Meeting Notes

Eureka City Schools Community Schools Advisory Council #17

Ronda Evans, Director of Community Schools

June 5, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

8:40 a.m. - Meeting Called to order

Ronda Evans opened the meeting and welcomed participants. She reviewed expectations for the meeting and discussed upcoming changes and opportunities for Community Schools in the 2026-27 school year.

Land Acknowledgement & Centering Our Work

• Land acknowledgement presented
• Discussion of actions taken to support culturally responsive practices throughout the district.
• Blue Lake Rancheria has partnered with Eureka City Schools to host the Jumpstart Program for Native American students.
• Blue Lake Rancheria is sponsoring 40 Native American students to attend the program. 
• Discussion of culturally responsive practices and plants to identify and support an additional subgroup in the coming year.

Community Schools Framework

• Reviewed the purpose of the meeting.
• Discussed the Whole Child Framework.
• Reviewed the Four Pillars of Community Schools.

8:55 a.m. - 9:08 a.m. | Introductions

• Council members and guests introduced themselves.
• Information shared regarding Promise Neighborhoods.
• Contact information provided for Ali Robbins.

9:08 a.m. - 10:21 a.m. | Community Schools Annual Performance Reports

Goal 1: Improve Student Attendance

Ronda provided an overview of the growth and development of Community Schools since implementation.

Key points included:

• Expansion from 3 schools to 9 schools.
• Community Schools staffing has tripled.
• Establishment of MTSS Teams and Student Study Teams.
• Development of systems to monitor attendance and address chronic absenteeism.
• Creation of the district's first Chronic-Absenteeism Social Worker position.
• Focus on serving families through culturally respectful and relationship-based practices.
• Transportation barriers identified through community engagement and addressed through new transportation supports for McKinney-Vento families.
• Discussion of the progress made and areas for continued growth.
• Update that Community Schools is nearing permanent funding status.

Program Updates

• Project AWARE grant will be overseen by Ronda Evans
• Certified Wellness Coach positions will increase from six to nine to ensure equitable services across all school sites.

Goal 1 Strategies

• MTSS teams at every school site
• Transportation support
• Home visits
• Student Attendance Review Teams (SART)
• Check & Connect

• Gas cards and city bus passes

• Student clubs and engagement opportunities

Goal 2: Increase Student and Family Belonging

• Student Leadership opportunities
• Data Walks
• Resource closets
• Surveys
• Parent outreach and communication
• PTSA, School Site Council, and ELAC participation
• Parent Leadership Academy (PLA)
• Interpretation services available at all events

Goal 3: Improve Conditions to Increase Academic Outcomes for Student Subgroups

• MTSS supports
• Transportation assistance
• Check & Connect
• Family support with ASES registration

Site Presentations

Community Schools data, outcomes, and actions aligned with Goals 1-3 were presented for the following sites:

• Alice Birney Elementary (presented by Ronda Evans)
• Grant Elementary (presented by Ronda Evans)
• Washington Elementary (presented by Cha)
• Winship Middle School (presented by Tiffany)
• Zane Middle School (presented by Ronda Evans)
• Zoe Barnum High School (presented by Nicholas)
• Eureka High School (presented by Cameron)

10:21 a.m. - 10:43 a.m. | walk & talk community engagement activity

Participants engaged in a facilitated Walk & Talk activity focused on community engagement, partnerships, and future opportunities for growth.

10:43 a.m. - 10:52 a.m. | group reflection and discussion

Participants reflected on the Walk & Talk activity and shared observations.

Discussion themes included:

• Recognition that many positive initiatives are occurring throughout Community Schools.
• Interest in receiving information in advance to allow more thoughtful preparation and discussion.
• Nicholas shared that the activity helped deepen understanding of partnerships and relationship-building efforts.
• Discussion of the value of replicating Community Schools practices across additional schools and communities.
• Recognition of attendance gains and the importance of continuing to build a sense of belonging.
• Discussion about what comes next and how Community Schools can continue to grow.
• Emphasis on the ultimate goal of communities supporting one another.
• Recognition that meetings with schools should be viewed as opportunities for support and resources, not solely as responses to problems. 
• Discussion of building stronger community connections where families support one another. 

10:52 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Community Schools 

Updates included:

• Summer Jumpstart Program and Native Ways of Knowing
• Southern Humboldt Medical Eye Clinic
• Expansion of Community Schools Programming
• Aunties on Benches initiative
• Mobile Dental Clinic
• Community School Liaison positions being aligned with each site's Student Attendance Team (SART)

11:00 a.m. - 11:04 a.m. | Welcome: Alder Grove Charter School

• Announcement that Alder Grove Charter School will be joining the Community Schools network
• Introduction of Shana Langer
• Information shared regarding the Blue Lake Rancheria Conference:
  • August 1-2 at Sequoia Park, Eureka
  • Open to students in 6th grade and above
  • Student raffles planned
  • Community organizations invited to host informational and enagagement booths
  • Event open to all students and families, not exclusive to Native American participants.

11:04 a.m. - 11:06 a.m. | Closing and Next Steps

Topics identified for future work included:

• Faith-Based Partnership Initiative
• Focus Groups
• Parking Lot and Missed Partnerships
• Mental Health Subcommittee

11:06 a.m. | Meeting Adjourned