I would like to see if anyone has a copy of guidelines for removing a student from their CDS program.   I believe, along with my colleagues, that we need to have something in writing.  

 

I am  also interested in  a set of guidelines that deal with behavior issues including: drug possession,  being in class under the influence of a controlled substance, drug paraphenalia, fighting,  vandalism, etc...   including  how  you deal with  other issues like attendance, tardiness, and verbal defiance of teachers, or staff.

 

Any help would be well appreciated.

 

 

God bless

Mr. Rafanan

 

Hello Everyone,

 

This is a short message to let you all know that I am retiring June 30, 2008.

 

I have enjoyed my job here at CDE and  meeting all of you at the CDSN conferences.

It seems like the last 25 years, that I have worked for the State, have gone quickly by.

Thank you all for your support over the past 7 years that I have been working with Dan on the Community Day Schools.

Take care, you are all super to work with.

Rita

 

 

 

 

 

We do not allow any students to wear blue, red, or any gang affiliated clothing.  This has been a constant battle.  I think it might be a good idea to go with a "uniform look" such as jeans and a gray or white T-shirt.  Or, we could make students purchase a "Community Day School" shirt, when they enroll.  Any suggestions? 

 

wheatnix@aol.com

 

I am wondering if community day schools have to use instructional books that are on the state approved list.  I have been using AGS books as my students get lost in the verbage and clutter of the state approved math books, but these are not on the state adopted text lists and with limited funding it is difficult to have both texts in the classroom.  Where do we stand Thank-you

Cindy

To the author of "School used as a dumping ground," the message posted on September 14 under General Questions:

 

Please contact me as soon as possible. I can maintain confidentiality.

For the second time in the last four years, it seems CDS budgets are being "deficited" (term from my finance lady).  She says that 5th-8th period income will be reduced by 12%.  This is for all the non "mandatorily expelled" (mandatory expulsion is basically for carrying a gun) students. 

 

If the above is correct, this means about an 8% cut in my budget less than two months before the fiscal year is over.

 

I would like to know the specifics on this cut, then I would like the names of the legislators who keep messing with us.  You cannot run a quality program when your budget is in constant flux.  In fact, twice now we have been given a budget at the beginning of the year and later had these "deficits" removed from our budgets.

 

Tom:  Can you please post some information for us as to who these decisionmakers are and offer some suggestions as to how we can help them understand the effects of their whims down here in the trenches? 

 

I was hoping the first round of "deficits" was because of the budget crisis, but it looks like we may face attacks for more reductions every year unless we speak up.

 

Thanks.

 

Don Eggleston

New School

Pajaro District

Mark,

 

The communication below with the CDE Legal Office answers this question. I am including the EC reference for your convenience.

 

CALIFORNIA CODES
EDUCATION CODE

37060.  The governing board of a county, a high school district, a
union high school district, or a joint union high school district may
establish a junior high school or a system of junior high schools.

 

Dan Sackheim
Community Day School Consultant
Educational Options Office
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph:         (916) 445-5595
Fax:       (916) 323-2039
e-mail:  dsackhei@cde.ca.gov
Web page:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/cd

>>> Michael Hersher 04/11/00 3:59 PM >>>
I looked around the code and didn't find anything that contradicted Sec. 37060 which seems to allow a high school district to include grades 7-9 whenever they want. Also, Sec. 48664(d) in the community day school funding statute says that districts can join together in consortia to create community day schools. That is especially relevant to small districts. I'd say the district can either do it alone or it can join up with the K-8 district. They just have to be careful not to put K-6 kids in the same school program with 7-12 kids.

 

Michael E. Hersher
Deputy General Counsel

>>> Dan Sackheim 03/31 1:01 PM >>>
A 9-12 high school district asked whether it can establish a community day school for grades 7-12.

The only section I found is 37060 which allows a high school district (or a union high school district ) to establish a junior high school.

Both the high school district and neighboring K-8 district are small. They feel that it would be more efficient to have a single community day school for grades 7-12, but neither district covers that span. How can this be achieved?

Thank you for your help.

Hello-

Could use some help with this...

 

I've got an elementary dist. that would like to send one of their 8th

grade  CDS students to our high school (9-12) CDS.  I believe it

could be a good placement for the student but I have some questions

about how to make it happen.

 

1.  Would an MOU or an interdistrict be best if we would rather not transport the student?

2.  Would the sending dist. be in charge of the curriculum and credit assigning?  (we are not

a unified dist. and have no 8th graders)

3.  What is the downside of bringing an 8th grader into a high school dist.?

 

If you are currently doing this or know someone who is....please let me know.

 

Thanks,

Mark Telles

Alt. Ed. RBHSD

We are currently starting a new Community Day School in the Novato Unified School District (in Marin County).  The program will start in February with about fifteen students in grades 7-12. 

 

We are seriously interested in having students take one or two on-line courses.  However, the least expensive WASC accredited company we found costs $300 per student, per course.

 

Any other recommendations you might have would be greatly appreciated.  Comments can be emailed to iryaru@nusd.org.

 

Thanks so much.

New School, in Watsonville, has been in operation for 14 years now.  Our enrollment is 60 9-12th graders.  For the last couple of years our staff has been studying Dr. William Glasser's ideas about human psychology called Reality Therapy and Choice Theory. 

 

It's really simple:  eliminate coercion;  that means rewards and punishment.  Sounds impossible with our clientele, but we are getting closer and closer to using little coercion.  When a student "flames out" in class, s/he goes to the Counselor of the Day and fills out a Reality Check form.  The form asks why the student is at New School (to get a diploma), why s/he got sent out, and if what s/he did was moving him/her closer to the diploma.  Then, what could the student do differently.  This puts the student in charge of his/her life, which is critical for our kids. We don't do victimhood.  This philosophy is totally non-adversarial, and puts the staff in the position of being a coach rather than a taskmaster.

 

For more information on his many books, go to www.wglasser.com.

 

Don Eggleston

This is our first year with our own CDS and I just  need clafication to make sure we are understanding the Ed Code  correctly.

"Mandatory Expulsions"  can  only  be the students who violate Ed Codes 48915A or 48915C and are expelled?

Example: We have a student who has been expelled the last two years.   This school year he brought marijuana (less than an ounce) to school and tried to sell it. He was suspended under 48900(c), (d) and (k) and we are recommending expulsion for this student.   If expelled, this student can not be catergorized as "Mandatory" correct?

(We are so glad we now have our own CDS so hopefully this student will have better success!)

Hello everyone,

Please submit your nominee for the Portrait of Success Award to be announced at our January Conference in San Diego.  Please use the form from the website and fill in the narrative section with all required information about your nominee.  Send them to Karen Pinneo at kpinneo@hemetusd.k12.ca.us.

Nominees should exemplify the best in CDS mission and vision.  Nominees can be either classified or certificated personnel. 

The newly developed Twin Rivers Unified School District is seeking a CDS principal for a

1st-6th grade CDS.   Please check Edjoin and click on Twin Rivers.  TRUSD is located in Sacramento.

The North Sacramento School District is currently looking for a 4-6 grade teacher and a full time Behavior Specialist.  Both positions are posted on edjoin.  Competive salaries and teacher gets additional pay due to the increase academic time.  New facility and district offers lots of support, including professional development hours and training.

 

Look on edjoin and/or email questions to: dmorris@nssd.k12.ca.us

We are looking for an additional CDS Instructor starting 06-07 school year.

Work location: West Covina.

 

Anyone interested please e-mail personnel@esgvrop.org

Here is the 2007 version of my letter to Sacramento about our budget deficits.  I sent it to all of the senators and assembly members on the education committees.

 

New School

( Pájaro Valley Community Day High School)

Pájaro Valley Unified School District

165 Harkins Slough Road

Watsonville , CA   95076

Voice:   (831) 761-6140; Fax:   (831) 761-6188

Cells: (831) 750-5804; (831) 750-5793

E-mail: Don_Eggleston@pvusd.net

Web Page:   http://pvusd.net/schools/alternative_education/new_school/index.html

 

 

 

July 21, 2007

 

 

Senator Tom Torlakson

Capitol Office

State Capitol

Sacramento , CA   95814

 

Dear Assemblyman:

 

About 14 years a gang counselor and I started a tiny store-front continuation-type high school program in Watsonville, CA.   We have now evolved into a 60-student Community Day School on our own campus.   I am including with this letter a recent photo and a short description of the school.   They speak for themselves.   The fact is that we take students headed for homelessness, early death, prison, teen pregnancy and welfare, and help them believe in themselves and turn their lives around.   Last year we returned 10 students to Watsonville High School and we graduated 9 students from New School, all of whom had passed the California High School Exit Exam.   (Most students come to us scoring between 3^rd and 6^th grade levels in reading and math, so this is a major academic accomplishment.)

 

I am writing to ask for your help.   As you know, Community Day Schools’ purpose is to take students who have been expelled, are on probation, or are habitual truants.   Unlike all other “at-risk” programs, we must run a full 6-hour day every day.   (Most continuation schools run about a 4-hour day.)   Recognizing the difficulty of our task, the State funds us with an increased ADA formula.   We build our budget on that formula, but for the last five years, our budget has been “deficited” after the school year started.   These precipitous reductions have caused us to have very difficult years.   Four years ago we had to lay off our part-time registrar, and instead of going to the YMCA gym to work out, we ended up walking a two mile loop for PE every day.   There were no field trips, and we could not afford enrichment classes, such as art and music. That year our staff and students were demoralized.   This next year, 2007-2008, we have had to cut $40,000 from our budget because of the “deficit” which our district finance people have learned to anticipate.   We are looking at another demoralizing year, perhaps more layoffs.

 

 

For the first two years of these deficits, there was some reimbursement later, but for the last three years, nothing.   Below is a list of how my budget allocations have been reduced over the last five years:

 

 

Year                 Percent Deficit           Reduction       Reimbursement         Total Red.

of NS Budget

                                   

 

2002-2003      Reg       16.7735%        $24353.                       $26,146           $1,793

                        7/8       16.7735%        $1793.

 

2003-2004      7/8       29.0093%        $70072.                       $55,863           $14,209

 

2004-2005      Reg       98.174%          $6171.                                                 $24,917

                                    of .323%

                        7/8       6.7591%          $18746.                      

 

2005-2006       7/8       5.47%               $14455                                                $14,445

 

2006-2007      5-8        13.0853%        $38406                                                $38,406

 

 

Having worked with “at-risk” youth for 32 years, I have seen a clear pattern of inconsistent funding and therefore erratic, piecemeal programs.   I think the original intent of the Community Day School funding was to remedy this problem and to recognize that there will always be some students who, with an extra boost at the right time, will be able to turn their lives around and become productive citizens, rather than burdens on the taxpayers.  

 

As you know, the one thing that “at-risk” youth need is consistency.   Please help us to secure a consistent funding base so that we can provide a consistent, quality program.

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Don Eggleston

Principal Teacher

 

Attachment:   Description of New School

 

New School

( Pájaro Valley Community Day High School)

Pájaro Valley Unified School District

521 Main Street, Suite W

Watsonville, CA   95076

Voice:   (831) 761-6140; Fax:   (831) 761-6188

Cells: (831) 750-5804; (831) 750-5793

Web Page:   www.pvusd.net/new-school

E-mail: Don_Eggleston@pvusd.net

Mission Statement

As the 9th-12th grade Community Day School within the Pájaro Valley Unified School District, we enroll up to 60 youth.   Our mission is to help students who have experienced failure in other schools to accept responsibility for their actions, believe in themselves, and learn to set and achieve goals.   We believe that all people can change, and that in a tightly structured, caring, democratic, student-centered environment, most youth will change negative behaviors.   Once students experience success, they may return to more traditional programs or graduate from New School with better self-knowledge, improved academic skills, and an eagerness to be lifelong learners. Our motto is:

don_eggleston@pvusd.net, [Message Id=1247572]

This is a letter I sent to Senator Abel Maldonado today.  My understanding is that we should all write to our Republican legislators.

 

Dear Senator:

 

About 13 years a gang counselor and I started a small continuation-type high school in Watsonville, CA.   We have now evolved into a very effective Community Day School.   We enroll 60+ students and have 10 full-time staff.   After 13 years on Main St., the Pajaro District is now building us a school of our own.   I am including with this letter a recent yearbook and a short description of the school.   They speak for themselves.   The fact is that we take students headed for early death, prison, teen pregnancy and welfare, and homelessness, and help them believe in themselves and turn their lives around.   Last year we returned 10 students to Watsonville High School and we graduated 9 students from New School, all of whom had passed the California High School Exit Exam.   (Most students come to us scoring between 3^rd and 6^th grade levels in reading and math, so this is a major accomplishment.)

 

I am writing to ask for your help.   As you know, Community Day Schools’ purpose is to take students who have been expelled, are on probation, or are habitual truants.   Unlike all other “at-risk” programs, we must run a full 6-hour day every day.   (Most continuation schools run about a 4-hour day).   Recognizing the difficulty of our task, the State funds us with an increased ADA formula.   We build our budget on that formula, but twice now, in the last five years, our budget has been “deficited” after the school year started.   These precipitous 10% reductions have twice caused us to have very difficult years.   Three years ago we had to lay off our part-time registrar and instead of going to the gym to work out, we ended up walking a two mile loop for PE every day.  There were no field trips, and we could not afford enrichment classes, such as art and music. That year our staff and students were demoralized.   This next year, 2006-2007, we have had to cut $40,000 from our budget because of the “deficit” which was imposed on us last year.   We are looking at another demoralizing year.

 

As a person who understands how hard it is for recent immigrants to succeed (85% of our students are Migrants, 90% get free lunch, 80% speak limited English), and a businessman who understands how difficult it is to run a quality program with an inconsistent budget, I am hoping you will help to restore Community Day School funding to the level we need, and the level intended by the original legislation.   To have a consistent program, we need consistent funding.

 

I look forward to your response.

I am a school psychologist and I run a CDS for grades 9-12 with two teachers and two classrooms. An ongoing issue here has been collaboration/team teaching to reduce the number of teacher preps, provide a conference period, and give teachers an opportunity to either teach to their area of interest/expertise.

 

I would like to know how other high school Community Day Schools schedule their teachers and their daily programs. I'd appreciate any ideas anyone out there has.

 

Connie Luizzi

cluizzi@hbuhsd.org

Ihave used the following site for many years.  This site has hundreds of movies we can use in the classroom.  The website also supplies discussion questions, lesson plans and activities for students.  This site also has partnered with Character Counts! and allows users to search for movies under the six pillars.  There is a minimal cost for the year of $11.00

 

www.teachwithmovies.org

 

any questions please email me at:

 

jgarcia71@yahoo.com

Is anyone using (and happy with)  instructional materials for 6-8th grade students that have helped raise student test scores?   Ideally, I'd like programs for math and language arts that will allow for whole class instruction coupled with independent or small group remediation.  Access to computers isn't a problem.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Hi All,

I am looking at Accelerated Math for our 5-8 grades. Are any of you using it in your CDS programs? If so, how did you justify it with administration who may want all students in the grade level textbooks instead of using Acc. Math. Has this program made your teaching easier?

Thanks

Sally Gilstrap

 

Hello Everyone,

Our fall meeting has been scheduled and will take place on November 30, 2007 in Perris, Ca.  Our host is Kindy Stumpp.  She has generously arranged for us to meet in Training Room 10102 at the District Office of Perris Union High School, located at 155 East 4th St., Perris, Ca. 92570.  Snacks and lunch will be served.  The time will be from 9-12. 

 

Tom Williams from the State Board for CDS will attend and address any questions, concerns, successes and challenges you may want to share.  A gas stipend will be granted at the meeting and we hope this will encourage you to attend.  Please RSVP to Kindy at: kstumpp@puhsd.org or 951-679-1535 or cell 951-830-6900. 

 

See you there!  Karen Pinneo, regional coordinator.

Inland Empire/Orange County CDS Network Spring 07 meeting announcement

 

Hello to everyone in the Inland Empire/Orange County area Community Day School Network.  Our spring meeting time and date has been set and we are looking forward to Sherman Garnett as our featured speaker.  This is a wonderful opportunity to confer with him about school law and Ed. Code as they relate to CDS' as Sherman teaches School Law at CSUSB and works in San Bernardino School's Child Welfare and Attendance Office.  The date: Friday, May 4th.  Our location for the spring will be in Banning CA, at the Milo P. Johnson Center for Learning, at 671 North Forida Blvd., Banning, CA 92220.   Time: 9:00-12:00.  We chose a location just off the 10 Frwy. so as to be more easily accessible to our Riverside and San Bernardino County administrators.  If you have any questions, please call Kim McGinnis at the Academy in Perris, CA at 951-657-2174  ext. 222 or Karen Pinneo at HELP School, Hemet USD at 951-765-5187.  Morning refreshments and lunch will be served.  I look forward to seeing you there! 

The first meeting of the CDS Network Inland Empire/Orange County will be held on October 20 in Santa Ana.  Devera Heard is our host from 9-12 at the district office. 

Address: 1601 E. Chestnut, Santa Ana 92701

Phone: 714-558-5501. 

Gerry Strickland from Capistrano will talk to us about Career Pathways and Preparation and

Regina Patton Stell from RCOE will help us with Special Education concerns

Best Regards, Karen

Hello everyone in the Inland Empire and Orange County!  Our spring meeting will be on May 19 and will be hosted by Doris Longmead at the Huntington Beach UHSD Adult School.  So sorry for the short notice, but I hope you can make it.  Dan Sackheim will be there to answer questions and offer advice and assistance to all of us. 

                                            ***IMPORTANT***

There is a gas stipend available to you if you need it; paid to you on the spot to defray the cost of gas.  Check your miles as you drive in.  Lunch will be provided.  We hope to begin at 9:00 but even if you are a little late, come and join us.  We will adjourn at 12:30 or 1:00.

 

Location: 16666 Tunstall Lane

Huntington Beach, 92649

Contact numbers are:

Doris Longmead: 714-847-2873 or Connie Luizzi: 714-799-1414

or Karen Pinneo: 951-765-5187 or 760-212-7655

Best regards to all of you!

We had another great conference in January, 2006.  All that were there had a fantastic time.  Since the conference was a success from the programs and attendance reports, we have already scheduled next year's conference for Sacramento, Holiday Capitol Inn, on January 14, 15 and 16, 2007.  See you there!