Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to the MDUSD Community on Jan. 9, 2025:

Dear Mt. Diablo Unified School District Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to keep you informed about an important process underway in our District: the collective bargaining negotiations between the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) and the Mt. Diablo Education Association (MDEA).

Collective bargaining is a collaborative process through which we negotiate the terms of employment contracts, including salaries, benefits, working conditions, and other topics that directly impact our educators and students. 

To keep our community informed, we have created a dedicated webpage on the MDUSD website “Human Resources / Labor Relations” tab where you can follow the progress of these negotiations. Click here:  Labor Relations. The page includes:

• Updates from bargaining sessions

• Contracts and proposals

• Important documents related to the process

We encourage you to visit this page regularly to stay updated on this important work. Negotiations are often complex and can take time, as both parties work together to reach agreements that balance the needs of our teachers, students, and District resources.

We understand that clear communication is vital during this process, and we are committed to keeping you updated every step of the way. Please visit our website regularly to stay informed and engaged.

Thank you for your support and engagement. We will continue to provide updates as the process progresses.

Thank you, 

Dr. Adam Clark

Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to the MDUSD community on Jan. 8, 2025:

Dear Students, Families, and Staff of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District,

I am writing to you today to reaffirm Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s unwavering commitment to equity in our schools, specifically within our athletic programs. As a School District, we must ensure that every student, regardless of gender, has access to the resources, facilities, and opportunities they need to succeed and thrive.

This letter comes in the wake of a settlement agreed upon between the District and a class of female students addressing disparities under Title IX at College Park High School. The findings that led to this agreement highlight unacceptable inequities that have persisted for far too long. On behalf of the District, I want to sincerely apologize for these failures and assure you that we are committed to rectifying them.

As part of this settlement and beyond the settlement, the District is committed to ensuring fairness and equity across all of our high school athletic programs. Accordingly, the District is and will be instituting the following:

1. Equal access to athletic facilities, equipment, and scheduling for boys’ and girls’ teams.

2. Renovations to ensure parity in locker rooms, fields, and training facilities at CPHS by 2027.

3. Annual surveys to identify and increase athletic participation based on student interest.

4. Ensuring prime game times and equitable publicity for all sports teams.

5. Centralized scheduling and monitoring by a Title IX Coordinator to uphold compliance.

6. A comprehensive policy to oversee booster clubs, ensuring funds are distributed equitably.

We are already taking proactive steps to implement these changes, including instituting consistent and equitable practices across all District schools. A Title IX Consultant will help guide our compliance efforts, and we are working closely with not only College Park but all of our high schools to begin improvements immediately. These actions are just the beginning of our work to address inequities and strengthen equity across all schools in our District.

Athletics should serve as a platform for empowerment and growth, and we are committed to promoting an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and able to reach their fullest potential.

We invite you to stay informed about our progress as we implement these reforms. Updates will be shared regularly on the District’s website. Together, we can ensure that all students in MDUSD have access to the opportunities they deserve.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to create a more equitable future for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Clark

Shore Acres Elementary Counselor (Consejera) Marcie Torres is excited to share that the school's 2nd Annual "Pozolada" held on Friday, Dec. 20th, was a huge success!

"This event started off as an idea last year, and now is an anticipated tradition organized by Shore Acres' Noon Supervisors, Estela Mojica and Lily Herenandez," Marcie said. It included a Pozole contest in which 13 families and staff members brought pots of pozole to share with the community that were rated by 20 judges.

Pozole is a traditional Mexican stew/soup made with meat and hominy that is typically eaten at celebrations and holidays, Marcie explained. "There are different variations of Pozoles such as Pozole Blanco (white), Verde (green), and Rojo (red), which can also be made with different meats."

People from different regions of Mexico make pozole differently, which gives each version unique flavors, along with special family touches "that can be passed down from generations," Marcie continued. "The overall favorite was a red pozole made by parent Maria Orozco, who was declared the 2024 Queen of Pozole." 

The event also included desserts, a Mexican Band playing music, and toys for every child that attended, Marcie said.

Lily shared that this event is special because the entire community came together to make it happen. This included teachers and staff donating toys for the children and setting up the event, parents helping with decorations and serving food, and Contra Costa Sheriffs also donating toys and bikes.

It's important to have these types of events, Lily added, "since we get to share our culture and traditions to celebrate and bring together our school and community."

At its Dec. 18, 2024 meeting, the MDUSD School Board elected Linda Mayo as President and Cherise Khaund as Vice President. The Board also welcomed newly elected Board Member Tom McDougall, who represents Area 5, along with Area 3 Trustee Keisha Nzewi, who ran for re-election unopposed in November. In addition, the Board appointed Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark as its Secretary.

McDougall and Nzewi took ceremonial Oaths of Office, since Dr. Clark had previously administered their official Oaths of Office on Friday, Dec. 13 to comply with legal requirements. Both were elected to four-year terms.

MDUSD's Governance Team includes (l-r) Board President Linda Mayo, Board Member Debra Mason, Board Member Tom McDougall, Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark (Board Secretary), Board Member Keisha Nzewi, Board Vice President Cherise Khaund, and Student Board Member Crystal Ochoa.  

This week's Friday Letter spotlights:

• 29 new school menu items coming in 2025,
• Board welcomes new trustee at reorganization meeting,
• Bridge Program hosts a pancake fundraiser and creates “Birthday” bags for a local crisis center,
• Odyssey of the Mind teams from Hidden Valley Elementary and other schools are preparing for upcoming competitions;
• Student art from Valle Verde and Walnut Acres displayed at a local shopping center as part of an “Art Walk” partnership;
• Students from Meadow Homes, El Monte, and Shore Acres elementary schools enjoyed a special viewing of A Christmas Carol at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek;
• Pleasant Hill Middle School hosted a Winter Sing-along concert and fundraiser;
• Valley View Middle School’s music department dazzled audiences with choir and instrumental performances;
• Sunrise Elementary celebrates student's success;
• Career Pathway students participate in Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Coffee Business Mixer,
• School and Staff Social Media Highlights;
• And more!

You read it here.

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

• Proposed 25-26 and 26-27 academic calendars to be considered by the Board,
• Ygnacio Valley HS Boys Basketball,
• Northgate HS Girls Basketball
• Mt. Diablo HS Girls Basketball and Senior Natalie Dance
• Northgate HS Girls Soccer and Freshman Makena Oberbruner
• Mt. Diablo Adult Education’s Lifelong Learning Art & Craft Sale and Open House,
• Sequoia Elementary’s successful math strategies,
• Highlands Elementary students hear presentation addressing racial slurs;
• Business Services employees recognized at regional meeting with “Magnificent 7” Award nominations,
• College & Career Advisors update;
• MDUSD hosts 3rd Annual Kwanzaa celebration;
• Crossroads HS students and their toddlers go on field trip to the Oakland Zoo;
• School and staff social media highlights,
• And more!

You can read it here.

Seniors at Northgate HS turned into senators on Dec. 4-5 as they participated in the school's annual Mock Congress that required them to write bills, then debate and vote on them. It is a "two-day capstone event that showcases the creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration of our senior class," said Principal Kelly Cooper. "This long-standing tradition is a highlight of our curriculum, offering students a hands-on experience in civic engagement and legislative processes."

Teacher Jon Burchett said he "inherited the program" when he came to the school 28 years ago. In the simulation, each student must author a bill and write a research paper explaining the background and context of their proposed law, and why it should be approved, he said. "Each bill is debated and voted on in committees, and the bills which pass are debated and voted on in our Senates. We follow adapted rules which are based on the rules of the U.S. Senate."

The school's roughly 380 seniors divided into four large groups that met in the Little Theater and other areas of the campus to hold Senate sessions. In the theater, student Sarah Zhao argued passionately in favor of her bill, which would require the Department of Defense to conduct an annual audit of its financial statements and operations to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Other senators made motions to amend the bill, or argued for or against the motions or the overall bill, before standing to vote in support or opposition. Those who were unsure voted "present." If the vote appeared close, Senate Pro-Tem Matty Biener asked the party leaders to count those standing before declaring that the motion or bill passed or failed. 

During the lunch break, Zhao said she appreciated the event because it opened her eyes to the way Congress works and helped her to apply what she is learning in her U.S. History class to the real world. Sophia Mac, who supported Zhao's bill, said students allowed each other time to speak and were respectful of each other's opinions in the "comfortable and safe space" facilitated by teachers. Ares Foster was proud to have been elected as the Democratic Party leader and said the role involved a lot of work talking to party members and telling them what they should do, but it was also very rewarding. Foster said it was important to research the issues and form opinions in order to vote one way or another on each bill. Ryan-Adele Heskett, who transferred to Northgate from another school, said the event was very rigorous and empowering. "People were writing bills about things I never knew existed," she said, adding that the it gave students a chance to educate themselves and each other about issues that were important to them.

Burchett said he and his colleagues are very proud of the Mock Congress, which has been prominently mentioned in every WASC accreditation report the school has received since he has been there. Teacher Meg Honey expressed her pride on Instagram, posting: "That’s a wrap on Mock Congress 2024! ❤️💛 I’m so proud of our Senior Senators, and I love working with this amazing team."

Northgate HS Social Studies teachers (l-r) Paula Dillon, Meg Honey, Christine Reimer, Jennifer Krnich, Jen Collier, Jon Burchett, Mitchell Woerner, and Brian Corbett (not pictured: James Rogers and Scott Harris) celebrate "a wrap" on another successful Mock Congress.