IHS Girls-in-Stem

IHS Girls-in-Stem at Board Meeting

Dear Fremont Unified Community,

As we wrap up the first month of 2025, I want to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the support and dedication you’ve shown in helping our students thrive during the first half of the year. Thank you for being an essential part of our FUSD community! With your continued partnership, I am confident we will accomplish even more this year and continue building on our success.

Budget Balancing Update
At their meeting on January 22, the Board continued the Budget Reduction discussion and provided final direction to staff before February’s required staffing actions. The changes in the original direction include protecting the Campus Supervisor at Robertson HS and ensuring that the return of Ohlone dual-enrollment reimbursement does not jeopardize funding for materials and supplies needed for those courses. The Board remains focused on prioritizing the student experience while considering the long-term impact of reductions. You are invited to view the recording of the Board Meeting for a full recap of the discussion. Feel free to visit the Balanced Budget webpage for additional background on this ongoing process.

District leadership is preparing layoff resolutions as required by the law; FUSD hopes to reverse (rescind) at least some layoffs once we have a clearer picture of our budget in the spring, but it must take this initial step to provide the most flexibility.  The Board meets twice in February: on February 12 and February 26. HR Leadership will submit formal layoff action to the Board for approval prior to the March 15 deadline to send preliminary layoff notices.

FUSD: A Safe Place for ALL Students, Staff, and Families ❤
Beyond budget reductions, I recognize that many families are experiencing increased stress and uncertainty. FUSD is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive space for ALL families. Fremont Unified will continue to be a district where every student, staff member, and family feels welcomed and supported, regardless of immigration status. We are also committed to ensuring that transgender and non-binary students, staff, and families are valued and respected in our community. We will continue to follow California law and prioritize safety, dignity, and privacy for all.

We have a new Resources for Immigrant Families page on the district website, which includes local and state-level resources as a starting point. We will continue to update the page as the situation evolves. Our Federal & State Programs Department also provides Immigrant Resources on its website, where you can learn more about your constitutional rights, learn what to do when encountering law enforcement regarding immigration, and access collections of resources.

Thank you for your ongoing support in making Fremont Unified a place where all students can thrive. Together, we will navigate challenges and ensure students, staff, and families feel safe, valued, and supported. We’re going to get through these challenges together, and we’re going to be okay.

In partnership, Superintendent Burmeister

Snapshots from January
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IHS Girls-in-Stem
and CubeSat launch
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Kristin Dil recognized
Jan. 22 Board Meeting
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Visited the Native American
Studies Program
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Adda Veggie taste testing
at American HS
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Superintendent and son
visited Masjid-e-Mohammedi
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Lunar New Year
celebration at Hopkins
IHS Girls-in-STEM Club Launches a Satellite
On December 21, 2024, the Girls-in-STEM Club at Irvington High School successfully launched a CubeSat into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Over the past two years, these students have worked tirelessly to design and build their mini-satellite in collaboration with Stanford University’s Student Space Initiative (SSI) and Cal Poly Pomona’s Bronco Space. Superintendent Burmeister presented the team with certificates of recognition at the January 8 Board meeting. A special thank you to our staff advisors, college mentors, and the FUSD Board for their continued support in making this incredible milestone possible.

Attendance Counts!
Did you know that daily student attendance directly impacts our funding? Each day a student is absent, we lose $65 in funding. Our Average Daily Attendance (ADA) rose from 95.4% to 96.4%, but unfortunately, the state uses data from January 15 – April 15 to determine funding, which includes the cold and flu season. So, let’s keep up the great work! If we can maintain this 1% increase, it could mean an additional $4 million in funding next year.

What you can do to help with attendance:

  • Prioritize getting a good night’s sleep with a regular bedtime.
  • Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent medical appointments during the day.
  • If students must stay home due to illness, they should ask the teacher(s) for resources to make up for the missed learning time and be aware of the school’s attendance policy.

TK / K Enrollment Now Open
Visit the Enrollment & Registration page for the registration link and instructions. Please note that priority enrollment, including TK, K, and sibling priority (a sibling is currently enrolled for the 24-25 school year in grades TK-4), has earlier deadlines. Applications must be submitted online on or before March 19, and an enrollment meeting must be completed by March 21.

CYBHI: Expanded Services for Students & New Funding for FUSD
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) and numerous California departments are partnering with schools to expand access to school-based and school-linked mental and behavioral health services for students aged 25 years and younger.

The CYBHI allows Fremont Unified to receive reimbursements for eligible behavioral health services, including screening, assessments, and ongoing mental health support provided to our students. This reimbursement will come directly from the insurance companies that cover the students at no higher cost to the parents or caregivers. This program will not affect families’ insurance coverage, and receiving services at school will not reduce or impact students or their family’s ability to obtain care outside of school.

As this program is launched in our schools, parents/guardians may be asked for their student’s health insurance information. All health information will be securely stored and only shared in alignment with existing federal and state laws.

Visit the district’s CYBHI page for more information, and look out for updates in future messages from your student’s school and the District.

FUSD and City of Fremont’s Student Job & Internship Fair
The FREE Student Job & Internship Fair is on Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Downtown Event Center – 3500 Capitol Avenue. Students can explore job and internship opportunities at local Fremont and East Bay organizations. Additional details and event flyer.

Do you have any connections to Tri-City or East Bay employers? Please invite them to participate, as FUSD will have 1,200+ 18-year-old students by June 1, plus many younger candidates eager to enter the workforce. Even if they are not actively hiring, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local talent pool and meet the future workforce. Employers can reserve their table here.

Parent Night (Grades K-5) with the IT Department
Join us on Monday, February 24, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for Parent Night with the IT Department. You will hear the latest updates, learn about new security updates for students, watch a live demo on how students access their curriculum and apps, and explore the new Student Information System. Techs will be available to help families set up district accounts. We also want to hear from you—share your thoughts on technology support needs. Space is limited, so please sign up here.

Ethnic Studies Curriculum Update
In the Fall 2024, an adoption committee was formed to review instructional materials aligned to the model curriculum. This review process began in October 2024.  Currently, the adoption committee is piloting two curricula: Voices and Newsela. The community may review both curricula by appointment with the C&I Department. Please email Jacqueline Cortez at jcortez@fusdk12.net or call 510.659.2570 ext. 12716. Comments shared using this form until February 28th, 2025.

Assemblymember Lee’s 2nd Annual Youth Art Contest
Students from our schools are invited to participate in the upcoming contest themed “Riding Future Transit.” The Youth Art Contest is open to all K-12 students in Fremont, Milpitas, Newark, Northern San Jose, and Sunol. This is your chance to showcase your talent and vision for riding the transit of the future. One of last year’s winners was our very own from MSJHS! Complete the submission form, drop it off, or mail your artwork to Assemblymember Lee’s District Office at 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd Suite 255, Milpitas, CA 95035. Submissions will be accepted until Friday, February 21, 2025, at 5 p.m.

ACWD’s Annual Student Video Contest
Are you a middle or high school student? Don’t miss out on your chance to win up to $500 in the Alameda County Water District’s 6th annual Student Video Contest!  Submit a 30-second video about this year’s contest theme, ACWD Water and Me, and you could win a cash prize. Teachers can win classroom scholarships! Entering is easy – see the contest details here. The deadline is Friday, March 7, 2025.

Feel free to reach out to fusdweb@fusdk12.net if you ever have any questions or don’t know who to contact.