Superintendent's Update

Hello Everyone,

The 2026–27 school year is off to a very positive start! With several significant changes this year—including a new principal and secretary at Avery Middle School, 15 minutes added to the instructional day, monthly minimum days on the third Wednesday, and several new staff members—I have been impressed by how our staff have come together to support these transitions. As I begin my sixth year as Superintendent of VUSD, I have heard from several people that this has been one of our smoothest starts to a school year yet.

Fall sports are underway, and we are preparing for our EdVenture fall enrichment activities, including Make-a-Musical, Robotics, Chess, and Indoor Soccer. These programs are part of our Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), which also includes our after-school supervision hubs. Family interest in Hawks Hub after school supervision has been so strong that we are excited to open a second program, Hazel’s Hub, at Hazel Fischer. Hazel’s Hub will operate daily from 2:20–4:30 p.m. and include snacks, homework help, enrichment, and free play. Hawks Hub will continue serving Michelson and Avery families until 5:00 p.m. each day.

Finally, we want to hear from you about technology use at VUSD, specifically smartphones, Chromebooks, and artificial intelligence. Our Governing Board is exploring policies and guidelines that balance the benefits of technology for learning with the importance of supporting student well-being. Please take a few minutes to share your perspective by completing the survey below.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE TECHNOLOGY SURVEY

We hope you and your student(s) have had a great start to the school year. Thank you to everyone who participated in our Back to School Nights and helped make the beginning of the year so successful. We are excited about the year ahead!

Sincerely,

Tom Hoskins, Superintendent

VUSD strives to provide timely communication about school happenings. We have developed a multi-level system of communication to help all families feel informed. The communication chart below describes the various ways we push out information. Parents Square, the Aeries App and https://www.vallecitok12.com/ are important communication tools we use regularly to keep you informed and updated.

Phone limits at school are becoming increasingly important as more research highlights concerns about the impact of smartphones, social media, and unrestricted internet access on the well-being of children and adolescents. The VUSD Governing Board continues to learn more about this issue, including through a study of Jonathan Haidt’s "The Anxious Generation". This year, we are also encouraging families to consider the Wait Until 8th pledge, which brings parents together in delaying smartphones for their children until at least 8th grade.

At our elementary schools, we strongly recommend that students not bring phones to school. If a phone is brought, it must remain in the student’s backpack during the school day. At Avery Middle School, smartphones must also remain in backpacks throughout the school day and may not be kept on a student’s person. These limits are intended to reduce distractions, encourage healthy social interaction, and keep students focused on learning.

On June 17, Susan Singleton announced her retirement from the VUSD Governing Board. The Board currently consists of four members: Jessica Hitchcock (President), Rob Hecocks (Clerk), Jodi Sledge, and David Needham.

Four Governing Board seats will be filled as part of the November 2026 election. David Needham’s current term continues through 2028, while the remaining seats are up for election.

The Calaveras County Elections Office has confirmed the following eligible candidates: Rob Hecocks, Jodi Sledge, and Kim Pratt for four-year terms, and Roem Bonilla for the remaining two years of Susan Singleton’s term.

With four candidates for four available seats, the Board is expected to welcome its newly elected members at the December Organizational Meeting following completion and certification of the November election.

Working at VUSD requires a big heart because we are family and we support each other and the students in our care. It also requires a can-do attitude because we’re a small district and “other duties as assigned” regularly interrupt whatever we’re working on. Finally, it requires a great sense of humor, because humor helps us keep everything in perspective. If you (or someone you know) enjoy children, and love learning then we encourage you to consider applying for any of our current job vacancies. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL JOB OPENINGS AT VUSD

We are actively seeking our next Chief Business Official (CBO) - Director of Operations as long time employee, Gretchen McReynolds has announced her retirement as of March 30, 2027. Additionally, we have opening for Para Educators at Avery Middle School and Hazel Fischer Elementary.

Good attendance is one of the strongest indicators of student success. Simply put, students who attend school regularly tend to perform better academically than those who are frequently absent or tardy.

VUSD is continuing our Attendance Awareness Campaign this year after achieving our highest district-wide attendance rate in seven years during 2025–26. Our goal is to keep that positive momentum going!

Families can help by planning trips during school breaks and scheduling medical and dental appointments after school or on minimum days whenever possible. Our “Plan Ahead” calendar highlights non-school and minimum days throughout the year to help families schedule ahead and minimize missed instructional time.

Our District Attendance Goal: 95%
Every school day matters, and every day of attendance helps our students learn, grow, and succeed.

We value the voices and perspectives of our families, staff, and community members and invite you to participate in VUSD’s district committees throughout the 2026–27 school year.

Our committees provide opportunities to learn more about district programs and priorities, share input, and help support our continued efforts to provide the best possible experience for VUSD students. This year’s committees include Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment; Wellness, SEL, Attendance & Foster Youth; Safety; and Technology.

Attached is our 2026–27 Committee Dates: Year at a Glance, which includes meeting dates, times, locations, and a brief description of each committee. All staff, parents, and community members are welcome to attend any meeting—no ongoing commitment is required.

You can also keep track of District events, including committee meetings by visiting the front page of our website - https://www.vallecitok12.com/ - under "upcoming events".

We hope you’ll consider joining us for a meeting that interests you. Your participation and input are always appreciated!