Dear MTUESD community,
As part of my own learning recently, I took a class from an engaging professional in artificial intelligence sponsored by Columbia College. I walked away with a better understanding of what it is, and what it can do, and with an even deeper guttural reflection about “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.” I definitely see some benefits, but boy, am I concerned about our youth as this takes off with a lack of discernment. The horse is out of the barn and now it’s about the ethical implementation of it and how we’re not supplanting viable job skills in our society but creating new jobs as a result of it. Big stuff. I remember my grandmother who lived to be 102 struggling with an ATM and she wouldn’t consider using it and insisted I drive her to the bank in her big old boat of a Plymouth, and sometimes, I think “Oh my gosh, I’ve turned into my old “Cookie Grandma,” but this is more than that. As always, I caution our parents to look at your kids' phones, look at their media, look at their coursework and really dig in and know what they’re engaging in.
Congratulations to the Coper PTC on a wonderful dance last Friday. It was a great evening and the kids had such a wonderful time!
In optimistic and exciting news, I just have to love what is being planned for summer school. Not only do we have our amazing partnership with the Bret Harte Fire Academy for grades 2-income 8, but we have a stellar team putting together a program, rich in academics, Jujutsu, pool, time, ceramics, art, PE, and so much more. In Los Gatos or Los Altos, parents would be paying $3,000 a kid per month for this kind of program. THAT SAID, I need you to sign up NOW. I have people that are ready and able to serve your students in a really fun and enriching program, but please get to the office and turn in that paperwork so I can confirm for our parents that the spot is reserved and for our employees that they have employment.
We are also doing a huge push this year to make sure we get those household income surveys turned in. This is totally confidential. I will tell you in my lense of trying to find this school district money, the lower the income the better because that qualifies me to get more money for your kids. We want people to tell the truth, but don’t be bashful here. Sixty four percent of our families are socioeconomically low income. That helps us immeasurably in getting money for all our kids. We need that form to be returned. I’m not being nosy and nobody looks at it. We send it as one big whole number and that big whole number means FUNDING. Help me out here please. This is one easy way that we can show the state we need help. If you do it in your summer school packet, you don’t have to do it again in the fall. Even if you’re over the income threshold, you may have another factor that supports funding, so it helps so just turn it in. Be truthful, but PLEASE turn it in.
I need to DO A BIG YAHOO for the WeDeliver Wheels bike build. A huge thanks to Courtney Stamatis for all her work on this and to our partners Karen Curley of WeDeliver Wheels, Angels Murphy’s Rotary Club and Angels Camp Fire department. This is a legacy program by one donor who wants to see his estate go to children that need bikes. This generosity is going to donate 75 brand new bikes, helmets, and locks to local kids. This is truly what a life well-lived and sharing of treasure looks like, and it brings the gift of transportation, and health and fitness to a rural community. Super cool. Kind of like a Disney movie! STUDENTS MUST COME for the pick-up day on March 15, 2026 to be fitted for the Bike.
We hope everyone is warming up a little bit and know that we are going all in these last three months of school. This is the big push where we’re going to continue to astound this county and the surrounding counties about all that we have become. Please make sure your kids are at school. Attendance and achievement are DIRECTLY related.
Super grateful to you all and the on-going partnership throughout the community. To our graduating 8th grade families, please monitor those grades along with responding to the middle school team related to any communications that you receive. Our job is to get them over the finish line and the middle school staff is doing a good job communicating, but we need the support of home.
On a final note, as you know, we are having talks about what the middle school configuration should look like beginning in the 2027-28 school year due to declining enrollment including options such as folding sixth grade into the mix for middle school from both sites or reconfiguring the staffing for the 7th and 8th grade. We will be posting times for parents to learn more and share thoughts about it as well, so we will look forward to a robust discussion. AGAIN, this is not this coming year, but the 2027/28 year.
Have a wonderful weekend ahead!
Sincerely yours,
Louise Simson
Superintendent
650-996-3290