More information about this region's service-learning programs can be found by contacting the following local educational agencies:
El Dorado County
Black Oak Mine Unified School District
6540 Wentworth Springs Road
Georgetown, CA
95634
Coordinator: Drew Woodall
Phone: 530-333-8300
Fax: 530-333-8303
E-mail: dwoodall@bomusd.org
Lake Tahoe Unified School District
2940 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151
Coordinator: Beth Quandt
Phone: 530-573-2371
Fax: 530-541-4624
E-mail: bquandt@ltusd.org
Placer County
Rocklin Unified School District
5740 Cobblestone Drive
Rocklin, CA 95765
Coordinator: Amanda Makis
Phone: 916-624-3311
Fax: 916-624-5908
E-mail: amakis@rocklin.k12.ca.us
Tahoe-Truckee Joint Unified School District
P.O. Box 8113
Truckee, CA 96161-8113
Coordinator: Sasha Neumann
Phone: 530-308-5431
Fax: 530-550-0155
E-mail: sneumann@ttusd.org
Sacramento County
Elk Grove Unified School District
The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) is located in suburban southern Sacramento County, with some schools in the City of Elk Grove and others in an unincorporated part of the county. Approximately one-third of the district’s schools are classified as Title 1.
Although service-learning is not a district graduation requirement, the school board does support related projects as a way to teach academic standards and foster civic education. The district has identified new partners and community needs to help diversify the program across content areas. The EGUSD employs a communication network to ensure that teachers, the administration, community partners, and the general community can access information about community needs, about how to develop high-quality service-learning projects, and about the district’s service-learning activities. The network facilitates the information that flows between the program coordinator, the advisory board, the community, partners, teachers, and students. Its key elements are a service-learning Web site and a contact teacher identified at each site. The district’s goals are to engage more teachers and students in service-learning activities and to generate more publicity for the program.
The service-learning projects at Franklin, Elk Grove, and Calvine High Schools focus on environmental studies. The projects involve habitat restoration, biomass studies, the growth of grazing plants for the Sacramento Zoo, water-quality studies at Strawberry and Laguna Creeks, and the training of high school mentors to conduct a Marsh Madness for elementary school students. A partnership with the Elk Grove and Galt Historical Societies provides the basis for expansion of the Preserving Local Culture program, a historical study project. Student participation in Project Citizen continues to promote civic education through activities that address public policy and community needs. A Civic Mission of Schools grant enables students at Sheldon High School to operate an election process that mirrors the national elections to promote civic responsibility. Additional projects include a career fair, building a shed for kindergarten equipment, garden projects, and children’s books that are written as a summative assessment for narrative writing.
The Laguna Creek Watershed Council facilitates students’ habitat restoration and water-quality testing projects at local creeks and storm drains. The California Waterfowl Association has trained high school students as docents in the Marsh Madness wetlands study program, which is held at the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The Florin Resource Conservation District funds teacher trainings in the Adopt-A-Watershed program and sponsors a team of high school students to complete the state Envirothon and Range Camp. The Cosumnes River Preserve supports field work and professional development at the McFarland Living History Ranch and the Preserve. Additional partners include the City of Elk Grove and the Center for Civic Education.
The EGUSD Advisory Board meets quarterly and reviews all funding requests to ensure a high-quality service-learning program.
Contact Information:
Elk Grove Unified School District
9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Fax: 916-686-7743
Coordinators: Raymond Pietersen and Donald Azevada, Jr.
Phone: 916-686-7797 ext.7407 or (916) 686-7757 ext.7644
E-mail: rpieters@egusd.net or dazevada@egusd.net
Galt Joint Union Elementary School District
The Galt Joint Union High School District (GJUHSD) is the lead agency in a multidistrict collaborative that provides opportunities for kindergarten through grade twelve students to participate in high-quality service-learning experiences to meet community needs and enhance academic learning. Three kindergarten through grade twelve school districts are partnering with the GJUHSD in a regional service-learning initiative to form the Galt Area Collaborative, in which three rural school sites from New Hope Elementary School District, Oak View Elementary School District, and Arcohe Elementary School District feed into the GJUHSD. The greater Galt community provides strong support for this service-learning initiative, and sound partnerships are in place.
The rapidly growing City of Galt is located on the border of Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, about 30 miles south of downtown Sacramento. The student population reflects the area’s wide range of language, socioeconomic status, and cultural diversity. The participation of Galt’s students in service-learning actively supports the high school district’s mission to "ensure that each student graduates and achieves his or her goals, becoming a contributing member of society through effective personalized educational programs and facilities in partnership with family and community."
Students in the Galt Area Collaborative engage in a variety of meaningful service projects that enrich their academic studies and foster civic responsibility. Through a partnership with the Cosumnes River Preserve, students help to restore valley oak forests, wetlands, and grasslands and also help to protect threatened wildlife. Working with the Galt Area Historical Society, students, teachers, and community volunteers bring history to life at the McFarland Living History Ranch. Elementary students raise salmon to be released into the American River with the help of the California Department of Fish and Game and California Fly Fishers Unlimited. Each school campus offers both community service and service-learning efforts that are open to further development and strengthening. Partial funding by the CalServe Initiative helps to ensure that service-learning is not simply an occasional activity that some teachers use but a widespread teaching and learning strategy that is effectively employed throughout the four school districts.
Contact Information:
Galt Joint Union Elementary
School District
13501 Franklin Boulevard
Galt, CA 95632
Coordinator: John Durand
Phone: 916-683-1703 or 916-801-3741
Fax: 916-683-1702
E-mail: jdurand@galt.k12.ca.us
Galt Joint Union High School District
417 C Street
Galt, CA 95632
Coordinator: John Durand
Phone: 916-683-1703, 916-801-3741
Fax: 916-683-1702
E-mail: jdurand@galt.k12.ca.us
Twin Rivers Unified School District
Twin Rivers Unified School District
5115 Dudley Boulevard, Bay C
McClellan, CA 95652
Coordinator: Keenya Powell
Phone: 916-566-1600
Fax: 916-566-3598
E-mail: keenya.powell@twinrivers.usd.org
