The Monterey County Board of Education recognized February as Black History Month. At its February 15 board meeting, Board Vice President David Gomez Serena and Dr. Nancy Kotowski, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools, presented Mel Mason, President of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the NAACP, with a resolution honoring Black History Month.

On February 9, Salinas schools participated in Farm Day. More than 6,500 third grade students participated in the "farm day" experience, where they learn basic, current facts about the agricultural industry of Monterey County. Every year, the local agricultural industry, operating through the Monterey County Agricultural Education, Inc., provides more than 700 volunteers to host Farm Day in Salinas, King City and Monterey. The event is sponsored by the agricultural industry, private citizens, the Monterey County Agricultural Education, Office of the Monterey County Agricultural Commisioner and various local foundations. Pictured are Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Kotowski and third grade students from local Salinas' schools.

Rising health care expenses eat away at school districts' budgets. On February 16, the 'California Education Coalition for Health Care Reform' presented information to local educators on containing and evaluating those costs. Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation.

Dr. Nancy Kotowski, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools, helped the YMCA kicked off its annual fundraising effort - Strong Communities Campaign - to raise $185,000. Nearly 100 percent of the funds raised will go towards scholarships so that students and families can participate in the YMCA programs. Pictured here with Dr. Kotowski are volunteer Mel Selvidge and YMCA Regional Vice President Dave Kretsinger.

As part of a three-day instructional round training hosted by the Monterey County Office of Education, superintendents, principals, classroom professionals and coaches observed classroom instruction at Toro Park Elementary School in Salinas and participated in hands-on training at Fairview Middle School in Gonzales. The instructional rounds help to improve instruction and student achievement. Pictured are educators from school districts in Monterey County. Participating districts included Carmel USD, Gonzales USD, North Monterey County USD, Pacific Grove Grove USD, Salinas City ESD, Soledad USD, Spreckels Union SD, Washington USD and the Monterey County Office of Education.

The Monterey County School Boards Association held a workshop - Ensuring a Safe School Climate: The Board's Role - on January 31 at the MCOE offices. Board members from across the county attended the valuable training opportunity where they learned prevention and intervention strategies to address bullying and harassment in the schools. Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Kotowski welcomed more than 55 board members to the training.

The Monterey County Office of Education hosted a series of instructional rounds February 1-3. More than 45 superintendents, principals, classroom professionals and coaches from 10 Monterey County School Districts participated in the three-day training. Soledad Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Jorge Guzman and MCOE's Educational Services Program Coordinator Linda Dilger participate in a round with a fellow colleague.

The Monterey County Office of Education hosted a series of instructional rounds based on Harvard Professor Richard Elmore's curriculum to strengthen the quality of leadership in education. More than 45 superintendents, principals, classroom professionals and coaches from 10 Monterey County School Districts participated in the three-day training. Pictured from left to right are MCOE's Coordinator/Administrator of Secondary Education Jordan Alexander-Santana, MCOE Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Jeanne Herrick, Boranda Meadows School Principal Robert Greenlee, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Kotowski and Washington Unified School District Superintendent Dee Baker.