This August, the Board of Education formally received a petition from Ipso School proposing to open an independent charter school in the San Rafael High School District. Their petition calls for opening a charter high school in San Rafael in the fall of 2017.

The District convened a staff review team to review the petition and to critically evaluate whether the program proposed by the petitioners met legal requirements and offered a sustainable program to local students.  After thorough evaluation, District staff determined that the petition did not meet legal requirements in key areas, and should be denied.  Legal findings to support the recommendation of petition denial were prepared in a Staff Report, which will be presented to the Board of Education at its meeting on Sept. 26. Click here to download the Staff Report.

The final Board action on the charter petition is also scheduled for the Sept. 26 meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

Click here to learn more.

After an extensive search process for a key administrator position, SRCS is pleased to announce that the Board of Education appointed Doug Marquand as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. Mr. Marquand has been involved in the world of school finance for 20 years, and has been recognized throughout his career for his leadership, comprehensive technical knowledge, collaboration and communication skills, follow-through and dedication to the work and to all stakeholders. A native of Marin County, he most recently was the Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services with the Placer Union High School District for nine years. Click here to learn more.

SRCS students continue to show growth in English language arts and math, according to results of statewide tests designed to gauge preparation for college and career. The state recently released results from the second year of the Smarter Balanced tests, part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) system. The tests align with California’s new state standards and feature more questions that require short answers or extended response questions that require demonstration of a deeper understanding of key concepts. 

• Click here for summary data for the San Rafael Elementary School District
• Click here for summary data for the San Rafael High School District

Visit www.srcs.org/testing to learn more.

Superintendent Watenpaugh submitted a back-to-school message to the Marin Independent Journal, and it was published on August 18, the first day of school! Click here to read the message. 

Governor Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 277 in 2015, which changes immunization requirements for children entering school. These new immunization requirements are currently in effect for the 2016-17 school year. Students with incomplete or missing immunization records cannot register for classes and cannot attend any classes until records are complete. Click here to learn more.

San Rafael City Schools is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed expansion and reconstruction at the San Rafael High School campus located at 185 Mission Avenue. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that the District conduct environmental review of the project, which has the potential to result in physical change in the environment. 

The District has determined that an EIR will be the required CEQA document for the project. The District is issuing a Notice of Preparation (NOP) to invite comments on the scope and content of the EIR prior to its preparation. Click here to download the NOP. 

Responses to this NOP and any related questions or comments regarding the scope or content of the draft EIR must be directed in writing to: Dr. Dan Zaich,San Rafael City Schools, 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903 or by email todzaich@srcs.org. Comments on the NOP must be received at the above mailing or e-mail address by Sept. 14, 2016 at 5 pm.

A scoping meeting will be held in the SRHS Library on Sept. 13, 2016 at 6 pm.

SRCS is getting ready to launch a new electronic flyer tool called “Peachjar” to enhance our communication with families! This “green” initiative will save our schools tons of paper and significantly reduce copy costs and will ease the burden for our staff. To view school and District-approved eflyers, you will simply click the Peachjar button on the homepage of you school’s website. You will also be emailed flyers weekly. Click here to learn more.

California’s new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) reshapes school funding and aims to improve achievement for all students. LCFF, and its counterpart, the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) — are anchored by the notion that California must do better for its underperforming students.

Our entire SRCS community is integral to shaping our plans for continued success and growth. This year, the stakeholder engagement was all about implementation. We focused on the data, what we have learned and a how to build a strong implementation schedule. 

In June 2016, the Board of Education approved the ESD and HSD LCAPs. Click here to learn more about our LCAP, the development process and to download the approved LCAPs.

Dr. Mayra Perez was named Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, Innovation and Social Justice for San Rafael City Schools. She will join the district on July 1, 2016. This position oversees the district’s instructional and teaching program, with a goal of ensuring equitable and high academic outcomes for all students, and enhancing systems and structures to support the instructional needs of school sites. She will work with Superintendent Michael Watenpaugh, Ed.D. to develop district policies and framework that advance and prioritize the work of the district’s strategic plan. Click here to read more. 

SRCS Board of Education members Rachel Kertz and Maika Llorens Gulati joined their fellow trustees in completing the California School Board Association’s Masters in Governance program. 

The Masters in Governance program is a nine-course program focused on the effective management and role of school board trustees. The program equips board members and superintendents with the knowledge and skills necessary to build and support an effective governance structure. Trustees Kertz and Llorens Gulati agree the program offers a unique opportunity to join other trustees from across California to share best practices and discuss current issues and trends. 

Thank you, San Rafael Community!

The San Rafael community overwhelmingly supported our ballot measures to improve our school facilities! 

• Measure A, the District's $108 million bond measure to fund updates to our elementary and middle schools, passed on Nov. 3 with 100 percent of precincts reporting, receiving 66 percent of the vote.  
• Measure B, the District's $161 million bond measure to fund updates to our high schools, also passed on Nov. 3 with 100 percent of precincts reporting, receiving 67 percent of the vote. 

The measures needed a 55 percent majority to pass. Click here to read more.