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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2024

Foster City, CA— The San Mateo-Foster City School District has officially launched the Educator Housing Task Force (EHTF). The inaugural meeting brought together a diverse group of elected officials from the County of San Mateo, the City of San Mateo, and the City of Foster City, union leaders from the San Mateo Elementary Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association, and community members all driven by a shared commitment to push for educator housing. A pivotal moment in the meeting came when Superintendent Diego Ochoa led an interactive session designed to visualize the challenges faced by district employees. 

Participants were asked to circle where they believe district staff currently live. With many staff living outside of the proposed circles, task force members were in awe of how far some of our staff commute currently. Data also showcased that 75 teachers hired in the last three years live in over 33 cities that require a lengthy commute with significant vehicle traffic. These circumstances directly impact teacher and staff retention, job satisfaction, and, ultimately, our students' educational experiences.

Educator housing is a topic that has been discussed by every trustee during my time on the school board. I am thrilled that the Educator Housing Task Force has been formed and has already jumped into the work to keep our most valuable resources local,” shares Board President Alison Proctor. “Our district’s educators are experts in their field, and ensuring that they have housing that is affordable and close to work is critical for retaining top talent as well as prioritizing their health, safety, and wellness. I look forward to hearing the task force’s recommendations to the board in a few months.”

“When educators drive two hours a day or face $3,500 rent payments for nearby housing, they struggle to make ends meet and leave after the first few years. Half of our new hires resign within three years due to the lack of affordable housing. Our Board of Trustees is committed to doing something about this and the EHTF will make key recommendations to the Board in February 2025, states Superintendent Diego Ochoa.

The EHTF meeting included a financial presentation by Deputy Superintendent Patrick Gaffney, who outlined the district’s strong fiscal health, highlighting the district's award of an AAA bond rating from Moody's. Gaffney's presentation also illuminated the approximately 84% of SMFC educators who are already potentially qualifying as extremely low-income in San Mateo County.

Executive Director of Facilities and Construction Amy Ruffo provided further insight into the district’s highly effective use of bond funds. She highlighted that 80% of the $148 million from the 2015 Measure X and 57% of the $409 million from the 2020 Measure T have been effectively allocated, with projects completed on or ahead of schedule. These projects highlight the district's commitment to effective management of quality construction projects.

Consistent and highly qualified staff are essential for our students to thrive, and addressing housing challenges is critical to ensuring that every student’s educational journey remains uninterrupted. Approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees on June 27, 2024, the task force aims to develop actionable solutions to ensure educators can live within the communities they serve, thereby enhancing staff retention and the quality of education.

As the task force continues its work in the coming months, its efforts will be crucial in ensuring that the district can maintain a stable, satisfied workforce, ultimately benefiting the educational experiences of students across the district.

For more information on the Educator Housing Task Force, please visit SMFCSD Educator Housing Task Force.

Contact:

Diego Perez

2024 School Safety and Climate Analysis_SMFCSD

Dear SMFCSD Community, 

We are delighted to share the district's 2024 School Climate and Safety Report: Volume 2!

Just under a year ago, we released the 2023 School Climate and Safety Report, highlighting the California Healthy Kids Survey and the California School Staff Survey supported by the California Department of Education developed by WestEd. These two survey instruments are administered anonymously and provide the district with valuable insights that allow us to analyze and reflect on district initiatives that aim to ensure all students have social-emotional support. Our results are truly remarkable and confirm that our investments in social-emotional supports have been a huge success. 

We welcome our community to celebrate with us these very important milestones of the current state of social-emotional well-being among our students and staff.

A big thank you to our student services team and all staff on site who make a difference every day. 

Visit our socials for video commentaries from students and staff on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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2024 Informe Sobre Clima Escolar & Seguridad

Another successful summer at SMFCSD is in the books!

This summer, the San Mateo-Foster City School District proudly hosted three enriching programs: Summer Camp and Summer School at College Park, Extended Day Learning for students with special needs at George Hall Elementary, and Newton Camp at Brewer Island Elementary.

All programs provided students with invaluable academic enrichment, reinforcing key learning areas and offering exciting project-based learning modules. We also prioritized social-emotional wellness, ensuring a holistic and supportive experience for all our students.

We are deeply appreciative of the summer school team that kept their doors open for contoinued learning. We are grateful to have such passionate and dedicated educators and support staff that have made summer for our students unforgetable.

The district has opened Aeries to any and all Back-to-School Parent Portal updates or changes. Parents may have received an automated message to reset your password, our Technology Department initiated this to ensure your account security. Please sign into the parent portal to complete the data confirmation process.

New registrants should be aware of an email from "noreply@smfc.k12.ca.us" confirming their new portal account.

The Parent Portal can be accessed here: parentportal.smfc.k12.ca.us

If you do not know your password or cannot log in, please use the Forgot Password feature to set a new password, then sign in to verify your child’s contact information and complete the required annual SMFCSD forms for the 2024 - 2025 school year.

Aeries Parent Portal Updates Guiding Document

Learn about how Aeries and ParentSquare sync.

If a message that notes your email is not attached to the student's records, please contact your school site for further assistance.

This update will be available for all families through September 20, 2024.