by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

From swearing in newly elected board members, to a surprise appearance by the recently elected state Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, the December 19 Claremont Unified School District Board of Education meeting had a bit of everything.

Restructuring

To kick things off the board welcomed Cheryl Fiello as the CUSD Board of Education Trustee Area 5 representative. Fiello replaces Bob Fass, who did not seek reelection. Kathy Archer, who ran unopposed in Trustee Area 2, was also sworn in for a second term.

The board then established its new look for 2025. Moving up from vice president, Kathryn Dunn was named president. Richard O’Neill was named vice president and Alex McDonald clerk. Superintendent Jim Elsasser remains board secretary.

(L-R) Board members Kathy Archer and Cheryl Fiello, and California Senator Sasha Renée Peréz at the December 19 CUSD Board of Education meeting. Peréz, at 32 the youngest senator in the state, presented the CUSD Board with certificates at the meeting. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Board president Dunn is eager to lead. She said one of her goals for the new year is “to dive deeper into policy and legislation.”

Board members were also received committee assignments. Dunn will serve as the board representative for Baldy View Regional Occupational Program and Legislative Awareness; McDonald, Claremont Educational Foundation; O’Neill, Claremont Parent and Faculty Association Council; Fiello, Claremont Chamber of Commerce; and Archer, Claremont After-School Programs. Additionally, Dunn will serve as CUSD’s representative for the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly, sub-region 23-C.

No one was designated as a representative to the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association or to Sustainable Claremont.

Schools deliver achievement plans

Condit Elementary

Condit Elementary School Principal Geoff Smith, aided by sixth grade teacher Sofia Ahmed and sixth grade student and student council co-leader Soren Rezvani, delivered the school’s plan for student achievement, a state mandated annual requirement.

Using California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, a standardized state test, the school had targets of increasing students’ understanding of English language arts from 66% to 71%, and growing its AVID Elementary SMART goals from 3 to 4. It hit its AVID goal, but just 64% of students met or exceeded its ELA standards. The goal for the coming year is to increase that score from 64% to 70% and boost its iReady reading diagnostic scores by 25%.The school also plans to increase the English learner population’s reading performance level by 25% between the fall and spring.

(L-R) Condit Elementary School Principal Geoff Smith and sixth grade teacher Sofia Ahmed delivered the school’s plan for student achievement at the December 19 CUSD Board of Education meeting. They were aided by and sixth grader Soren Rezvani. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Condit hoped to see 62% to 66% of its students’ meet or exceed math understanding and increase its AVID score from 3 to 4. It reported 60% of students met or exceeded math standards, but it hit its AVID goal. Looking ahead, Condit aims to increase student’s math knowledge to 66% and to iReady math diagnostic scores by 25%.

Finally, the school set a goal of having all its teachers incorporate mindfulness activities as part of their weekly schedule by June 2024. The report indicated “93% of students are aware of mindfulness strategies and can incorporate them.”

“By June 2025, each grade level (TK-6) at Condit will carry out a service project to support our school community or other outside organizations as documented,” read the report.

El Roble Intermediate School

El Roble Intermediate School Principal Richard McAlindin, joined by eighth grader and associated student body president Evan Haro, Assistant Principal Missy Samson, and English teacher Jenny McGourty-Riggs, delivered his school’s plan for student achievement.

El Roble hoped to increase its student body’s understand of English language arts from 61% to 64%, but fell short at 61%. The Panthers new ELA goal is to boost that number from 61% to 66%. The school also plans to increase its percentage of English learner students meeting or exceeding ELA standards from 10% to 21%.

(L-R) El Roble Intermediate School Assistant Principal Missy Samson and eighth grader and student body president Evan Haro delivered the school’s plan for student achievement at the December 19 CUSD Board of Education meeting. They were aided by El Roble Principal Richard McAlindin and English teacher Jenny McGourty-Riggs. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

For math, the school aimed to better students’ grasp of the subject from 49% to 54%. It exceeded that goal, as 55% met or exceeded understanding. El Roble plans to build on that momentum by pushing for 60% in the coming year.

El Roble had hoped to increase its attendance rate from 94% to 96%. It saw some progress as its 2023-24 rate was 94.5%. Its new attendance goal read in part, “The school climate and culture needs to shift to one rooted in positivity, shared decision-making, and accountability resulting in lower suspension rates, an increase in attendance rates, and higher CAASPP participation rates.”

Other items

• Claremont Educational Foundation President May-May Sugihara, along with CEF Immediate Past President Emily Cavalcanti, presented the board with a $160,000 check, representing the nonprofit’s block grant contribution to CUSD in 2024.
• Sasha Renée Pérez, who was recently elected to represent California’s 25th Senate District, replacing the outgoing Anthony Portantino, dropped by the meeting to recognize Archer and Fiello on their recent elections. She also presented certificates to the board.

(L-R) Claremont Educational Foundation President May-May Sugihara and Immediate Past President Emily Cavalcanti present CUSD with a check representing the nonprofit’s block grant contribution to the district in 2024. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

• The board unanimously approved the appointment of Michelle Dynes to serve as interim principal of Vista del Valle Elementary School through June 30, 2025. Dynes replaces former interim Principal Brett O’Connor. O’Connor took over for former Vista Principal Janie Nuanes, who now heads CUSD’s child development program. Recruitment for a permanent principal will begin in spring 2025.
• Lastly, CUSD entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and members of the Los Angeles County Tobacco Consortium “to participate in Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Tier 2 2023-2026 Grant,” the agenda item read. “The Los Angeles County Office of Education will provide consortium leadership, provide support materials, technical assistance and training to implement the program through June 30, 2026.”

The next CUSD Board of Education meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, January 16 at 170 W. San Jose Ave., Claremont.