Fortuna Elementary School District

Superintendent’s Report

January 2025

FESD Board of Trustees:  January is School Board Recognition Month, a time to salute the more than 5,000 California school district and county office of education board members, the largest group of elected officials in the state, that aid in supporting student success by establishing their local educational agency’s mission, vision, policy priorities, budget, and benchmarks.  Thank you for your time and service to Fortuna Elementary School District: Amber Butler, Dave Gonzales, Tara Lewis, Laurie Pringle, and Ren Wohlers!

Curriculum and Instruction:

This month, we will approach the halfway point of the second trimester. 

Preparing for the annual California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) will be one of our focuses across the District. Students in grades 3rd through 8th will take the CAASPP English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments. Students in grades 5th and 8th will also take the CAASPP Science assessment. The CAASPP will be administered in April and May this year.  

Budget:

Governor Gavin Newsom will release his 2025-26 budget proposal on January 10th. On January 13th, FESD Budget Manager Jennifer Goodner and I will attend the CSBA 2025 Governor’s Budget Proposal breakdown webinar.  

Significant Opportunity for Students:

The California Community Schools Partnership Program grant is sponsoring Glasses2Classes in our District. This program is designed to bring essential onsite mobile vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams, and high-quality eyewear directly to our students. Every student in our District will be screened, examined (if needed), and given a free pair of glasses (if needed). Students must attend school the day Glasses2Classes is scheduled, as there will not be a chance for make-up screenings or exams. 

January 23, 2025:   Ambrosini Elementary & Walker Elementary

            January 24, 2025:   Toddy Thomas & Fortuna Middle

Glasses2Classes states that their program “addresses a critical issue: 1 in 4 students cannot see what is being taught in their classrooms.  This statistic highlights a significant concern, as 25% of all students face vision problems that are serious enough to negatively impact their academic performance and overall learning experience.”  

Families, Let’s work together to ensure every student can benefit from this important opportunity! For those who need glasses, Glasses2Classes can make a real difference in their learning and well-being. Please prioritize attendance on January 23rd and 24th to ensure every student can participate in this valuable program.

Miscellaneous:

Due to the winter break, staff reports are not included in the January Board Packet.

I will be attending the ACSA Superintendents’ Symposium in Monterey, California, January 28th-31st.  I look forward to learning and networking with other school district leaders in the state.  

Important Dates:

January 6th:  School Resumes

January 9th:  Board Meeting

January 10th:  Mid-Trimester 

January 17th:  2nd Trimester Progress Reports 

January 20th  No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 23rd:  Glasses2Classes @ Ambrosini & Walker

January 24th:  Glasses2Classes @ Toddy & Fortuna Middle

Happy New Year!  Wishing everyone a happy and healthy year to come!

Respectfully Submitted,

Amy Betts

Highlights from the 1-9-25 Board Meeting:

• Congratulations to our January Superintendent Award recipients!

  • Ambrosini Elementary:  Jeramiah Yadao

  • Walker Elementary:  Ameliah Bettencourt (December 2024)

  • Walker Elementary: Oliver Ourique 

  • Toddy Thomas:  Braden Smith

  • Fortuna Middle School:  Giovanni Esparza

• Thank you, Mateo Herrera-Cortes (Toddy Thomas) and Vivian Mull (Fortuna Middle School), for providing ASB updates.   

• The Board approved a monthly mileage stipend for the Director of Technology.

• Superintendent Betts provided a verbal report on FESD’s Differentiated Assistance eligibility.  

• The Board approved the Consent Agenda.

• The Board approved the School Accountability Report Cards for AES, WES, TTMS, and FMS.  

• The Board approved the revised/updated Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Plan Guide.

• The Board approved adding Shelby Hunt (Account Technician) as an authorized signer for the student accounts, and they approved adding Shelby Hunt and Jennifer Goodner (Budget Manager) as authorized signers for the FESD FRC account.  

• The Board approved the Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Conditions (Form J-13A) for Walker Elementary (November 20, 2024 - storm).

• The Board approved the Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Conditions (Form J-13A) for all four schools (December 6, 2024 - day after earthquake).

• The Board approved Resolution 25-01 (LLB - TTMS Project).

• The Board approved Resolution 25-02 (LLB - FMS Project).

• The Board approved the following Policies, Administrative Regulations, Exhibits, and Board Bylaws with various revisions: BP 0510, AR 0510, BP 1114, AR 1114, AR 1312.4, E(1) 1312.4, E(2) 1312.4, AR 3517, E(1) 3517, BP 4040, E(1) 4040, BP 5144.1, AR 5144.1, AR 5144.2, BP 5147, BP 6112, AR 6112, BP 6142.92, BP 6163.4, E(1) 6163.4, BB 9010, BB 9012  

  • BP 6152.1 & AR 6152.1 were removed from the agenda: high school policies