November 7, 2005

To:              Kermith Walters, District Superintendent, Montague Elementary

                   Kat Cavagnaro, Board President

                   Rebecca Bowman, Board Trustee

                   Eloise Miller, Board Trustee

                   Elizabeth Pimentel, Board Trustee

                   John Schaefer, Board Trustee

From:          Barbara M. Dillmann

                   County Superintendent

Subject:      Required School Visit

California Education Code Section 1240 requires that I visit schools identified as 2003 decile 1-3 schools within the first eight weeks of school and report the results of my visit.  This report concerns my visit to Montague Elementary School. I appreciate the cooperation of the administration in compiling necessary documentation.  I also thank the students, classified and certificated staff, and administration for making the visit very productive.

The purpose of my visit as specified in California Education Code 1240 was to ensure: 

1.           That students have access to “sufficient” instructional materials in the four core subject areas of English language arts, mathematics, history/social science, and science;                     

2.           To assess compliance with facilities maintenance to determine the condition of a facility that “poses an emergency or urgent threat to the health or safety of pupils or staff”; and

3.           To determine if the school has provided accurate data for the annual School Accountability Report Card related to instructional materials and facilities maintenance.

The standard set forth in the law defines “sufficient” instructional materials as meaning that every pupil, including English learners, has a textbook or instructional materials in the four core areas that is aligned with the state content standards and is available to take home.  With regards to facilities standards, each school district that receives state funding for facilities maintenance is required to establish a facilities inspection program and to ensure that each of its schools is maintained in good repair.  “Good repair” is defined as maintaining schools that are clean, safe and functional.

In summary, my findings in the three required areas were as follows:

Instructional Materials:

All students in grades kindergarten through grade eight had sufficient materials in the core subject areas of English/language arts, mathematics, history/social science, and science.  For history/social science at the K-1 level, for which the Houghton Mifflin Reading program is being used to address the history/social science standards, it is recommended that staff continue to fully implement the lessons, which address these standards.  The school intends to purchase new State Board of Education (SBE) adopted materials after the SBE approves the list in November 2005.

School Facilities:

School facilities were found to be clean, safe, and functional.  There were no conditions that posed an emergency or urgent threat to the health or safety of pupils or staff.

School Accountability Report Card:

Accurate data is included on the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) related to instructional materials and facilities maintenance.

In conclusion, let me assure each of you receiving this report, and especially the Montague Elementary School District Board, administration, and Montague Elementary School staff that the Siskiyou County Office of Education is available to support them as they continue to provide their students with standards aligned instructional materials and a clean and safe learning environment.

Sincerely,

Barbara M. Dillmann

County Superintendent