1. Ripon Unified School District State of the Schools Report 2011-12 Strategic Plan Board Adopted March 9, 2009 1

2. Our Vision The Ripon Unified School District is committed to offering the highest quality education in the San Joaquin Valley. We provide a safe, positive, and stimulating environment where students are our first priority. Our district has state-of-the-art facilities that exemplify pride of ownership. Technology is cutting edge and abundant in all areas of the curriculum. It is accessible to students and staff both at school and at home, keeping the district competitive. We recognize that mutually beneficial relationships are essential between the district and community. Our children enjoy coming to school 2

3. Our Mission The Ripon Unified School District is committed to working together with parents and the community to provide a high quality education. The district will create a safe learning environment characterized by trust and respect. We ensure that each student will be a contributing citizen in an ever changing diverse and global society. 3

4. Our Goals for Instruction By 2014, the Ripon Unified School District and all of its schools will have high academic achievement as measured by an Academic Performance Index at or above 900. The district, each school, and each subgroup will exceed the federal AYP standards. Each district school will achieve at the same high level. 4

5. Our Accomplishments Park View Elementary School was the first to meet and exceed the 900 API goal with a 912 in 2011 testing. The district grew 4 points with Park View leading the way at 33 points, Ripona with 20 points, and Ripon Elementary with 12 points. Other schools had some slight drops. All elementary schools in the district exceed the statewide goal of 800 API points. Our English Learners met their Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives. Ripon High School enrollment in AP and Honors classes has grown from 166 to 506 with the number of sections growing from 9 to 22. All students take the test and achieve at or near the national average. 5

6. Our Academic Performance Index School2010 Base2011 Base Statewide Rank Similar Schools Rank RUSD823827n/a Colony Oak87086987 Park View879912910 Ripon El80581767 Ripona81583677 Weston86485175 Ripon High78876652 6

7. Our Challenges Ripona and Ripon Elementary Schools are in Program Improvement under No Child Left Behind. California has submitted a request to the federal Department of Education to waive further sanctions to PI schools. Budget cuts imposed upon us from the State of California have resulted in increased class sizes, singleton classes, and loss of programs, teachers and staff. Common Core State Standards and Smarter Balanced Assessments are scheduled to come in 2014-15. We need to prepare for a new and different type of instruction and assessment. 7

8. Our Goals For Structure By 2014 our district will enjoy state of the art school facilities with cutting edge technology in every classroom, media center and office. By 2014, our school schedules and resources will include intervention times and strategies to prevent any student from falling behind his or her grade level peers. By 2014 our district will have secured the fiscal future of the district and assure that we have adequate human resources infrastructure to meet our goals. 8

9. Our Accomplishments We have increased our Bandwidth and have a wireless network in place at all sites. A new board policy allows sites to implement a BYOT (Bring your own technology) for student educational purposes with teacher permission. Elementary students have intervention services in their classroom through universal access and ELD time. One on one tutoring is available to all grade levels through Give Every Child a Chance 9

10. Our Challenges We have not recovered from past state budget cuts. The budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13 included mid-year trigger cuts of about $440 per student ($1.7 million for us) if the Governor’s tax proposal does not pass in the November election. State deferrals of our revenue in fiscal year 2011-12 amounted to over $4.6 million. Cash flow is a serious concern and we must keep cash on hand to cope with the deferrals and make payroll. 10

11. Our Goals for Culture The Ripon Unified School District will excel in each of the 4A’s – arts, activities, athletics, and academics. Our schools will be characterized by an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding based on the inherent value of every individual. There will be regular, on-going, two way communication between the district, its schools, its parents and the community to assure participation and a sense of belonging for all. 11

12. Our Accomplishments 2011-12 was a great year for athletics with league championships in cross country, wrestling, golf, and swimming. We have implemented new communications technology including Notify Me and a district wide telephone calling system. Suspensions and expulsions have declined. Ripon High graduates express thanks for excellent academic preparation for the colleges of their choice. Our teachers and all of our staff demonstrate a caring philosophy and love of children all day. Our children do enjoy coming to school! 12

13. Our Challenges We lose students for a variety of reasons to private schools, charter schools, and neighboring districts. We have needs for a continuation school. Our application was not funded so the project was put on hold. As are all schools we are concerned about bullying and particularly the effects of cyber bullying on our students. Budget cuts have resulted in singleton classes matriculating through all of our elementary schools. 13

14. Next Steps The Board passed a resolution on July 31, 2012 calling for an election for a general obligation bond to reconstruct Weston and Colony Oak as well as pay of the debt on the Clinton School Farm. Develop teacher leader teams to assist in refining our practice through Professional Learning Communities, Instructional Rounds and Preparation for Common Core. Begin preparation for the “Next Generation Assessment” scheduled for implementation in Testing 2015. 14

15. WELCOME BACK It’s going to be a great year! WE ARE! 15