By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor
“How do we make decisions about school closures?”
That was the first item up for discussion at the Jan. 23 meeting of the Rim of the World Unified School District’s board of trustees.
Dr. Paul Sevillano, the district’s superintendent, noted that “the health and safety of our students is our priority.”
Dr. Sevillano had heard from several parents, some telling him they were unable to go to work when school is closed and others wondering why Rim waits until 5:00 a.m. to make the decision to call off school.
In the case of the recent power outages, Dr. Sevillano said, Rim had to assess whether all the schools had power. If even one school cannot open, all schools have to be closed. Lake Arrowhead Elementary School has not had a generator. Plans are underway to purchase one, which will take a month to get here, Meanwhile, Rim will rent one for LAE.
When there are unsafe conditions on the road – whether due to high winds or snow – the question is whether transportation can access the roads to get the children to school safely.
President Jordana Ridland commented that it “seems clear that most school sites don’t require generators in Southern California. I wonder if we should take it to the state as an unusual need. It will be a huge hit financially and take money away from other needs.”
Students from Mountain High School were moved to Rim High during the recent power outages, causing a disruption in their learning.
“We need to think about online learning options in case of snow or power outages,” Dr. Sevillano said.
During Public Comment, Sydney McCook – who teaches a TK-kindergarten combo class at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School – told the board she had good news for them.
“I’ve figured out how to solve all the district’s problems,” McCook said. “Class size reduction.”
McCook went on to say that a smaller class size improves student outcome, including test scores.
“Research shows that students in smaller classes perform better academically, particularly in the early grades. Teachers can provide tailored feedback, adapt lessons to meet individual needs and address learning gaps before they grow larger,” McCook said.
“Inclusion is another area where class size matters. You create an environment where every child feels seen, heard and supported. There will be fewer unnecessary referrals to special services.”
And, McCook added, more students in a class leads to more disruptions and behavioral problems. In addition, smaller classes would significantly reduce teacher stress.
“With fewer students, teachers can focus on what they do best – teach,” McCook said. “We jam pack classrooms and wonder why these problems persist. We must prioritize smaller class size.”
Several trustees had attended the California School Boards Association conference in December. Here are some of the highlights:
• Teachers cannot take away recess as a disciplinary measure.
• There are one million school districts in the state and six million students.
• Too many students are not reading at grade level in the state. Students are still responding to learning loss from the pandemic.
• Early childhood education is important to a student’s success.
• The importance of addressing mental health needs was stressed. The keynote speaker, Dr. Laurie Santos, said that 56 percent of college students feel hopeless, 66 percent lonely, 87 percent stressed, 13 percent have considered suicide and 45 percent report being so depressed it’s difficult to function.
• How can people be happier? Dr. Santos said that happy people think more creatively. We need to connect with others socially. Helping others makes us happier than we expect. Make time for gratitude every day. Don’t suppress your emotions. Take time for meditation or prayer. Be wealthy in time, not money.
The administrators of Mountain High School, Rim Virtual Academy and Rim of the World High School gave their annual reports.
Jeremy Montiel, the alternative education specialist for both MHS and RVA, said RVA now has 123 students, a 58-percent growth in enrollment since last August. “We saw a jump in out-of-district transfers,” Montiel said.
MHS has 45 students – 14 juniors and 31 seniors. At MHS the students experience a more customized approach to education.
“Our main focus is for an inclusive, welcoming environment at Mountain High and Rim Virtual Academy,” Montiel said. “It is important to create a safe, supportive environment.” He brought a program to the schools to train the staff in identifying mental health challenges. Now, he said, staff has better conversations with students in a nonjudgemental way.
At Rim High, Principal Brian Willemse said, the staff has done an amazing job of reclassifying English Language learners. The school has seen many more EL students than in the past.
“We are taking significant steps to close the learning gap,” Willemse noted. They have seen an increase in students taking AP classes and then taking the tests, with three-quarters of the students passing the tests.
Last year Rim High had seen an increase in the suspension rate. However, this year there has been a dramatic decrease: from 84 in the first semester last year to 23 this school year.
Following a presentation on “Tomorrow’s Readiness Starts Today” – the early childhood pilot project Rim will be participating in – the board approved the three-year contract with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to establish preschools at Rim’s three elementary schools and the district office. The $250,000 a year will provide universal pre-kindergarten, early intervention and wraparound family support services.
The county, Dr. Sevillano said, has toured the Rim campuses, looking for the best locations for the preschools. The hope is to have the preschool at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School open as early as March. The county already has a list of students ready to enroll, the superintendent added.
Editor’s note: Anyone interested in watching the entire meeting may do so on Rim’s YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/3PSnE0G).
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