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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Imperial County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
Complaint #2 Subject Regarding Grace Smith School in Niland Lacking Administration presence, Calipatria Unified School
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 4 findings
F1
Outside walkways have broken asphalt posing a hazard (trips and falls) for inmates and prison personnel.
F2
The grounds are barren. Lawns and landscape are lacking throughout the yards outside.
F3
The written program describing the “Resource Center” and its services (found in the Minutes of November 2014) is global with not enough information of who is responsible for the activity. In some instances it lacks dates of when a certain activity will start or be completed.
F4
Did not see documentation of student or parent participation in current program.
Recommendations 4
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R1Repair or replace broken asphalt walkways as funding and time permits.
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R2Page 13Parents will be informed via school-to-home flyer of “principal availability”. This will be implemented immediately. The Superintendent will publish this information to the community via district/school website and school-to-home information flyers. It will also be posted at the Post Office’s community bulletin board, which is a location that many parents frequent.
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R3For the school year 2015-16, publish on the district website and/or flyers a timeline of activities so that the community may reference them easily and plan to participate.
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R4Document parent and student participation through dated logs and sign-in sheets. Response Required: The Imperial County Civil Grand Jury requires that the Calipatria Unified School District respond to the recommendations within (90) ninety days from the issuance of this report. Please submit an official response to CGJ Foreperson, P.O. Box 2011, El Centro, CA 92243. 2014-2015 Imperial County Civil Grand Jury Final Report of Findings Complaint #2 SUBJECT Regarding Grace Smith School in Niland Lacking Administration presence, Calipatria Unified School District (CUSD) serves the City of Calipatria and the City of Niland schools JUSTIFICATION: The Civil Grand Jury has the responsibility of investigating complaints received by its residents; as well as the responsibility to investigate various county agencies on a 5 year rotating cycle. Complaint #2 was received stating that Administration’s presence is not visible at Grace Smith School in Niland. However, there are stipends being paid to two (2) CUSD administrators and mileage is also being paid without mileage expense claims being submitted. Background: Grace Smith School is a Kinder through 4th grade elementary school in Niland, CA and under the jurisdiction of Calipatria Unified School District with an enrollment of 82 students for the year 2014-2015. There are 5 teachers assigned to the school and Administration includes the Superintendent (paid a $5,000 stipend) and an Associate Superintendent (paid a $20,000 stipend). On April 2, 2015, members or the Civil Grand Jury met with Calipatria Unified School District (CUSD) Superintendent and asked specific questions regarding allegations on the formal complaint. The Superintendent confirmed that Administration holds weekly meetings with teachers, attends to discipline that may be needed at the school, and participates in monthly award assemblies. All teachers are trained in the guidelines and safety procedures to be followed at the school. Administration is 8 minutes away. However, Superintendents may not be perceived as constant “principals” at Grace Smith School due to the many responsibilities they have within the unified school district as a whole.