2021-22 Audit Reports and Audit Findings

Audit Reports for the prior fiscal year, including corrective action plan(s) for each finding, are due to be filed with COE, the California Department of Education and the State Controller by December 15, 2022.

 

The district board will review the annual audit, any audit findings or recommendations and any corrective action plans at a public meeting by January 31, 2023. We will complete our review of audit findings and issue requests for any additional information required to resolve findings by March 15, 2023.

 

W-2 Distributions

The Marin County Office of Education processed and produced 5,219  W-2 forms for 2022 (compared to 4,870 for 2021 and 4,781 for 2020). Forms were available for Districts to pick up on January 20, 2023.

 

Marin County Office of Education Property Tax Estimates

The County of Marin has released the first run of 2022-23 Property Tax Estimates. This information has been shared with our District Business Officials and is summarized in this trend schedule showing the last five (5) years for all districts. Click here to view and/or download the Estimated Tax Growth Trend. 

 

Budget Work Sessions

We are continuing the budget workshops that have proven, especially during the pandemic, to be a valuable professional learning and network opportunity for business officials and their staff. The monthly workshops, which are in addition to the monthly DBO meeting, are focused on topics that follow the budget cycle and will continue to be held through the remainder of FY 2022-23.

 

New DBO Workgroup

MCOE is now providing additional support to new district business officials via monthly meetings and individual consultation sessions. We are dedicated to assisting districts with assuring new key business office staff have all the resources necessary to be successful.

UPK and P3

Marin Updates

• The Spring Early Learning Summit  takes place on Saturday, February 11th at MCOE. The summit will continue to explore different types of learning environments and curricula to support young children’s learning and development. The target audience is staff working with children birth to kindergarten. The summit features guests from Luna Dance, Gender Justice in Early Childhood, Reggio-inspired programs, bilingual programs, and Montessori programs.
• Early Learning TK Network  - TK Teachers and Instructional Assistants are invited to join the TK Network. The next meeting is scheduled for February 28, at 3:00pm. Topics of conversation include: Developmentally Appropriate/Best Practices and District Mandates…Do they have to be disparate? Participants are also asked to share a math activity their students love.
• Family engagement opportunities in English and Spanish for parents and caregivers of children birth to kindergarten. Please share with your school community.
• Top Tips for Supporting Children in Times of Uncertainty and Stress (English) (Spanish)
• Family Math - flyer coming soon!
• The Reimagining School Readiness - Anti-Bias Network Mini-Grant event was held on January 7, 2022, at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Everyone enjoyed hearing from Drew Sarratore, new Director of Playful Learning (former Principal from Paden Elementary School) and his education team. Participants in this event have been awarded a $3000 mini grant to purchase items to support playful learning in their early learning & elementary programs. 
• TK teachers and potential TK teachers are in the process of receiving Early Education Teacher Development (EETD) reimbursement for ECE or Credential course tuition and textbook costs from summer and fall coursework. 

 

State Updates

• Opportunity to earn ECE units through the California Preschool Instructional Network. Deadline to enroll is January 31. There are three courses that cover the California Core Curriculum and are designed for PreK and TK teachers. These courses are eligible for partial reimbursement through the EETD program. Contact ttaylor@marinschools.org for more information on reimbursement. 
• Joyful Literacy in the Early Grades webinar- February 8th from 10:00-11:00. What does culturally sustaining, rigorous, and joyful early literacy teaching and learning look like, particularly for young multilingual children, English learner students, and Students of Color? Join Dr. Sandra Leu Bonanno from WestEd. Register here.
• CDE School Fiscal Division Services held a webinar on 2022-2023 Form J-13A (Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Conditions on January 25, 2023. For more information, please refer to SFSD’s FAQ page. For questions, email attendanceaccounting@cde.ca.gov 
• Updated Universal PreKindergarten Communications Materials and slide deck at https://express.adobe.com/page/OZrg3IsP1GE8b/

 

Child Care Commission

• The Child Care Commission had a general meeting on January 17. During the meeting a new Commissioner was approved for the role of Community member on the Superintendent’s appointment side. We are excited to welcome Ginny Kuhel to the Commission!
• The UPK Mixed Delivery Planning Grant collaboration with the Marin Child Care Council will begin planning this spring. This grant will support the creation of a county-wide plan for a universal preschool mixed delivery system. The plan will be presented to the county Board of Education later this year. 
• The Child Care Commission has partnered with Marin Child Care Council to collect interview and survey data for early care and education programs in the county. This data will be shared and used to inform county and state plans. Data collection is ongoing.
• The Governor’s budget proposal included continued support for early care and education, including an 8.13% cost of living adjustment for state-funded programs.
• The application for a major construction and renovation grant was due on January 31. This grant will support childcare centers with expansion to serve more children.
• The next Child Care Commission general meeting is currently scheduled for March 7, 2023. Location and time are to be determined.

 

School Discipline Notices for Foster Youth (AB 1909 & AB 740)

Legislation requires district liaisons to notify the foster youth child’s attorney and child’s social worker at least 10 days prior to any pending disciplinary hearings involving the foster youth.  Additionally, the Ed Rights holder, the child’s attorney, and the county social worker shall have the same rights as a parent/guardian to receive disciplinary notices. 

For the contact information of the child’s attorney, the Education Rights Holder, and the county social worker, liaisons should check Foster Focus first.  If contacts are not found, send requests for contact information to Amy Carrera (acarrera@marinschools.org).  

School-of-Origin Transportation Plans Funding Opportunity

The 2022 Budget Act allows school-of-origin transportation funding as an eligible expenditure in school transportation plans.  School districts can get reimbursed up to 60% for eligible home-to-school transportation expenditures.  Plans must be developed in consultation with stakeholders.  For districts that want to receive this money, they must adopt plans by April 1, 2023 (updated annually) that describe the transportation services the district will provide.  A planning meeting will convene in the coming weeks.  Marin County Office of Education will support the planning and development of the school district transportation plan as well as provide a template so plans can be completed in a timely manner. For more information, see School Stability in LEA Transportation Budgets (December 2022).

Trauma Responsive and Resilience Building for K-12 Educators Online Modules 

Training provided by the Center for Optimal Brain Integration - Julie Kurtz

Audience: K-12 Educators and Administrators

Eleven self-paced, learning modules with downloadable materials including slides, activities, and related articles.

 Topics:

• An Overview of the Neurobiology of Trauma and the Science of Resilience

• Trauma Responsive and Resilience Building Strategies for Educators to Support Children

• Adult Self-Care and Self-Awareness to Prevent Burnout and Buffer Toxic Stress Part 1 & 2

• Nurturing and Responsive Relationships Part 1 &2

• Safe and Predictable Environments Part 1 &2

• Teaching Sensory and Emotional Literacy Part 1 &2

• Managing Big Emotions and Self-Regulation

• Looking at Trauma through the Lens of an Individual Child

Julie Kurtz is an author and national speaker, consulting and training on trauma and resilience. She promotes the concept of optimal brain integration to maximize human growth potential. Julie is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Optimal Brain Integration.

Modules Open: January 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023

Register here: https://trauma-responsive-and-resilience-building-online-modules.eventbrite.com 

One Continuing Education Unit (CEU)** from Dominican University is available upon completion of modules.

Link to Flyer here. 

Back by Popular Demand: Top TIPS for Supporting Children in Times of Uncertainty and Stress

Presented by: Julie Kurtz

Audience: Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers of school-aged youth

Julie Kurtz is an author and national speaker, consulting and training on trauma and resilience. She promotes the concept of optimal brain integration to maximize human growth potential. Julie is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Optimal Brain Integration®.

Learn concrete strategies to support young children when faced with BIG and SMALL life events such as the pandemic, returning from summer break, coming back to school from extended absences, divorce, loss, stressful or traumatic events (fires, COVID-19, tornadoes, flooding) or starting school for the first time. 

These virtual seminars are designed for parents, guardians, and caregivers of school-aged youth. Sessions include a 30 min Q&A. 

• Elementary School March 14, 2023, 6-7:30 PM

• Middle School & High School March 21, 2023, 6-7:30 PM

Register on Eventbrite:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/top-tips-for-supporting-children-in-times-of-uncertainty-and-stress-tickets-513225821247

Reading & Literacy 

Marin County Office of Education, in collaboration with districts, is planning a series to address reading and literacy skills. This will include a summer Institute, based upon the science of brain development and reading research, designed to provide educators with fundamental knowledge and skills needed for effective reading instruction. The training will support educators in identifying the essential evidence-based components and principles of structured literacy instruction. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and build strategies that support multisyllabic word reading and vocabulary development.  Details will be forthcoming.

LCAP Support

The LCAP Technical Trainings are held for technical components of LCAP completion.  There will be two Zoom sessions:

• Community Engagement - Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 9:00-10:00 am

• 2023 LCAP Updates - Monday, March 6, 2023, from 9:00-10:00 am

The LCAP Support Office Hours are personalized sessions to meet the unique needs of each district.  The sessions are designed to provide differentiated support for district teams.  Office hours are Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00 am.  

There will be five Zoom sessions:

• March 15, 2023

• March 22, 2023

• March 29, 2023

• April 26, 2023

• May 3, 2023

For more information, contact Laura Trahan ltrahan@marinschools.org or Beth Kradepohl bkradepohl@marinschools.org for zoom links to attend LCAP trainings or office hours. 

Changing Perspectives: Perceptions and Mindsets of Value of Inclusion – 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. February 8, 2023

Implementing Evidence Based Practices for Students with Autism: Task Analysis – 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. February 14, 2023