PRESS RELEASE: Community Connections From NUSD Supt. La Torre-Derby

Press release from the Novato Unified School District:

lbenjamin

April 18th, 2022

4.18.22 Community Connections from Supt. La Torre-Derby

Dear NUSD Community,

Spring events are upon us and your participation and support are appreciated.

Marin Community Services Celebrated 50 Years Serving the Novato Community

Cheryl Paddack and her team planned a wonderful celebration for 50 wonderful years serving Novato residents. Speakers included NMCS major donors Marin Community Foundation Rhea Suh, Berta Campos-Anicetti, Jared Huffman, Mary Jane Burke, and two darling student board members Alejandro Menacho Molina and Rosa Vasquez. The positive spirit in the room was electrifying. It was truly a celebration of community work that has made a difference in the lives of our Novato community members for the past 50 years. If you have an opportunity to share your well wishes, I know Cheryl Paddack, Executive Director, would be most grateful. cpaddack@northmarincs.org.

Parcel Tax Blue Ribbon Community

Our community, staff, and parents are coming together in 4 sessions to discuss education and funding in the Novato Unified School District. We have approximately 70 participants in the Blue Ribbon Committee and the teams are divided to maximize communication. The groups are: Technology, Library, Career Technical Education, Counseling, Visual and Performing Arts, Reading and Writing, Math and Science, and Athletics.

The conversations are rich and varied as we have 50% community and 50% staff/parents. Hearing all views will help us understand what our community and staff would like to see us focus on as we plan programming for the future. It is wonderful to greet old friends and meet new ones who care deeply about our schools and the future of public education.

We heard a very well-presented overview of NUSD budget from our Assistant Superintendent for Business, Lois Standring. The participants were appreciative of the clarity and guidelines that govern budget education budgets. Special thanks to Cath Nam, Principal at Rancho, and Tony Quan, Principal at Pleasant Valley ,for being great MCs for the evening. The process and input are greatly appreciated.

Anthony Muhammad Presents Equity Audit Overview at NHS/Center for the Arts April 27 3:30-4:40pm

Dr. Muhammad is continuing his work at each of our schools this week working with site teams on reviewing the Equity Audits. Additionally, he’s meeting with North Marin Council PTA, and is planning a Board Workshop on April 26. A community event is planned for April 27 from 3:30-4:30 pm at the Center for the Arts at Novato High School. The community is welcome to attend. I hope to see you there.

Spring Events

Several events have already begun to fill our calendars, youth sports, performing arts, special events and open house to name a few! There are a few events that I would like to highlight

April 20 @3 pm, April 21 @6 pm, April 22 @6 pm, April 22 @11 am

Lion King, San Jose Middle School Drama Students, Novato High School Center for the Arts

April 23, 11 am-2 pm

School Fuel Tour of Novato – Marin MOCA located in Hamilton

April 23, 5:30 pm

MSA Showcase 2022 – Osher Marin JCC – San Rafael

April 22-24 and April 29 and 30, 7:30 pm, April 24 and May 1, 2 pm

Guys and Dolls – San Marin High School Emily Gates Performing Arts Center

April 27, 3:30pm

Dr. Anthony Muhammad presents an NUSD Equity Audit Overview for the community and staff. This will be held at the Novato High School Center for the Arts

May 13-15, 7 pm

Clue – San Marin High School Drama Students

Jan La Torre-Derby, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Novato Unified School District
1015 7th Street
Novato, CA 94945

415.897.4201

info@nusd.org

Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

This press release was produced by the Novato Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.