Parents Give Input at Val Verde Unified

Parents and community members are taking education into their own hands. Moreno Valley's Val Verde Unified School District (VVUSD) is currently working with parents and other community members to develop the districts Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the state-required procedure for distribution of funds from Proposition 98 to public schools. Prop 98 funds state education programs including preschool, K-12 education and California Community Colleges (CCC), with $56.2 billion of the 2013-2014 California state budget provided for educational funding. According to a release issued by the school district, the formula is structured to do what the name implies: allow local influence and decision-making from parents and communities for their schools. The procedure to start this process, the release states, is developing the district's Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), to ensure funding is targeted at the needs of the Val Verde Unified students. In the first LCAP session held Jan. 22 at Val Verde High School, active participants have the opportunity to offer their perspective on the eight priorities established by the California Department of Education for the LCAP: student achievement, student engagement, school climate, parental involvement, basic services, implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS), course access and other student outcomes. Session participants also had the opportunity to provide suggestions and insight to assist the VVUSD in providing an optimum learning environment for its students. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Darrin Watters said, “These meetings provide a great opportunity for our parents and the community to work together to ensure the LCFF funds are directed to the areas that will most impact our students.” There are two additional input sessions still upcoming: Jan. 28 at the Rancho Verde High School Theater, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 30 at the Citrus Hill High School Theater, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Additional information about the meetings can be obtained by visiting the Val Verde Unified School District website at www.valverde.edu.