GALT, CA (MPG) - The school board meeting the night of June 18 was a special occasion for a few longtime leaders in the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District. The meeting marked the end of an era after decades of dedication to public education, closing a chapter on careers defined by service and leadership.

Three retiring district administrators were recognized for their commitment to the district and their lasting impact on the community. Superintendent Lois Yount said that their combined service totals more than 70 years with Galt Joint Union Elementary School District.

The honorees included Claudia Del Toro-Anguiano, director of curriculum and human resources; Jennifer Porter, principal of Marengo Ranch Elementary School; and Laura Papineau, an assistant principal with the district.

“It’s 77 years of district service for these three amazing leaders, and we want to thank them very much for their work and dedication. Everything they’ve done, the impacts on many students, staff, parents and the Galt community,” Yount said.

“We’re very fortunate that their career paths led them to Galt and that they’ve stayed for so many years serving our community. We’re definitely going to miss their experience and leadership but we’re excited for them as they move into the next phase of their lives.”

Yount also introduced administrators stepping into new roles. Greer Elementary Principal Stephanie Simonich will become the new director of curriculum and human resources, and River Oaks Elementary Principal Tina Homdus will transition to a principal and special assignment role.

Adam McLearan then addressed the board as the new principal of Greer Elementary. McLearan shared his 22-year background in education and emphasized his commitment to providing access to high-quality education for all students, regardless of background.

“When looking for new career opportunities, I searched for schools and districts that have these qualities: a strong emphasis on teaching, learning and assessment,” said McLearan. “A deep respect for educators and the work that they do, and an unshakable belief in students. I believe I have found those qualities here in Galt.”

During public comments, parents Carrie and Alex Bob raised concerns about enrollment issues. They told the board their daughter had been reassigned to a different school, despite living close to River Oaks Elementary.

“We were really looking forward to River Oaks, especially because of our proximity to the school,” said Alex Bob. “That’s what we’re here to talk about or to bring to your guys’ attention and hopefully, we can find a solution.”

The board thanked the parents for sharing their concern and continued with the agenda.

Next, spring semester data was presented from each of the district’s six schools as part of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Goal No. 1, which focuses on “engaging all learners with a focus on academic rigor using inclusive practices in a variety of learning environments.”

Although some schools saw growth in District Reading Assessment (DRA) scores, Del Toro-Anguiano said, the district did not meet the 10%-increase target.

Principals reviewed their school data and outlined strategies for improvement. Simonich said Greer’s first-grade teachers will be better prepared next year, as this year’s fluency expectations were higher than in the past. Lake Canyon Elementary Principal Judi Hayes agreed and said the change hit her school “a little harder” than expected, but teachers will analyze the results and develop support plans.

Overall, administrators highlighted pride in their students’ efforts and provided strategies for improvement to reach future benchmarks. The board recognized that the numbers might not fully reflect the scope of the success had in individual classrooms, emphasizing that there is “stories behind the numbers.”

For data points regarding Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), targets were primarily met throughout the district, which met the goal of a 5% increase for Measures of Academic Progress results. Del Toro-Anguiano acknowledged that significant developments made with students in general, even when not meeting that 5% increase in certain cases.

For Measures of Academic Progress, the district met its goal of a 5% increase in most areas. Del Toro-Anguiano acknowledged strong student progress overall, even in areas where the 5% target wasn’t fully met.

Del Toro-Anguiano also highlighted Lake Canyon Elementary, which posted the highest Measures of Academic Progress results. One combination class stood out, with all 24 students meeting their growth targets, and nearly all reaching the 99th percentile in both reading and math.

“This is the first time that I personally see an entire group of children grow as much as they did as measured by MAP,” Del Toro-Anguiano said.

Hayes credited the results to “rich opportunities for engagement and acceleration,” along with skilled educators, supplemental resources and strong community partnerships.

Following this, self-evaluation reports were presented. Local indicator standards were met at the state level. Fairsite Learning Center Principal Laura Marquez reported continuous improvement in the preschool program, including direct assessments, development profiles and parent satisfaction.

The board then reviewed Local Control and Accountability Plan Goal No. 2, which focuses on promoting learner development by providing safe and supportive learning environments.

A report on Measure H followed, detailing bond financing for school repairs. Lori Raineri of Government Financial Services explained how the district secured strong bids from across the state and locked in a fixed interest rate of 4.81%. Funds were received May 7 and are now available for Measure H facilities projects. The next bond sale is planned for 2027.

Board member Anette Kunze shared her experience at the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Delegate Assembly on May 17. She summarized workshops on conflict resolution, mobile device policies and funding impacts. 

She also highlighted a report from the AI Task Force on scenarios involving artificial intelligence and plagiarism, which she suggested being discussed further with the board in the future.

The two-day conference is held twice a year, with the next session scheduled for December.

The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District holds its meetings at 7 p.m., usually the third Wednesday of each month at Galt City Hall, 380 Civic Drive.

There will be no meeting in July, as it is the only month that the district does not hold one per its regular schedule. The next scheduled meeting is Aug. 20.