To the LVJUSD Community:

On behalf of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) Board of Education, our outstanding educators, support staff, and administrators, I welcome you to the 2012-2013 academic year!

A high quality public education system is the cornerstone of any community, and ours is no exception. By working together, we have created an extraordinary learning environment for over 13,000 K-12 students, plus pre-school, transitional kindergarten and adult education. We reside in a diverse community that values an education that is equitable, engaging, and enriched. Our primary purpose is to educate Livermore’s children, and we proudly provide this most important public service to our entire community.

The mission of the LVJUSD is to ensure “each student graduates with the skills needed to contribute and thrive in a changing world” and to that end, our 1,200+ staff members are committed to doing “whatever it takes” to ensure our vital mission is accomplished.

Our District has an exceptional reputation for stellar academic achievement, strong student support systems, solid character education, embedded visual and performing arts, competitive athletics, career technical education, and state-of-the-art integrated technology. Our success as an award-winning public education District that provides rigorous instruction, reinforces high expectations, and produces well-rounded and high achieving graduates, is a tribute to the values of our constituency. We are fully committed to enhancing our programs and services as we work with our generous and supportive community partners.

The LVJUSD enjoys a high level of community engagement. Key local and regional partners are the Livermore Valley Education Foundation, our PTAs, PTOs, Boosters, and School Site Councils, local Rotary and service groups, TopScience, volunteers from local congregations, the City of Livermore, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories, Lam Research, Chevron, Wente Vineyards, Wells Fargo Bank, American Swim Academy, and the Livermore Cultural Arts Council, among countless others. Without generous individuals and organizations, our students would not have the relevant learning experiences they deserve.

The LVJUSD has triumphed over the severe budget challenges in recent years, by prudently prioritizing and allocating resources, increasing efficiencies, streamlining business practices,
passing a Measure L Bond and two consecutive parcel taxes with widespread community support, developing partnerships, negotiating employee contingency plans, steadily increasing enrollment and student attendance, and through concerted energy conservation efforts. We are the only public school district to be recognized as a 2012 Bay Area Top Workplace, in line with other top-notch, highly effective organizations and industries, boasting the most committed and creative staff and focused, supportive leadership.

We are one of the few districts in the State that has maintained K-3 class size reduction at an average of 24.5:1 and continue to offer a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs. We are renowned for our unique Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), arts, music and agriculture-enriched programs. We are thrilled about the opening of our SPROUTS (Students Participating in Readiness Opportunities Using Themes in Science) Transitional Kindergarten classes this year.

Indicators of District-wide success are strong: our enrollment, test scores, college readiness, and graduation rates are on the rise and climbing steadily. Our District has become a destination district for the highest quality educators and employees, resulting in amazing new additions to our workforce and administrative team. Last year, our continuing efforts to provide a first rate education for each and every student were recognized in many ways; Distinguished School Awards, API Scores, WASC Accreditation, Honor Roll Awards from the California Businesses for Education Excellence, Educators of the Year Awards, and prestigious Teacher Fellowships, accolades and grants.

We are looking forward to even greater achievements this year as the entire District prepares for the implementation of the national Common Core Standards. These standards are rigorous and challenging, and what students need to be successful 21st Century global citizens and critical thinkers. In August, we hosted a two-day Leadership Institute to support our teacher leaders and administrators to effectively incorporate these rigorous standards.

Our staff is committed to “take the INITIATIVE” and INFORM, INCLUDE, INSPIRE and INNOVATE in all we do. I encourage you stay informed by signing up for regular District website updates at www.livermoreschools.com, reading “The Grapevine” and becoming one of our many LVJUSD Facebook fans.

Within the 18 school sites in our open-enrollment District, we have choices, options, and an array of opportunities for families and students, with the intent that “each student will find his/her niche” and forge a successful pathway to meet unique educational and career goals. I thank you for choosing the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District to educate your sons and daughters. We appreciate your trust in us and we embrace you as a pivotal and valuable partner in our important charge of educating the next generation.

Our staff and students are eager and primed for this new academic year, 2012-13. Thank you for partnering and taking this exciting journey with us. I look forwarding to meeting you when I am out and about in town or on the school campuses.

Warm Regards,

Kelly Bowers, Superintendent of Schools
2012 ACSA Region VI Superintendent of the Year