Superintendent's Update

Dear RCSD Community,

As we close out September and my first three months with Redwood City School District (RCSD), I want to begin with a heartfelt thank you. From students greeting me in the hallways to families and staff stopping to introduce themselves and share their stories, you have welcomed me with incredible warmth. These first few months have been joyful, busy, and inspiring, and I am grateful every day for the opportunity to be part of this community.

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and we have something to celebrate: RCSD’s attendance rate is currently 96.04%! Attendance is part of Goal 1 of our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), our three-year plan for improving student outcomes and directing resources to meet student needs. Last year, attendance improved districtwide and chronic absenteeism, which means missing 10% or more of the school year, decreased overall.

We want to keep that momentum going because the attendance clock starts on the first day of school, and so does learning. This year, we are paying particular attention to our TK and Kindergarten students as they build the routines, relationships, and sense of belonging that come from attending school every day.

As we celebrate a strong September, I also want to give a special shout-out to our staff for an incredible opening to the 2026–27 school year! Our classroom teachers, classified partners, and administrators have brought tremendous energy, care, and dedication to these first weeks of school. I am grateful for their ongoing and relentless pursuit of student wellness and achievement and for everything they have done to make the start of this school year so joyful and successful.

That spirit of connection is also at the heart of my 90-Day Entry Plan, which includes a Listening and Learning Tour across RCSD. I am incredibly grateful to the families and staff who have joined me to share their experiences, questions, hopes, and ideas. These conversations are about more than gathering feedback. They are about strengthening family engagement, building trust, getting to know one another, and creating the kind of connections that unite us as a community around our children. I leave each session energized and inspired by what I hear.

As I complete my 90-Day Entry Plan, I am reminded that listening and learning don't end after 90 days. They are part of how I want to lead. Every school has its own story, every family brings an important perspective, and every employee has something to teach me about RCSD.

Thank you for welcoming me, sharing so openly, and showing up for our students and one another. After these first three months, I am more excited than ever about where we can go together.

Together, we’re All In for Kids.

With gratitude,

Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba
Superintendent

Superintendent Dr. Rubalcaba meets with Henry Ford families

Clifford families join Superintendent Dr. Rubalcaba during his listening and learning tour

The Superintendent’s Update is part of the RCSD Update Series and is produced by the Department of Communications and Community Engagement to keep our school community informed about district work, priorities, and progress that support students and schools.