In this edition ...

• Board meeting review: COVID, school safety, Vargas trees and future growth
• Better Together’s theme this year: Belong
• Community check in meetings
• High Fives: Back to school
• Updated school year calendar
• Food service: Non-Discrimination statement

At Thursday night’s meeting, the Board of Trustees discussed several topics. The highlights of the meeting are below:

Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary Trees Replacement Project. Trees at this school along Whisman Road are dangerously dropping pine cones on cars, and a protective structure is not feasible. After studying, deliberating the issue and gathering community feedback, MVWSD staff members agree with Board direction to proceed with the tree replacement project to begin soon. Staff members will work with specialists on a plan to maximize “green” areas of campus with drought resistant, native trees. Click here for the presentation.

Updated COVID-19 Procedures. On Aug. 18, community COVID transmission level dropped below High (as measured by the CDC). As a result, MVWSD’s protocol has changed to make general classroom indoor masking “strongly recommended”, rather than “required.” In “Medium” level, MVWSD plans to continue masking at large group events indoors on campus. We are in the process of gathering feedback from our music teachers and reviewing the research on music classes masking in “Medium,” and we’ll continue to have discussions with our Board about whether to return to masking in “High” community transmission. Click here for the presentation. Check here for the up-to-date information on COVID protocols: https://www.mvwsd.org/returntolearn

School Safety. MVWSD will undertake a holistic review of safety. Some next steps include creating a Safety Advisory Task Force with representative parents, staff and community; working with a security consultant on a safety audit to seek areas of improvement; and report regularly to the Board, families and staff about our progress. Click here for the presentation.

Future Growth Considerations and Solutions. MVWSD is considering the next steps in the areas of planning, funding and community engagement as it seeks to accommodate the predicted student growth that will start pushing our schools over enrollment capacity in five years. Click here for the presentation.

This year, MVWSD is officially launching Better Together, a program designed to increase meaningful conversations in the classroom. For the 2022-23 school year, the theme is “Belong: Belonging is Elemental.” We look forward to the coming months with the launch of the monthly Better Together infographics, No Place for Hate programming at our middle schools, and the district-wide recognition of United Against Hate week in November.

Dr. Ayindé Rudolph hosts virtual Community Check-In meetings regularly on scheduled Fridays. Parents and staff members may attend and bring their questions. Spanish interpretation will be provided. The next one is Sept. 9. Please click here for a list of meetings and registration details. Join us!

High Fives: Back to school

We had a great first week of school! Thank you to all who attended to the details so that our students could have a wonderful first day. Please see social media, specifically MVWSD Facebook, for videos and pictures.

Please see this webpage for the most up to date 22-23 School Year calendar. A Spanish version is now available.

Notice: National School Lunch / School Breakfast Programs

The Mountain View Whisman School District today announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch / School Breakfast Programs for the 2022-23 school year. All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at the following site: Mariano Castro Elementary School.

Additionally, in 2022-23, all students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge through California’s Universal Meals Program (Universal Meals) at the following sites:
Bubb Elementary, Crittenden Middle, Graham Middle, Amy Imai Elementary, Landels Elementary, Gabriela Mistral Elementary, Monta Loma Elementary, Stevenson Elementary, Theuerkauf Elementary, Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary

For additional information please contact: Deborah Austin, Director of Food Service, 1701 Rock St., Mountain View, CA 94043, 650.903.6965, [email protected].

Food Service Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA
office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of
the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) Fax: 202-690-7442
(3) E-mail: [email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.