WSINSIDE YOUR SCHOOLSLETTER                    October 2011

 Visit us online at...www.srvusd.net

Important Dates:
10/4- Board of Education Mtng. 7PM
10/8 - CarboLoad Pasta Feed, 5-9PM
10/9 - Primo's Run for Education
10/10-14 - School Conferences (gr.1-8)
10/18 - Board of Education Mtng7PM
10/31 - Staff Development Day (no school)

Inside this issue:

Message from the superintendent   
FAQs regarding District's Solar Project 
Board appoints new principal for Walt Disney Elementary School 
38 SRVUSD students named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists
District's Teacher of the Year in top 3 of County competition
Primo's Run/CarboLoad are almost here!
Tassajara Hills wins special PTA award
San Ramon Chamber seeks Community Awards nominations
Two upcoming "Cyber Saftey" events
October is Creek and Channel Safety Awareness Month

From the Superintendent

Dear Parents and Community Members,

As we enter into the month of October, we can look back and feel good about the start of this school year. On August 24th nearly 30,000 students eagerly filled the classes of our 35 schools. They were met by a caring, professional staff, who are committed to the academic success of all students, including 125 newly hired teachers. This hiring was primarily to meet the needs of an additional 800+ new students, but also because the Board of Education decided not to raise class sizes and actually lowered them slightly for 9th grade math and English.  Shortly after the first day, the state made public the test results from last year that showed our district continuing to excel as the highest performing large school district in the state of California. In addition, this year the district started a new transitional program for our youngest kindergarten students, as well as a new dual English-Mandarin kindergarten class. Both programs were immediately filled to capacity.

We also started the school year with solar shade structures in place over the parking lots of five of our schools. Starting October 1 they will officially be generating electricity that will supply more than 60% of the power needed by these schools. Please take a few moments to read the solar "Frequently Asked Questions" which is included in this newsletter as there seems to be some misunderstandings that I believe are clarified by the facts presented in the document.  The reality is that the process utilized for decision making by the Board of Education, the projected electricity generation rates, and the funding structure for the solar projects are the envy of school districts around the state and beyond.

While all of this information is interesting and valuable, what matters most to me is what I am seeing as I visit classes every week. In each visit I find wonderful teachers, thoughtful leaders, and absolutely delightful students. Because I have done this work for quite a few years I have a broad perspective and I can assure you that our students are very lucky to be in our schools and parents can feel confident about the education their children are receiving.

The list of attributes would not be complete, however, if I did not mention the deep support we receive from parents, community members and civic leaders as well as the PTA and the Education Foundation. If it were not for this support, we would not be the district we are today, plain and simple! This support is always appreciated and never taken for granted.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for your support of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.  Have a great month of October.

Steven Enoch

Superintendent of Schools

Ps- I hope to see you at the Primo’s Run For Education on Sunday, October 9th.

FAQs regarding new SRVUSD Solar Project   

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District's new Solar Project is now operational and, as of October 1st, converting solar energy to electricity. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding the project:

Q: What is the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s current Solar Project?
A: SRVUSD is in the final stages of constructing solar arrays in the parking lots of five schools in the District: California High School, Dougherty Valley High School, Monte Vista High School, San Ramon Valley High School and Diablo Vista Middle School. These five systems are comprised of more than 10,000 panels. The systems, by contract, begin converting solar energy to electricity at these schools starting October 1, 2011.

Q: How is the project being funded?
A: The Federal government, as part of its most recent stimulus program established the “Qualified School Construction Bond Program.” SRVUSD applied for and was approved to receive $25 million in QSCBs through this program. Essentially this is a near 0% interest loan to the District that is paid off through the energy savings realized by the systems.

Q: What is the cost to the school district?
A: There is no net cost to the district because the monthly energy savings are being applied to the debt service. In approximately 16 years the bonds will be paid off and the District will begin realizing an estimated $3-5 million per year in energy savings to the District’s General Fund Budget.

Q: Why would the SRVUSD consider incurring so much debt with the budget problems we are facing?
A: Financial consultants have analyzed the solar project and determined that it will provide significant cost savings, actually freeing up significant funds for direct support of students and schools.  After 25 years, the cumulative savings (after the debt is paid) is expected to exceed $23 million. The District will be paying for the solar panels with rebates and savings on electricity.

Q: How were these Qualified Construction Bonds to be used? 
A: They were intended to create jobs through approved construction projects. The Board of Education decided that the money should be used for solar as it would generate savings to pay back the loan and create on-going savings to the district. The Board and staff also believed it was important for the school district to model environmental stewardship and energy conservation for students and the community.

Q: How long has the District been involved in this process?
A: The Board of Education approved the project in May, 2010 following several months of study and numerous public meetings, which included a report and recommendation from an independent community-based committee.

Q: Why were these five schools chosen as Solar Schools?
A: Independent consultants concluded that the selected sites would generate the greatest return on the investment. Having large, open parking lots was the most significant factor for determining where to install the solar shade structures.

Q: How much energy are these systems projected to produce?
A: Combined, the systems incorporate more than 10,000 solar panels. The systems will generate more than 60% of the electricity needed for the schools, with an expected first-year output of more than six million kilowatt hours (kWh).

Q: What solar company did the district choose to install the systems and why?
A:  After many proposals and a lengthy interview process, SunPower was selected based on their reputation, pricing, as well as the 95% performance guarantee they provided and their compliance with the “Made in America” regulations. SunPower panels are regarded as the most efficient in the world at converting solar energy to electricity.

Q: Why doesn't the District use the $25 million on other things like improving facilities, or hiring more teachers?
A: The $25 million in Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCBs) has to be repaid, so it must be spent on a revenue generating project. The funds cannot be used to hire teachers or expand programs; they are intended to help stimulate the economy through job creation within the construction industry.

Q: Why didn’t the District wait a few years to see if solar gets less expensive and/or more efficient?
A: This bond was only available for a limited time, and it was doubtful that similar bonds or stimulus funds would be available in the future. Also, currently the PG&E rebates for solar energy are generous and the price of solar panels is relatively low because of the economy. Installation costs have also been falling due to the economic downturn. The district felt this was the opportune time to take advantage of the program as there are no guarantees that this favorable combination will last.

Q: Are there other school districts going solar?
A: Many districts in California are turning to solar energy, including Milpitas, San Jose, San Mateo, San Diego, Los Angeles, Oxnard and Mt. Diablo school districts.

Q: Why did the District choose to place the panels on parking arrays rather than rooftops?
A: A number of the schools' roofs are not oriented well for solar panels. There are also issues about the ages of the roofs and concerns about penetrating the roofs to anchor the solar panels. Parking lot structures have the added benefit of using automated panels that rotate with the sun to maximize exposure, as well as shaded parking and better lighting at night.

Q: How are the systems being maintained, repaired and cleaned?
A: The cost of maintenance and repair, including cleaning, is included in the cost of the contract for seventeen years.  In addition to this, SunPower has a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty on the panels and a 20-year warranty on inverters.

Q: What if the panels don't generate as much energy as projected? Are there performance guarantees or warranties?
A: SunPower has a performance guarantee in place. If the output of the panels falls below 95% of projected output, SunPower will compensate the District accordingly. SunPower designed systems have typically been averaging 100-105% of design capacity. 

Q: Other than saving the District money, what are the benefits related to solar energy?
A: The panels provide important environmental benefits like reduction in carbon, sulfur and nitrogen emissions from fossil fuel combustion, and economic benefits by creating jobs that benefit California as well as the local economy.

Q: How confident is the District with the financial projections related to the solar project? 
A: The District used very conservative projections, and believes there is an excellent chance that we will exceed the savings projected. We also believe the contract the district entered into will be considered a model for other school districts, and has already been given significant positive attention throughout the state and beyond.

Q: Is the District also looking into other energy conservation strategies?
A: Yes. The District currently budgets  $3.3 million annually for electricity. The District is exploring additional strategies including retrofitting with low energy-use bulbs and equipment, implementing centralized set points for heating and cooling, and remote monitoring and control systems.  The district is also promoting “conservation as human behavior” as the most significant factor in energy conservation and energy savings. 

Q: Is the district looking to expand the project?
A: The district is looking into the possibility of combining the remaining unused QSCB funds (@ $700,000) with the anticipated first-year savings associated with the five operational systems to provide solar at one additional school. Gale Ranch Middle School was originally considered as part of a six-school solar project, and has both the space and sun exposure capacity. The district is exploring this option, but no decision has been made.

Board appoints new principal for Walt Disney School

 The San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education approved the selection of Curtis Haar as the new principal at Walt Disney Elementary School in San Ramon. Haar will begin his new assignment on October 17th, replacing Joe Nguyen who was appointed as principal of Iron Horse Middle School in August.

“I am confident that Curtis is a great match for the Walt Disney school community, and that the school will continue its success under his leadership,” said Superintendent Steven Enoch.

Haar comes to Walt Disney from the Dublin Unified School District where he has worked as a teacher in grades 1-5. During the last three years he has been a Teacher on Special Assignment, which in Dublin includes vice principal and other administrative duties. Haar also coaches youth sports including one year as Assistant Junior Varsity Baseball Coach at California High School in San Ramon.

38 SRVUSD students named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

Thirty-eight students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District were honored with the National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist distinction.  We are proud to acknowledge the following students:

 CALIFORNIA High School 

• Baid, Gunjan
• Camenzind, Thomas W.
• Chen, Burt J.
• Cox, Brian
• Halarnkar, Natasha G.
• Jeong, Soomin
• Ko, Tiffany
• Luo, Ross S.
• Oberhauser-Lim, Natalie A.
• Saiki, Robyn M.
• Trivedi, Mehul D.
• Tsai, Erica Y.

DOUGHERTY VALLEY High School 

• Han, Jaeyoon
• Ho, Frederick W.
• Ho, Hugo
• Kumar, Meera M.
• Li, Anna
• Lin, Gilbert P.
• Lu, David Q.
• Pandey, Ainesh
• Sheth, Richa P.
• Wang, Eric S.
• Zeng, Connie X.
• Zhu, Henian

MONTE VISTA High School

• Adam, Karna
• Bahk, Jessica
• Chiang, Michael J.
• Hui, Sandra C.
• Li, Andrew Y.
• Oh, Jeong Min
• Williams, Joshua

SAN RAMON VALLEY High School

• Hasani, Raveesh R.
• Hennessy, Shannon R.
• Johnson, Cooper
• Rogers, Dylan M.
• Wang, Ethan
• Wolfe, John D.
• Wolfert, Katherine E.

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. 

Congratulations Donna Kenyon!

Donna Kenyon, pictured here with her former student, Kelly Condon, was recently recognized as one of three finalists for the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year. Kenyon, a fifth grade teacher at John Baldwin Elementary School, was this year's SRVUSD Teacher of the Year.

Primo's Run/CarboLoad are almost here!

Online Auction Now Open!
 

With the Primo's Run fast approaching — October 9th — we wanted to let you know that the run is not all that we're excited about right now. The always popular 11th Annual Primo's Auction just opened and will remain open until October 8 at 9 p.m.!

The auction currently contains over TWO-HUNDRED ITEMS! There are great items including kid’s activities, lunches with principals, yoga, restaurant deals and more! Don't delay… check it out today! Remember, proceeds go to benefit our schools and our kids. To start bidding, visit:

http://www.bidlizard.com/auction/default.aspx?aid=2acfc3d5-ad52-438d-98dd-bc984675864e

Register TODAY for The 28th Annual Primo's Run for Education!

Get ready to run! Online registration is open for the 2011 Primo's Run for Education. This year's event is Sunday, October 9, 2011! The event is the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation's largest fundraiser and a wonderful opportunity to support education in our community by running or walking a 5K or 1/2 marathon course. It's an amazing community event and your school earns money based on your participation. Register at : www.primosrun.com

 Are you a hungry runner? Pre-order your post-race breakfast! Simple Elegance Catering, a division of Ruggies, Inc. will be on site at the finish line to serve a freshly prepared breakfast to all of you
hungry runners after the race. Purchase your breakfast ticket here and support your local schools. Breakfast tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available for purchase on Race Day.
Two breakfast choices served with fresh coffee or orange juice, for just $6.50.

To order your breakfast, visit www.primosrun.com/register


Volunteer for Primo's Run

Aren't able to run? You'd be a great volunteer!!! It's the support of our community that makes this run so successful. It takes 600 volunteers to ensure a safe and fun event for everyone. Your school gets money for your participation. Visit our volunteer section on our website and select the job that works for you. There are opportunities pre and post-race as well. www.primosrun.com/volunteer.

CarboLoad Pasta Feed October 8^th!

The Rotary Club of San Ramon's 27th Annual CarboLoad takes place the evening before the Primo's Run, Saturday, October 8, 5-10PM at the Toyota Warehouse in San Ramon. Join us this year for the biggest and most exciting CarboLoad party ever! Entertainment includes musical performances by district students, expanded kids play area, live and silent auctions, raffle prizes and of course all-you-can-eat pasta and desserts! Once again, all the proceeds from the CarboLoad event will be donated directly to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. Select your school when registering and send $5 from each of your CarboLoad tickets purchased directly to your school!

To purchase tickets and register for the run, go to: www.primosrun.com

Tassajara Hills wins special PTA award

Congratulations to the Tasajara Hills Elementary School PTA, recently named a Silver Medalist in the Spotlight Awards of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (Parent Association of the Year category).  A full listing of all medalists and more information can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org/Spotlight

Greenbrook Elementary pays tribute to community heroes

Students and staff from Greenbrook Elementary School saluted community heroes during a special flag salute on the anniversary of the 911 attacks. Representatives from the Danville Police Department, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District as well several local Vietnam War Veterans were in attendance.

San Ramon Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations for Community Awards

The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2011 Night of the Stars Community Awards.  Chamber members and community members are encouraged to nominate deserving people for five awards:

• Citizen of the Year
• Business Person of the Year
• Educator of the Year
• Employee of the Year
• "Green" Company/Individual of the Year

The Community Awards recognize the achievement and dedication of chamber members and local citizens who strive to make a difference in the San Ramon community.  There is no limit on how many nominations an individual can submit.

Nominations are due Oct. 3. Click HERE for Nomination forms and Award Descriptions.

HERO award nominations open to high school seniors!

Seniors … the 2^nd Annual HERO (Here Everyone Reaches Out) Essay Scholarship Competition is ready to receive your essay telling us about the HERO in your life – a teacher, mentor, coach, parent, family friend, neighbor, spiritual leader, or any adult that has made a difference in your life! Tell us what this HERO has done to guide you, lead you, teach you, and enrich your life.

Entrants must be a high school senior in the San Ramon Valley community. Send in your essay of any length by November 23^rd by email – award@SRVHero.com– or fax – 925-407-9455. Please include the following information on a cover sheet with your entry: Your name, school, & contact information – email & mobile, and your parents’ names, address, & contact information. Three essays will be selected for the finals with the awards to be presented at the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner held on Thursday, December 8 at the San Ramon Community Center. The three Student finalists & their HEROs will be invited to attend the Dinner to receive their awards for continuing education.

Questions – email to”info@SRVHero.com“or call 415 860 3609. The HERO Essay competition is sponsored by the 2009 Class of Leadership San Ramon Valley and supported by the San Ramon Unified School District and the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Take the time to realize that we all need a HERO in our lives… and you will only learn how to be a HERO yourself by recognizing those in your life.

Common Sense Media presents two "Cyber Safety" events

Family Dinner and Forum - November 2

"Positive Parenting and Communicating in our Cyber-Society" -  Today’s interactive, mobile, always-on (24/7) media world is profoundly changing the nature of childhood—and the nature of education.  This presentation will explore how media and technology impact the way youth play, learn, and develop, and how this affects their school community.  Parents will first learn about the current landscape of media and technology before looking specifically at the function of media in the lives of their children and their ethical responsibilities during media interaction.  The presentation closes with tips for parents on how to ensure their children are using digital media responsibly – and how to avoid its potential pitfalls as well as benefit from its many opportunities. The evening will provide breakout sessions for adults (parents/guardians) AND youth, with sessions for upper elementary (grades 4-5), middle school, and high school youth…lead by youth who are trained by Common Sense Media.  Childcare will be provided for youth in 3^rd grade or below.  Dinner is being provided by the Community Resource Network and EPIC, so please RSVP and bring your whole family.

Community and Educator Breakfast – November 3

This presentation will explore how media and technology impact the way youth play, learn, and develop, but will focus more on solutions/tools that educators and community partners can access to build more positive school communities.   Attendees will learn about practical (and free!) programs, including classroom curriculum from Common Sense Media created specifically for each major grade band (Elementary, Middle, High School).   This presentation will wrap up by sharing tips for educators and other stakeholders around building more positive school communities both online and offline. 

October is Creek and Channel Safety Awareness Month

The flood control channels are designed to drain stormwater from our communities and take it swiftly “out to sea”, preventing flooding. Water from the surrounding watershed area first gathers in small streams and creeks and then flows into the large channels for a swift trip to the Delta, Carquinez Strait and San Pablo Bay. This stormwater can pass from small open creeks to large underground tunnels; from narrow rocky stream beds to wide concrete channels; all the while gathering debris, speed, volume and power.

Please talk to your children and friends about the flood control channels. Appreciate the great job they do for our community, but leave the channels to stormwater and Stay Out, Stay Alive!

For more information please visit: www.cccounty.us/creekandchannelsafety

San Ramon Valley Unified School District / 699 Old Orchard Drive / Danville, CA 94526 / 925-552-5500 www.srvusd.net