District Announces Accomplishments, Aspirations

August, 2005 Dear Friends: Welcome to the 2005-2006 school year! It seems the summer months have just sped by with this year bringing calendar adjustments that minimize break time between the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years. Regardless, changes in staffing, facilities, and refinements to policies and procedures continue. Temple City Unified School District staff is eager to once again work with students, encouraging and facilitating their growth in academic, social, and emotional areas; others have worked throughout the summer months to "ready" the environment for the teaching and learning of students. All have committed to provide the best educational opportunities to all of our students; each person, be it certificated, classified, or management staff, is essential to the reaching of this goal. It is this commitment that makes Temple City so special. We continue to drive our improvement efforts of the past six years in the following ways: • Personnel restructuring within the District's Educational Services Division and at school sites • Credential clearance for the first group of teachers involved in the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Program (the District's Induction Program) • Evaluation of all certificated staff for No Child Left Behind (NCLB) compliance • Offering of Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD) classes, enabling certificated personnel to earn certification to teach English Language Learners • Establishment of a testing program for classified staff to meet required NCLB compliance • Initiation of the District's Classified Employee of the Year Program • Refinement of certificated and classified District Handbooks to communicate relevant information to all staff (i.e., personnel guidelines, staff listings, selected Board Policies, etc.) • Finalization of two-year salary and compensation agreements with all bargaining units (2004-2005 and 2005-2006) • Ongoing construction at school sites (Oak multi-use courts, installation of three leased relocatable classrooms and a restroom at TCHS, Memoli Hall renovations); ongoing discussions with the Board regarding an updated Master Facilities Plan (the last completed in 1996-97) • Development of a new multi-year Strategic Plan scheduled for implementation in 2005-2006 • Continued curriculum development work in standards development, implementation, and alignment; continued implementation of power standards • Additional technology in classrooms and media centers • Updated standards-based report cards (K-6) • Continued growth on State tests (STAR and CAHSEE) • Refinement of site budget preparation and management processes • Implementation of the District Crisis Intervention Plan • Standardization and continued refinement of a Student Success Team process for all schools • Continuous revisions to Board Policies, related Administrative Regulations, and Board Bylaws to meet legislative requirements and District direction • Revision of Personnel Commission Rules and Regulations • Review and expansion of disaster preparedness throughout the District • Continued implementation of EPA's Tools for Schools , an indoor air quality program • And more! As I write this letter, I have been reflecting on all that has been accomplished, not by one person but by many. In order to get things done in our society, it takes people with conviction, passion and courage. I look forward to working with TCUSD staff, parents, and community members as we face the challenges of 2005-2006. Together we can! Sincerely, Joan C. Hillard

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