MBUSD Superintendent's Newsletter

Superintendent's Newsletter

September 13, 2024

Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well! Today’s issue features Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS), a budget update, and recognition of seven Mira Costa seniors named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists!

Spotlight on Manhattan Beach Middle School (Special Thanks to the Social Science Department and Principal Luke Olesiuk)

The MBMS Social Science department is not only focusing on covering the various historical standards in their classrooms daily but also working hard on developing their students’ critical thinking skills. One way these skills are being developed is through the “Think Like A Historian” activities that have been occurring since the start of the school year.

Students are presented with a variety of historical situations and then tasked with determining what historical skill, lens, or perspective is needed to think through these various events from our past. They can choose from skills such as “Ethical Issues”, “Cause and Consequence”, or “Historical Perspective” to analyze situations including the improvement of labor conditions for children working in industrial factories, examining photographs of how major U.S. cities have changed over time and what impact this has had on the surrounding lands, or the importance of maintaining audio or video recordings of historical figures from our past for future generations to utilize as primary sources.

Students were led through instruction on these topics, small group, and whole class discussions, and even a fun “escape room” practice activity before taking a quiz on these skills. Teachers were proud to share that students all performed quite well on grasping these concepts! MBMS is excited to continue to roll out additional high-impact and department-aligned lessons as the 24-25 school year progresses.

Staff Spotlight: Anthony Henry | EDP Site Lead at Pennekamp

This week we are excited to feature, Pennekamp EDP Site Lead Anthony Henry, who has dedicated over three decades to MBUSD. Anthony’s journey with the District began after he was introduced to MBUSD by his sister, who worked as an assistant at MB Preschool at that time. After being hired as an assistant himself, he soon transitioned to the Extended Day Program (EDP), where he took on roles as a teacher and then site lead at Robinson Elementary. Currently, Anthony is the site lead at Pennekamp Elementary, overseeing five classrooms.

He says that his passion for working with students keeps him “young.” Whether he’s teaching basketball, football, or chess skills, or organizing talent competitions "where everyone is a winner," Anthony finds joy in helping students grow. His favorite part of the job is mentoring and coaching both staff and students, watching their development and confidence blossom over the years. His ultimate goal is to bring smiles to the children and families who are part of the EDP. "I wouldn’t be successful without the incredible support of the EDP staff and families," he says. "I’m grateful for the parents who’ve made working at MBUSD such a rewarding experience."

During his time here, Anthony was honored as Classified Employee of the Year!

Outside of work, Anthony has been married to his high school sweetheart for 27 years, and together they have three children, two of whom are currently in college. He is a strong advocate for student well-being and serves as co-chair of a non-profit organization’s Stand Against Bullying Committee.

In his free time, Anthony enjoys going to the movies, spending time with his family, and watching sports. He is a devoted fan of the Denver Broncos, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Boston Celtics. Anthony has coached football and basketball for Parks and Recreation, Pop Warner, and AAU leagues. Though he is retired from coaching, you can still find him cheering on the sidelines, especially at local high school football games on Friday nights during football season.

New Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Appointed

We are excited to announce that the MBUSD Board of Trustees appointed Kelli Keller as the new Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at the Wednesday, September 11 Board meeting. With nearly 24 years of experience in public education, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the District and will make an excellent addition to our Cabinet team and community.

Kelli comes to us from Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) where she served as the Executive Director of Human Resources. She led as a site administrator at Ridgecrest Intermediate School, as well as served as PVPUSD’s Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Educational Services.

Kelli’s skill set extends beyond her human resources background. She has served as a site administrator at elementary, middle, and high school levels in El Segundo Unified School District, Orange Unified School District, and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, Kelli is a product of MBUSD schools, having attended Grand View Elementary, Manhattan Beach Intermediate, and Mira Costa. She began her career in education at MBUSD as a teacher, department chair, and volleyball coach.

“I am honored to return to the district I call home, and serve our students, families, staff, and educational partners as the new Human Resources leader,” said Keller.

She is completing her Ph.D. at Purdue University and lives with her family in Redondo Beach.

Kelli will begin her new role as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources on October 1, 2024, following the retirement of Dr. Tom Stekol on September 30. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Kelli on her new role!

Moment of Silence

The MBUSD Board meeting this week began with a moment of silence to honor and remember the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001. President Cathey Graves also took a moment to recognize the recent tragic school shooting at Apalachee High School, paying tribute to the students and teachers who were victims.

This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Pacific 4th graders from Junior Scout Troop 07315, Arielle Dugary, and Rahni Bolton.

Trustees Adopt Resolution in Support of United Against Hate Week

For the third consecutive year, the MBUSD Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution recognizing “United Against Hate Week,” from September 21-27, 2024. This important initiative emphasizes our District’s commitment to promoting a climate of care, inclusion, respect, and unity for all students, staff, and community members.

During United Against Hate Week, all school campuses will host a variety of assemblies and activities. These will include efforts for the No Place for Hate (NPFH) designation and incorporate the use of the MBEF-donated Peace Poles, an internationally recognized symbol of hope and peace. For a second year, MBUSD has partnered with Stand 4 Peace to promote peace and unity.

We encourage all members of our community to participate in this week and unite against hate. The South Bay Coalition Against Hate is partnering with South Bay community organizations and cities to recognize the week, MBUSD Board President Cathey Graves and Clerk Tina Shivpuri serve on the coalition. You can find a list of events here. One of the events includes a Nutrition Pantry Drive to benefit the Single Mom Project in partnership with the Richstone Family Center. MBUSD will be a drop-off location for this drive throughout the week from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Click image below to view full PDF.

New Student Board Representatives

At this week’s Board meeting, our new student board representative from MBMS and student board members from Mira Costa participated in their first meeting of the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations to Tara Shivpuri for serving as the MBMS student representative for a second consecutive year. Henry Michael and Alex Weinbaum were elected by the student body to serve on the MBUSD Board of Trustees.

At the beginning of each meeting, student representatives share the latest news and events from their school community. Mira Costa Board members act as voting members of the Board of Trustees and help strengthen communications between the Board and MBUSD students. They participate in meeting discussions and provide invaluable insights during the decision-making process. We are excited to have them join us and represent the student perspective at our meetings.

MBUSD Board Goals for the 2024-25 School Year

At this week’s MBUSD Board of Trustees meeting, the updated five District Board goals for the school year were approved. Prior to this, the Board held two retreats, one of which included the District Cabinet, to review and refine the goals. The MBUSD Board goals continue to focus on academic excellence, serving the whole child, districtwide facilities, and fiscal and communication accountability.

These goals guide staff, ensuring that everyone works toward delivering the best outcomes for all students and advancing MBUSD’s vision.

Click the image for the newly adopted Board goals:

These goals are essential, as they guide the instruction, professional development, budget and overall functions of the District.

Budget Corner

Many of you are well aware of the insufficient funding that the State of California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) provides to MBUSD, and that we are among the worst-funded districts in the State. To help balance our budget, we had to take action this past spring by laying off a number of staff, issuing notices equating to a reduction of 32.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions. A combination of factors has helped us restore many of these positions, supporting class sizes, and balance the budget.

First, we are very grateful for the support of the Manhattan Beach community, which subsequently renewed the Measure MB parcel tax, providing the continuation of annual revenue in the amount of $2.5 million for the next six years.

We are also very thankful for the tremendous fundraising efforts of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF), which provided grant funding in the amount of $7.4 million, $1.3 million more than in the prior year. These local funding streams allowed the District to rescind layoff notices for more than 20 Full Time Equivalent positions. Additionally, these rescissions have allowed the District to support class sizes at the middle and high school levels that average in the low 30s, rather than the upper 30s that would have been necessary otherwise.

The District is currently in salary negotiations with the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Union (MBUTA).

The State of California provided an 8.22% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2023-24. The District and MBUTA agreed to provide a 6% ongoing salary increase in addition to a one-time 2% off-schedule salary payment plus two additional paid professional development days for teachers based on that COLA. That retroactive salary increase was effective for the 2022-23 bargaining year.

The parties are currently bargaining the 2023-24 contract. The State of California has provided a 1.07% COLA for the 2024-25 school year which is currently being discussed at the bargaining table. The District’s current offer to MBUTA is a 1% salary raise, consistent with that number. The parties next meet on September 17.

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!

We are thrilled to share that once again, Mira Costa High School has students who have been named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program! Congratulations to:

Eleanora Digilio

Colin Freelin

Cameron Hughes

Jack Kjar

Katherine Kligys

Hudson Sagadevan

Elizabeth Witherell

Our students earned this honor by taking the 2023 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. As semifinalists, they represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors nationwide, including the highest-scoring students from each state.

As semifinalists, they will now have the opportunity to advance to the finalist stage by submitting a detailed scholarship application to potentially win a National Merit Scholarship in the spring. To be considered for the scholarship award, semifinalists must meet several requirements, which include a detailed application from students’ schools, information on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstration of leadership abilities, employment, honors, and awards, as well as a written essay and scores on the SAT or ACT that confirmed the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Click here to read more on MB News.

Superintendent’s Educational Technology Advisory Committee

A Superintendent’s Educational Technology Advisory Committee for MBUSD is being formed and will meet throughout the 2024-2025 school year. The committee will provide recommendations to the Superintendent on the appropriate use of technology by reviewing research and discussing the best practices for our students. The goal is to find a “healthy” balance between embracing technology to enhance learning and minimizing its potential as a distraction or negative influence on students’ social-emotional development.

The committee will be a combination of parents, certificated staff, classified staff, and administrators. Students will be invited for specific panel discussions as well. MBUSD certificated staff and classified staff are encouraged to apply to this committee. MBUSD parents/guardians (who currently have a student in the District) can also apply.

The application must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jonathan Erickson, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, at JErickson@mbusd.org.

Join your School PTAs/PTSAs!

Manhattan Beach PTAs/PTSAs are vital partners to MBUSD providing support to students, families, and teachers. Joining and donating to your school's PTA/PTSA can have many benefits for you and your families:

Support your child's education - PTAs/PTSAs can help parents stay informed about their child's school life, collaborate with teachers and administrators, and contribute to their child's learning experience.
Be a role model - By joining PTA/PTSAs, you can demonstrate to your child the importance you place on education.
Get involved - PTAs/PTSAs offer many opportunities for parents to take part in school activities, attend meetings, and volunteer.
Access resources - PTAs/PTSAs provide resources for members, as well as offer a variety of programs and materials.
Make a difference - PTAs/PTSAs can help strengthen the school community, enhance fundraising efforts, and support the schools. Donations to PTA/PTSAs help fund programs and events.

Please consider joining and donating to PTA/PTSA today! Click the link(s) below for more information.

It’s that wonderful time of the year again when we can come together to make a significant impact on our students and support a great cause! The annual fun-filled Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk supports both children with special needs through the Friendship Foundation and our local students through MBEF. For every $30 registration, please indicate MBEF as a beneficiary to ensure that your full contribution directly benefits MBEF and your school PTA! Every walker, whether you attend in person or not, makes a difference.

Please click here for registration process steps and FAQs.

Click on your school’s official team page below to register:

Grand View Elementary

Manhattan Beach Middle School

Manhattan Beach Preschool

Mira Costa High School

MBEF Team

First No Place for Hate Meeting Takes Place at MBMS

This week, the MBMS No Place for Hate Program Committee launched its efforts for the year with its first meeting. Students and staff introduced the pledge and reflected on last year’s work, which they plan to continue focusing on “Ways to be an Ally.”

We are proud of our staff, students, and families in supporting our climate of care work. For two consecutive years, all MBUSD schools (K-12) have been designated as No Place for Hate campuses.

No Place for Hate is a program sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that cultivates student leadership, unites a school community, and engages students and staff in active learning to combat hate and intolerance. The program has a four-phase approach and is a framework that includes creating a committee, introducing the ADL No Place for Hate pledge, assessing the school climate, and implementing activities that work towards long-term solutions to maintain a positive learning environment.

NFL Chargers Join the “Battle at the Beach” Costa Football Game

The recent Mira Costa Football game against Redondo Union was a thrilling one, with Mira Costa securing a narrow victory of 14-13. The event was made even more special with the presence of guests from the Chargers, who were celebrating the conclusion of their Charge Up to Kickoff week-long event. Chargers officials knew about the storied rivalry between Mira Costa and Redondo Union High Schools and wanted to be part of the excitement as new neighbors to both of the schools. The Chargers have a long history of supporting high school football through their community outreach.

Chargers players T Trey Pipkins III and G Zion Johnson were honorary captains and Chargers General Manager Joe Horitz participated in the coin toss. Thank you to the Chargers for joining us! Their staff also had a booth and distributed free custom “Battle at the Beach” t-shirts, and posters, and raffled off-field-level tickets to an upcoming game.

The game also featured a cherished annual tradition of MBMS band students joining Mira Costa’s marching band. They practiced with the high school students before the game, performed with them during their walk down Peck Avenue, and played alongside them throughout the event! This unique experience allows middle school students to experience the programs offered at MCHS.

Be Our Guest Program Shares the Magic of Mira Costa VAPA Programs

In partnership with the City of Manhattan Beach Parks & Rec’s Older Adults program, the schedule for the “Be Our Guest” program is live! This program invites Manhattan Beach residents 55 years of age or older to attend performances at Mira Costa High School for free.

If you are interested, you will need to sign up and get a special pass at the Joslyn Community Center at the Older Adults Program Office. For the schedule, please visit www.mbusd.org/BeOurGuest. This year, “Be Our Guest” members can attend fourteen shows, including MCHS’s drama/tech, choir, band, and orchestra programs.

Click image below to view full PDF.

Share Stories with Us!

There are great stories to be told across the District, from stories of accomplishment, perseverance, and noteworthy events to academic excellence unfolding in our classrooms. Please share a story with us so we can highlight it with our community!

Stories submitted are often shared in our publications, on social media, and with our local media partners.

Click here for the story form!