From the Desk of the Superintendent

Superintendent Deborah A. Flores, Ph.D.

Thursday, October 11, 2001

Letter to the Community:

The day began with unspeakable shock and horror, but on September 11th and the days thereafter, I witnessed tremendous courage and fortitude within our school community.

Throughout this time of shock and grief, our schools have been fully operational because we feel that we can provide a safe, secure, and orderly environment on our campuses and in our District Office. We continually review and update our emergency preparedness procedures. Schools continue to be one of the safest places for our children and, during this period of national tragedy, have provided their regular curriculum as well as generous amounts of nurturing, comfort, and solace. Throughout these difficult days, our attendance has been at normal levels.

All 1,700 District employees came together as one to meet the needs of 16,000 of our community’s children. On September 11th, District-level administrators met in an early-morning emergency session to address facility, communication, operational, and emergency preparedness needs. Principals and assistant principals visited every classroom, responding to student questions. Teachers across the District led (and continue to lead, as needed) age-appropriate discussions, helping students deal with the events. School psychologists and counselors addressed student needs on a one-to-one basis. Support staff assisted school personnel in providing as "normal" an environment as possible. School- and District-based personnel worked as a tight knit team and demonstrated a high degree of professionalism during this emotionally charged time. This was not an easy task for any of our staff, especially for those who had personal connections to the tragedy.

Soon after the tragedy, we heard powerful stories about New York teachers near Ground Zero who braved all odds to ensure the well-being of the children in their care. I wasn’t surprised to learn of their heroic actions because their deeds were in keeping with the character so entwined with this occupation. I watched our own local teachers, staff, and administrators demonstrate the kind of leadership that characterizes a community hero, one who models outstanding qualities.

Our staff has been especially sensitive to the needs of students whose religion, race, and/or ethnicity might make them the subject of harassment. We have not had a single incident of harassment reported on our campuses, which I believe reflects the proactive work that our administrators and teachers are doing and attests to the character of our students. An appreciation of diversity continues to be an important focus for our District. In fact, in August, almost 970 K-12 teachers Districtwide attended Anti-Defamation League-led workshops, emphasizing our obligation to ensure that all students have the right to a safe, harassment-free learning environment. For more information on our Districts’ diversity-related trainings and activities, please contact our Office of Special Projects and Communication (963-4338, extension 206).

Throughout our Elementary and High School Districts, in staff meetings and schoolwide assemblies, we came together in support of one another. As others across the nation have commented, the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of songs such as "America The Beautiful" took on a poignant new meaning. We took steps to communicate immediately, through letters, with all parents, acknowledging the disaster and suggesting ways to address student emotional needs during times of crisis. All flags were lowered to half-staff during the official period of mourning and, on September 11th, most schools held brief memorial services. A District-wide moment of silence was observed at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 14th. Updates about school activities – cancellations and, later, reinstatements – were immediately posted on our District web site: www.sbsdk12.org

In a most touching way, our children have been beacons of hope. Almost immediately, elementary, junior high, middle, and high school students developed strategies for supporting each other and the victims of the violence in New York and Washington. With the assistance and encouragement of their teachers and administrators, they created messages of support (banners, flags, artwork) for their fellow students, local and New York law enforcement and rescue workers, families of the victims, and students in the schools affected by the tragedy; conducted after school bake sales; operated weekend lemonade stands; donated their allowance; collected pennies from families and friends for school-based penny drives; dressed in red, white, and blue; organized after school dances and other events and donated the proceeds to those touched by the tragedy. In fact, more than $19,000 has been collected thus far, and fundraisers are still going on. Thousands of students at all grade levels pitched in, on their own, and took responsibility for creating hope by helping those in need. Through their selfless deeds, our staff and students have been a source of inspiration. For example:

Adams Elementary School

letters and cards have been written by students to affected families, firefighters, and police;
a Remembering Table has been designated where students can bring in artifacts to pay tribute to victims of the violence;
$398 was collected and forwarded to the American Red Cross and $300 was collected and sent to the Firefighters Fund;
as part of September’s Diversity/Character Counts study unit, each class created and displayed (in the cafeteria) a banner or artifact to celebrate diversity;
a portion of December’s annual community sing will be devoted to patriotic songs;
added activities are being planned for the school’s annual Flag Day celebrations.

Franklin Elementary School

students in all grades engaged in a letter writing campaign to support the many heroes and victims of this tragedy;
two sixth-grade classes created "Franklin School Supports Our Nation" and "Franklin School Cares," banners which students have signed, and are displayed in front of the school.

Harding Elementary School

"Fill The Fireman’s Boot With Your Change" three-day collection that resulted in a $783.43 donation to the American Red Cross.

McKinley Elementary School

all students created paper hearts and wrote their feelings on them, which were then mounted on butcher paper and displayed in the main school hallway;
a large banner was placed on a school fence, imploring drivers to remember those who lost loved ones;
$415 was collected in a "Nickels for New York" fund drive to help the children at three New York elementary schools near "Ground Zero" ($100 of those funds were generated by the girls in two sixth-grade classes who held an after school bake sale);
a "Teddy Bear Drive" yielded some 60 teddy bears, McKinley’s mascot, for children touched by the tragedy.

Monroe Elementary School

students wrote their feelings on a master classroom list and shared their thoughts with their fellow students;
a special education resource teacher led classroom discussions on diversity;
several classes are engaged in letter writing to comfort the victims;
a "penny drive" raised $3,073.09 for the families of New York firefighters;
many staff and students have worn red, white, and blue ribbons and American flags.

Open Alternative School

several classes wrote letters of support to New York City children, police, and firefighters.

Roosevelt Elementary School

a "Quarter Drive" is underway and funds will be presented to the American Red Cross on October 15.

Washington Elementary School

the PTA has been conducting a two-week penny and nickel drive (more than $1,700 has been collected thus far), with proceeds to be directed to the American Red Cross;
using strips of red, white, and blue fabric, the 6th grade students are weaving flags into the school fence along Cliff Drive;
students have written letters to local and New York law enforcement officers and rescue teams.

Goleta Valley Junior High School

students wrote their feelings in their journals and participated in other writing activities and discussions;
students produced and displayed drawings, murals, and other artwork dealing with this tragic event;
Goleta Valley’s coin drive raised $1,500 for the American Red Cross, which will be matched by Robert Half International, Inc., a Menlo Park-based organization.

La Colina Junior High School

students and staff participated in a ceremony honoring all victims, their families, the rescuers, and the nation;
the ASB Student Council led a schoolwide "$$$ Drive" that raised $2,524.05, with all donations supporting the American Red Cross relief efforts (students also donated their time by making red, white, and blue ribbons for those who contributed to the cause).

La Cumbre Middle School

the leadership class and other students worked together after school for about a week and constructed a 12 foot flag, which was prominently displayed at their Back to School Dance on September 28;
$1,000 was raised through a "shoe box donation" (shoe boxes covered with white paper and a red cross) fundraiser plus the proceeds of a September 28th Back to School dance;
students and staff participated in a memorial service;
an art class created a large, multi-page thank you card, which was signed by students and sent to our local fire and police departments, expressing sympathy and appreciation for their fellow colleagues lost in New York.

Santa Barbara Junior High School

students and staff dressed in red, white, and blue as part of a one-day patriotic celebration, (a photographic display of that day is on view in the main hallway);
students sent thank you messages to local firefighters, police, and emergency technicians;
approximately $300 was raised through the sale of red, white, and blue ribbons;
students created an American flag, now on display in the main hallway, that includes their feelings about the tragedy;
students are planning a fall car wash, with 50% of the proceeds earmarked for the American Red Cross and 50% to the New York Fire Department.

Dos Pueblos High School

students signed good wishes cards which were given to Lois Capps to give to the members of Congress who represent New York;
students are fundraising for a New York elementary school and working on establishing a pen pal relationship with those students;
donations were collected at the DPHS v. Santa Maria football game that were directed to the American Red Cross.

San Marcos High School

"Share Your Thoughts" posters were created by students to support and encourage fellow students, and displayed throughout the campus;
students made red, white, and blue ribbons, collected donations for the ribbons, and sent more than $400 to United Way’s "September 11th Fund" in New York;
candle lighting ceremony was conducted before the San Marcos football game against Santa Paula;
students and staff participated in a red, white, and blue dress day;
the school’s televised "Royal Report" aired information on the events of September 11th and how it affected individuals, the school, and the nation.

Santa Barbara High School

Students Organized Against Prejudice conducted a discussion on the tragedy;
$360 in donations were gathered at a Varsity v. Alumni volleyball match and given to the American Red Cross;
banners were prominently displayed, encouraging students to participate in an American Red Cross blood drive;
students circulated coin collection cans and all proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross;
Student Government prepared student-signed letters of support and condolence to victims, firefighters and law enforcement.

Additionally, on October 6th, students from leadership classes at Dos Pueblos High School and San Marcos High School participated in a "Walk for America," with the proceeds to be donated to the American Red Cross relief effort. The student-organized walk began at De La Guerra Plaza and ended at the Magnolia Shopping Center. While funds are still being processed, Dos Pueblos organizers report that $6,000 has been received thus far.

As we seek to make sense of the events of the past month, we can look at our schools and be reminded about how the power of one person can make a difference. Like ripples in a pond, students cast their ideas about how to reach out to each other and the East Coast victims. Those ideas found an ever expanding circle of supporters waiting to join their efforts. The efforts outlined above speak volumes about the community we live in.

These are uncertain times. The Santa Barbara School Districts are taking every opportunity to prepare for any situation which may arise. We continue to review and refine our emergency preparedness plans. We continue to work closely with law enforcement and various governmental agencies that have unique emergency planning expertise and resources. We continue to respond to the needs of our students. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.

Sincerely,
Deborah A. Flores, Ph.D.
Superintendent