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Fortuna Elementary School District
Superintendent’s Report
February 2025
Curriculum and Instruction:
Our District remains committed to strengthening curriculum and instruction to support student learning. We continue to pilot the Amplify Desmos Math in grades K-8th, which aligns with the most up-to-date math framework. In addition, our new Character Strong curriculum is being implemented at Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels to support students’ social-emotional learning and overall well-being. IXL, a computer-based program, is utilized weekly in grades 1st-8th in ELA and math and 7th-8th in science, allowing students to engage in personalized skill-building.
Teachers are focused on aligning instructional strategies to targeted areas in ELA and math. Data-driven instruction remains a priority, with our staff continuously analyzing student performance data to form small groups and address academic gaps.
Our teachers are preparing students for the CAASPP testing in grades 3rd-8th, which will take place this spring. Teachers are meeting individually with students to review past scores, set growth goals, and foster a mindset of achievement. As we approach the end of the second trimester, STAR assessments will be administered this month, providing valuable insights to inform instruction and support student progress.
Our School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) for each school can be found on our website, fortunaesd.com, or hard copies are available upon request.
Budget:
Governor Gavin Newsom's 2025-2026 budget proposal outlines significant investments in California's TK-12 education system. Below is a breakdown of key components related to education:
Proposition 98 Funding: The budget proposes a Proposition 98 guarantee of $118.9 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year, reflecting a $3.6 billion increase from the prior year. This funding supports K-12 schools, community colleges, and state preschool programs.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): A 2.43% COLA is proposed for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), amounting to an increase of approximately $230.4 million in ongoing funding to support K-12 schools.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Expansion: The budget allocates $2.4 billion in ongoing funds to fully implement Universal Transitional Kindergarten, making it accessible to all children who turn four by September 1, 2025. Additionally, $1.5 billion is designated to reduce TK classroom ratios from 1:12 to 1:10, enhancing individualized attention for students.
Learning Recovery and Literacy Initiatives: To address learning loss, the budget expands the existing Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant with $378.6 million in one-time funding through 2027-28. It also proposes $40 million in one-time funds for implementing a new dyslexia screener and $10 million to support English language proficiency screeners for TK dual-language learners.
Teacher Support and Recruitment: The proposal includes several initiatives to bolster the educator workforce:
$150 million one-time funding for a new Teacher Recruitment Incentive Grant Program. $100 million one-time funding to extend the National Board Certification Incentive Program. An increase of $50 million in one-time funding to the Golden State Teachers Grant program for applicants in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Universal Meals Program: The budget maintains California's commitment to universal meals by increasing annual funding by $106.3 million, ensuring all students receive two free daily meals. An additional $150 million in one-time funding is proposed for the Kitchen Infrastructure and Training program to support this initiative.
Enrollment for 2025-26:
Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open for new TK-8th grade students. Families can register online by visiting our website at fortunaesd.com, where they will find the enrollment link and additional information. Transitional Kindergarten (TK) eligibility applies to children who turn four years old before September 2, 2025. We encourage families to watch the informational video on our website to explore our TK and kindergarten programs at Ambrosini and Walker Schools. We look forward to welcoming new students and families to our District!
Successes:
The Glasses2Classes program was a tremendous success for our students, providing essential vision support to those in need. All our students in attendance on the scheduled days were screened, and 204 students—20% of our total enrollment—qualified for new glasses, including first-time wearers and those receiving updated prescriptions. These students were able to choose their frames; the glasses should arrive at the school sites soon to be distributed to students. We are incredibly grateful to the Community Schools grant for funding this opportunity and ensuring our students have the resources they need to thrive in the classroom.
Our District is excited to partner with Studer Education to develop a strategic plan to guide our growth and success. This process will include updating our mission and vision statements, as well as establishing clear, measurable goals to support student achievement and District improvement. A Vision/Steering Committee, composed of certificated and classified staff, parents, administrators, a Board member, and a student, will lead this important work. This collaborative process officially begins on February 11th and will continue throughout the year. We look forward to engaging our school community in this meaningful work.
Our District has implemented the Mitel Revolution Emergency Notification System, which is now fully active. It provides a uniform, district-wide approach to emergency communication. This system enhances school safety by allowing for immediate lockdown notifications that can be triggered by staff through phones, computers, or an emergency button. With this advanced system in place, we can ensure faster response times and clearer communication in an emergency, prioritizing our students' and staff's safety and well-being.
Thank you to Sightseer Productions, Justin Grimaldo, for creating our TK/K informational video!
Thank you to Soroptimist International of Eel River Valley for donating new books to all four of our libraries!
Thank you to our dedicated staff and the FESD Governance Team for their commitment to the students in our District!
Important Dates:
February 19th-21st: ELOP (available to students who enrolled in the fall)
February 28: End of 2nd Trimester
April 14th-18th: Spring Break (No School)
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Betts
Highlights from the 2-13-25 Board Meeting:
Thank you, Mateo Herrera-Cortes (Toddy Thomas) and Solange Diaz-Matias (Fortuna Middle School), for providing ASB updates. Superintendent Betts provided a verbal report on the 2024-2025 LCAP Mid-Year Update. Community Schools Coordinator Tim Grimmett provided a verbal report on the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). The Board approved the Consent Agenda. The Board approved the revised Comprehensive School Safety Plans for AES, WES, TTMS, and FMS. The Board approved Global CTI as the vendor for the E-Rate FY2025 Technology Infrastructure Project. The Board approved the purchase of a bus for ELOP transportation.
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