Menlo Park City School District announces important community connection opportunities before the end of school year. Our current year may be drawing to a close on June 15, but there are still plenty of chances to share your input and connect with us before then. Planning for 2018-19 and beyond is in full swing. Please consider participating in one of these input opportunities.

June 5: School Board meeting with community input and end of year staff celebration. You are invited to attend our regular School Board meeting on June 5, 6:00 p.m. at the TERC Board Room, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton. For notice of the corresponding public hearing, click here. Three items in particular will interest the community:

• Assistant Superintendent Jammie Behrendt will present our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) report to the School Board. This is the detailed story of our District goals - curriculum, achievement, language development, wellness, and parent engagement - and how we have worked to meet them this year. California school districts are funded through a model called the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). LCFF allows districts more freedom in how funds are spent but also requires the development of an LCAP that aligns spending to specific district goals for student achievement with a focus on foster youth, low-income students, and English learner communities Learn more about LCAP at the California Department of Education website.
• The proposed budget for the 2018-19 school year will be presented, outlining priorities developed aligning with LCAP goals and considering the input that was gathered at our two Community Input Sessions over this year.
• MPCSD Staff who are retiring, have achieved tenure, have become nationally board certified, and who are marking 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 year anniversaries with the district will be recognized and celebrated. The community is welcome to join us in congratulating our wonderful staff as they mark momentous transitions in their careers of service in public education.

June 10: Last Farmers Market appearance of the school year. We have been attending the Menlo Park Farmers Market monthly all year, and have been delighted to have so many community members stopping by to ask questions and share their stories with us. From current students and families, to recent district graduates now in high school or college, to young families curious about our schools, to former district parents and even retired school board members, it has been wonderful hearing so many different perspectives. Please visit us again June 10 in downtown Menlo Park, and for the end of school, one of our reading specialists will be on hand with summer reading recommendations for all ages.

June 12: Final School Board meeting of the school year. The Board will vote on approving the LCAP report and adopting the proposed budget (both discussed at the June 5 meeting). Public comment will be open at 6:00 p.m. at the TERC Board Room, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton.

Now through End of June: Our annual Community Survey, in partnership with Panorama Education, is out now. Please share your thoughts and perceptions of the district with us in this ten minute online survey: bit.ly/mpcsdcommunity. Last year, over 90% of respondents said they would recommend us. We hope to continue earning your trust every year. We appreciate your input and use community feedback as we plan budget and program priorities for the coming year. Please complete the survey as soon as possible.