Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles detailing some issues associated with education in Lake County.
According to the California State Dashboard, KVUSD has an enrollment of 1702 students with 79.7 percent considered economically disadvantaged. Kelseyville Elementary School’s suspension rate has remained relatively stable. Kelseyville High School is at its lowest point in the last three years at 3.1 percent, down 2.9 percent from the previous year. More students at the high school are prepared for college when compared to last year. Most concerning is the suspension rates at Mountain Vista Middle School, with a whopping increase of 11.6 percent from 2017. 15.2 percent of their students were suspended at least once in 2018. Students tested at Mountain Vista Middle School also declined in both English and Math scores. Although Riviera Elementary had a slight increase in suspensions when compared to last year, there has been a 3.2 percent decline since 2016.
Dave McQueen, Superintendent of KVUSD, said there are unique challenges facing small districts which include poverty, drug abuse, parental support and mental health. Also, his particular district includes a large geographical area, which is a challenge when it comes to bringing his community of learners together. His priorities are to keep kids in school and to keep them safe. Although there is a K-12 behavioral policy, every student and every situation is different and must be treated accordingly. Sites are taught to look at the data, follow PBIS training guidelines and engage students in instruction. McQueens said there are student study teams where parents, teachers and admin create a plan for the student and a special day set aside where non-bullying and empathy is taught. There are also intervention classes for students who need this. McQueen is proud of his district’s welcoming environment, the career technical classes being offered which include wood shop, metal shop and agriculture. They also offer online classes for alternative and continuing education. All of this helps keep students engaged, cuts down on behavioral problems and promotes students who are college/career ready.
According to the data, KUSD has an enrollment of 3489 with 87.1 percent considered socioeconomically disadvantaged. Burns Valley K-7 school slightly increased in their suspension rate when compared to 2017. However, suspension rates have decreased by 9.5 percent from 2016. Their English and Language Arts and Math scores have both increased this year. Eastlake K-7 school has a suspension rate of 8.8 percent which is a 2.6 percent decrease from 2017. Konocti Education Center 4-12 school has a suspension rate of 6.4 percent which is a 7.5 percent decrease from last year. In addition there has been improvement in English Language Arts scores. Lower Lake Elementary School has shown significant progress when it comes to suspensions. In 2016 their rate was 10 percent, in 2017 it dropped slightly to 9.1 percent and in 2018 it dropped again to 3.1 percent. There has also been a slight increase in both English Language Arts and Mathematics scores for those students tested. Pomo K-7 school has a suspension rate of 6.7 percent, a decline of 4.1 percent when compared to 2017.
Donna Becnel, Superintendent of KUSD, states that instead of waiting for something to happen, they work on understanding their students and intervening on the “front end”, helping them deal with whatever it is they need before the problem escalates. They actively use PBIS as their behavior model and hired an Academic Intervention Assistant, who, alongside a counselor, works with all schools. They have implemented many small groups, such as the bullying group, which helps build connections and teaches positive ways to handle issues. Furthermore, instruction must be engaging and the mantra is +1, which is posted throughout the district. +1 means that each student will achieve more than one year worth of growth in one year. There are instructional coaches at each site and the coaches become masters of the data. Becnel said they measure growth periodically to find out if they are meeting their +1 goal. Becnel goes on to say that they have a medical magnet HS and a 4-7 School for the Arts. Ninth grade students are able to take college classes so they can graduate high school with an AA degree. In addition to all this, Lower Lake HS have programs in culinary, agriculture, auto mechanics, public service, law enforcement, music and drama. Becnel also states that there is a district-wide collaboration which occurs once a month to discuss best practices. When students are actively involved in the process and involvement includes parents, teachers and staff, discipline issues lessen.
State data shows MUSD has an enrollment of 1455 students with 64.6 percent considered socioeconomically disadvantaged. The suspension rate at Cobb Mountain Elementary is only 1.4 percent, down from last year by 1.7 percent. They are close to meeting State standards in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. Coyote Valley Elementary School wins the day with a suspension rate of just .2 percent. Their scores also increased in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. Middletown High School also did extremely well when it comes to suspension rates. This year was their lowest rate ever at 2.2 percent. Middletown Middle School have suspension rates that have been slightly increasing from year to year. In 2016 the rate was 3 percent, in 2017 the rate was 3.2 percent and in 2018 the rate was 4.4 percent.
Catherine Stone, Superintendent of MUSD, states here have been some unique struggles due to the fires. Enrollment has just started to come back and the tax base took a huge hit which affects school funding. She also stated that approximately only 20 percent of the houses lost have been rebuilt. All of this has an impact on students. Stone also stated that they have implemented peer support programs where stipends are given to lead teachers who are given the responsibility to assist and train their peers. A positive alternative to suspension program has also been developed. Students might spend a day working on a project directly related to their infraction and then present this project to their peers. Stone goes on to say that the district uses PBIS. All teachers have been trained and that staff have collaborated together and developed a handbook. She states that MUSD has a great environment with tremendous dedicated parent and community involvement which helps tremendously when it comes to discipline issues and educating the whole child. Stone finishes by saying that the district has a strong athletic and agriculture program. She is proud to announce that the music program will be coming back soon. These programs are key to keepng students involved and engaged in the learning process.
Prior to joining the Record-Bee as a freelancer covering education and local news items, Mary Phillips worked in education as a teacher and an administrator for 34 years.
