by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The October 17 Claremont Unified School District Board of Education meeting began on an emotional note with supporters of Bob Fass praising the outgoing board president during his last meeting. Fass was elected to represent Trustee Area 5 on the CUSD Board of Education in 2020 and opted not to run for re-election this November.

Superintendent Jim Elsasser opened by thanking Fass for his time on the board, his integrity, dedication to student success, and for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the district. Elsasser praised Fass’s leadership in helping to navigate the district through the COVID-19 pandemic and reopening schools, the completion of the Dr. Brett O’Connor Student Center at Claremont High School, the 2022 adoption of the CUSD Commitment, and helping schools and the district receive accolades.

“We are truly grateful for your dedication and contributions,” Elsasser added. Sentiments were echoed by state and local leaders. 

Board member Kathy Archer, who was also elected in 2020 and is running unopposed November 5, and board clerk Richard O’Neill praised Fass for his leadership qualities. Board member Alex McDonald spoke of his kinship with his outgoing colleague. Board Vice President Kathryn Dunn touched on her longtime friendship with Fass and gifted him an El Roble Intermediate School sweatshirt, their childhood alma mater.

Fass talked of his appreciation for his colleagues, thanked his family, and had some advice to his Trustee Area 5 successor, which will be Cheryl Fiello or Mark Reynoso. He also left the door open.

“This is likely not a formal goodbye for me, but a farewell for now,” he said. “As I’ve learned from the superintendent, it’s always possible to leave and return. I have deeply enjoyed this work, and I hope to continue to serve CUSD in many ways for many years to come. Thank you.”

A performance by the CHS Chamber Singers closed the ceremony.

School plans for student achievement

Per the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, schools must develop annual plans for student achievement which are then approved by school staff and the district’s governing board. At the October 17 meeting, staff and students from Claremont and San Antonio high schools delivered their respective plans for the 2024-2025 academic year.

San Antonio High

San Antonio High School Principal Andrea Deligio, English teacher Melissa Gaw and CUSD Board of Education student representative and SAHS senior Eli George were on hand to deliver the school’s plan for student achievement.

The report began by highlighting the school’s 2023-24 goal of ensuring 90% of 11th grade English students increased their proficiency in one or more English language arts categories by at least one point level, as measured by a California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress-aligned rubric. That goal was thoroughly met as 100% of the student demographic demonstrated growth.

The school’s goal for 2024-25 is to have 80% of 11th grade English students increase their proficiency by at least one point level across two or more categories.

Last school year, the school hoped to have “75% of students enrolled in a face-to-face Integrated Math 1 course … demonstrate at least 12% improvement on the summative assessment test versus the course pre-test” by the end of each semester, according to the SPSA report. The school partially met its mathematics goal as “45% of students enrolled in a face-to-face Integrated Math 1 course demonstrated at least 12% improvement on the summative assessment test versus the course pre-test.”

(L-R) San Antonio High School English teacher Melissa Gaw, Principal Andrea Deligio, and CUSD Board of Education Student Representative and SAHS senior Eli George (not visible), presented the school’s plan for student achievement. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The math goal for 2024-25 still strives for 75% of students to be enrolled in a face-to-face Integrated Math 1 course and demonstrate improvement. That increased proficiency however will instead by measured by “at least a one grade level of improvement on the STAR end of year assessment versus the STAR beginning of course assessment.”

The school’s third goal, decreasing suspensions and chronic absenteeism by 5%, was not met. “Student engagement did not increase as measured by a 0% decrease in suspensions and a 0% decrease in the chronic absenteeism rate,” the SPSA report read.

The school restructured its goal to only focus on the attendance rate this time around. Its new goal reads: “San Antonio will increase the attendance rate from 82.6% to 87.6% as measured by the 2024-2025 attendance data.”

Claremont High

Seniors Paige Morales and Ryan Neal, and student board of education representative Soleil Rivera, English teacher Barbara Bilderback, and Principal James Mitchell delivered Claremont High’s report.

Its 2023-24 goal aimed to boost the student body’s proficiency in English language arts from 67% to 75%. The school just missed the mark as 73% of students met or exceeded standards. CHS plans to grow this to 77% by the end of the school year.

Last year staff planned to increase students’ understanding of math from 39% to 51%. The school fell short with 47% of students having met or exceeded standards. CHS now plans to boost proficiency to 52%.

(L-R) Seniors Ryan Neal and Paige Morales, English teacher Barbara Bilderback, and CUSD Board of Education student representative Soleil Rivera delivered CHS’s annual school plan for student achievement. Not pictured is Principal James Mitchell. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The school’s third goal was to increase the number of students who felt CHS was helpful in teaching work skills such job as search techniques, resume writing, and interview skills. “For the Class of 2025 Senior Exit Survey, the percentage of students who report that ‘Overall, I think CHS adequately prepared me for what I plan to do after graduation’ will increase from 49% (in the Class of 2024 Senior Exit Survey) to 55%,” read the report.

Strategies on how the high schools will achieve their projected 2024-25 goals are outlined in the SPSA reports, viewable on the October 17 agenda under item 14.02. Access the agenda by going to cusd.claremont.edu, clicking “Board of Education” and then “Board Meeting Agenda/Live Stream.” Select the October 17 meeting and then “View the Agenda.”

The next meeting of the CUSD Board of Education is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, November 21 on the third floor of the Richard S. Kirkendall Education Center, 170 W. San Jose Ave., Claremont.