2014 merced county schools annual education report

MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS

ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORT

2014MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Steven E. Gomes, Ed.D.County Superintendent of Schools

Proudly Sponsored By

MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Bond Underwriters & Financial Advisors

MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS

HISTORYMerced County schools were incor-porated more than 150 years ago in 1856 when the first County Superin-tendent of Schools, William Nelson, petitioned the Board of Supervisors to divide the county into three school districts.

The 1860 census reported a pop-ulation of 1,141 in Merced County and in 1863, the Schools Superin-tendent reported an enrollment of 267 children and a county schools budget of $1,000.

The first high school was estab-lished in 1895 with 27 students and two teachers under the administra-tion of the County Board of Edu-cation. In 1897, a new high school was completed on the corner of 22nd and M Streets in Courthouse Square.

Today, there are 20 school districts with their own Boards of Trustees and Superintendents serving more than 56,000 TK-12 students with Steven E. Gomes, Ed.D., serving as the 28th County Superintendent of Schools.

2014 MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORT2

SNELLING-MERCED FALLS

MERCED RIVERBALLICO-CRESSEYTURLOCK

HILMAR UNIFIED

DELHI UNIFIED

LIVINGSTONUNION

ELEENTARY ATWATERELEMENTARY

MERCED CITY

WEAVER UNIONELEMENTARY

EL NIDO ELEMENTARY

MC SWAIN UNION ELEMENTARY

LOS BANOS UNIFIED

GUSTINE UNIFIED

DOS PALOS-ORO LOMA UNIFIED

PLANADAELEMENTARY

LE GRANDELEMENTARY

PLAINSBURG UNIONELEMENTARY

WINTONELEMENTARY

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Atwater Valley Com-munity School is the most eco-friendly K-12 campus in Merced County with photo-voltaic panels on most awnings and solar tub-ing that provides light in all classrooms. The Gen7 modular build-ings combine technol-ogy with renewable energy to reduce energy consumption by 70 percent.

Merced Union High School Districtencompasses 8 districts

Le Grand Union High School Districtencompasses 3 districts

COVER PHOTOS: Clockwise from top left,

Camp Green Meadows Principal

Bob Bassett speaks during the outdoor

school’s 50th anniversary; Early Head Start

students help to plant a garden at

Fairside Head Start; Hmong dancers

perform at Lights On Afterschool in

downtown Merced; and students at Ballico

Elementary School participate in a group

project in Joanna Conrado’s class.

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Thank you for your interest in the 2014 Merced

County Schools Annual Education Report.

There have been many innovations in education in the past several years. Today’s classroom may look different from the classrooms of our childhood with interactive whiteboards, students using their own tablet or laptop comput-ers and some Merced County students collaborating with classrooms across the globe. However, one thing remains unchanged: Quality educators are there every day to deliver instruction and inspire our future workforce.

Thanks to Proposition 30 and a recovering California economy, Merced County educators saw funding rise near 2008 levels. Merced County school dis-tricts did particularly well given the new state school funding formula.

Each school district met with stake-holders to collaboratively develop a set of district goals and published their first Local Control and Accountability Plan. The plan is a living document and will be assessed and amended annually as priori-ties and goals change in the district.

California has adopted more rigorous academic standards that emphasize not only subject knowledge, but also the critical thinking, analytical writing and problem-solving skills students need to be successful in college and career.

The Smarter Balanced assessments are new computer-based tests that measure student knowledge of California’s English language ar ts and mathematics stan-dards. These new assessments replace the former paper-based, multiple-choice assessments for students in grades 3-8 and 11. The first statewide administration of these assessments will take place in spring 2015.

Teachers across the county continue to transition towards becoming a facili-tator of learning rather than a deliverer of knowledge. Students are learning how to collaborate, communicate, be creative and think critically.

Across the county’s classrooms, technology is consistent. Students in the Ballico-Cressey, Merced Union High School, Le Grand Union High School, and Planada school districts attend class with a tablet or laptop and teachers are using the technology to enhance instruction, making it more interesting and robust. These devices make learning anytime and anywhere a reality.

This report will also show Atwater Elementary School District’s Drugstore Project designed to show students the harsh realities of alcohol and drug abuse and the introduction of Rachel’s Chal-lenge to the county. This report highlights the vast diversity of services and instruc-tional activities in Merced County. Learn about Hilmar’s Robotics program, the Abriendo Puertas, special student events and the celebration of the Blue Ribbon School in the county.

Merced County educators are looking at ways to bring more Science, Technolo-gy, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related courses into the curriculum in order to prepare students for those fields in higher education. Pre-K to 12th grade educational leaders understand the importance of transitioning an Amer-ican educational system built on a man-ufacturing model to one that is flexible and based on achievement of standards: a system that has students working on real-world problems while learning STEM related subjects.

Schools need to develop an envi-ronment that produces students who are creative and collaborative problem solvers. Most of the great advances in pharmaceuticals and technologies like smart phones originated from Americans. However, I believe if we as a country want to remain competitive, we must look at what we are teaching and how it is being taught.

Fortunately, Merced County schools are doing exactly that.


MCOE CABINETHolly NewlonAssistant Superintendent Career & Alternative Education

Christie HendricksAssistant Superintendent Early Education

Janet Riley Assistant Superintendent Business Services


Eva ChavezAssistant Superintendent Human Resources

Susan CostonAssistant Superintendent Special Education

Kathy Pon, Ed.D.Assistant Superintendent Instructional Services

2014 MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORT

For more information about this report’s sponsors, see page 15.

3

3%3%

17%

6%

70%

Hispanic Asian White - Not of Hispanic OriginBlack - Not of Hispanic Origin Other

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

55,000

55,500

56,000

56,500

57,000

57,500

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

56,773

56,46156,349

56,15655,975

Source: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) * 2014-15 enrollment is a projection

375,000,000

400,000,000

425,000,000

450,000,000

475,000,000

500,000,000

525,000,000

550,000,000

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS’ BUDGET 2009-15

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Source: Merced County Office of Education

Totals include revenue limit, federal, state and other local funding received through the general fund. Does not include MCOE funding.

In the 2014-15 school year, there is a projected increase of 312 Transitional Kindergar ten (TK) through 12th grade students in county schools. The passage of Proposition 30 in 2012, an upturn in the California economy and changes in the educational funding structure has increased funding for school districts throughout California. There are 957 school districts, not including county offices of education, in the state with a budget of more than $47 billion in 2014.

OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STUDENTS


*

California has the largest and most diverse student population in America. The student population in Merced County is predominantly Hispanic, increasing to 70 percent in the 2013-14 school year. The new Local Control Funding Formula has increased funding for school districts that have greater needs, like those in Merced County.

3%3%

17%

6%

70%

Hispanic Asian White - Not of Hispanic OriginBlack - Not of Hispanic Origin Other

HispanicAsianWhite - Not of Hispanic OriginBlack - Not of Hispanic OriginOther

7%

6%

25%

9%

53%

16%

6%

12%

23%

3%

40%

STUDENT ETHNICITY

SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS BY DISABILITY

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

MERCED COUNTY

MERCED COUNTY

13%

8%

12%15%

3%

49%

Source: California Dept. of EducationData collected May, 2014

Source: California Dept. of EducationData collected December, 2013

Specific Learning DisabilityEmotional DisturbanceSpeech or Language ImpairmentAutismOtherIntellectual Disability

9%12%

11%15%3%

49%

(formerly Mental Retardation)

MERCED COUNTY STUDENTS

2014 MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORT 5

PATHWAYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION


SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATION RATE

Delhi Unified 89.30%

Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified

87.50%

Gustine Unified 91.30%

Hilmar Unified 90%

Le Grand Union High 88.70%

Los Banos Unified 89.50%

Merced Union High 92.90%

California Average 80.40%

Southern CaliforniaCentral ValleyCentral Coast & Northern California

27%

38%

35%Southern CaliforniaCentral ValleyCentral Coast & Northern California

27%

38%

35%

UC Merced Undergraduate Students by Geographic Region

Source: UC Merced Office of Institutional Research & Decision Support

The 10th campus in the University of California system and the first American research universi-ty of the 21st century, UC Merced serves about 6,200 undergraduate and graduate students at the campus located north of Merced near Lake Yosemite. The campus significantly expands access to the UC system for students through-out the state, with a special mission to increase college-going rates among students in the San Joaquin Valley. UC Merced also contributes to the economic growth of Central California and has contributed about $1 billion to the region since its inception in 2000. Part of UC Merced’s mis-sion is to have a small impact on the environment and is the only American university with every building on campus environmentally certified. Students study in the Schools of Engineering, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, with planned Schools in Management and Medicine. UC Merced also makes its mark on local education by providing professional development programs for TK-12 teachers and administrators and educational opportunities for students who want to take summer classes.

High school graduation rates across the country are at an all-time high at 81 percent, with California lagging slightly behind the national average. Merced County high schools are outpacing the state average by more than 10 percent in some districts with the Merced Union High School District — one of the largest in the county with more than 10,000 students — at the top with a 92.9 percent graduation rate. Programs like Merced County Project 10%, which you will read about on the next page, help to address the dropout rate, which is 10 percent in Merced County and 11.4 percent in California. Merced County continues to improve graduation rates.

WORLD-CLASS UNIVERSITY

ABOVE STATE AVERAGE IN GRAD RATESMERCED COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS GRADUATION RATES

PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS


EMPOWER & YOP

ABRIENDO PUERTAS

Merced County Project 10% is a first-of-its-kind initiative to put a UC Merced student into every middle school to discuss the importance of high school graduation. The program is a partnership be-tween MCOE, UC Merced and the Merced County District Attorney and utilizes volunteer UC Merced students to speak directly to middle school students about the importance of high school graduation. In 2014, MCOE contributed the use of a Ford Explorer and local attorney Carlos Fuentes donated a $1,500 toward gas to alleviate transportation issues and en-sure the group could visit all middle school students.

Abriendo Puertas, which translates to Opening Doors, is an evidenced-based comprehensive ed-ucational program for Latino parents with children age 0-5. The program provides a 10-week course at each elementary school in Merced County to provide education and support to help parents learn skills to feel more confident in their parenting and empowered to help their children succeed in school. Another component is to train school staff members along with parent volunteers to imple-ment Abriendo Puertas with families.

The EMPOWER Program & Youth Opportunity Programs provides educational assistance and job training to youth, with EMPOWER focusing on ages 17-21 and YOP focusing on ages 16-18. EMPOWER participants that do not have a high school diploma are provided with basic education skills to help obtain a GED or high school diploma. Both pro-grams provide paid and unpaid work experience, employ-ability skills training, leadership development and placement in post-secondary education. The goal of both programs is educational and career success for all participants.

PROJECT 10%

The Atwater Elementary School District is the first Merced County district to participate in the Rachel’s Challenge Program. Rachel’s Challenge is dedicated to creating safe, connected school environments. Based on the life and writing of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine tragedy in 1999, the program equips stu-dents with the kindness and compassion that transforms schools and the community.

Frank Sparkes Elementary School in the Winton School District earned the distinction as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School, one of only 24 in Cali-fornia. The program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Students and their families were treated to live music, a barbe-cue and dancing to celebrate the accolade.

Hilmar Middle School students enrolled in this year-long course learn skills in robotics, coding and auto-mation. Students learn to build and program robots to perform different tasks and gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience using sensors in a proj-ect-based environment. They also explore the history and uses of robotics and automation and investigate career opportunities in this field of technology.

Vir tual Enterprise (VE) is an emerging course in high schools where students set up a simulated business. Students work with local businesses to determine the lo-gistics of operating a business and engage in the daily op-erations of running that business. In December 2014, stu-dents from Dos Palos High School’s VE class competed at the annual California International Tradeshow, where they earned the top prize for Most Creative Booth for the group’s ice cream catering company, iScream.

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS


RACHEL’S CHALLENGE

VIRTUAL ENTERPRISE

BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

ROBOTICS IN HILMAR

In 2014, MCOE, First 5 Merced County, The California Endowment, Between Friends/Entre Amigos and Mer-ced County Human Services Agency hosted the first Merced County Parent Institute at Golden Valley High School. The Institute was aimed at parents, grandpar-ents, guardians and caregivers to give them the tools to help with the important role they play in the lives of their children. More than 400 parents attended the institute that had 70 exhibitors and 43 workshops in English, Hmong and Spanish. Keynote speakers were ABC 30 anchorwoman Graciela Moreno and Joseph I. Castro, President, California State University Fresno.

Fairside Head Start hosted a Fall Gardening Festival that focused on home gardens and giving families the tools to make healthier food choices. Thanks to a grant from the Merced Department of Public Health, the Fairside Community Garden now has six new garden boxes fully functional with water efficient irrigation. These gardens provide an ongoing outdoor classroom that serves as a tool to integrate curriculum standards and food systems education. The Merced College Horticulture Department along with the Merced County Human Services Agency’s All Dads Matter program also collaborated on the project.

School leaders and elected officials broke ground on a new special education building at Joe Stefani School in the Merced City School District, including State Su-perintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, State Senator Anthony Cannella and State Assemblymember Adam Gray. The $1.9 million 5,600-square-foot special education facility at the school located in between Mer-ced and Atwater is a joint effort between MCOE and MCSD and will serve up to 40 severely disabled special education students. Construction began in August and the building is scheduled to open in Spring 2015.

PARENT INSTITUTE

HEAD START GARDEN

STEFANI GROUNDBREAKING

PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS


MODERN CLASSROOMS


Technology is an increasingly important component of the workplace and our day-to-day lives, so it is vital to incorporate digital learning in the classroom. The new California Standards focus on critical and creative thinking and communication and collaboration skills, with an emphasis on emerging technology trends.

While school districts in Merced County and throughout the state and country have made technology an integral part of the classroom, it is important to note that it is ultimately a tool utilized by teachers to deliver instruction.

TECHNOLOGYEDUCATIONin

Left, a special education student at Floyd A. Schelby School near Livingston works on a digital interactive white board, which enables students to work in front of the class and make corrections themselves on the board. Right, early education students at Castle Early Head Start collaborate to solve problems on an iPad. Interactive technology tools like this give students an opportunity to work in groups and promote critical thinking and creativity.

MODERN CLASSROOMS


Technology is an increasingly important component of the workplace and our day-to-day lives, so it is vital to incorporate digital learning in the classroom. The new California Standards focus on critical and creative thinking and communication and collaboration skills, with an emphasis on emerging technology trends.

While school districts in Merced County and throughout the state and country have made technology an integral part of the classroom, it is important to note that it is ultimately a tool utilized by teachers to deliver instruction.

TECHNOLOGYEDUCATION

Left, a special education student at Floyd A. Schelby School near Livingston works on a digital interactive white board, which enables students to work in front of the class and make corrections themselves on the board. Right, early education students at Castle Early Head Start collaborate to solve problems on an iPad. Interactive technology tools like this give students an opportunity to work in groups and promote critical thinking and creativity.

The images to the left are steps from a video created by educator Dan Meyer and help illustrate how incorporating multimedia in a lesson promotes both critical and creative thinking. Students are given informa-tion about the size of the tank and the conversion from cubic centime-ters to ounces. They are then asked how long they think it will take the tank to fill up, asked to guess as close as they can and to give an-swers they know are too high and too low. Lessons like these help to cultivate different thought pro-cesses. Using multimedia also gives students a visual representation of real-world problems and solutions. You can view the full lesson at mrmeyer.com/threeacts/water tank.

HOW LONG TO FILL UP THE TANK?

OUTDOOR EDUCATION


Camp Green Meadows celebrated 50 years of outdoor education in 2014 and U.S. Congressman Jim Costa, joined Livingston Middle School students and Principal Wil-

liam Marroquin to celebrate the milestone in October at the outdoor school in Fish Camp.

Located near the Wawona entrance to Yosemite National Park, Camp Green Meadows serves students from throughout California in single-day and weeklong outdoor school settings and functions as a recreation camp in the summer. It has served as the outdoor school for thousands of Merced County students.

The camp is owned and operated by MCOE. After talking with students and staff, Costa gave

brief remarks to the students and presented a con-gressional resolution to Green Meadows Principal Bob Bassett.

“I speak to a lot of students throughout my district every year. I always tell them this: You are our future. You are going to continue to learn and we hope you do the very best you can. Guess what? If each and every one of you as adults do well, America does well. Our country does well,” Costa said.

Outdoor Education star ted for Merced County students in 1951 with a group of nearly 70 sixth-grad-ers from Planada and Le Grand attending an outdoor facility. As the program grew, MCOE sought a larger

facility, and relocated to the San Francisco YMCA camp known as Jones Gulch near La Honda.

Due to the rapid growth of the program, Outdoor Education Director Jack L. Boyd began searching for another site. Of several sites made available by the U.S. Forest Service, the site near Fish Camp was cho-sen due to the availability of electricity.

It would take Boyd several years of working with the U.S. Forest Service, Merced County Board of Supervisors and school districts before the first school arrived at Green Meadows on May 1, 1964.

From left, former County Schools Superintendent William Stockard, former Green Meadows Principal Peter Linaeu, U.S. Congressman Jim Costa, Green Meadows Principal Bob Bassett and County Schools Su-perintendent Dr. Steven E. Gomes celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jack L. Boyd Outdoor School at Camp Green Meadows in Fish Camp.

“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” — John Muir

CAMP GREEN MEADOW’S HISTORY


50 YearsWhile there were many roadblocks to the con-struction of Camp Green

Meadows, it was volunteerism and a consistent commitment by Jack L. Boyd that ensured students had an outdoor school in the Sierra Nevada.

Boyd and his family dedicated a great deal of time to Camp Green Meadows and en-suring students from Merced County and throughout California would have the benefit of an outdoor education. As you can see in the below timeline, Boyd lobbied for the par-cel, surveyed the land, led fundraising effor ts and was instrumental in every aspect of the formation of the outdoor school.

Thanks to his foresight and commitment to outdoor education, nearly 100,000 students have visited Camp Green Meadows and learned about the Sierra Nevada.

Thank you to Jack L. Boyd and his family for the dedication and hard work that went into making outdoor education a reality!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAMP GREEN MEADOWS: 1955-1978

Jack L. Boyd hired as Director of Outdoor Education at MCOE

A school from Hilmar is the first to visit Green Meadows and wake up to 18 inches

of snow, which was quite a surprise

Merced County Superintendent of Schools granted fiscal independence

of Green Meadows

Boyd surveys and establishes property line, develops master plan, begins fundraising and

works with Merced Kiwanis to start construction

Merced County Supervisors sign lease

with U.S. Forest Service securing 25 acres for

Green Meadows

Several small buildings constructed, including school office; caretaker

hired and appointed deputy sheriff for the area

Bing Crosby Foundation donates $10,000 for dining hall and Merced

County Supervisors match the foundation with $10,000 donation

Jack L. Boyd retires, Green Meadows

Outdoor School is named after him

1955 1964 19701956-1959

1956 1962 1966 1978

Jack L. Boyd, who served as MCOE Outdoor Education Director and eventually retired in the Business Services Department, helped found Camp Green Meadows.

The Merced County Office of Education’s Regional Occupational Program hosts an annual Career Indus-try Day at the Merced County Fairgrounds that gives approximately 1,000 sophomores from Merced County high schools, and Chowchilla High School, the opportu-nity to explore career options in California’s 15 indus-try sectors. The largest career exploration event for high school students in the Central Valley, sectors of in-dustry include agriculture, business and marketing, ar ts and communication, education, automotive transporta-tion services and health care, among others. Pictured at left, State Assemblymember Adam Gray participated in the 2014 Career Industry Day.

For nearly a decade, the Merced County Office of Education and Educational Employees Credit Union have recognized Excellence in Education in Mer-ced County. The program honors both teachers and other school employees. The 2014 winner of School Employee of the Year is MCOE’s Steve Ballard. Top honors for teaching went to Annie Delgado from the Merced Union High School District, who advanced to the state competition as a semi-finalist and was recognized at a gala in Sacramento in February, 2015.

CAREER INDUSTRY DAY

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

ANNIE DELGADOSocial Studies and AVID Instructor

Teacher of the Year Merced Union High School District

STEVE BALLARDMaintenance Lead

School Employee of the YearMerced County Office of Education

Students in the Atwater Elementary School Dis-trict had a sobering experience about making tough choices during an event at Mitchell Senior Elementa-ry School. The Drug Store Project is a day-long event that takes sixth grade students through a series of vignettes, observing the potential consequences of drug use. Organizations ranging from law enforce-ment, schools, county agencies and health care orga-nizations were on hand to teach students about the danger of drugs. Though sixth grade may seem early to impart these lessons on children, there is research that points to it as an appropriate age.

DRUG STORE PROJECT

EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS


Educational Employees Credit Union is the 70th largest credit union in the U.S., the 14th largest in California, and the largest locally-based credit union in the central San Joaquin Valley. As of December 31, 2014, the credit union had more than 235,000 members and over $2.2 billion in assets. EECU has branches in Fresno, Clovis, Hanford, Merced, Madera, Reedley, Selma and Visalia.

Headquartered in Vacaville, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution serving those who live or work in Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Colusa and Merced Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 13th largest credit union in California, with more than 163,000 members and over $2.3 billion in assets.

Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union has proudly served our educational com-munity for 61 years. Designed with you in mind, we’re a full service financial institution with a wide variety of products and services ranging from savings, checking and conve-nient electronic services to loans for just about any purpose. For your convenience we have four branches located in Merced, Atwater and Los Banos, or you can visit us online at www.mercedschoolcu.org.

Stifel Nicolaus & Company is the leading underwriter of municipal bonds for Califor-nia K-12 school districts, selling more school bond issues in 2014 than any other firm. We assist school districts with general obligation bonds (for district-wide elections and school facilities improvement districts), bond anticipation notes, certificates of participation and leases, community facilities district special tax bonds, tax and revenue anticipation notes and the refinancing and restructuring of previously-issued bonds.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS


EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS


The North Valley Leadership Institute is a lead-ership academy developed by MCOE for inter-nal employees and external organizations that provides tools to better equip administrators and managers to become more effective leaders. Sessions include Leadership Challenge, employee engagement, having hard conversations, workplace diversity, leadership in practice, coaching employ-ees, creating a successful team, sexual harassment training, and proper documentation for disciplinary action. Participants can register for all nine sessions or an individual session. In the 2013-14 school year there were nearly 80 registered participants from Merced County and the surrounding regions.

NORTH VALLEY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

MCOE Leadership Facilitator Dr. Ozzy DeLuna assists schools districts with profes-sional development for administrators, managers, academic coaches, teachers and dis-trict management staff to support, strengthen and reorganize organizational processes.

MMCC EEF O U N D A T I O NMerced County Education

Frequent changes of homes and schools have a detrimental effect on foster youth, especially their academic performance and future success. For the third year, the MCE Foundation has assisted the Merced County Human Services Agency in sending Merced County middle school foster youth to spend one week at Camp Green Meadows. The MCE Foundation continues to provide experiences for foster youth to learn and build on their academics, social skills and self esteem.

Advancing STEM (science, technology, engi-neering and mathematics) learning opportu-nities in Merced County capitalizes on exist-ing resources while preparing students for their future with rewarding careers. Success in STEM education builds a regional work-force that is knowledgeable and highly skilled, which is required for improving our economy through business development. The MCE Foundation’s support of STEM education in-cludes the public charter high school, Merced Area STEM School (MASS).

FOSTER YOUTH

STEM EDUCATION

MERCED COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION


The Merced County Education (MCE) Foundation supports programs and activities which maximize academic

achievement and educational enrichment for students in Merced County. In 2014, more than 6,700 students countywide experienced some of their first enhanced learning opportu-nities through contributions supporting Camp Green Meadows, foster youth, agriculture education, STEM education (science, technol-ogy, engineering and mathematics), and visual and performing arts. The Merced County Education Foundation will shape the learning experiences of Merced County students and propel them into the race for industry leaders in education and economic development.

Learn more about the Merced County Education Foundation and how you can help shape the learning

experiences of Merced County students.

Contact: Mrs. Lee Lor(209) 381-6602 • [email protected] • mcoe.org/foundation

More than 3,000 Merced County third grade students learned where their food comes from, recognizing that the origin is their own community. They participated in activities that enhance learning focused on the importance of local agriculture’s role in history, economics and health. Activities like this help to plant seeds to-ward a healthier community by giving students information about healthy food habits and teaching them where our food comes from.

Visual and performing ar ts activities increase students’ confidence and self esteem, encourag-ing them to express their thoughts and feelings. Through the Summer Performing Ar ts Program, more than 120 students learned all aspects of assembling a live stage play, gaining global, health and environmental awareness and valuable life skills that transfer to other subject areas. Through the MCE Foundation’s suppor t of visual and performing ar ts activities, more than 2,500 Merced County students enjoyed their first live orchestra.

Camp Green Meadows, MCOE’s outdoor school, is an ideal place for outdoor education, offering experi-ences that build science knowledge and exploration of what is in our own backyard. More than 2,500 students attend each year, many of whom have never been to the real outdoors. The MCE Foundation will update technology and improve spaces for students with special abilities, add a badly needed nurse’s sta-tion and provide two additional classrooms for en-hanced learning activities.

AGRICULTURE EDUCATION

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

CAMP GREEN MEADOWS

MERCED COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION


This artist rendering of a proposed building would replace the current structure, which has fallen into disrepair. The new building will be locat-ed in the center of the outdoor school and increase space for students with special abilities in addition to providing additional classrooms.

The Business Services department provides accounting, budgeting, information technology, purchasing and facility development, which includes construction services to various MCOE programs. Business Services also oversees maintenance and operation support for many county sites, including maintenance of a large vehicle fleet. Addition-ally, business advisory, financial services, technology services and payroll processing services are provided to the 20 school districts in Merced County, as well as the responsibilities of fiscal oversight through the AB1200 process. With the advent of LCFF, the Business Department, in conjunction with the Instructional Services Department, has been directed by the State to review and approve the LCAP of the school districts within the county.

The Career and Alternative Education Depar tment operates schools and programs in service to stu-dents and school districts with the vision of Inspir-ing Students . . . Changing Lives! Merced Scholars Char ter School provides middle and high school students a non-classroom based, personalized learning model of education; Valley Community and Cour t Schools provides a comprehensive education program for at-risk TK-12 students who learn best in alternative programs; the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) provides career-technical train-ing courses and services to high school and adult students; Foster Youth Services assists students, ages 4-21, who are placed in state licensed group homes and foster homes to improve academic achievement; the EMPOWER Program prepares students for college and career ; the Youth Opportu-nity Program (YOP) suppor ts students toward high school completion and college and career readiness;

and the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) improves the flow of infor-mation about postsecondary education/financial aid, and raises achievement levels of targeted students through collegiate academies established on high school campuses.

The Early Education Department provides leadership and operates multiple programs to ensure quality early education services to our community. Programs include Early Head Star t, Head Star t and the Early Head Star t Child Care Part-nership grant, Child Care Resource and Referral services for accessing licensed child care, Child Care Subsidy Payment services, the California Preschool In-structional Network (CPIN), the Family Resource Council and Parenting Center, Caring Kids, Abriendo Puertas, the Local Child Care and Development Planning Council, and workforce development services for early education professionals and the Preschools SHINE program which focuses on decreasing childhood obesity. The Early Education Department also implements the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant called Quality Counts! In Merced County.

BUSINESS SERVICES (209) 381-6736

CAREER & ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION (209) 381-6607

EARLY EDUCATION (209) 381-6794

MCOE DEPARTMENTS & PROGRAMS


Special Education provides a wide range of services for children and young adults with special needs. Ranging in age from newborn to 22 years, these young people need special education for disabilities. They are served in a vari-ety of places: homes, local schools and schools with specialized classes. Services are available to students that reside in Merced County. Services include special classes for students with significant disabilities, the deaf and hard of hearing pro-gram, the emotional disturbance program, adaptive physical education services, occupational and physical therapy, the visually impaired program, the orthopedi-cally impaired program, early start infant care, the early intervention autism pro-gram, speech and language development, nursing and health assistance, school psychologist and staff development. The Merced County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) ensures that quality special education programs and services are available throughout the region. The SELPA provides staff development, information system technology and technical assistance, transition planning sup-port, education related mental health services, among other services.

SPECIAL EDUCATION (209) 381-6711

Human Resources staff administers personnel functions for more than 1,300 Merced County Office of Educa-tion employees. These functions include employee recruitment and selection, employment related counseling, leadership development, workers compensation, health benefits, maintenance of employment records as well as negotiating, implementing and administering collective bargaining agreements for represented staff. Human Resources staff also coordinates compensation and benefits for internal staff. The Human Resources depart-ment provides fingerprinting services, credentialing advice and credential monitoring for all school districts in Merced County. In addition, the department maintains the countywide substitute teacher list.

Instructional Services delivers support services based on re-searched-based practices and data-informed decision making to meet the ongoing challenges of Common Core State Standards implementation, and preparation for a new assessment system. In-structional Services operates ASSETS after school program, Camp Green Meadows Outdoor Education, Merced Educational Televi-sion (METV), Migrant Education, ADMIN KEYS Tier II Credential Program, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) and Special Events, which operates the Academic Decathlon among many other events. The department also leads the Merced Coun-ty’s Seal of Multilingual Proficiency and oversees approval of district Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP). Instructional Services continues to offer professional development and technical assistance to all 20 school districts, bringing experts and best prac-tices to the field to support Merced County educators.

HUMAN RESOURCES (209) 381-6627

INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES (209) 381-6634

MCOE DEPARTMENTS & PROGRAMS


Publication and Report Announcement Activities Proudly Sponsored By

Content organization, photography and design by MCOE Public Information Officer Nathan Quevedo

MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATIONSteven E. Gomes, Ed.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Atwater ESDBallico-Cressey ESDDelhi USDDos Palos-Oro Loma JUSDEl Nido ESDGustine USDHilmar USDLe Grand UESDLe Grand UHSDLivingston UESDLos Banos USDMcSwain UESDMerced City SDMerced River UESDMerced COEMerced UHSDPlainsburg UESDPlanada ESDSnelling-Merced Falls UESDWeaver USDWinton ESD

Sandra Schiber, Ed.D.Bryan BallengerAdolfo MelaraBrian Walker, Ed.D.Rae Ann JimenezRonald Estes, Ed.D.Isabel Cabral-JohnsonRosina HurtadoDonna AlleyAndres ZamoraSteve Tietjen, Ed.D.Stan Mollar tRoseMary Parga-Duran, Ed.D.Helio Brasil, Ed.D.Steven E. Gomes, Ed.D.Scott Scambray, Ed.D.Kristi KingstonJose GonzalezAlison KahlJohn CurryRandall Heller

357-6100632-5371656-2000392-0200385-8420854-3784667-5701389-4515389-9403394-5400826-3801354-2700385-6600358-5679381-6600385-6400389-4707382-0756563-6414723-7606357-6175

School District Superintendent PhoneMCOE Schools

2014 MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORTCounty Superintendent of Schools Merced County Office of Education

632 W. 13th Street, Merced CA 95341 • www.mcoe.org

County Board of Education

Steven E. Gomes, Ed.D

MCOE MISSION OVERARCHING STRATEGIC GOALS

Gloria Honey Chris Chavez Dennis Hanks Fred Honoré Tom Bates

The mission of Merced County Office of Education, as the educational leader of the Central Valley and trusted community partner, is to transform education and inspire personal, social, and academic achievement of students through collaborative partnerships, accountable leader-ship and innovative, high quality programs and services.

• Annually, all staff will report improved communication, morale, trust, and accountability within MCOE.• All clients will report that MCOE has provided innovative and high quality programs that resulted in increased learning.• Clients will report that MCOE has promoted a college-going culture and meaningful career pathways; the number of Merced County students enrolling and succeeding in institutions of higher education increased annually.

We welcome your questions, comments and

feedback. Please email us at [email protected].

Atwater Valley Community School 1800 Matthews Ave., Atwater (209) 381-4550 Los Banos Valley Community School 715 West H St., Los Banos (209) 827-5600 Merced Valley Community School 1850 Wardrobe Ave., Merced (209) 381-4501Floyd A. Schelby School 6738 N. Sultana Dr., Livingston (209) 394-7420Merced Scholars Charter School 808 W. 16th St., Merced (209) 381-5165Green Meadows Outdoor School 77798 White Chief MT. Rd., Fish Camp (559) 642-0122Merced County Juvenile Court School 2840 W. Sandy Mush Rd., Merced (209) 381-1414


2014 merced county schools annual education report

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