The turnout was great for Pink Friday.  Many teachers, staff, students, and parents wore pink to protest the thousands of pink slips issued to California educators in March (about 21 teachers in our district).  Thanks to everyone who helped–everything from sign holding to honking in support.  Rivergold teachers, staff, parents and students rock!

There is still more we can do…

EMAIL AND CALL:  Continue to email and call our representatives.  If you have not done so, their emails are in previous posts.  Your voice matters!

ATTEND MEETINGS:  There is a Budget Advisory Committee Meeting on March 24th at 6:30 pm at the high school.  This committee will make recommendations to the School Board.  It is made up of about 20 people across the district–the public is invited to attend.

Wear PINK on Friday, March 13^th to protest pink slips issued by YUSD.  Seven teachers between Rivergold and Coarsegold were pink slipped this past Wednesday.  About twenty-one educators in all received pink slips in our district.  Teachers will be passing out informational flyers before school on Friday, 13th.  Parents are welcome to help with this.  

EVERYONE  IS ASKED TO ATTEND A RALLY ON FRIDAY, 13TH AT 3:45 PM ON THE CORNER OF HWY 41 AND 49 IN OAKHURST.

Remember, continue to email the board to remind them that the purpose of our district is to educate children.  Impacting the classroom is the last option.  We have a commitment to the kids to look at other alternatives. 

Here are the names and emails of the board…

Monika Moulin—Board President pr1@sti.net

John Reynolds—Board Clerk reynolds@sierratel.com

Tammy Loveland—Trustee loveland@sti.net

Gregory Schoonard—Trustee schoonard@sti.net

Christine Wilder—Trustee wilder@sti.net

A reminder about the Box Tops website. Rivergold supporters can shop on the “Marketplace” page of the Box Tops website and the money will go to the Rivergold PTA. For instance, Dell will give 2% of a purchase to the PTA. There are many stores on the site. It could be extra money for teachers for supplies, etc.  Also, keep clipping those box tops and turn them in. Any questions? Please email Jodie at jjbb@sti.net.

http://www.boxtops4education.com/

There was not much good news at the YUSD board meeting on Monday, Feb. 9. Steve Raupp, acting superintendent/YHS principal and Srini Vasan, chief business officer of YUSD, laid out the dire financial situation that our school district is in due to the State budget crisis. They projected a $2.4 million shortfall for next year’s district budget. Anticipating such a shortfall the board voted for the intention to layoff 7 elementary school teachers between Rivergold and Coarsegold. Also, all 3 vice-principals would be pink slipped. Other staff layoffs were voted for as well. According to Mr. Raupp, 7 teacher layoffs is the worst case scenario–the “target” is 5 teacher layoffs between the two elementary schools. Regardless, there could be teachers losing their jobs and larger class sizes at Rivergold.

Though there are many other factors that have to be played out between now and next year,  layoffs will be issued on March 15th. The vote for these layoffs will be at the next regular board meeting on Monday, March 2nd.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

EMAIL THE YUSD BOARD. They are open to ideas and input. Let them know about the invaluable work of our teachers and staff. Encourage them to visit our school and see firsthand the impact of our staff. Let them know that you will be at the next board meeting.

Here are their names and emails…

Monika Moulin—Board President pr1@sti.net

John Reynolds—Board Clerk reynolds@sierratel.com

Tammy Loveland—Trustee loveland@sti.net

Gregory Schoonard—Trustee schoonard@sti.net

Christine Wilder—Trustee wilder@sti.net

BE AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING–MONDAY, MARCH 2 AT 6:30 PM AT RIVERGOLD. It is the first YUSD board meeting at our school. Rivergold parents need to show up in force and support our teachers and staff. It will go late, so arrange for child care.  Hope to see you then.

On Monday, February 9^th at 6:30 p.m. in the Coarsegold School Multipurpose Room the School Board will meet.  All parents and teachers are encouraged to attend.  As you know the state budget is a mess.  The board is considering the impact of the budget and its affect on our school and staff.  Staffing and program cuts are a strong possibility.    

What can we do? 

ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING–be informed on how the state budget is affecting Rivergold.  Think about ideas you may have about program modifications or reductions.  Express your ideas (there is a time for public comments).

BE FAMILIAR WITH THE AGENDA–You can find a copy of it at the Yosemite Unified School District website here…

http://www.yosemiteusd.com/board/2009/agendas09/february9_2009.pdf

CONTACT OUR STATE LEADERS–let them know that education and class reduction are priorities.  You can contact them through their websites listed below (look for “Contact Me/Us” or “Email the Governor”).

DAVE COGDILL

State Senator 14^th District

http://cssrc.us/web/14/

TOM BERRYHILL

Assemblyman 25^th District

http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/25/

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California

http://gov.ca.gov/

GET INVOLVED—there may be big changes coming to Rivergold and the District.  We all need to be informed and involved in this process.

Thanks–John Sloas, PTA Board Member

We will receive in the next 2 weeks a check from Box Tops for $570.80. The next deadline is Feb.27th to get a check this year in April. We are only about half way to our goal. Last year we got more than $1000.00.We need to rummage up as many box tops as we can. It is free money. If anyone would like to help me that would be great. The biggest help is too send in box tops neatly cut and to not be expired or have the date cut off. Thanks for your help.

Thanks for your help–Jodie

 jjbb@sti.net

A big THANK YOU to the nurses who volunteered their time at the PTA sponsored flu clinic in November. They were Heather Waterman-Obernolte, Carole Yandell, and Debbie Martin. Thank you for helping to keep Rivergold healthy and well.

Hello All;

     This Saturday, October 4th we will be conducting a fundraiser with

Jamba Juice in Oakhurst.  It’s pretty easy, and works like

this…..for every person/family that visits Jamba Juice on Saturday

with a copy of the above flyer (or even just mentions the

fundraiser if you forgot the flyer), 20% of the total sale will be

donated to the PTA.

     Since many of us are up in Oakhurst on Saturday for soccer anyway,

this could be an easy way to generate some funds while grabbing a

smoothie on the way to or from a game.  So please spread the word (and

flyers) to friends, family and neighbors.  Flyers will be coming home

with Rivergold students this week, but I was hoping we could also

generate some business by handing out flyers during Saturday’s soccer

games to competing teams (I’d buy a smoothie to help out another

school fundraiser, wouldn’t you?)

     I hope to have an extra stack of flyers in the office by Thursday

(small quarter sheet sizes).  If you can help pass out flyers I’d love

it if you’d pick some up.  This would be ESPECIALLY great if you’re a

coach, or a parent with multiple games throughout the day.  (Our game

is in the afternoon, so I’d love to get some people to agree to hand

out flyers in the morning, and around noontime.  The fundraiser will

go all day.)

     If you can help, grab some flyers at the office, or contact me through

this e-mail or at 642-6244.

     Also, if you have a business, or work in an place where flyers could

be posted (or a stack could be left for people to pick up), that would

be great too!

Cheers!  Lisa

Click on the above image of the flyer, shrink to fit if needed, then print.

Sponsors/Advertisers

The purpose of this Walk-a-Thon fundraiser is to raise funds for school field trips, new kindergarten playground equipment and to bring technology to each classroom.

All students and staff at Rivergold will be participating in the Walk-a-Thon which takes place on Friday, Nov 7^th.  There will be approximately 800 t-shirts imprinted with our sponsors’ names or logos. The t-shirts will be given away, not sold. 

We are excited to offer this enduring advertising opportunity to our local businesses. Our deadline for submission of name/logo is Tuesday, Oct 22^nd.

Hawk level:  The highest level and most prominent location on t-shirt (limited to the first five sponsors).

Fledgling level:  $300

Egg level:  $200

For more information, or to submit your logo, you can contact Sheri Oswald at 760-5446 or by email at shoswald@gmail.com.