In this edition ...

• From the Desk of Mr. Baier
• Board meeting review: Staff appreciation, Strategic Plan, Multilingual Learners Update, Master Facilities Plan, Jewish American Heritage Month
• Summer construction
• High Fives

From the Desk of Mr. Baier

Dear Families,

Each year, Day of the Child reminds us of something both simple and profound: our children are at the heart of everything we do. This special day is an opportunity to celebrate the joy, curiosity, and potential of every student in our schools and community.

We see every day how students bring energy, creativity, and resilience into our classrooms. Day of the Child is a moment to pause and recognize their voices, honor their diverse backgrounds, and reaffirm our shared commitment to their well-being and success.

We are proud to provide learning environments where children feel safe, valued, and challenged to grow. From engaging instruction to strong relationships, our focus remains on helping each student thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally.

With your help, we will continue building this community for the benefit of all of our children.

Warmly,

Jeffrey Baier
Superintendent

Board meeting review: Staff appreciation, Strategic Plan Support for the MVWSD Way, Multilingual Learners Update, Master Facilities Plan, Jewish American Heritage Month

We appreciate our staff members

Teacher Appreciation Week is the week of May 4, and Classified Staff Appreciation Week is the week of May 18. We appreciate all of our certificated and classified staff members. Look for spirit week activities and treats beginning May 4 to celebrate our staff members during this special week.

At yesterday's meeting, our Board of Trustees passed the Day of the Teacher Resolution and the Classified School Employees Week Resolution. 

Each staff member plays a crucial role in creating a nurturing and effective learning environment. We are grateful for every employee whose work contributes directly to students, even if they are not in classrooms. This month is a wonderful chance to recognize the hard work and commitment of all of these individuals, reminding them that their efforts do not go unnoticed and are deeply appreciated by the entire school district community. We are grateful for their care of and dedication to our students and families. 

Supporting Multilingual Learners in MVWSD

MVWSD proudly serves nearly 1,000 multilingual learners (MLLs), and our families in total speak more than 70 languages. This rich diversity is a strength of our community, and we are committed to ensuring every student thrives.

Our district continues to make steady progress toward ambitious goals for our multilingual learners. Each year, students are advancing in their English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. We are also focused on supporting students to reclassify as fluent English proficient within a research-based timeline.

While many multilingual learners typically reclassify within about three years, we recognize that each student’s journey is unique. Our focus is not only on timely reclassification, but also on ensuring students continue to perform at high academic levels after they are reclassified.

Through strong instruction, targeted support, and ongoing monitoring, MVWSD is working to ensure that multilingual learners build the language skills and academic foundation they need for long-term success.

Strategic Plan support for the MVWSD Way

The MVWSD Way is our district’s approach to ensuring every student succeeds through high-quality, research-backed instruction.

A recent system study outlined key recommendations to strengthen outcomes for all students. In the months and years ahead, MVWSD will focus on deepening standards-aligned instruction, increasing clarity and rigor in learning expectations, and using common assessments to better understand student progress and respond in real time.

To ensure this work is focused and sustained, these efforts will be guided by a multi-year strategic plan that brings the MVWSD Way to life. The Board approved a $35,000 contract with K12 Coalition to support this planning process. The strategic planning process will include input from staff, parents, and students and will serve as our roadmap for how we operationalize and live out the MVWSD Way.

Master Facilities Plan (MFP) Update

In preparation for Measure T, the District developed a Master Facilities Plan (MFP) in 2019 to guide long-term facility improvements. Since then, most Priority 1 projects—and portions of Priority 2 and 3—have been completed.

Thanks to proactive planning and accelerated timelines, many projects were finished before post-COVID cost increases, resulting in approximately $24 million in savings. These funds create an opportunity to address additional needs; however, they are not enough to cover all remaining priorities, making careful decision-making essential.

The District is now updating the MFP by reviewing current enrollment, demographics, and space use to ensure our plans reflect today’s needs and future growth.

Resolution Recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month

The Board passed a resolution recognizing the importance of honoring Jewish American Heritage Month. 

Bond Oversight Committee Report

The Board received the report from the Bond Oversight Committee, a group of residents whose main charge is to inform the public of how their bond dollars are spent.

Parcel Tax Oversight Committee

The Board received the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee Report for 2025-2026. The independent group of residents reported that parcel tax proceeds have been spent for their authorized purposes only.  

Summer construction

This summer, there will be construction on many of our campuses. These upgrades will increase school safety and efficiency by replacing aging roofs. Additionally, nature-based outdoor learning areas will be constructed at many sites for student learning and play. For details about what is happening at each campus: mvwsd.org/construction

Please be aware that portions of the campuses will be off-limits where work is occurring and materials are staged. 

Thanks to our community, these improvements are the result of 2020’s Measure T bond dollars at work. We appreciate your patience with construction as we work to upgrade our schools.

High Fives

Mock Trial Awards

Crittenden’s team advanced to the 2026 California Mock Trial Junior Division Finals on April 18 at UCLA School of Law. Students presented an actual trial to a “courtroom” of observers, scorers and real-life judges. While many of the teams have been established school programs for years, our new team of three months won a verdict in round one and three individual awards—two Outstanding Witnesses, and one for Outstanding Defense Attorney. Congratulations!

135 students honored at the Reclassification Ceremony

Please join us in congratulating our 135 Multilingual Learners who were reclassified as English proficient. Last week's joyful ceremony celebrated the hard work of our students, families and the dedicated staff who supported them. This year, more than 240 students received specialized instruction through our elementary newcomer program and middle school Language Arts classes. Learning a second language is no small feat, and our multilingual students develop strong critical thinking, creativity and communication skills. We are so proud of our multilingual community! Congratulations!

Special Olympics

Our athletes had an amazing time at the Special Olympics! Students from Bubb, Monta Loma, Landels, Graham and Crittenden hit the track at Gunn High School and had a blast competing in track and field events. The Special Olympics are such a valuable opportunity for students to discover their strength, celebrate each other's achievements and experience the joy of friendly competition. A huge thank you to all the students, staff and volunteers who made this such a memorable and special day!

Día del Niño

Día del Niño, or “Children’s Day,” is a celebration held in many Latin American countries to honor and uplift children by recognizing their importance in families and society through joyful, culturally rich activities. This year, Theuerkauf, Mistral, and Castro schools each planned celebrations, creating memorable experiences for students. Activities included food, games, bubbles and some very special visitors! Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who helped make the days so special!