Kim Cuthriell: Praise for blue-ribbon winner Sparkes Elementary

In September, Frank Sparkes Elementary received the National Blue Ribbon Award for closing the achievement gap. Only 337 schools in the nation received this award and just 24 in California. I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers, administration, staff and parents.

On Oct.23, we had a student assembly celebrating this great achievement. We thank Rep. Jim Costa for attending the event. I would also like to thank Senator Anthony Cannella for his commitment and support of the local control funding formula for schools. As an administrator, I am aware of the huge disparities in school funding because of our state’s diverse regional economies. The formula puts the power into the school districts, reducing state control on how districts use their money.

Allowing districts to identify and invest in resources that ensure success for their unique student bodies helps everyone win. The formula also provides support for districts that have higher concentrations of poor and English-learning students. For Frank Sparkes Elementary, we have invested these funds in additional teachers who provide supplemental resources to ensure our achievement gap remains closed. Without LLCF, it would have been difficult to hire these educators.

I am grateful to Rep. Costa and Sen. Cannella for their commitment to our community, our children and our children’s education.

This story was originally published November 3, 2014 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Kim Cuthriell: Praise for blue-ribbon winner Sparkes Elementary."