Community forum information
Questions and answers from the January 5 Community Forum concerning the District budget and alternate funding sources is is available here. Questions from the January 19 forum are available here. Questions concerning the budget may be emailed to budgetinfo@pleasanton.k12.ca.us.

Impacts of budget reductions
The District has received questions about the impact of budget reductions in the current year. Please click here to see view some information on how students are being affected by cutbacks of more than $11 million in the current fiscal year.

Additional information about the current budget situation is being posted in the Business Services section of our website. Please visit the Budget Information, Annual Budget, and Budget Advisory Committee pages.

Kindergarten Roundup Informational Meetings
Parents who are planning to register their children for Kindergarten in PUSD (for the 2010/11 school year) are invited to attend an informational meeting.   For your convenience, they have been scheduled at three different locations. Please note that these meetings are intended for parents only. You may attend any one of the meetings from 6 - 7 p.m. on the following dates:

Thursday, February 18, Vintage Hills Elementary School multipurpose room
Wednesday, February 24, Hearst Elementary School multipurpose room
Tuesday, March 2, Fairlands Elementary School multipurpose room

Information that will be covered at the meeting includes discussion of a typical kindergarten school day; explanation of kindergarten registration procedures and Kindergarten Round-up; hints on how to get your child ready to attend school; and information about required immunizations. Kindergarten registration handbooks are available online for downloading at www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us (navigate to Educational Services, Pupil Services). For questions, call the Pupil Services Department at 925-426-4290.

Kindergarten Round Up will be held on March 17 and March 18, in the small gym at Amador Valley High School, 1155 Santa Rita Road. from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. We will also be registering any incoming elementary school age child, (grades 1-5) who will be new to PUSD at the start of the 2010/11 school year.

Zangle Parent Connection
For questions or support issues, email zanglehelp@pleasanton.k12.ca.us. Please do not contact the vendor (C Innovations or zangle.com). The vendor cannot issue logins or assist with questions about the PUSD Zangle system. It is also not recommended that you use Google or other search engines to locate information or our login page--you may end up in another school district.

.Click here to access the Parent Connection login page.

Volunteer translators needed
The Pleasanton Unified School District is currently updating our annual list of people who would be willing to assist with oral and/or written translations when needed.   If you would be willing to provide voluntary translation assistance, please click here for additional information.   Translations may include phone conversations, documents, or translating during a meeting at the school site.

Adult Education update
Amador Valley Adult and Community Education has announced their classes for the fall semester. Brochures are available at all school sites, the Pleasanton Public Library, Chamber of Commerce, and at the Adult Education Office located at 215 Abbie Street. All course information is also online. Brochures are no longer mailed to all households, but are available on request.

To preview courses and register online, go to www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/adulted. Please call 925-426-4280 with questions or to request a brochure.

California Healthy Kids Survey
The Pleasanton Unified School District would like all students in grades 5, 7, 9, 11, and Alternative Education to participate in the Healthy Kids Survey, sponsored by the California Department of Education. This very important survey, required by law, will help promote better health among our community’s youth and combat problems such as drug abuse and violence. The survey has been approved by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Health Services, and our local Board of Education. The District plans to administer the survey during mid-October.

Written permission forms have been sent home and should be returned with parent/guardian signature. Copies of permission forms for Grade 5, Grade 7, Grade 9/11, Alternative Education, or in Spanish may be downloaded by clicking on the links.

The surveys are available for review prior to administration:
Elementary School Questionnaire (English/Spanish)
Middle School Questionnaire
High School Questionnaire

For questions, please contact the Special Projects Office at 925-426-4326 or email rhempy@pleasanton.k12.ca.us.

For students requesting theatrical permits, including entertainment industry, modeling, etc., these must be obtained by a parent/guardian directly from the California State Labor Commissioner at 1515 Clay Street, Room 801, Oakland, CA, 94612. The procedure preferred is to send a note requesting an application for this entertainment industry-specific type of work permit and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address.  There is a portion of the application, which must be completed by the school attended by the minor, or whichever summer office is issuing work permits.  The completed application may then be mailed back to the Oakland office by the parent again with a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and the special work permit will be mailed back.  The telephone number for more information is (510) 557-7878, and then select “0” for a representative.

Items needed for regular work permit applications include proof of age (picture ID or birth certificate) and proof of school enrollment.

Free and low-cost immunizations
The following Tri-Valley clinics provide free and low cost immunization and physical exams: Axis Community Health-- 4361 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton, or 3311 Pacific Avenue, 925-462-1755; Mobile Health Unit (MHU) by ValleyCare--MHU travels to different locations in Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore; please call 925-373-4529 for service location and hours of operation. A list of other free clinics throughout Alameda County is available here. For questions, please contact Pupil Services at 925-462-4290 to speak to the district nurse or health services liaison.

PUSD names 2009/10 Teacher of the Year
The Pleasanton Unified School District has named Debbie Harvey as Teacher of the Year for 2009/10. Ms. Harvey is a Consumer and Family Studies teacher at Amador Valley High School. Her classes this year include Foods 101 and 102, Catering, and Child Growth and Development. She came to Pleasanton Unified in 1990, teaching for 6 years at Pleasanton Middle School before moving to Amador Valley in 1996. She had previous teaching experience in Hayward and Long Beach.

According to her nomination, "Mama Harvey" (as her students call her) sets high expectations for all students. Her classes offer the opportunity for practical application of reading, math, and writing skills and for development of time-management, organization, cooperation, and interpersonal skills. Her catering class serves student, district and community events. She has served as department chair, participated in the school's accreditation process, and acts as a representative to the Tri-Valley Educational Collaborative. She is active in 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) and is the advisor for the FHA-HERO club. Her colleagues say that Debbie has a knack for reaching all students and providing an environment where they can be successful.

Ms. Harvey will now be in the running for Alameda County Teacher of the Year which will be announced in late October. She follows the 2008/09 Teacher of the Year, Dennis Aquilina, band instructor at Hart Middle School.

Searching for district information?
To help make finding the information you need easier, the search feature on this PUSD website has been enabled. Simply type your keyword(s) into the box at the upper right of any page and click the Search button. Also, visit the "Who does What" page to help find where to direct your calls and inquiries.