Why We Love Our School Community
 
Those who know me well know that I normally don't go writing letters/emails needlessly, and that I truly always try to look from ALL sides of a situation to understand the different positions of all who are involved. No situation is ever just black and white, and in the decision of the necessity to close schools that our district currently faces is no different. Our entire district is reeling over the fact that their neighborhood school could be one of the few chosen to be closed. We all feel it.
 
First off, as both a staff member and a parent of our De Vargas community, if I may take the opportunity to share some thoughts that have caused some sleepless nights (just like some of you). After some thorough soul searching and reflection, I completely realize and take responsibility for my part for not truly understanding how dire the funding situation has been the past few years. When the CAC emailed the district community last month with the sample scenarios of school closures, we were all shocked, mainly because De Vargas happened to be named on this draft. The district has mentioned the possibility of closing schools for years. There have been some efforts to try to find some solutions through trying to pass Measure O in the spring as well as the CUSD25 campaign. Did I vote? Yes. Did our family participate in CUSD25? We talked about it and wanted to but ultimately, “never got around to it.” Could those have ultimately saved us from this daunting task of deciding which schools to close? Possibly not, but it definitely would have delayed it a bit more, giving the Board and community members just a little more time to find another solution.
 
It is my belief (a survey was NOT conducted) that almost everyone really thought things would “blow over” or we all had our "rose colored glasses" on thinking that there's NO WAY we'd get to the point of actually closing schools (similar to how many of us thought of this virus earlier this year that there's no way it would last more than a few weeks - how wrong we were about that!). When I began talking with our staff and community this time around about email and the possibility of our school closing as soon as next school year, most people said, "They always say that. Even if they closed schools, it'll take years." If we had not been named, would we really be as alarmed, or would we probably have taken the “Wait and see” stance? I dare say, many of us would probably have taken the latter.
 
Could more have been done? Maybe. Could the urgency of the situation have been pushed more? Possibly. Can we change the past? No. However, we can take this opportunity to show the strong and positive De Vargas community that we can be.
 
De Vargas has always been a unique school for various reasons, but the focus will be on the past 6-7 years.
 
When the ELD programs were disbanded about 6-7 years ago, we were the first ones to talk about a STEM program because our principal, Jennifer Tyson, at that time, identified that NO OTHER SCHOOL in the district was a STEM school. We quickly did some research, went to conferences, and decided within a couple of months before the school year ended to focus on STEM to try to increase enrollment. This subsequently led us to being trained in Project Based Learning and the opening of our CREATE space in 2014. Since then we have successfully integrated PBL and STE(A)M thoroughly into our curriculum throughout the different grade levels. And we absolutely LOVE it! *Please see attached article about our transformation into a STEM school back in 2014.
 
We continually pilot program after program throughout the years. Many of us have integrated NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) early on especially since it was a perfect alignment with our PBL and STEM focus. Because of PBL we have sought out partnerships with community members and businesses such as the Humane Society, Levi Stadium, and Great America, just to name a few. Several teachers have continually helped Google pilot different devices and programs. According to Keith Wandry, the naturalist at the Stevens Creek Reservoir and Preserve and who facilitates the Creek field trip for all 3rd grade classes in our district, our 3rd grade teachers were the FIRST ONES in the district to collaborate with him year after year with PBL projects to help improve the creek and are currently still doing so. *Please see this article written by Keith about one of our many PBL project collaborations with his team.
 
We have a high number of teachers officially trained in PBL and STEM. Many of us have been trained at PBL World and after 6 years, our integration of PBL is evident, as many of you have witnessed throughout the years at our PBL events and Exhibition Nights. Critical Literacy is another area that we are well trained in that has benefited our students immensely. The increased depth of understanding of literature at even the primary levels is amazing!
 
We run our classes as communities. Not just class communities, but many times grade level communities. Many of us know all of our grade level students because many teams collaborate and teach together.  For example, all the 3rd grade students know each of the 3rd grade teachers well and vice versa.  
 
Some of us have implemented Genius Time across grade levels from TK-3 to give students a variety of ways to communicate their thinking in any subject. Giving those who struggle a voice in choice to communicate their understanding of concepts in a way other than pencil and paper, but also challenges those who excel to think of multiple ways to show mastery of a concept. And then being able to spread this through buddy activities have really strengthened the inquiry based thinking that again goes along with PBL and STEM.
 
Having been at De Vargas for 24 years, I have witnessed many changes at our school. But one thing has not changed. The collective dedication and hard work that the staff has taken step by step, year after year, to improve our school. We never just stayed "one type" of school. We continually looked for improvement. We saw a need for STEM, we stepped up. We saw how PBL was the perfect partner for STEM, we stepped up and went through an enormous amount of additional training. We saw how powerful PBL and STEM were together and continually found opportunities to fine tune what we've learned so that we can let our students have the best experiences possible. We have thoroughly integrated all of that into our school culture. The staff has done and is doing everything we can to make this the best possible school for our families, despite encountering roadblock after roadblock after roadblock. We LOVE our economically and culturally diverse community. THAT is why we work SO HARD to bring all of these unique ways to teach our diverse families.
 
With that said, there one main thing that is beyond our control that has brought us to our situation now.
 
Declining Enrollment - Yes, while we have experienced declining enrollment, we currently have TK and 3 full Kindergarten classes. Then SDC TK was taken away this year. Open enrollment was implemented last year and due to this, it has taken about another 100 students away from our school. 100 in one year. I understand some families may have wanted to leave, but I know FOR A FACT not all of them did. Many families just put their names in and "waited to see what happens." They were not necessarily unhappy with De Vargas, but because there was an option, they explored when they normally wouldn't have. Once they received notice there was an opening, there were many conversations about not wanting to leave, but that if they don't go now, they won't be able to later IF they changed their mind. Other families are swayed by scores on Great Schools which we know is not an academically backed system (in fact it’s owned by a realty company), but open enrollment gives families a way to "get out" of what they think is a low performing school.
 
To clarify, all physical school properties are considered for closure. What is uncertain (I’ve talked with enough people to consider this point uncertain) is keeping alternative programs together, such as the programs currently run at Portal, McAuliffe, Blue Hills, Faria, and Meyerholtz. Meaning, the program as a whole can be moved together onto another school site. IF this is the case, then De Vargas, with its STEM and PBL focus, should also be considered.
 
Each school is unique. Each school has a long history. Each community is important. And frankly, it is bewildering to understand how anyone can truly think that one community is more important than another. It is disheartening to hear these kinds of comments being made by families all around the district. We are ALL families and staff members in the district. We should be trying to support each other during this time. In fact, we should be rallying as an entire community as a district and bring thoughtful suggestions instead of placing blame and pitting one community against another.
 
Many of you feel very strongly about this and are wondering what you can do. The Board is listening. Thank you to all who have been so supportive in making it to meetings, sending messages to the Board, and speaking up for our community. Keep spreading positive and meaningful messages to the Board as well as each other. 
 
There will be no rejoicing if any schools are closed, whether or not De Vargas is one of them. We will continue to work hard for our families, bring the best Distance Learning experience that we can for our students, and welcome each of you back when this is all over, all the while fighting for our community and the school we deserve to have.

With appreciation,
Bonnie Chow