We recently reported on the consolidation of students from Marin City to the Sausalito school campus in order to pool resources and maintain more efficient operations. As the Marin IJ has reported: “The issue was controversial because of the transfer of middle school students out of Marin City, leaving its school building there mostly vacant except for the district office and a preschool.”
Lauren Walters, a board member of the Sausalito-Marin City School District (SMCSD) and resident of Main Dock, sends along this update:
The SMCSD accomplished a consolidation of a fragmented district into a TK-8 single campus school. Early reports from teachers, parents and students are extremely positive. The consolidation has improved school culture, especially for middle school students. There is an active parents’ advocacy group. New buildings for the TK-8 school are being built, scheduled for occupancy in 2025. Art and music have been reestablished in the school district.
Significant challenges exist, however, requiring educational expertise from the board and staff.
Literacy outcomes, while improving, still trail from where they should be. Doing dyslexia screening of all students as early as possible is important to implement as a tool which can improve academic outcomes.
Maintaining current small class sizes is a key to improving the odds for kids. Making appropriate use of AI to create 1:1 tutors for every student will help them develop critical thinking skills.
Having strong special education and mental health services are essential educational components and can be improved. Lowering absentee and suspensions will build a stronger school community. Ensuring that students whose primary language is not English get necessary supplemental help is key. And giving all students access to learning a foreign language at an early stage will enable kids to be more competitive.
The Board will consider who should best provide administrative services such as HR or finance in the small district. It is worth outsourcing or combining with other districts in order to be efficient in the use of limited resources.
Finally, we should be creative in the use of under-utilized district assets such as the former Middle School and closed fields in Marin City by engaging with non-profit partners to create offerings for local kids.
Opportunities exist for floating home residents to contribute to improving outcomes by supporting students as tutors.
Four people are running for two open seats on the council in November. They are Sarah Canson, a Marin Housing Authority commissioner; Danielle Diego, an elementary school teacher; Rebecca Lytle, a retired educator; and Lester Parham, a nonprofit program coordinator.
Opportunities exist for floating home residents to contribute to improving outcomes by supporting students as tutors. If interested, you can volunteer online or by contacting Debra Fletcher.