Denair students across all grade levels made gains on one of the most-watched measures of academic performance, Superintendent Terry Metzger told Denair Unified School District trustees Thursday night.

Metzger reported on the district’s progress on what is known as the CA School Dashboard, which was created about a decade ago. It tracks not only academic indicators, but also things like chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, which impact classroom performance.

“There are different calculations for each indicator on the dashboard, which can make it challenging to interpret the barometer shown for each area,” Metzger explained. “However, once someone understands how it works, there is a lot of great information to help understand how well our schools are performing.”

Saying “we have a lot to celebrate,” then Metzger walked trustees through many of the main indicators.

“The most exciting news for us is that all schools in the district made progress. DECA made progress in every indicator,” she said. “Key trends include improvements in chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and English learner performance. While our English and math scores are still low, we are performing within the range of our neighboring districts (in some cases outperforming).”

Metzger said the dashboard statistics afford a “higher-level view” of student performance, as opposed to iReady test scores and end-of-unit assessments that provide more real-time feedback to teachers. Still, the dashboard influences classroom strategies.

“Last year, we really focused on English learner strategies as a district and that paid off in terms of improvement on the dashboard,” Metzger said. “This year we added a math focus based on last year’s data and expect that we will see growth in next year’s dashboard.”

The superintendent told trustees that she is proud of the progress the district has made.

“We have a sense of urgency as a district to ensure that our students are prepared for the next grade level and ultimately for whatever comes after graduation,” Metzger said. “It’s hard work and our staff have put their hearts and souls into learning how to meet students’ needs. Our 2024 dashboard results are a direct impact of that work.”

In other action Thursday, trustees:

• Approved an early retirement incentive of $2,000 for any employee who submits a notice of their intent to retire to the district office by 4 p.m. on Jan. 31. The retirement cannot happen before May 24, 2025.
• Unanimously supported a plan for the district to apply for an Environmental Protection Agency grant that could cover the entire cost of a new electric bus, which cost between $400,000 and $500,000.
• Listened as Metzger and Daisy Swearingen, the district’s chief business official, reported that $11.9 million worth of Denair’s school bonds from the recently approved Measure Z were sold this week. For now, the money will be put in the bank; the district expects to make $32,000 a month in interest. In coming years, another $22.3 million in bonds will be sold. The bond funds will pay for facilities updates across the district, including a relocated and rebuilt kitchen at DECA and the replacement of portable classrooms with permanent buildings at the high school.
• Heard a report about two of the career technical education (CTE) pathways at Denair High, which provide insight into and practical knowledge about potential areas of employment after graduation. Principal Breanne Aguiar, teacher Melissa Treadwell and paraeducator and ag advisor Christian Obando teamed up on the presentation, which included photos and videos of students. Treadwell talked about the emergency medical response that was added this year. She teaches two courses. One of the goals is for all students to learn CPR, first aid skills and BLS certificates. Obando talked about the three ag pathways — agriscience, ag floral and ag mechanics – all of which include three classes students must pass in order to complete the pathway. There are 185 students enrolled in one or more ag classes, Obando said, plus another 40 in ag biology. Students who receive a B grade or better in pathway classes also can receive college credits at Modesto Junior College.

Once again this holiday season, current and retired Denair Unified employees as well as students are partnering with businesses and the Lions Club to make things a little brighter and happier for children and families in the community.

There are three programs to assist Denair residents. 

The first is the hygiene basket program, which was launched in 2020 by members of the Denair Middle School staff as the COVID pandemic was affecting so many people. The idea was to put together baskets of products such as shampoo, toothbrushes and tooth paste, towels, soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other every day necessities to complement food baskets already created the Lions Club. 

Denair staff members funded the project the first year, but it has since grown to 100 baskets thanks to donations from nearly two dozen local businesses and organizations.

Families sign up to receive one of the baskets, which are distributed on the last day of class before winter break. This year, that will be Dec. 20 between noon and 2 p.m. at Denair Middle School’s parking lot. There still is time for families to register. Anyone interested should call DMS at (209) 632-2510, ext. 3211 or 3115.

“This program has not only benefited Denair families, but it has also provided an opportunity for high 

school students to earn community service hours by helping with assembly and/or delivery of the baskets,” said Maria Olivas, a retired Denair teacher who helped create the hygiene basket program along with mental health clinician Lina Mateus and representatives from Sierra Vista Child & Family Services and the Center for Human Services.

The second program is the Lions Club food baskets, which began almost 30 years ago. The service club partners with local businesses to provide boxes of meals that include turkey or ham with all the side dishes, plus dessert. Students and school district employees helped raise money and organized food drives this year. Staff at the Denair campuses also identified families who would benefit from the program.

This year, 60 food baskets were distributed at Thanksgiving – 20 each to deserving Denair families, senior citizens and local military veterans – and another 60 will be delivered on Dec. 21.

“With the amount of support offered by DUSD this year, I feel there is an opportunity to expand the program next year so we can serve even more families,” said Billy Myers, who is the Lions Club secretary as well as a school board trustee.

Myers said families in need or anyone who knows one can reach out to him at (209) 620-2485 to get on the Lions distribution list.

The final program is Letters to Santa, which is coordinated by Elvia Brizuela, a bilingual secretary at Denair Middle School. About 50 Denair students from kindergarten through high school are privately identified by their teachers, counselors or other staff members as being a good match. Parents are contacted and asked if they would like to participate.

Volunteers at school then fill a bag for each child with clothing (pajamas, socks, a school logo sweater and toys). Distribution of the bags began Dec. 9. Some parents pick the items privately so they can take them home to wrap; others bring their children with them. Either way, the gratitude of the families is more than matched by the feeling of goodwill among the volunteers.

“I feel so blessed to be able to be the hands and feet of Jesus and see the children as well as the parents’ faces light up and even tears of joy,” Brizuela said.

Last month, voters in the Denair Unified School District overwhelmingly approved a plan to sell $34.3 million in bonds to pay for major facility upgrades. Monday, the district’s Board of Trustees took action to make some of those bonds immediately available to investors.

In the final count of the Nov. 5 vote prepared by the Stanislaus County Elections Office, Measure Z received 2,712, or 64.2%, “yes” votes and 1,511, or 35.8%, “no” votes. It took 55% for the measure to pass.

At a special board meeting Monday, Denair trustees unanimously agreed to accelerate the sale of the first series of bonds, valued at $12 million. There are two strategic reasons behind the decision, according to Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger.

The first has to do with how many bonds – collectively worth about $40 billion – were approved by California voters last month.

“There will be a lot of competition in February and March when most of these bonds go to market,” Metzger explained. “There is currently a very small supply of bonds available for investors and getting to the market now will likely provide favorable results for the district.”

The district’s bond advisors expect that Denair will be one of the few districts statewide trying to sell bonds between now and the upcoming holiday break, making it more likely that Denair can raise the money it needs at a lower interest rate, which ultimately means less cost to taxpayers. 

The second key reason to sell some of the bonds now is that it makes the money available immediately to pay for urgent projects. Metzger cited the leaky gym roof at Denair High School and the relocation of the Denair Elementary Charter Academy kitchen to the gym as two examples.

The remainder of the Measure Z money – valued at about $22.3 million – will be raised in bond sales over the next couple of years, Metzger said. Those funds will pay for a range of much-needed improvements across the district, many of them at DECA, the district’s oldest campus. The DECA projects include:

• Construction of two new classroom wings
• Creation of a drop off/pick up and bus zone (like at DMS) on Madera Avenue for efficiency and safety
• Conversion of the old cafeteria into an administration building
• Security enhancements, including making DECA a single-point entry campus

Measure Z money also would be used to make Denair Charter Academy a single-point entry facility, Metzger said. At Denair High School, the 400 wing of portables would be replaced a permanent classroom building and other security upgrades will be completed. Denair Middle School, the district’s newest campus, also will receive some classroom upgrades and repairs.

As part of its passage, Measure Z includes a bond oversight committee. Metzger encouraged residents interested in serving on the committee to contact the district office.

Empowerment of girls continues to be a priority in the Denair Unified School District, which offers multiple programs geared to inspire those from elementary age through high school to believe in themselves, dream big and avoid the perils of social media.

One of the programs is ROX – Ruling Our eXperiences. Since it began in Denair in 2019, hundreds of girls from the high school, middle school, independent study and even elementary campuses have participated in a 20-week series of meetings with trained mentors on the Denair staff.

The curriculum addresses the unique pressures and expectations that teen-age and pre-teen girls often face — confidence and self-esteem, finding their authentic voice, girl bullying, unhealthy dating relationships and sexual violence, and lack of strong friendships and support systems.

In September, participants in the ROX program were treated to two special activities.

The first involved a presentation from Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Detective Dianna Barron and two other members from the Special Victims Unit.

The second fun event was a field trip to Riverbank as part of “Empowering Girls in Entrepreneurship: A Day of Inspiration + Career Exploration.” Students were able to visit nine booths where they had one-on-one interactions female entrepreneurs in fields such as politics, law, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), healthcare and education.

“These students not only met weekly for an entire year but also had the opportunity to focus intensely on exploring career paths through doing research, creating posters, and talking to other professional adults,” said Lina Mateus, one of Denair’s mental health clinicians. “Girls now know that focusing on their talents, skills, desires, and values can go far without being limited by gender.”

In late October, 20 girls from the high school and middle school received certificates after completing the ROX program. Fittingly, their celebration included a cake from Dulce Mia Cakes bakery created and decorated by Abigail Melendez, a ROX participant at Denair Charter Academy last year.

Last year, the ROX program was expanded to include fifth-graders for the first time. There were 22 girls in Denair Elementary Charter Academy who participated in meetings led by Kara Binkley, a counselor at Denair Charter Academy who has been one of the district’s ROX facilitators from the beginning. Over the summer, another 12 fifth- and sixth-graders completed the ROX lessons.

“It was a huge success,” said Binkley of the first-ever summer ROX session.

Many of the girls who have participated in ROX continue to meet monthly with Mateus to discuss key issues and support each other.

A new ROX group will begin this month. High school and middle school girls interested in joining should contact Mateus at lmateus@dusd.k12.ca.us to register or obtain more information. Binkley also is leading two fifth-grade ROX groups at DECA and another for high school girls at DCA.

Denair’s second program targeting girls is part of the nonprofit She Became network, which believes that education, mentorship and community are interconnected. More than 40 girls in Denair benefitted from the program in the last school year. Earlier this fall, She Became founder Joanna Esparza came to Denair to headline a rally attended by 35 girls that featured guest speakers, breakfast, live music, games, prizes, giveaways and lessons on empowerment. 

The next She Became workshop is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. Its theme is “Unleashing Creativity & Confidence in Every Girl.”

“What is unique about this program is that it continues motivating all female students to participate with other women who are part of their support system, such as their grandmothers, aunts, cousins, sisters, or guardians,” Mateus said. “All Denair students’ families are welcome to join.”

Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger is proud of the district’s commitment to girls as evidenced by the ROX and She Became programs as well as women who lead them.

“The wonderful programs that support girls in Denair Unified would not be possible without the incredible mentorship of our facilitators, counselors and even administrators,” she said. “We have so many strong female leaders in the district and, without exception, each of them believes that part of their job is lifting up our young women to be strong, independent, happy, empowered leaders of tomorrow.”