Denair Elementary Charter Academy officially opened its new kitchen and multipurpose room
at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday before the monthly Denair Unified School District Board
of Trustees meeting.
“We are absolutely thrilled to gather here for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony,”
Superintendent Terry Metzger, Ed.D., told a crowd of about 50 students, community members,
and local dignitaries who braved near-100-degree heat to attend. “This beautiful space was
created from the old gym and includes an amazing kitchen and staff break room where the old
locker rooms used to be.”
Metzger also pointed out that the new glass “storefront” lobby creates a functional new
entrance to the space, which also boasts a refinished gym – still featuring the original 70-year-
old floor – and classrooms.
“This building creates great spaces for our students, staff, and the community,” Metzger added.
In addition to Metzger, board President Billy Myers, Food Services Manager Kim Fuentez, Chief
Business Official Daisy Swearingen, and DECA Principal Crystal Sousa, Ed.D., and student council
representative Juan Carlos Rivas all delivered remarks before the official cutting of the purple
ribbon.
Evyn Galvan, the district director for Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto), delivered a
certificate of recognition. And Noah Jamison, senior project engineer with Valley Construction
Services, Inc., the management firm for the project, also attended.
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“This is an investment in the future of the school and will be beneficial for all,” said Jamison.
“Seeing all these smiling faces is so rewarding. It’s what makes me get up in the morning and
keep doing what I’m doing.”
After Sousa and Rivas snipped the ribbon, the public was invited inside for a tour and treated to
cookies and lemonade.
Later, during the board meeting, the trustees were presented with a bevy of updates, including
the results of the fall 2025 iReady test results – now called Inform.
Fifty-one percent of DECA students were reading at, above, or one grade below their current
grade level. Of DECA’s Dual Language Immersion students, 62 percent read at, above, or one
grade below their grade level. Math results showed that 54 percent of DECA students tested at,
above, or one grade below.
Inform results showed that 44 percent of Denair Middle School students were at, above, or one
grade below for reading, while 50 percent achieved those levels for math.
Forty percent of Denair Charter Academy students were at, above, or one grade below for
reading, while 24 percent reached those levels in math.
And, at Denair High School, the results were 24 percent for reading and 35 percent for math.
Because the tests were conducted in the fall, when students were coming out of their previous
grade, the “one grade below” distinction is effectively on par with their just-completed grade
level.
Another bit of bright news for the board came from Fuentez, who reported that 75 percent of
DUSD students participate in the district’s lunch program. That’s nearly 18 percent better than
the state average, almost 10 percent higher than local large school districts, and 6 percent
higher than local small districts.
“This milestone is directly driven by our revised site menus featuring locally sourced produce
and our district-wide commitment to scratch and quick-scratch cooking,” said Fuentez. “All that
to say, when we serve real, fresh food, our students show up.”
Finally, congratulations to Keioni Ayala and Mason Kulwitzky, and Sophia Virgen and Troy
Williams for being named varsity and junior varsity homecoming queens and kings,
respectively.