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Home :: Discover EGUSD :: Superintendent :: Superintendent's Message
California’s fiscal crisis and its potential affect on public education funding continue to loom large on all of our horizons. There is no doubt that our state leaders must find creative budget solutions so that as a state, we are investing in the future of our children.
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed solving the state’s $14 billion shortfall by cutting approximately 10 percent from all state budgets, including education. He has even suggested that the state suspend Proposition 98, a voter-approved measure that contributes to the funding of our schools.
With such a backdrop, it is important that we acknowledge the hard work, leadership and support that take place every day on behalf of our students. EGUSD teachers, administrators and staff continue to arrive to work each and every day ready to do their best to support teaching and learning in our 62 schools. They know that the quality that we have achieved here in Elk Grove Unified must continue.
Likewise, we should take a moment to reflect on the results of our efforts. For the past three years, Elk Grove Unified students’ results on the California Standardized Test demonstrate continuous growth for both English Language Arts and mathematics. We continue to score above state and county averages on the Academic Performance Index (API) demonstrating eight points of growth in 2007.
At the high school level, we have more and more students enrolling in advanced placement and honors classes. Ninety-five percent of the Class of 2007 passed the California High School Exit Exam. Our graduating seniors leave us prepared to be successful in college and in their careers.
We remain focused on closing the achievement gap. Last year, every single subgroup showed growth on the California Standardized Tests. In addition, our English language learners have continued to show progress on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT).
Teaching is our mission, and it is why we use the phrase “Excellence by Design” to illustrate the core of our daily work. The excellence of EGUSD is recognized locally and throughout California and the nation.
On April 9, 2008, we learned that three of our elementary schools, Edna Batey, Joseph Sims and Stone Lake, have been named 2008 California Distinguished Schools. These three schools join a long list of EGUSD schools to be honored with this award. One of 2007’s California Distinguished Schools, Cosumnes River Elementary went on to be named a National Blue Ribbon School.
Another school to be recognized early in 2008 was Irene B. West Elementary, which was named a Title I California Achievement School. It is the third contiguous year that Irene B. West has received this honor.
On April 18, Barbara Comstock Morse will receive the Creek Stewards Award from the Urban Creeks Council (UCC) Sacramento chapter. The Creek Stewards Award is presented annually to any school or youth group in the Sacramento area using creeks as a part of their curriculum. Calvine High School was the last Elk Grove Unified school to receive the award in 2006.
Both of the above-mentioned schools also have strong service learning programs. Elk Grove Unified’s service learning program received a California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award in 2007. The district’s service learning program combines community service work with core academic concepts.
At the beginning of 2008, Samuel Kennedy Elementary was named a “MESA School Program” by the Sacramento State/UC Davis MESA Center. This academic honor distinguishes local school sites as participants in the nationally recognized Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Program.
Valley High School is another school to receive recent recognitions. The Valley High School counseling team and counselor George Montgomery were recently named the group and individual recipients of the 34th Annual H.B. McDaniel Foundation awards. Valley High School was also recognized in December as a “Beating the Odds” School by the California Dropout Research Project. Based on API results and graduation rates, Valley was identified as one out of six schools in California that were “Beating the Odds.”
We have students who are continuing to showcase the district’s long legacy of athletic success. The most recent example includes the Sheldon High School varsity girls’ softball team, which has been ranked number one in the United States in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) High School Top 25 Poll. Mary Jo Truesdale, head coach for Sheldon High School’s softball team, was selected as a CIF San-Joaquin Model Coach for 2007-2008.
The district has earned a “Savings by Design” award for the last two years by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. This award was given to the district for its team-approach to building designs that result in exceptional energy efficiency.
These are just a few of the many awards our staff, students and schools have achieved. To view a list of recent district awards click here.
As the superintendent of Elk Grove Unified, I am grateful for everyone’s dedication and commitment to our students every single day. I thank our students, staff, family members and community for their contributions and their understanding that in good times and challenging times, our mission endures.
Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Superintendent's Archived
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Welcome to the newly
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PSAT For All
Safety is one of our top priorities
Winter Break Message
Achievement Gap
Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget
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