By Alex White
Staff Writer
Manhattan Beach Unified School District administrators and parents met for the first of five “State of Our Schools” meet-and-greet gatherings on Sept. 19 to discuss a multitude of district-wide and Mira Costa-specific topics.
The conference, which took place from 6:30 to 8 p.m., focused on concerns and updates regarding technology, scheduling, API scores and block schedule.
“It’s important to talk and hear what’s going on,” MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said. “What really works [for communication] is talking to people and shaking hands.”
Matthews, along with Costa Principal Ben Dale, Manhattan Beach Middle School Principal John Jackson, Pacific Elementary School Principal Kim Linz and MBUSD Board members Karen Komatinski and Ellen Rosenberg all attended the event.
One issue that was discussed in detail was the school’s 12-point improvement in its 2011 API score to its 2011 score to 911, which was announced on Sept. 1. Dale feels that the latest improvement only further testimony to the school’s academic excellence.
“This school has a collegiate feel,” Dale said. “The teachers are passionate about the students. Whatever your student wants to do, they can do [it] here.”
The issue of state funding was touched upon by Matthews, who remains optimistic despite the still-desperate state of the district’s budget.
“The California budget is horrendous,” Matthews said. “We’re expecting one to two million dollars in budget cuts. However, our expectation is not to just survive in this dire time, but to thrive.”
Matthews also commented on Costa’s new technology implementations. He has faith in the new pilots, which are now being expanded to every school throughout MBUSD in an effort to find uniformity in district technology policy.
“Technology can individualize instruction in a way that no teacher can,” Matthews said. “[In the past,] we haven’t done anything as a district.”
Dale and Matthews each fielded numerous questions from parents of students throughout the district at different points in the night, and the parents were allowed to inquire on a wide array of issues.
“Gathering in a small setting made it possible for Dr. Matthews and Mr. Dale to explain the state of our schools in a more in-depth manner and answer our questions more effectively,” Costa parent Chris Alexiades said. “Communication is easier at a house with less than 30 people than [it is] at a big gathering or over some other form of contact.”
The next “State of Our Schools” meeting will be on Sept. 26 at 428 32nd street in Manhattan Beach. the remaining four will all be held on consecutive Mondays at different places within the city. The final meeting is scheduled for Oct. 24.
“Mira Costa has a swagger that we try to convey to the kids,” Dale said. “This more intimate setting [for the meetings] is part of the fabric of Manhattan Beach.”
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