In this edition ...

• Introducing Interim Superintendent Dr. Kevin Skelly
• MVWSD marked the completion of staff housing with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 29
• Elections: Maintaining positive school climate
• Drafts available: Single Plans for Student Achievement
• Parcel Tax on the ballot on November 5
• High Fives
  

I'm thrilled to be back in the district as your interim superintendent. This is a bit of a homecoming as I was here in the same role a decade ago. At that point I saw the potential MVWSD had for improvement. Now, as I visit the sites and classes I see so many new, positive changes, as well as the same commitment to excellence. I look forward to meeting many of you in the near future and reuniting with former colleagues from my previous stint.

I hope you enjoy this informative newsletter. We appreciate your support of the district's work. It is a privilege to serve you and your students.

On we go!

Kevin Skelly, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent
[email protected]

Introducing Dr. Kevin Skelly as MVWSD's interim Superintendent

Kevin Skelly retired as superintendent of the San Mateo Union High School District in June, 2022 after serving in that role for seven years. Prior to that, he was superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District, a post he held from July 2007 to June 2014. He came to Palo Alto after serving as an associate superintendent of Learning Support Services for the Poway Unified School District, a district of 35,000 students in San Diego County. Prior to Poway, Dr. Skelly served eleven years as the principal of Saratoga High School in Saratoga, CA.

Dr. Skelly’s background includes work with budgeting, benefits, compensation, policy, curriculum and instruction, standards and assessment, special education, and staff development. He has been a presenter, author, coach, and Big Brother. His passion for education and children began with his work after college with talented students from low-income neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., and shoe-shine boys in Quito, Ecuador.

Dr. Skelly received his BA in Economics from Harvard and his Ph.D. in Education Management and Policy from UC, Berkeley. He and his wife Carrie have four grown children and four grandchildren.

MVWSD marked the completion of staff housing with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 29

More than 100 teachers, school staff, City staff and Mountain View community leaders attended yesterday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for Mountain View Whisman at The Sevens, a teacher and staff housing development years in the making.

Speakers from the school district, city and development company joined forces to honor the teachers and school staff who serve Mountain View and to officially mark the completion of the development.

About the Mountain View Whisman at The Sevens

There are 123 studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments at below-market rate rents for district teachers and staff and 20 units for City staff. The development was financed by MVWSD’s Measure T, passed in 2020, and supported with funding provided by the City of Mountain View.

The leasing period will open later next month to staff who meet household income requirements. Learn more at mvwsd.org/Housing.

Welcoming Teachers and Staff into the Community 

“By opening the doors of Mountain View Whisman at The Sevens, we open our arms to district educators and staff, both current and prospective.  Here you are welcome. You are appreciated. You are respected. You are invited to put down roots and grow alongside the community you serve,” said Board of Trustees President Devon Conley.

“The City of Mountain View is pleased to partner with MVWSD in making this innovative affordable housing development possible,” said Mayor Pat Showalter. “Our city aims to be a ‘Community for All’ and this development will help attract and retain teachers and City employees by offering affordable housing in this high-cost area. By bringing our resources together, we can help address the housing crisis together.” 

We encourage all members of our school district community to remain respectful and empathetic in our interactions with others. The focus for all of us is on maintaining a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment.

We are fortunate that our school district community is made up of people who truly care about, include and support one another.

We emphasize with children that:

• School remains a welcome, safe space for all students (resource: MVWSD diversity is our strength)
• We are focusing on “community” this year through our Better Together program. Community means ensuring that all members of MVWSD feel valued, supported, and connected to one another in an often divided world.
• School is a safe space for talking about feelings with trusted adults, including counselors, teachers, principals, etc.

Education and safety are our top priorities, and we are here foremost to serve students. It is our responsibility to maintain a positive and safe climate learning environment. All school employees will continue to work to provide a positive school climate and a space for respectful exchange of ideas that is mindful of diverse perspectives. Additionally, parents/guardians are key partners for helping to engage students in thoughtful and civil discourse.

Drafts available: Single Plans for Student Achievement

Each year, our schools create Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSAs or “site plans”) that guide the work for the coming year. These plans help us prioritize programs and strategies that will best serve our students. In the fall, elected parent representatives from School Site Councils and English Language Advisory Committees work with principals and school staff members to create a draft that is reviewed and approved by the MVWSD Board of Trustees. Parents and staff members may give feedback through Nov. 15 to their principal and elected parent representatives to SSC and ELAC. You may review the draft plans here.

Parcel Tax on the ballot on November 5

MVWSD has a parcel tax, called Measure AA on the November ballot.  Measure AA would replace an expiring parcel tax.

The District has stated that the revenue will be used to retain highly-qualified teachers with competitive compensation. Parcel tax revenue may also be used to fund academic programs, as well as support and enrichment to all students.

Measure AA would impose a parcel tax at the rate of 15 cents per building square foot with a cap on the amount any one parcel could pay. Parcels without any buildings on them would pay $25. For the average Mountain View home — which is 1,734 square feet — the tax would be approximately $261 per year, a $70 increase from the current parcel tax. Any home or building smaller than 1,270 square feet would pay less than they do under the current parcel tax.

For more information, please see mvwsd.org/parceltax. For information about how to cast your vote, please see the Santa Clara County Register of Voters voters website.

High Fives

SCCOE’s Teacher of the Year: Marco Arce

MVWSD's Teacher of the Year Marco Arce was honored last week at the 54th Santa Clara County Office of Education Teacher of the Year Recognition Celebration. Mr. Arce is a beloved physical education teacher at Crittenden. He is known for forging relationships with all students and their families, making them feel encouraged and connected to school. 

A Santa Clara County tradition for over 50 years, the Teacher Recognition Celebration is the oldest and largest celebration of teachers in California and the most prestigious local award given to classroom teachers. Shown here with him are: Trustee Laura Ramirez Berman, Chief Human Relations Officer Tara Vikjord and Trustee Laura Blakely.

231 Grant

MVWSD representatives visited the 231 Grant Avenue Educator Workforce Housing site in Palo Alto, a teacher housing project made possible by leaders in Santa Clara County organizations. As a project partner with other local school districts, MVWSD will have a dozen units at this location for our staff. Pictured are CSEA President Veronica Del Rio, County Supervisor Joe Simitian, and Trustee Laura Blakely.

SPARC Opening

The grand opening of the new grant-funded School-Parent Activities & Resources Center (SPARC) at the Graham Middle School campus was held on October 29. This center will provide a home base for at-risk families from all MVWSD schools to gather and to engage with each other and services and programs.

McKinney-Vento Liaisons Priscila Bogdanic and Eduardo Rios Pacheco have set up the room to be not just an office, but a place where families who often need support the most are welcomed and can get information and materials. Attendees at the event included representatives from some of MVWSD’s community partners, SCCOE, Hopes Corner, Day Worker Center and Challenge Team, as well as district staff, and members of the Board of Trustees. 

Monta Loma Fall Festival

Monta Loma celebrated its annual Fall Festival on October 18th! Families played carnival games where everyone walked away with a prize and enjoyed food and fun music. Thank you to the PTA and many volunteers, including the school’s own leadership students and local high school students.