Message from Superintendent Jerry Jennex April 14, 2025

Letter from Superintendent Jerry Jennex April 14, 2025

Dear Friends and Families of Trona Joint Unified School District,

I am just taking a minute to update you about some of the important happenings here at TJUSD. I am trying to keep fresh information on our district website so that you don’t check in and see “Welcome Back to School” letter from a couple of years ago. I will try to keep this message updated every quarter or more often when there is information that should be posted on the district website.

As we are moving into the last quarter of the school year, this becomes a very busy time for staff, students, and parents as the end of the school year approaches. There are many events and opportunities for family and community involvement in the schools. I want to attempt to make sure no one misses any opportunity to be involved because they didn’t hear about it. I would like to let you know about an opportunity coming up next week for families to be
informed and share their ideas about a couple of key issues. There will be a BOARD STUDY SESSION ON THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025 FROM 6-8 PM IN THE ELEMENTARY MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. This study session will address two main topics.

The first topic will be BULLYING. This topic has been talked about in the community and in social media locally. It was also the subject of several public comments at the March regular school board meeting. The board asked me to work with district administrators to plan a study session regarding bullying. The session will include a presentation about bullying and then an opportunity for small group discussion and problem solving conversations. It is my goal to work
with all parties (board, staff, students, parents, and community members) to provide our students with tools to build better interpersonal relationships so that bullying behavior is very much the exception and not expected or tolerated in our schools.

The second topic will be Cell Phone Policy(ies). Governor Newsome is requiring school districts to develop policies that will restrict cell phone usage in schools by July 1, 2026. TJUSD would like to get “ahead of the curve” and begin conversation about what we can do locally to help reduce the distraction of student cell phone usage in our schools. This session will mirror the session on bullying with a presentation followed by an opportunity for attendees to give input regarding how the district should proceed with its updated policy about cell phone usage.

This evening may prove to be a good opportunity for all members of the school community to participate in making TJUSD a better place. I look forward to an evening of positive input and productive interaction as we all seek to “Educate, Empower, and Engage” all Trona Tornadoes and Twisters!

Jerry Jennex, Superintendent