Mark Twain Union Elementary School District

Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87866976793?pwd=3Rzkcjn3wJnny8V4gIKX1GPcZnhxg2.1 Meeting ID: 878 6697 6793 Passcode: 114387

Playground beautification at Copperopolis Elementary

School will be closed Monday, February 17,2025

Topic: Regular Board Meeting Time: Jan 9, 2025 04:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81244357104?pwd=QLjD4rLrbT56TJaqORczq6E3QzZQNN.1 Meeting ID: 812 4435 7104 Passcode: 689964

Dear MTUESD Community, WOOOHOOOO! What a super fun week I had! I got to be principal for a day at Copperopolis and Mark Twain. DO YOU KNOW HOW GREAT YOUR KIDS ARE? I DO! WHAT A SUPER COOL EXPERIENCE FOR ME. MY BUCKET GOT FULL BECAUSE OF YOUR KIDS. I hope you had a restful and relaxing week off. We have a few weeks until Christmas break and while this is a joyful time, it’s still a time for learning and academics. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to ensure that their student is on time and at school. The sites have made good progress with our attendance rates at 94% or more. This is important mostly because kids can’t learn if they aren’t here, and it holds the rest of the class back when we try to make up learning loss. It’s also important for funding as we receive average daily attendance fees, but really, staving off learning loss is the primary driver to make sure kids get here because it costs me twice as much to remediate a kid as it does to move them forward on the charted path. The preliminary data from the state for academic performance and numerous other indicators for last year came out. I want to congratulate the staff and parents and kids for their hard work in correcting some of our negative measures related to chronic absenteeism and suspension rates that are disproportionate to the state. We still have a long way to go in academics, but we’ve made growth in those areas as well. We lag behind Vallecito and the state average. Let me be clear. When I compare to a neighboring district, it casts NO SHADE. What it does is says is "if they can do it, we can do it". If I can ask you to do one thing with your student, it is make sure they are reading. If your student is a non-reader, sit with them and read out loud and chat with them. If they’re a pre-teen/teen, have them read whatever they want before they get on the Nintendo or the motor-cross. Reading has a direct impact on ACHIEVEMENT and writing ability. Both of those are enormous life skills that contribute to career and college success. Our students that are readers are better writers, and therefore can demonstrate better academic skills in their career in high school and beyond. The world of technology has really changed how kids interact with text. It’s OK to have them read a comic book, a library book, a magazine, an online newspaper, and then discuss it with them and make sure they understood what they read. Kids' brains are getting rewired to short chat strings and an inability to comprehend and sustain complex text. IT MATTERS. Help them craft a better future. If you ask them, they’ll say “no”. If you tell them, they’ll protest and do it, but in five years, they'll say “thank you!” Yahoo--with multiple exclamation points about the 7th and 8th grade musical partnership with Bret Harte! We are SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS MUSICAL EXPERIENCE that is funded from Bret Harte’s Prop 28 money to GROW YOUR STUDENT’S MUSICIANSHIP. Get them signed up! Thank you Mr. Allured and Superintendent Nanik. What a way to invest in the kids matriculating to your program! Thank you Mrs. Oliver for coordinating this! We have a multitude events coming up over the next three weeks that we invite you to participate in. I had the joyful opportunity to join the TK and K classes at Foothill Village for a-along. At Copperopolis, we have craft night scheduled for Friday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m. join the community for these memory activities–the brain remembers what the heart feels… Create these memories for a lifetime. Did I mention the ELAC party on December 10 open to all at 5:00 p.m. THAT is a FUN evening. I’ll close with a favorite quote: Learn to be thankful for all that you have, while you pursue all that you want… I’m a little relentless for kids. Join me… Sincerely yours, Louise Simson Superintendent 650-996-3290

Board Meeting November 14,2024 starting a 4:45 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85240483909?pwd=3bVvttqe154Oew9z1Qg1pdHtZkrd7X.1 Meeting ID: 852 4048 3909 Passcode: 091644

Join us for our first district-wide DELAC/ELAC meeting of the year at the Mark Twain Elementary Library on Tuesday, September 10 at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments provided! Share your input for school improvement and how to support our English Learner programs! Looking forward to seeing you! Louise Simson Superintendent

Regular Board Meeting Time: Aug 8, 2024 05:30 PM Pacific Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89742633639?pwd=XX9azHXh4DtYoarwa9uYqczsUCMyCO.1 Meeting ID: 897 4263 3639 Passcode: 218874

Dear MTUESD Community, I am so excited to get to work with you! It was a busy first day and a packed week is yet to come! But we have some immediate needs, so I wanted to message you to see if you could help us network. Our maintenance crews work hard, but with the recent events, they are taxed thin, and our sites need some extra TLC in preparation for school opening related to landscape maintenance and pressure washing. The district is able to contract for pay with an outside firm provided they are a licensed business and can complete a W-9. We are anxious to have our sites look great for our kids, so if your business is interested in the work, please call my cell at 650-996-3290. There are so many wonderful things going on in the district, and I am looking forward to celebrating those and working together on our challenges to create opportunities to strengthen and improve the outcomes for our kids. I always believe we need to be the change we want to see. The sites have some strong initiatives already in place, and from the conversations and collaboration that I have had so far with the committed staff and community members, the energy is huge, and the will is high to work together to provide the most supportive, rigorous, safe, and enriching school experience for all students! One of the most beautiful things about this district is the care and connections people have for one another. I feel the connection and tradition of the families and staff, many of whom are alumni, that share their hopes and dreams for their student experience to be as excellent as their own. I am so pleased to have the administrative team of Sara Tuthill and Carri Penafiel to partner with our staff at the site level to move culture forward and to support staff to innovate and educate. The last month has been a hard and emotional one for this community with the recent fire. A huge shout out to everyone that stepped up to ensure kids, families, and staff were supported. A special thank you to Sara Tuthill for her leadership in acting as the interim superintendent during that pivotal time. Some immediate challenges relate to staffing. In case, you are interested in serving the school as a staff member, there are open teaching positions related to language arts, science, and special education. Anyone that holds a Bachelor’s Degree can apply for these positions and usually be supported and mentored as they work towards a teaching credential. Reach out to our Personnel Specialist, Lisa Stewart, at lstewart@mtwain.k12.ca.us. or 209-736-1855 ext. 524. We also have various other openings for a Speech and Language Therapist, coaches, ELOP tutors, and substitute custodians and paraeducators. Positions in the school system are excellent in terms of having a schedule that works with your students’ holiday and break schedule. Other benefits of school employment, depending on the number of hours/month worked, include health insurance and pensions. I came to the school system in mid-life when my son was in fifth grade. I am proud to say it is a calling that my son, Ben, has also embraced now as a middle school special ed teacher bringing his own perspective as a learner on the autism spectrum to his student and families. It is a great career! Join us and serve your community at the same time and most importantly hep be a changemaker for a student that needs you! I am on the sites all the time and my door is usually open, so please be sure to introduce yourself! You'll receive these messages weekly or sometimes more often depending on what is going on. Please read them and let me know your thoughts and suggestions for the future. Take care, Louise Simson Superintendent (650) 996-3290 Every Student. Every Day. Every Possibility.

Successor Mark Twain Superintendent Identified: The Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Board of Education is delighted to announce the pending appointment of Louise Simson, for the position of Superintendent commencing on July 1, 2024. The last step in the process is for the Board to consider and approve the employment agreement at the upcoming regular Board meeting, which will be held at the District Board Room August 8, 2024. Ms. Simson has most recently served as the Superintendent of Anderson Valley Unified School District in Mendocino County, where she led the district through extensive facility upgrades including passing a bond with a 72 percent “yes” vote. The district also received a $5 million all-weather track and field grant funded by Caltrans Clean California and partnered for funding with state and federal agencies to support renovation of 70-year-old campus infrastructure, while also raising expectations and implementing supports to increase student achievement. Ms. Simson said that she is delighted to return to Calaveras County and looks forward to serving students, staff, and families at Copperopolis Elementary and Mark Twain Elementary. “I know what a great county this is from my past role as Assistant Superintendent/Principal at Vallecito Union. In sharing her reasoning for accepting the position, Simson stated, “The Board is dedicated to the achievement of all students and the community support for this school system is very apparent. “I am delighted to partner with Sara Tutthill and Carri Penafiel and all our staff members to innovate to educate and ensure every student achieves to the best of their abilities. I am most impressed with how this community responded to the recent wildfire, and how the district personnel and families pulled together to support one another. It speaks volumes about the care and commitment to each other,” stated Simson. Ms. Simson assumes her duties on July 1 and will be a visible presence in the district. She said she looks forward to meeting the community. “My door is usually always open. Stop in and visit!” Stated Christy Miro, President of the Board of Education, “With the unexpected May resignation of our current Superintendent, the Board was collectively concerned about capable and immediate leadership for the district to provide fiscal and academic stability. With all the community input and engagement that had been generated for the Superintendent search last year, the Board had a comprehensive vision of what the community was looking for. Finding out that Louise was available, especially given her past experience in the area and resume as an extraordinarily successful superintendent, it seemed like a natural fit for the district and provides a continuity of leadership for our students and staff. She stated, “The Board is excited to welcome Louise as our new Superintendent. Louise's remarkable leadership at Anderson Valley Unified highlights her dedication and expertise and we are excited about the positive changes she will bring to Copperopolis and Mark Twain Elementary. The Board is confident that under her leadership, our students will reach new heights. Welcome aboard, Louise!” Ms. Miro continued that she also wished to express her deepest gratitude and appreciation to Sara Tutthill for her temporary assignment as Interim Superintendent praising her for her hard work and leadership, particularly in the challenging wildfire disaster. “Sara did a stellar job in this emergency, and her work is appreciated and valued. We are so lucky to have her serving our district.” Kind Regards, Christy Miro Board Member Mark Twain Union Elementary School District

Dear Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Community and Families, We hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying your summer. This evening the Board approved Sara Tutthill as the temporary acting superintendent of the Mark Twain Union Elementary School District. Sara will serve in this role until we hire a permanent superintendent. We are confident that her leadership and dedication will ensure a smooth transition. Once her temporary position as acting superintendent is finished, Sara will return to her role as Principal. We are grateful for her willingness to step into this role and for her ongoing commitment to our school community. Sincerely, Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Board

June 17, 2024 Open Session: 1:00 P.M. / Closed Session: 1:05 P.M./ Open Session: 1:15 P.M. (May resume Open Session earlier, depending on length of Closed Session) Location: Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Office 646 Stanislaus Ave, Angels Camp, CA 95222 All meetings are in-person. NO ZOOM OPTION AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING.

June 6, 2024 Open Session: 1:00 P.M. / Closed Session: 1:05 P.M./ Open Session: 2:00 P.M. Location: NOTE LOCATION: Mark Twain Elementary School Multipurpose Room (Cafeteria) 981 Tuolumne Ave, Angels Camp, CA 95222 All meetings are in-person. Public may attend in-person or via Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87140237739?pwd=QVzGM66edZqiUDG6HEZ2b2q6jDlZKe.1 Meeting ID: 871 4023 7739 Passcode: 266291

Special Board Meeting: May 31, 2024 Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Office 981 Tuolumne Ave Angels Camp, CA 95222 Open Session: 1:30 Closed Session: 1:35 Open Session: 2:30 (May resume Open Session earlier, depending on length of Closed Session) No Zoom option available for this Special Meeting.

On May 23,2024 please join the special board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84921414186?pwd=rFQPjbAireloALlgl0od9ReQ6zN1Vr.1 Meeting ID: 849 2141 4186 Passcode: 311817

Please join the Board Meeting on 05/09/2024 Special Meeting @ 5:15 Regular Board Meeting @ 5:30 p.m. Closed session @ 5:35 Open Session @ 6:30p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81665385954?pwd=RKNVeL0fxRN2FMegFaeYVRNnEz9Fgw.1 Meeting ID: 816 6538 5954 Passcode: 374240

Special Board Meeting 5/09/2024 at 5:15 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81706599239?pwd=iAuGr1kJff9vaHEaUXlEslIa4L2PZC.1 Meeting ID: 817 0659 9239 Passcode: 565927

Thursday April 11,2024 Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87926941997?pwd=dU39gmr6gEMKmBVw6Ckb7ta6E8CgKI.1 Meeting ID: 879 2694 1997 Passcode: 168332

MTUESD Families, Summer School sign ups are here! Please look at the multiple programs to choose from, and design the schedule that works best for your family. ALL programs are open to MTUESD students currently in TK-8th grade. Registrations are open from NOW until April 12th. Students who are accepted into each program will be notified in May of their acceptance. Offered Programs : June 3rd-28th 8:00 am - 12:30 pm (ESY/Academic Recovery ONLY Available During June Morning Session) 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm July 8th - 24th 8:00 am - 12:30 pm Enrichment 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Enrichment

Join the Board Meeting on 03/14/2024 at 6:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84396274121?pwd=ol1ORlMIRkCrJvOAbOIswDI6V8IimN.1 Meeting ID: 843 9627 4121 Passcode: 871855