Fortuna Elementary School District

Superintendent’s Report

August 2025

Welcome to a new school year!

Curriculum and Instruction:

This summer’s twenty-day ELOP program was a great success.  We met all program requirements, including providing a full nine-hour day, daily breakfast and lunch, and transportation to and from school.  To meet the full thirty-day requirement for the 2025-26 school year, we will be offering ten additional days of programming during scheduled school breaks.  A big thank-you goes to Susie Lewis and Adrienne Crosswhite for their outstanding leadership in planning and running the summer program, and to Carolyn Throssel and Israel Smith for overseeing the extended-day portion.  We’re also incredibly grateful to all the dedicated staff members who gave up a month of their summer to teach, support, and care for our students - your efforts made a meaningful impact!

All certificated teaching positions for the new school year have been successfully filled, including our school nurse - an important role we’re excited to have secured.  We are still working to fill several classified positions, such as yard monitors, classroom aides, special circumstance instructional assistants, and after-school program aides.  We’re hopeful these remaining openings will be filled in the coming weeks and appreciate everyone’s help in spreading the word.

For the 2025-26 school year, our District is continuing its pilot of new instructional programs in math and ELA. Students in grades K-8 will be using Amplify’s Desmos Math, while students in grades 6-8 will pilot the CommonLit ELA program.  Throughout the year, we will closely monitor student progress and review achievement data to help guide our decision-making process regarding the potential formal adoption of these programs.

We’re entering our second year of implementing the Character Strong social-emotional learning curriculum. This program offers both Tier 1 universal lessons and Tier 2 targeted supports designed to strengthen students' sense of belonging, enhance their well-being, and boost overall engagement.  We look forward to building on last year’s progress and continuing to support the whole child through this meaningful work.

We are in the final stages of developing our District’s strategic plan in partnership with Studer Education.  This important work has involved input from staff, families, and community members to help shape a clear direction for our future.  The strategic plan will include updated mission and vision statements, key pillars, and specific goals to guide our continuous improvement efforts over the next several years.  We anticipate bringing a draft of the plan to the Board for review and approval in September.

Enrollment for 2025-26:

Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open for new TK-8th grade students in our District.  Families can register online by visiting our website at fortunaesd.com, where they’ll find the enrollment link and additional information.  We are currently enrolling students in our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program, which is open to children who turn four on or before September 1, 2025.  Our TK classrooms maintain a 10:1 student-to-staff ratio, ensuring a supportive and engaging early learning environment.  We encourage families to watch the informational video on our website to learn more about our TK and kindergarten programs at Ambrosini and Walker Schools.  We look forward to welcoming new students and families to our District! 

Budget:     

At the end of June, the state legislature approved the 2025-26 state budget agreement.  Here are some of the highlights of the approved budget:

• The Proposition 98 Guarantee is calculated at $119.9 billion in 2025-26.

• Fully funds the 2.3% cost-of-living-adjustment for the LCFF and categorical programs. 

• The budget continues to support the full implementation of universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK).  Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, all children who turn four on or before September 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll in TK, regardless of birth month.

• Discretionary Block Grant (allocation of 1.7 billion one-time funds).

• Continue universal (free) meals for all students.  

Some things to keep in mind: Schools continue to face significant fiscal challenges, including declining enrollment, lower attendance rates, and the expiration of one-time relief funds.  Rising fixed costs, such as pensions, health benefits, and inflation, add further pressure despite increases in base funding.  Many districts are relying on reserves to maintain programs and staffing. Fortunately, Fortuna Elementary School District is in a stable position and is able to meet its financial obligations for this year and the following two years.

Construction and Maintenance:

Our custodial and maintenance teams have been hard at work all summer getting our campuses ready to welcome back students and staff.  Their dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to creating clean, safe, and welcoming learning environments are deeply appreciated.  A heartfelt thank-you to each of them for their efforts in preparing our schools for the start of a successful new year.

Pierson Company is in the final stages of the Walker modernization project, and we are excited to see the progress.  Recent work includes the replacement of nine temporary windows, completion of the seismic joint upgrades, new stucco and roofing above the kindergarten classrooms, and the installation of an HVAC closet in one of the kindergarten rooms.  In addition, a new school sign is being installed at the entrance, providing a refreshed and welcoming look to the campus.  This project has been ongoing for the past two years, and we are very much looking forward to its completion.  We sincerely thank our staff, students, and families for their continued patience and support throughout the process.

The TTMS office remodel and the replacement of the perimeter fencing are currently underway as part of our ongoing efforts to improve campus safety and functionality.  While the project is making good progress, it will not be fully completed for a few more months.  In the meantime, the construction site is securely fenced off to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and visitors.  We are confident that we can safely welcome everyone back to campus for the start of the new school year.  During the remodel, the main office will be temporarily located in the library.  We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and patience as we work toward these important improvements.

Miscellaneous:

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all our returning students, families, and staff - and an especially enthusiastic welcome to everyone joining Fortuna Elementary School District for the first time in the 2025-26 school year!

I am looking forward to a new school year.  We have a wonderful District full of caring, dedicated educators and amazing students.  I want to invite the community to become involved in our schools through volunteer work or by applying for one of our many job openings.  Let’s work together to make this the best year for our students! 

Respectfully Submitted,

Amy Betts - FESD Superintendent

Important Dates:

August 18th  First Day of School

September 1st   No School - Labor Day

Highlights from the 8-7-25 Board Meeting:

• The Board approved the Consent Agenda.

• The Board approved the Bargained Agreement with CSEA for 2025-26.

• The Board approved various new and revised Board Policies, Administrative Regulations, & Exhibits  

• The Board approved the Declaration of Need for Certificated Staff 

• The Board approved a Local Assignment Option.  

Next Regular Board Meeting: September 11, 2025