School district sets unification date for July 1
In a historic milestone after years of discord over race and funding, the Sausalito Marin City School District has announced it will unify its two schools on July 1.
The resolution joins Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Marin City and Willow Creek Academy, the charter program in Sausalito, into one magnet school on two campuses.
“I am a product of integrating a segregated school in the Sausalito district,” said Ida Green, board president of the Sausalito Marin City School District. “I recognize the benefits of a one school system, which I highly support. Our communities, families, partners, educators and students are on the cusp of building a one school system, which will lead to greatness in academia.”
Kurt Weinsheimer, Willow Creek board president, the agreement “highlights the goals and approach for creating a top-tier school for all our community’s kids that emphasizes personal growth, diversity, equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging for each student.”
Under the terms of the agreement, signed earlier this month, pre-kindergarten, transitional kindergarten and grades six through eight will be at the Marin City campus. Kindergarten through fifth grade will be at the Sausalito campus.
“There is still a lot of work to do to ensure that resources focus on diverse learning needs, that staff from both schools are set up for success, and financial plans provide for sustainable student support for years to come,” Weinsheimer said. “But I am confident that our school staff, families and community supporters will help make the vision a reality for the fall 2021 opening.”
Willow Creek will voluntarily surrender its charter on June 30, the agreement states. The new school will have full in-person learning on both campuses in the fall.
The district will also run programs before and after school, as well as enrichment classes, said Superintendent Itoco Garcia.
“Sausalito Marin City School District and Willow Creek Academy recognize that the unification will be a fruitful venture that will uplift students, parents, teachers and the community as a whole,” Garcia said. “We believe the unified school’s environment will allow students to thrive academically, grow individually and develop a more connected compassionate world view together.”
The unification comes as the district and the charter school are still regrouping from their controversial past that led to a two-year state probe. District and charter school officials were accused of intentionally diverting district resources to Willow Creek and away from the Marin City campus, creating a lesser-caliber segregated school at Bayside MLK.
In August 2019, the state attorney general’s office and the school district announced a settlement. As part of the settlement, the state ordered the district to desegregate its schools within five years. It was the state’s first desegregation order in 50 years.
Garcia said the district will establish advisory and transition committees to help smooth the unification process over the summer. A team will be set up to monitor the social and mental health of students.
“Providing a top-tier education for students throughout and beyond unification is paramount,” Garcia said. “The district and WCA share a commitment to all students and their individual needs.”
In addition to an enhanced curriculum, the district will run advanced classes for high-performing students and create an integrated English language development program for its schools. Other plans call for project-based learning and arts integration across the core curriculum of English, math, science and social studies. Garcia added that instructional coaches will provide support for teachers or offer direct intervention for students who are falling behind or who are remaining in distance learning.
He said the district also plans to look at the potential establishment of a single, consolidated campus. The district passed a $41.6 million bond measure last year to cover facility repairs and upgrades on both campuses.