president.

In other business, the board heard a report from German Mozqueda, supervisor of attendance, about ways the district reaches out to students and their families to offer support for students.

For months the board meetings had become contentious with multiple parents objecting to the mask mandates. The Feb.28 meeting at the Bob Burton Performing Arts Center on the FHS campus was practically empty. There were public comments from only two speakers:

Judy Willis spoke about a district book she said contained Critical Race Theory material, as well as what she said was a problem with the schedules not coordinated with the Fallbrook Union Elementary School. She said having spring break at different weeks was difficult for family vacations. Having students in both districts, she also said it would be better if the two school districts didn’t have their school board meetings the same night most of the year. She requested the schedules be aligned next year. She also said trustees “crossed the middle road” at its Feb. 14 meeting when it declined to send a letter to Newsom regarding mask and vaccine mandates.

The other speaker was Tara Jenkins, who explained the “doctrine of lesser majesty” should allow the school board to refuse obedience to that superior authority if it is an unjust law or decree, referring to mask and vaccine mandates.

The next school board meeting is Monday, March 14.