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Walk about Rosedale Union School District enlightening
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Anonymous user Tue Oct 24, 2006 16:58:35 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments They say you cannot really understand a man (or a woman) until you’ve walked a mile in his (or her) shoes. So began my quest to educate myself about the Rosedale Union School District. The journey began with a little history lesson. 

The district was established in 1890 by pioneer farming families living in the Rosedale area,  and grew from one school with 18 students to seven elementary schools and two middle schools with more than 5,000 students by 2006.

My first stop was at the top with a visit to the monthly board of trustees meeting.  A small collegial group, primarily composed of persons interested in the agenda, gathered before the meeting began. The most entertaining of the group were representatives of classified employees awaiting hearing (and hopefully approval) of a new contract.

 “Classified” has a James Bond connotation, so when the board said they were also going to address contract approval for confidential classified employees, I had serious doubts about my security clearance. 

As it turns out, classified employees are non-certified employees (pretty much all the non-teachers) who do all the work behind the scenes to keep the schools running. Confidential classified employees are the staff working out of the district office with access to top secret, personal, and private stuff that the rest of the mortals aren’t supposed to know.

Surprisingly, the meeting was quite informative. It was conducted by the five current board members, Ken Mettler, John Auckland, Lisa King, Gary Moor, and Diane Spalding, accompanied by district superintendent Jamie Henderson, assistant superintendent of business John Mendiburu, and assistant superintendent of curriculum Deana Rhoades. The proceeding began with a patriotic pledge of allegiance and included a presentation on school test scores and another presentation regarding technology issues in the district.

In regards to test scores, the district did well overall, but there are areas in need of improvement. New data is just being evaluated to target specific issues on a school-by-school and grade-by-grade basis. In regards to technology,  I learned that not all schools are equally equipped with computer and technology support.  Recognizing this and future technology challenges guaranteed with growth in the district, the board and Mr. Henderson made technology a regular agenda item in order to track progress.

Near the end of the agenda, the “secret agents” (classified and confidential classified) got their contract approval and fled the building gleefully. The next day, I made phone calls to Parent Teacher Council members and presidents to get a feel for issues they perceived in the district. Those I spoke with were engaging and actively involved. Many attend board meetings frequently, and described great success in fundraising for their schools. One parent expressed concern regarding school computers and technology. Armed with the information from the board meeting,  I shared what I knew.

What walk about would be complete without a visit to each campus? My daughter went to Centennial Elementary School and recently started 7th grade with the big kids at Rosedale Middle School. I really didn’t know much about the rest of the schools in the district other than what I may have read, heard from other parents, or heard from my wife when she substitute taught in the district. Like most parents, I figured I knew most of what there was to know by simply being a parent in the district. I was wrong!

I visited each campus from the oldest (Rosedale Middle School and Rosedale North Elementary School) to the newest (Patriot Elementary School and American Elementary School) and found many unique qualities. For instance, some schools have little variance in ethnic diversity and have two or three languages spoken by the children (primarily English and Spanish). Some, like American Elementary School, have around 24 different languages being spoken on campus with all children processed through the education system and for the most part successfully. 

Wow! I also discovered that while the district’s schools use many common approaches to inspire and motivate students and generate school pride, each school has special characteristics.

Of course Rosedale Middle School, being the oldest and having taught many generations of students, carried a feeling of history and tradition as I walked on campus. Freedom Middle School, Patriot Elementary School, and American Elementary School carried a new, clean, sleek and modern feeling. In fact, I found out  American Elementary School acquired new, slick cafeteria benches that fold up and convert into comfortable chairs, which are a must for those extended parent assemblies and meetings.

Remarkably, the district also has a mother and daughter who are both principals at Independence and Almondale elementary schools respectfully. It sure does say something about community and  district desirability when multiple generations choose to stay and work here.

Of course my walk about wouldn’t have been complete if I hadn’t visited staff, administrators, parents and teachers or poked my head into some classrooms. Each person I met was willing to share a lot of time educating me about his or her school, children, teachers, staff and unique needs and qualities. Interestingly, there was a common theme among the people I spoke to. Each believed his or her school was the best,  as it should be.

Exhausted from my journeys, and having sufficiently worn my leather down, I stopped off at a McDonald’s restaurant. But it was no ordinary day at McDonald’s. The restaurant had been invaded by Patriot Elementary School children, parents and staff for a fundraiser affectionately referred to as “McTeacher Night.”

For three hours the parking lot overflowed, the drive-through was backed up, and at times there was standing room only.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more collegial group of staff and teachers who genuinely seemed to be having a good time joking with families and with each other. It was truly remarkable not just because of the turnout, but because of the incredibly supportive atmosphere.  And it was a lot of fun!

A project that I thought would be brief meetings turned into many hours and was an extremely gratifying, informative process. I highly recommend that you set aside a few hours at least once a year to take a walk about in your own school district. It’s good for the mind, body and soul.

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