Spring 2019 - Volume 8, Issue 3

News and Information from Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin

for employees of the Tustin Unified School District

Visit the TUSD Website at www.tustin.k12.ca.us and www.DestinationTUSD.org

Follow us on: Twitter: @SuptFranklin and @TUSDschools

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TUSD Facilities Master Plan Committee members at work during one of several meetings.

Superintendent’s Message: Long-Range Facilities Planning

This year, the Tustin Unified School District has been engaged in developing a long-range facilities master plan to address critical construction and modernization issues facing the District. Over 600 employees, parents, students and community members have participated in the process facilitated by a local architectural firm. This spring, the architectural firm will present the TUSD Board of Education with the completed plan that will sustain District facilities to serve TUSD families for years into the future.

I am proud of the work by the master planning committee that established several guiding principles for the plan:

• Ensure equity and parity in facilities and opportunities for all students of the District.

• Create welcoming and safe campuses that facilitate cooperation.

• Be forward-thinking and student-centered.

• Reflect the long-term vision of District stakeholders and create a clear plan that is useful and sustainable.

• Be mindful of resources and respect the community's investment.

As this work is being done by so many throughout the District, I reflect on those individuals who did similar work over 20 years ago that resulted in new science centers, new and updated classrooms, engineering and career technical education rooms, activity centers, athletic facilities, and infrastructure improvements. We currently benefit from their work done so many years ago. It is an honor to pay their work forward to the next generation of students who will be served by TUSD for years to come.

Go TUSD!

Gregory A. Franklin, Ed.D.

Tustin Unified School District and City of Tustin leaders participated in a historical groundbreaking ceremony on March 13 for the new Legacy Magnet Academy. Participants included, from left, retired Tustin City Manager Jeff Parker; TUSD Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin; TUSD Board President James Laird; TUSD Board Members Tammie Bullard, Lynn Davis, Francine Scinto and Jonathan Abelove; Tustin Mayor Chuck Puckett, Tustin Council Members Al Murray, Dr. Allan Bernstein (Mayor Pro Tem), Barry Cooper, Austin Lumbard and Letitia Clark; and Tustin City Manager Matt West. Photo courtesy of John Garrett

TUSD Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Legacy Magnet Academy

The Tustin Unified School District held a groundbreaking ceremony for Legacy Magnet Academy on March 13. The new state-of-the-art middle/high school will be located near Tustin Ranch Road and Valencia Avenue.in Tustin Legacy.

The school was designed by PJHM Architects and will be built by Balfour Beatty Construction. School construction will take about 18 months with a completion date set for summer 2020. TUSD and the City of

Tustin have formed an agreement that will eventually generate $85 million to construct the school based upon the build-out of the Tustin Legacy development.

Legacy Magnet Academy is scheduled to open in fall 2020 and will serve grades six and nine in its first year and, depending on enrollment interest, grades 7 and 8 as well. Eventually, the school will accommodate approximately 1,400 students in grades 6-12. The 33-acre campus is bordered by Valencia Avenue, Legacy Road, Moffett Avenue and Tustin Ranch Road.

Beckman High School was recognized at a recent school board meeting. Accepting on behalf of the school

were Principal Dr. Donnie Rafter; assistant principals Devang Brahmbhatt, Penn Bushong, and Sahra

Tanikawa; Teacher of the Year Stacy Colón; and teachers representing the school’s Four A’s – Stephen McGill

(Academics), Ken Cooper (Activities), Jim Kollias (Arts), and Steve Fischel (Athletics). Joining them are

Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin and TUSD Board President James Laird. Photo courtesy of John Garrett

Beckman High School Named 2019 California Distinguished School

Arnold O. Beckman High School in the Tustin Unified School District has been named a 2019 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education. This is the fourth time Beckman has received state distinguished honors – the school was also chosen in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Beckman is among 25 Orange County middle and high schools and 162 secondary schools statewide to earn the state’s highest level of recognition as a state distinguished school.

"Congratulations to Beckman High School for this amazing accomplishment,” TUSD Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin said. “I am very proud of the teachers, administrators and staff for doing an outstanding job of preparing students to be ready and successful for college and career.”

Sponsored by the state Department of Education and California Casualty, the California Distinguished Schools program returned in 2018 following a three-year hiatus, during which time the state overhauled its accountability system.

Schools earn the prestigious distinction for demonstrating exceptional student performance for two consecutive school years — test scores, suspensions and graduation rates are used as metrics — or for closing the achievement gap between two school years. This is the first year the new California Dashboard was used to determine recognition for secondary schools. The Dashboard uses multiple measures to assist in identifying strengths, challenges and areas needing improvement.

The Distinguished Schools award rotates each year between elementary schools and secondary schools. Schools earning the Distinguished School title agree to share their “signature practices” with other schools and serve as mentors to other educators who want to replicate their work.

Beckman High School, along with the other Orange County schools, were honored on April 5 at the California Distinguished School awards ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

“This recognition is truly based on an all-school effort,” Beckman Principal Dr. Donnie Rafter said. “Beckman’s hard-working teachers and staff continue to help our students achieve their goals and reach their full potential.”

TUSD Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Dr. Grant Litfin, center, was recognized for being named 2019 Orange County CTE Administrator of the Year at the TUSD Board of Education meeting on March 11. Joining Litfin at the recognition ceremony are, from left, TUSD Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin; members of the Litfin family – aunt, Nancy Goltry; wife, Heather; and children, Gwen and Gavin; and TUSD Board President James Laird. Along with a Certificate of Recognition, Litfin received the coveted “Red Stapler Award” from TUSD Administrative Services for helping the department achieve one or more of its goals.

Photo courtesy of John Garrett

Grant Litfin Named 2019 California CTE Administrator of the Year By the Association of California School Administrators

Tustin Unified School District Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services, Dr. Grant Litfin has been named 2019 California Career Technical Education (CTE) Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Litfin represented the Tustin School Management Association in the ACSA Administrators of the Year program.

“There are thousands of school administrators in California representing 19 regions and to be chosen as CTE Administrator of the Year is quite an accomplishment,” Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin said. “Grant is an outstanding educational leader who is making a tremendous difference in Tustin Unified schools by expanding STEM and CTE opportunities for all students. I’m proud of Grant and his achievements and dedication to public education.”

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ACSA was established in 1971 and is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the nation, serving more than 16,000 school leaders throughout California. The organization annually honors outstanding administrators for their leadership skills, professionalism, creativity, innovation, and commitment to a quality education.

Litfin has worked in public education for 18 years – the past seven in Tustin Unified. He oversees the Informational Technology Department, Career Technical Education and Enrollment/Transfers. During his time in the District, Litfin has established business partnerships, such as Tustin Toyota’s “Drive for Perfect Attendance Program” for high school seniors, and coordinated CTE Pathway courses and TUSD’s annual College Night and Career Fair. He also serves on the Coastline Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Steering Committee, Orange County Career Pathways Partnership Executive Committee for Orange County and Tustin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Since Litfin has come to TUSD, the District has added a CTE program (including Project Lead the Way courses) to all six middle schools, started a K-12 robotics league with teams from all 29 schools, expanded computer science programs and high school engineering programs, and implemented a high school career pathway program culminating in a capstone class and recognition at graduation for 14 different pathways.

Through his efforts in grant writing, Litfin has secured millions in funding that has helped TUSD build and sustain programs in areas such as media/film, visual imagery, graphic design and engineering. Due to Litfin’s support and coordination, Tustin Unified has a thriving CTE program throughout the District, especially at the high school level.

“I’m honored to receive this recognition, and I’m even more excited that the amazing Career Technical Education programs our teachers have built are being recognized at the county and state levels,” Litfin said. “Years ago, our school board set a clear vision for the growth of College and Career Readiness and placed it among our most prominent academic goals. Our talented administrators and teaching staff took that vision and make amazing things happen for students on a daily basis. This is a TUSD award, and I hope everyone involved shares in this recognition."

In February, Litfin was selected as Orange County CTE Administrator of the Year by ACSA, Region 17, which represents 28 school districts in Orange County. He will be recognized at the 46th annual ACSA “Orange County Administrators of the Year and Friends of Education Awards” Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13, at the Irvine Marriott. Litfin will be honored for California CTE Administrator of the Year in November at the ACSA State Leadership Summit Awards in San Francisco.

TUSD Robotics Teams to Compete in World Championships

Tustin Unified School District Robotics teams have soared to the top of the competition winning numerous tournaments and awards during the qualifica-tion season that ran September through February. Several of the District’s teams qualified multiple times for the California State Championships. Overall, TUSD sent a total of 23 teams to compete in these events held throughout the state. In the end, TUSD Robotics teams earned a total of 20 awards at the state championships and 11 invitations to the world championships in Louisville, Kentucky.The teams and their teacher-coaches include Beckman Robopatties, Siu Kong Sit; Foothill Knight Time Jeff Farr; Orchard Hills Middle School, Megan Lund; Orchard Hills Elementary, Nancy Chung and Liz Root; and Tustin Memorial Academy, Debbie Mulligan and Devra Staller. The middle and high school teams will compete April 24 through 27, while the elementary teams will compete April 28 through 30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, according to Computer Science and Engineering TOSA and TUSD Robotics Lead Cari Williams. For more information, visit the TUSD Robotics Website at www.tusdrobotics.com.

Top photo, Helen Estock Elementary School teacher Megan Venezia is celebrated by several of her third-grade students for being named 2019 TUSD Elementary Teacher of the Year. Bottom photo, Beckman High School physical education teacher Stacy Colón is congratulated by some of her P.E. students for being recognized as TUSD’s 2019 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Both teachers are representing the Tustin Unified School District in the Orange County Teachers of the Year Program. Photos courtesy of John Garrett

TUSD Announces 2019 Teachers of the Year

Megan Venezia, third-grade teacher at Helen Estock Elementary School, and Stacy Colón, physical education teacher at Arnold O. Beckman High School, have been selected as the 2019 Teachers of the

Year by the Tustin Unified School District. They are representing the District in the 2019-20 Orange County Teachers of the Year program.

The Orange County Department of Education will interview the selected candidates and announce winners in May. The county finalists will then go on to the California and National Teacher of the Year programs.

Tustin Unified’s annual awards program recognizes outstanding teachers who have displayed extraordinary teaching, creativity and excellence at their school and community.

Venezia and Colón were chosen from a field of 28 candidates. Additionally, Venezia was named Elementary (grades K-5) Teacher of the Year and Colón was selected as Secondary (grades 6-12) Teacher of the Year.

Megan Venezia has been a teacher in Tustin Unified for nine years. She has taught third and fifth grades, Response to Intervention with a focus on reading, and STEAM education at the Tustin Public Schools Foundation (TPSF) Summer Academy Program. Venezia is a fellow in the Cotsen Foundation with an emphasis on reading instruction. She was also selected to serve as a language mentor for TUSD where she is strengthening instruction for English language learners across the District. This year, she became a Google Certified Teacher and has dedicated herself to learning innovative ways to use technology to enhance her instruction. Venezia has also been a TUSD Connect fellow emphasizing technology integration and Cognitively Guided Instruction in mathematics.

Venezia utilizes new technologies to strengthen her daily instruction with her students and integrates the knowledge she has gained through fellowships and professional development opportunities. She demonstrates outstanding leadership as the PBIS Coach at her school, a position she has held for the past eight years. She has developed resources and tools that other schools in the District utilize to model best practices to promote a positive school culture. She also coordinates STEAM family nights at Estock School and serves as the lead representative at her site for the TPSF Dinosaur Dash fundraising event.

Stacy Colón has taught in public education for 14 years – all at Beckman High. She teaches general physical education, ninth-grade life fitness, individual activities and racquet sports in grades 10 through 12, and Reverse Inclusion (RI) in all grades. She serves as Physical Education Department chair, Beckman Leadership Team member and site coordinator for the State Physical Fitness Testing. She is also District lead for physical-education-specific professional development, member of the Orange County Physical Education Leadership Team, master teacher of teaching candidates at California State University, Fullerton, and served as head coach of the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse and Soccer teams. The soccer team was a CIF finalist and state regional finalist in 2010, and the lacrosse team won the league championship from 2006 through 2009.

Over the years, Colón has developed a model high school physical education program that promotes health, fitness, and wellness through a variety of experiences, including strength and conditioning, aerobics, and nutrition. She piloted the first RI course in supporting the social development of students with special needs through peer friendships, acts of kindness, and fun group activities. Her students participate in Hillview High School’s annual “Hawk Games,” “Beckman All-Stars” Camp, and in May will hold the inaugural “Patriot Games” – all for special education students.

The other 2019 School Site Teachers of the Year include:

Elementary School: Donna Anderson, fourth-grade teacher at Arroyo School; Junka Ezaki, kindergarten teacher at Barbara Benson School; Jon Carroll, third-grade teacher at Benjamin Beswick School; Elizabeth Cometa, kindergarten teacher at Guin Foss School; Becky Roumimper, second-grade teacher at Robert Heideman School; Tara Pauley, Transitional Kindergarten teacher at Heritage School; Cathy Gumz, fifth-grade teacher at Hicks Canyon School; Sara Blair, second-grade teacher at Ladera School; Jillian Rose, third-grade teacher at Loma Vista School; Kristan Bruce, kindergarten teacher at Myford School; Wendi Hurley, special day class teacher at Nelson School; Christy Platt, first/second-grade teacher at Orchard Hills School; Robyn Strong, special day class teacher at Peters Canyon School; Tracy Edmisten, fourth/fifth-grade teacher at Red Hill School; Janet Hertogh, fifth-grade teacher at Jeane Thorman School; Carrie Pedersen, kindergarten teacher at Tustin Memorial Academy; Joanna Blaney, fourth-grade teacher at Tustin Ranch School; and Sara Giorgi Smith, special day class teacher at Marjorie Veeh School.

Middle School: Mario Cortes, sixth-grade math teacher at Columbus Tustin School; Hannah Byun, seventh-and eighth-grade math and math accelerated teacher at Currie School; Eryn O’Day, sixth-grade Project

Code, seventh/eighth-grade STEM and eighth-grade math teacher at Hewes School; Jazmin Memon, Spanish teacher at Orchard Hills School; Heather Tolliver, seventh-grade math and math accelerated teacher at Pioneer School; and Aaron Boyce, specialized academic instruction teacher at C.E. Utt School.

High School: Joanne McDermott, English and journalism teacher at Foothill; Ivan Ramirez, Resource Specialist Program teacher at Hillview; and Sheila Moeller, math teacher at Tustin High. The two winners and all the District’s nominees will be honored at the 25th annual Teachers of the Year Dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17, at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. The event is co-sponsored by the Tustin Public Schools Foundation and Tustin Unified School District.

Tustin-Santa Ana Rotary Club 2019 Good Idea Awards winners pose for a photo at the organization’s luncheon. They are, seated, from left, Emi Anthony, Debbie Bessen, Julie Shattles, Jonny Parker, Courtney Smith, Jeannette Sweet, and Gigi Pan; and standing, Veronica Rivas, Aileen Townsend, Janis Leach, Jennifer Sandland, Elizabeth Catron, Allison Hoang, Ashly McNamara, Leanne Calvert, Aya Armendariz, and Janeen Sample. Joining them are TUSD Dr. Superintendent Gregory Franklin and Club President Roger Carlson.

Photo courtesy of Garry Heath

TUSD Educators Win Rotary Club Good Idea Awards

The Tustin-Santa Ana Rotary Club has announced the winners of its 2019 Good Idea Awards. Approximately 19 educators in the Tustin Unified School District were honored at the Rotary Club’s annual awards luncheon. Their projects were chosen among many proposals submitted by teachers and staff in the school district.

The club awarded more than $4,000 in grants to individuals for the development of quality educational programs in the classroom or school. Either a new concept or a supplement to an ongoing project was eligible for consideration. The winners will use the money to purchase materials, supplies or equipment. Individual awards varied in amount according to requirements of the proposed projects.

The purpose of the program is to encourage classroom teachers’ ideas and methodology, to enhance the instructional program offered to students in the District, and to recognize the more exemplary efforts of the “eager beavers” in the TUSD school system.

The winners and their projects are as follows:

• Aye Armendariz, autism specific - moderate/severe teacher at C.E. Utt Middle School, for “Dance Movement Intervention for Children with Autism.”

• Debra Bessen and Emi Anthony, second-grade and third-grade teachers, respectively, and Vernonica Rivas, community liaison at Robert Heideman Elementary School, for “Transforming Lives Through Musical Theater.”

• Leanne Calvert, sixth-grade honors core teacher at C.E. Utt Middle School, for “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

• Elizabeth Catron, fifth-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary School, for “Innovating and Creating with Micro:bits!”

• Felisa Gibbs, second/third-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary School, for “Putting the ‘A’ in STEM.”

• Allison Hoang, first/second-grade Teacher at Tustin Ranch Elementary School, for “Digital Storytelling.”

• Amy Jones, kindergarten teacher at Orchard Hills School, for “Kindergartners are Busy Bees!”

• Janis Leach, third-grade teacher at Arroyo Elementary School, for “Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Superflex!”

• Ashly McNamara, English/language arts teacher on special assignment at the District Administration Center, for “Digital Storytelling and Professional Learning.”

• Gigi Pan, kindergarten teacher at Benjamin Beswick Elementary School, for “Let’s Bring Animals to LIFE in the Classroom!”

• Jonny Parker, TUSD Connect Coach at Myford Elementary School, for “Drones Take Off.”

• Janeen Sample, library media technician at Tustin Memorial Academy, for “An Ode to Books.”

• Jennifer Sandland, fifth-grade teacher at Helen Estock Elementary School, for “Nurturing Green Thumbs.”

• Julie Shattles, third/fourth-grade teacher at Peters Canyon Elementary School, “Bridging the Gap.”

• Courtney Smith, TUSD Connect Coach at Barbara Benson and Peters Canyon elementary schools, for “Calming Corner.”

• Jeannette Sweet, second-grade teacher at Hicks Canyon Elementary School, for “Amazing Ancestors!”

• Aileen Townsend, Makerspace paraeducator at Arroyo Elementary School, “The Sweet Sound of Coding.”

Principals for a Day pose for a “class” photo with Superintendent Dr. Gregory Franklin and TUSD Board of Education members Jonathan Abelove, Lynn Davis and Francine Scinto. Photo courtesy of John Garrett

Local Business and Community Leaders Serve as Principals for a Day

Local business owners and community leaders served as Principals for a Day in schools throughout the Tustin Unified School District on March 26. The event was part of the 30th annual TUSD Educational Partnership Week, March 25-29.

“Principals for a Day” is a hands-on opportunity for local business and community leaders to learn about the issues, challenges, and accomplishments in public education as they take on the role of school administrators. Each participant shared the role of school principal and performed various daily duties, such as visiting classrooms, meeting with students and teachers, attending staff meetings, reviewing budgets, and participating in other activities.

The 2019 Principals for a Day included:

Elementary schools: Baum Orthodontics owner Dr. Douglas Baum, Arroyo School; TUSD Measure S Citizens’ Oversight Committee member Jonathan Stone, Benjamin Beswick School; Tustin Police Officer John Hedges, Helen Estock School; “Kids Read!” Founder Barry Ackerman, Guin Foss School; Tustin Police Captain Robert Wright, Robert Heideman School; Tustin Council Member Austin Lumbard, Heritage School; Apple Education K-12 Senior Account Executive Matt Hannegan, Hicks Canyon School; Tustin Mayor Chuck Puckett, Ladera School; Own It Now Realty real estate agent Eric Perez, Loma Vista School; Senior Field Representative Jose Martinez for Assemblyman Dr. Steven Choi, Myford School; Del Taco owner Bob Dewid, Nelson School; Tustin Boys & Girls Clubs of Tustin Board President Sandy Garcia-Ekizian, Peters Canyon School; Foothill Communities Association President and TUSD Measure S Citizens’ Oversight Committee member Rick Nelson, Red Hill School; Tustin Area Historical Society Board President Pete Beatty, Jeane Thorman School; Graphic Impressions owner Terry Laughlin, Tustin Memorial Academy; Tustin City Manager Matt West, Tustin Ranch School; and Tustin Area Historical Society Education Chair Joe Sprekelmeyer, Marjorie Veeh School.

Orchard Hills School: Irvine Council Member Farrah Khan.

Middle schools: “Empowered Youth Lifestyle” Founder and President Greg LeFever, Columbus Tustin School; Trek Bicycle of Tustin owner Karen Sattler, Currie School; Dr. E, E-Orthodontics, Hewes School; Tustin Council Member Letitia Clark, Pioneer School; and South Coast Volkswagon General Manager Peter Maldonado, Utt School.

High schools: Irvine Council Member Anthony Ko, Beckman; Tustin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Al Murray, Foothill; “Rise Up and Care” Founder Jon Wilcox, Hillview; and Tustin Toyota Parts and Service Director Glenn Kashima, Tustin High.

Tustin Connect (K-12 Online): Nordstrom Real Estate Group owner Lars Nordstrom.

Foothill High School students Heidi Schaefer, Will Noujaim, and Dev Dedhia prepare for the start of the

California Mayor’s Cyber Cup competition.

Technology: Cracking the Code: TUSD’s Next Generation of Computer Scientists

The Tustin Unified School District is well known for having outstanding technology integration across the curriculum, so it should come as no surprise that Computer Science programs are also flourishing at each level.

The TUSD elementary schools provide exposure to computer science through “Hour of Code” activities and experiences within the makerspaces located on each site. Middle school students advance their understanding through elective courses that use Arduino Boards, flying code-controlled drones, robotics, and video game simulation apps.

By the time students reach high school, they can embark on computer science and software engineering pathways that teach students to use coding languages like Python, C++, and Java. The high schools also apply their knowledge to pass AP Computer Science Exams, compete in robotics tournaments, defend

networks in CyberPatriot and Cyber-Cup ethical hacking competitions, and code the “brains” of functioning space satellites.

With all of these opportunities, TUSD students are set up to compete for tomorrow’s computer science careers.

Pioneer Middle School sixth-grader Timothy Okajima is ready for his close-up at the annual TUSD Film Festival.

Educational Services: Digital Storytelling

TUSD is excited to continue with the Digital Storytelling Program this year. Teachers from elementary, middle and high schools participated in trainings to learn how to integrate academic movie-making into their curriculum. Students are enthusiastically turning their written storyboards into digital movies as evidence of new learning and to communicate powerful messages. The digital storytelling process boasts many potential benefits for students as they experience and investigate new content and innovative technology tools.

Digital Storytelling professional development for teachers has two tracks including Master Classes, 1.0 and 2.0, and over 170 teachers have attended.

Digital storytelling 1.0 focuses on meaningful technology integration, emphasizing technical production skills, and bringing writer's workshop to life through imagery and visual multimedia.

Digital Storytelling 2.0 focuses on the power of storytelling, choosing meaningful topics, creative production strategies, and impact on others through the visual telling of stories. Through the process, students are empowered to analyze real world issues, write about

areas of interest and passion, and convey the importance of the issue to their audience, focusing on the "why" of digital storytelling.

Several schools are holding site or classroom film festivals in order to showcase students’ creations. Last year, the first TUSD Elementary Film Festival was held, featuring 30 student films chosen from over 100 submissions and representing 13 elementary schools. This year, another districtwide Film Festival is scheduled for May 14. TUSD is excited to see the thoughtful and creative digital stories our students have in store for us through Digital Storytelling!

Business Services: A Period of Transition in Changing Times – A Fiscal Outlook

Recently, the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance reported that state revenue collections through January are approximately $2.3 billion below projections. Given that education funding is closely tied to state revenue collections, a concern now exists that future projections of increased education funding may have been over-estimated. Additionally, the financial outlook for California usually follows the path of the U.S. economy, and economists with the UCLA Anderson Forecast see a slowing U.S. economy and a rising risk of recession by late 2020.

Each year during this time, state and school officials begin the planning process for the future finances of K-12 education. The District’s Second Interim Financial Report has been approved by the Board of Education, the governor has released the state’s 2019-10 budget proposal, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office has begun to signal what’s ahead for K-12 education’s finances.

Looking back at the last five years, implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula by school districts has been a momentous experience of significant “growth” in levels of funding year after year. In that time, California’s finances have also grown correspondingly and now that districts have reached the state’s target funding level, future funding is not expected to sustain ongoing education expenditures.

Tustin Unified, along with a majority of other districts in the county and state, have come to realize that due to declining enrollment, growth in ongoing general and special education expenditures and pension cost increases, the District is facing potentially high levels of deficit spending for the foreseeable future. Consequently, the TUSD Board of Education made the difficult decision to implement budget reductions for the upcoming 2019-20 fiscal year, which could continue in future years.

The Second Interim Budget Report provides a snapshot of the District’s revenue and expenditure forecasts for the current fiscal year, as well as a projection of two subsequent fiscal years, with the District able to demonstrate its positive certification status. The scenario of uncertainty is the forefront of the District’s decision-making process during fiscal transition to lower levels of increased funding. Stay tuned.

Grading work has begun on the new Legacy Magnet Academy, which is scheduled to open in August 2020.

Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities: Construction Projects Update

Construction on phase I of the new Legacy Magnet Academy is officially underway. Phase I includes the school administration building, a state-of-the-art 24-classroom two-story facility, parking, fields, and site infrastructure work. This portion of the project totals approximately $60 million.

Design work continues on the following projects slated for completion in 2019: Long-range facilities master plan, solar carports/shade structures at various sites, and the Utt Middle School science lab modernization. Geotechnical boring assessments and underground utility detection at many of the proposed solar sites is now complete.

Additionally, the District will work on several maintenance projects at various schools under its Deferred Maintenance Program this summer. The list of projects includes:

• Flooring replacement in various rooms at Benson Elementary School, Tustin Memorial Academy Red Hill Elementary School, Currie and Utt middle schools, and Foothill and Tustin high schools

• Interior painting at Tustin Memorial Academy

• Exterior painting at Utt Middle School

• Partial or full perimeter fence replacement at Ladera Elementary School and Hewes Middle School

• Concrete removal and replacement at Benson, Nelson, and Red Hill schools; and Hewes school

• Gutter replacements at Arroyo and Benson elementary schools

• Roof chem-curb replacements at Benson and Helen Estock elementary schools

• Slurry and striping at Benson, Estock, Loma Vista, Tustin Memorial Academy and Veeh elementary schools; and Columbus Tustin, Currie, Hewes and Utt middle schools

Tustin Unified School District students recognized their favorite teachers in the Tustin Public School

Foundation’s “My Favorite Teacher” contest. Photo courtesy of John Garrett

Tustin Public Schools Foundation: Favorite Teachers Honored

Tustin Unified School District students honored their favorite teachers with an essay, poem or letter in the recent “My Favorite Teacher” contest. Community members, led by Tustin Public Schools Foundation Board Member Kathy Ellis, reviewed the submissions and determined the award winners.

The winners are as follows: Lucas Canlas (kindergarten) honored teacher Kelsey Negrete; Ava Canlas (first grade) and Jacob Do (second grade) honored teacher Christy Platt; Kathryn Loutzenheiser (third grade) honored teacher Joseph Baran; Shining Chen (fifth grade) honored teacher Allison Lindauer; Mariah Mendoza (seventh grade) honored teacher Tammy Domokos; and Emerson Schonfelder (eighth grade) honored teacher Amy Ronce.

At the “My Favorite Teacher” ceremony held at Barnes & Noble in the Irvine Market Place, students were invited to read their submission. Kindergartener Lucas Canlas summed up the students’ sentiment: “Thank you for being such a great teacher. I have so much fun in your class. I learn so much in your class and I am excited to go to school every day.”

Additional photos can be found at www.tpsf.smugmug.com/Programs/FavTeach/2019/.

Tustin Unified students are excited about this year’s courses at the TPSF Summer Academy. Photo courtesy of John Garrett

TPSF Summer Academy Registration is Now Open!

Join the Tustin Public Schools Foundation for a one-of-a-kind, hands-on summer experience that will stretch your student’s imagination, increase confidence, and build new skills. Registration is now open for the Academy, which will run June 10 through July 3. Summer Academy courses are taught in two- and four-week sessions Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes, which are for incoming kindergarten through ninth-grade students will include art, music, coding, drones, robots, photography, digital storytelling, Model United Nations (MUN), math, STEAM, and more will be offered. To register or see the list of the courses, visit the TPSF Website at www.tpsf.net/summeracademy.

Follow Superintendent Franklin and TUSD on Twitter!

During the year, get the latest news and information! You can always follow Superintendent Gregory Franklin and the Tustin Unified School District on Twitter: @SuptFranklin and @TUSDschools. “Like” us on Facebook: TUSDschools. Stay in touch with us!

The Franklin Almanac is produced by the TUSD Communications Office.

For questions, comments or information, contact: Mark Eliot, Director of Communications and Public Information

(714) 730-7339 or meliot@tustin.k12.ca.us