January 9, 2026

Dear MBUSD Parents and Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. In today’s issue, we will highlight:

Winter is an exciting time at Manhattan Beach Preschool! Our classrooms are exploring seasonal and cultural themes, including Snow, Penguins, Mid-Winter Holidays, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through hands-on, play-based learning.

All themes and activities are thoughtfully designed using Scholastic’s My Big World and Let’s Find Out and are aligned with the California Department of Education’s Preschool Learning Foundations. This ensures our experiences support children’s development across language and literacy, math, science, social-emotional learning, and physical development—while remaining engaging and age-appropriate.

Our winter themes are integrated into our STEAM program, where children are studying the life cycle of a snowflake, sequencing stories with Melting Snowman, and learning about Arctic animals and how they adapt to cold climates.

In music, students have been singing winter-themed songs, many of which were proudly shared during our recent Winter Concert.

Classrooms have transformed into winter wonderlands with engaging learning centers, including a Snowman Building Center using boxes, Ice Fishing, Winter Playdough, a Pretend Ice Skating Rink with fuzzy socks, and a Snowball Throwing Game that builds coordination and gross-motor skills.

We’re looking forward to our annual Snow Day coming next week, filled with extra winter fun! 

Thank you to Jacqueline O’Sullivan, Director of Early Learning, for contributing this story.

This week, I’m excited to highlight Kristen Potok, one of our dedicated Instructional Assistants in Transitional Kindergarten, who has been a valued member of the MBUSD family at Pennekamp for the past three years.

In her role, she works closely with the lead teacher to support our youngest learners each day—reinforcing lessons, working with small groups, leading read-alouds, and helping create a positive, safe, and engaging learning environment. She also supports students with behavior development and oversees playground time, activities, and transitions, helping ensure that every child feels supported throughout the school day. In addition to her work on campus, she serves on our Health and Safety Advisory Committee, contributing her experience and perspective to District-wide efforts.

Kristen's journey in education spans nearly two decades. Prior to joining MBUSD, she worked as an IBI in infant and toddler programs in Maryland and later in Los Angeles. Her passion for working with young children began early—through babysitting, lifeguarding, and teaching swim lessons to students with special needs—and continued through college internships that launched her long-standing career in early childhood education.

What she loves most about her work is seeing students’ smiles each morning, hearing their stories, and witnessing growth over time—from early name writing and self-portraits to building fine motor skills and confidence. As she shared, even the smallest progress after weeks of effort is incredibly rewarding.

Outside of school, she enjoys spending time at the beach listening to the waves, hiking, exploring new grocery stores, and staying active.

We are grateful for the care, consistency, and joy she brings to our TK classrooms each day. Thank you for the meaningful impact you make on our students and our school community, Kristen!

We are pleased to begin the new year by sharing excellent news with our community. MBUSD schools and the District have once again earned placement on the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll, a recognition that reflects our continued commitment to academic excellence, student growth, and closing achievement gaps.

This distinction marks more than a decade of consecutive Honor Roll recognition for our District. The ERP Honor Roll is based on student performance on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) in reading, writing, and mathematics, highlighting both strong overall achievement and meaningful progress across student groups.

This accomplishment is the result of the collective efforts of our entire school community. I extend my sincere appreciation to our dedicated educators and staff for their professionalism and care, to our students for their hard work and perseverance, and to our families and community partners for their ongoing support and collaboration.

As we look ahead to the remainder of the year and beyond, we will continue to build on these successes, strengthen learning opportunities, and maintain high expectations for every student. Together, we remain focused on ensuring all students are supported, challenged, and prepared for future success.

We are incredibly proud of our Mira Costa band students for their outstanding Winter Concert on December 12. The performance was a powerful showcase of their musicianship, discipline, and confidence, and reflected countless hours of practice and commitment. The evening was a wonderful reminder of the talent and dedication present across our schools.

Our sincere thanks go to our valued educational partners—Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF), MBX Foundation (MBX), and PTSA—as well as to the many supporters whose generosity continues to enrich student learning experiences. Partnerships like these play a critical role in sustaining strong arts programs and expanding opportunities for our students.

We also extend special recognition to Joel Carlson, Director of Bands at Mira Costa High School. His dedication, leadership, and passion for music education are evident in the excellence of the program and the growth of each student musician.

We invite our community to take a moment to experience and celebrate the remarkable talent and hard work of our students.

MBUSD invites incoming TK and Kindergarten parents and guardians to attend this year’s TK/Kindergarten Information Day. Join us to explore what makes MBUSD exceptional and learn more about our outstanding TK and Kindergarten programs. You’ll also hear how our dedicated team supports a smooth and successful transition for students and families.

Event Details:

Event Highlights:

Enrollment Eligibility for the 2026-27 School Year:

As this event is targeted for parents and guardians, free childcare for children ages 4–12 will be provided during the event, thanks to the sponsorship of Beach Cities Health District. Space is limited, so early sign-up is encouraged. 

For more information, visit our Enrollment & Registration page. Any additional questions may be directed to mbkinderevent@gmail.com.

We look forward to welcoming you and your future student(s)!

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) continues to be a cornerstone in supporting excellence across Manhattan Beach Unified School District schools. From smaller class sizes to STEAM, visual and performing arts, early literacy, and counseling, MBEF’s investments impact every student, at every school.

The countdown is on. As of today, MBEF has raised $4.2 million toward its $5.2 million Annual Appeal goal, bringing us into the final stretch at approximately 75% of the way there. While this progress reflects the incredible generosity of our community, the final phase of the campaign is always the most challenging. MBEF will continue to accept contributions through January 31, and continued participation at any level is essential to sustaining the programs our students rely on. 100% of the funds raised will support educator positions and programs in the 2026–2027 school year.

During School Board Recognition Month, we are proud to recognize and celebrate our School Board Trustees: President Tina Shivpuri, Vice President Jen Dohner, Clerk Cathey Graves, Board Member Jen Fenton, and Board Member Wysh Weinstein. Through their leadership, dedication, and steadfast commitment to public education, they help guide the District’s vision and ensure decisions remain focused on what’s best for students.

Our Trustees play a vital role in representing the beliefs, values, and priorities of the Manhattan Beach community. They bring community voices to the table as they work collaboratively to establish District mission and vision statements, set long-term goals, and provide thoughtful governance and oversight. Their service requires significant time, care, and engagement, and their influence is felt across every aspect of our schools.

We are grateful for their willingness to serve and for the leadership they provide on behalf of our students, staff, and families. To learn more about our Board members, their goals, and the important work they do, we encourage our community to visit the Board tab on our website. We are proud that our Trustees reflect the community they serve and thankful for their continued commitment to MBUSD.

Thank you, Trustees, for your continued service to our schools and community!

We are pleased to reintroduce the Budget Corner in this edition and the next three Superintendent’s newsletters. This series is intended to provide transparency and helpful context around MBUSD’s financial landscape. In this first installment, we’ll share background on the ongoing budget challenges our District faces due to the state’s education funding structure, and explain why local support continues to play such a vital role in the educational experiences we are able to provide for our students each day.

Background Information: 

Despite strong academic outcomes, MBUSD remains one of the lowest-funded school districts in California when it comes to state funding. Through the State’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), MBUSD receives significantly less funding than many neighboring districts, making us the lowest-funded district in Los Angeles County and the second lowest-funded unified district in the state.

The LCFF accounts for approximately 66% of the District’s total revenue. Nearly all of the remaining 36% is considered restricted funding, meaning those dollars can only be used for specific, state-designated purposes and cannot be redirected to address broader District needs.

While the State provides annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs), these increases do not keep pace with the real cost of operating schools. Each year, districts experience natural growth in expenses, but state funding adjustments often fall short of covering those increases, creating ongoing budget pressure.

LCFF funding is based on a per-pupil amount, with additional funding provided for students who are English Learners, eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, or in foster care (referred to as the Unduplicated Count). MBUSD has a relatively small number of students in this category, which significantly limits the amount of supplemental funding the District receives.

As a result, funding disparities across the region are substantial. Some neighboring districts receive up to 5.5 times more funding per student than MBUSD, despite serving similar geographic areas. With this said, we also acknowledge that these surrounding districts are considered higher need in comparison to MBUSD. These structural funding challenges, combined with rising costs, create ongoing financial strain, even as the District continues to deliver strong academic outcomes and maintain responsible fiscal stewardship.

Importance of Local Support:

To help offset the limitations in state funding, MBUSD has relied on the strength of our local community and partnerships. One of the most effective strategies has been keeping funding local, allowing our community to help guide priorities and ensure resources align with what we value most for our students. 

The exceptional opportunities available across our schools are made possible through the generosity and commitment of our families and community organizations, including support through the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF), PTA/PTSA membership drives, and at the high school level, MBX Foundation and booster organizations. This impact is substantial; see some data below:

While these local contributions are essential, they are not unlimited. These funding sources would need to grow by millions of dollars every year in order to keep up with inflationary cost pressures. Rising costs continue to put pressure on District finances. Although some of these increases have been partially offset through reductions in expenses, MBUSD is navigating a challenging financial period. Without a significant increase in sustainable funding, it will not be possible to maintain the level of programs and services that MBUSD offers today. 

Please stay tuned for next week’s Budget Corner, where we will continue to share insights into the District’s budget and financial planning. As always, if there are any budget-related questions please do not hesitate to reach out to the District. 

MBUSD is excited to invite families to our upcoming Parent Tech Education Night on Wednesday, January 14 in partnership with Soul 2 Soul Healing, where we will focus on Setting Healthy Technology Boundaries with Children, one of the topics parents identified as most important in this year’s districtwide Parent Survey.

This session will offer practical strategies for fostering balanced, age-appropriate tech use at home while strengthening communication and family expectations. Parents will learn tools for navigating social media, managing screen time, and supporting digital well-being, areas that continue to rank as top concerns among MBUSD families.

We look forward to partnering with you in creating supportive, informed approaches to technology that promote both safety and healthy development for all students. Registration is open, please sign up to reserve your spot and access the webinar link. 

Also, save the date for Wednesday, February 18, for our second Parent Tech Education Event. Our Student Services Department will lead parents through tips to navigate parental controls on Apple and Android devices. Bring a device to get started or take notes! This session will be led by Dr. Riccio Aguero and Mr. Lee. 

Follow our accounts for the latest MBUSD information, updates, news, and events.

The next Superintendent’s Newsletter will be published on January 16. Have a wonderful weekend!

Dr. John Bowes, Superintendent

325 S. Peck Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 318-7345