Superintendent

Dr. Brett Geithman | Superintendent

bgeithman@lcmschools.org (415) 927-6960

Karmela Cleary | Executive Assistant: Superintendent & HR

kcleary@lcmschools.org (415) 927-6960 x3202

Biography

Dr. Brett Geithman has proudly served as Superintendent of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District since 2017. He believes exceptional schools are built through meaningful stakeholder engagement, high expectations, continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to student success. Known for bringing together diverse stakeholder groups to create a common vision and align resources, he has partnered with students, families, staff, trustees, and community members to strengthen school culture and improve outcomes for all students.

In 2024-25, Dr. Geithman led LCMSD’s largest community engagement effort in decades. Through more than 1,200 stakeholder inputs from students, staff, families, alumni, and community members, the district developed Vision 2036, a shared roadmap that reflects the community’s aspirations for the future of LCMSD schools.

As a learning leader, Dr. Geithman has focused much of his career on advancing research-based instructional practices, including literacy, Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) in mathematics, personalized learning, and the thoughtful balance of wellness and technology. He has been featured on educational podcasts discussing artificial intelligence in schools, organizational visioning, stakeholder engagement, leadership, and high-yield professional development models that create sustainable change in schools and districts.

Under Dr. Geithman’s leadership, all three LCMSD schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools. Hall Middle School was also designated a California Schools to Watch and was selected as one of only two secondary schools in California to receive National Distinguished School recognition.

As a recognized presenter and facilitator, Dr. Geithman has delivered professional learning and presentations throughout the country. Most recently, he presented at AASA’s National Superintendents’ Conference on a continuous improvement framework that has guided major LCMSD initiatives, including equitable grading practices, school safety, and technology implementation. He is also an ACSA Certified Leadership Coach.

Under his leadership, LCMSD was awarded a $900,000 STOP School Violence Prevention Grant to strengthen school safety systems, prevention strategies, and student supports. He has also collaborated with leading educational researchers, including Stanford University’s Dr. Jo Boaler, on studies related to growth mindset and mathematics achievement.

Prior to joining LCMSD, Dr. Geithman served as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Executive Director of Human Resources for Manhattan Beach Unified School District. From 2008 to 2013, he served as Principal of Alvarado Elementary School in Long Beach Unified School District, a teaching and demonstration school recognized for its work in literacy. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Principal in Los Alamitos Unified School District and taught at both the elementary and secondary levels in Long Beach.

Dr. Geithman has also served in higher education as an adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach, teaching in both the Doctor of Education and Master’s in Educational Administration programs, and at the University of Southern California in the Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Dr. Geithman earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California, where his dissertation focused on growth models used to determine teacher and school effectiveness.

He and his wife, Kristy, are proud parents of two LCMSD alumni. Their oldest child attends New York University, and their youngest attends Redwood High School.

Superintendent Newsletters

Superintendent District News

May 6, 2025 · Superintendent
Parent Workshops and Resources 03.12.2025
Dear LCMSD Families,

Parenting during adolescence comes with unique challenges, and we’re here to help. Below are resources and parent education events focused on adolescent wellness, mental health, and development.

We encourage you to explore these opportunities and join the conversation. Together, we can support our students in growing and thriving.

Dr. Brett Geithman Superintendent

Upcoming Events

**Finding Balance in a Distracting, Quick-Reward World **Dr. Anna Lembke, NYT Bestselling Author Thursday March 13th | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Zoom | Register Here

Navigating Body Image in the Digital Age: How to Support your Child with Healthy Habits to Prevent Negative Body Image and Disordered Eating

CIP Marin, Raising Healthy Families Series

Thursday March 20th | 6:00 – 8:00 pm | Zoom | Register Here

Hunt, Gather, Parent: How to Minimize Conflict and Maximize Cooperation

CIP Marin, Raising Healthy Families Series

Tuesday March 25th | 5:00 – 7:00 pm | Zoom | Register Here

Talking to Youth About Healthy Relationships

Center for Domestic Peace

Thursday April 17th | 6:15 – 7:30 pm | Zoom | Register Here

1 Minute Clip from Screenagers

Please take 60 seconds, the length of this video clip from Screenagers Under the Influence highlighting the importance of Raising the Bar (RTB) and healthy adult modeling. LCMSD is a partner of RTB.

Fentanyl Message from County Superintendent Carroll

In the wake of the recent tragedies in the Santa Rosa community, I wanted to take a few moments to reiterate the continued importance of educating our youth about the lethality of Fentanyl, and how easy it can be to not know when it is laced into another drug. Education and awareness can save lives. We ask for your partnership in keeping our youth safe.

Both local and state partners have collected and compiled informational resources geared towards families, educators, and school districts. Please utilize these and share them widely:

OD Free Marin Resources for teens, parents, clinicians, and educators

Center for Disease Control fentanyl resource guide

California Department of Public Health prevention resources for youth

Additionally, the Marin County Office of Education, in collaboration with OD Free Marin, have created the Naloxone Toolkit; a guide to support safety plans and the use of Naloxone, when needed, at school sites.

Families can support by engaging in regular conversations with their students around substance use. Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships has put together “Let’s Talk” resources for both high school and middle school students. These resources and the accompanying Let's Talk Community Discussion Series are designed to help families engage in these healthy conversations with youth.

Together, we can empower individuals and families to make informed choices, access support, and ultimately save lives.
May 6, 2025 · Superintendent
12.9.24 LCMSD Update: Coffee Chats, Literacy Pilot, Learning Labs, & Post-Tsunami Next Steps
Too Long, Didn’t Read (TLDR)

Coffee Chat on We Are One Lessons at Cove on 12/11 from 8:30-9:30 am

Coffee Chat on Transitional Kindergarten at Neil Cummins on 12/18 from 8:30-9:30 am

Data Learning Labs - Teachers are Taking Data to Action

English Language Arts Second Pilot to Begin in February (EL Education)

Post-Tsunami Alert Reflections and Next Steps

Dear LCMSD Community,

This fall, our district has been engaged in meaningful conversations, new initiatives, and reflective planning as we work together to support our students and staff. Coffee Chats have provided a valuable space for connecting with parents, answering questions, and sharing updates. Meanwhile, our Data Learning Labs are empowering educators to utilize student data more effectively, driving instructional decisions and fostering academic growth.

We’re also thrilled to launch our second ELA Curriculum Pilot, exploring research-based resources to strengthen literacy instruction for all learners. In addition, following the recent tsunami alert, we’ve taken time to reflect and refine our safety protocols to further emergency preparedness.

These updates highlight the heart of our work—collaboration, continuous learning, and a commitment to student success. Thank you for your partnership in making LCMSD an exceptional place for education and community. Please see below for details on this important work.

Dr. Brett Geithman Superintendent

Upcoming Superintendent Coffee Chats: December 2024 We’re excited to announce two upcoming coffee chats this month! These gatherings provide an excellent opportunity for parents to connect, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions about our schools. Future and current parents from all LCMSD schools are welcome to attend either or both sessions. Future and current parents from all LCMSD schools are welcome to attend either or both sessions.

Wednesday, December 11 | 8:30–9:30 AM at Cove School Topic: We Are One Lessons This session will begin with a 20-minute overview of the We Are One curriculum, designed to foster inclusivity and self-awareness among students. Following the overview, we’ll hold a 20-minute Q&A focused on the program. The final 20 minutes will be an open-ended discussion where parents can bring up any district-related topics.

Wednesday, December 18 | 8:30–9:30 AM at Neil Cummins School Topic: Transitional Kindergarten (TK) In this session, we will discuss the district’s decision not to offer Transitional Kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain clarity on this matter. The session will follow the same structure: a 20-minute overview, 20-minute topic-specific Q&A, and 20 minutes of open discussion.

Where’s My Teacher? Data Learning Labs - Taking Data to Action You might have noticed a substitute in your child’s classroom for a couple of days this fall. That’s because our teachers have been busy taking data to action! So far, we’ve had two dedicated Data Learning Lab days, with three more scheduled throughout the year. These days are strategically planned following iReady assessments and other key timeframes to ensure teachers have the most relevant data to guide their instruction.

During these full-day sessions, Beth Hawkins, our math coach, and Lisa Capobianco, our literacy coach, collaborate with teachers to analyze assessment results and plan next steps to meet the specific learning needs of their students. Grade-level teams from Neil Cummins and Cove come together for these labs, fostering cross-site collaboration and shared strategies. At Hall Middle School, teachers engage in full-day labs dedicated to either ELA or math, allowing for department-specific exploration and planning. Tier I instruction is a key focus during learning labs. Tier I instruction refers to high-quality, research-based teaching strategies and practices implemented in the classroom for all students. It forms the foundation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework and aims to meet the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of all learners. Tier 1 instruction ensures equitable access to grade-level standards through standards-aligned, evidence-based teaching strategies. Teachers use assessment data to monitor progress and tailor instruction to address diverse learning styles and abilities. This approach includes small group instruction, which provides targeted differentiation based on students’ specific needs.

At LCMSD, we are proud to dedicate 1% of our budget to professional development, underscoring our belief in investing in our educators. We are fortunate to have exceptional coaches like Ms. Hawkins and Ms. Capobianco, whose expertise elevates teaching practices and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. A huge thank you to our coaches for their leadership and to our teachers for embracing this impactful work!

ELA Curriculum Adoption Update: Pilot Program Announced We are excited to provide an update on our English Language Arts (ELA) adoption process. This year, the Elementary Curriculum Council has been diligently working to identify a curriculum that is aligned with the science of reading and best supports our students’ learning. The Curriculum Council developed detailed evaluation criteria to guide the selection process, ensuring alignment with our district's goals and values, as well as best practices in literacy instruction. These criteria were shared with publishers ahead of their presentations, allowing them to tailor their responses to address each element. Several publishers praised the team for its thoughtful and organized approach.

As part of our commitment to transparency and community involvement, we hosted a Parent Preview Window during the last week of October. Parents were invited to review materials from the five publishers under consideration—Benchmark Advance, EL Education, Amplify CKLA, i-Ready Magnetic Reading, and Collaborative Literacy—and provide feedback. We appreciate the valuable insights shared by our families during this event. After evaluating all feedback and materials, the team decided to move forward with piloting EL Education. During planning discussions, EL Education informed us of a curriculum update for the 2025-26 school year and agreed to provide access to these updated materials for our pilot. To use these new materials, we had to revise our pilot timeline. Teacher training for the pilot will begin in January 2025, with the pilot starting in February 2025. This will keep us on track for spring data collection, comparison with last spring’s pilot of Benchmark Advance, and a possible recommendation for Board approval by April/May.

Thank you to the teachers, staff, and parents who have contributed to this comprehensive and collaborative process, as well as Daniel Norbutas for his leadership and facilitation of this work. Your feedback and dedication play a vital role in helping us select the best resources for our students. We look forward to sharing updates as we continue this important work!

Post-Tsunami Alert Reflections and Next Steps

As we reflect on the recent tsunami alert, I want to express my deepest gratitude to teachers, staff, principals/leadership, the Office of Emergency Services (OES), the Central Marin Police Authority (CMPA), and the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE). The swift and coordinated response from all parties ensured the safety and well-being of our students. Additionally, as with all situations involving the implementation of our emergency operating procedures, we are using this experience as an opportunity to reflect and continuously improve our emergency response.

Throughout the day, we sent multiple communications to keep you updated on the situation as it unfolded. At Cove, teachers and staff efficiently moved students to higher ground in an organized and calm manner within minutes of OES/CMPA’s order. Across all sites, staff engaged students in restorative circles to clarify facts, answer questions, and identify any students who might need additional Tier II support with counselors or designated staff.

We are grateful to the parents who followed instructions to keep roads clear and avoid campuses during the response. This cooperation allowed emergency responders and school staff to focus on their critical tasks and helped ensure the safety of all.

While the event was handled efficiently, we can always learn and grow from these experiences. When an emergency or potential emergency is initiated—such as last week’s tsunami alert triggered by notifications on our phones—schools immediately follow established Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) for that specific event. A few key reminders for future situations:

Read emails and follow guidance: During emergencies, the district will immediately contact the appropriate authorities and communicate important updates and instructions via email. Please take a moment to read these messages and follow the guidance provided.

Follow directions from staff: Our staff are trained to manage these situations. Please follow their instructions and cooperate fully to help us maintain an organized and safe environment.

Stay clear of schools until we message that student release has begun: For your safety and the safety of responders, please avoid approaching the school or evacuation areas during emergencies. You will be notified via Parent Square when the student release process is initiated.

Student Release: It’s important to note that all EOPs include a student release plan. However, please understand that reaching the student release portion of the EOP may take some time and typically falls towards the end of the EOP. During an active emergency, staff members are prioritized to enact critical safety procedures, which require their full focus and attention. As a result, we will have very minimal staff available to process student release requests. This is intentional, as the safety and well-being of all students and staff must come first.

Additionally, please know that during emergencies, LCMSD works closely with first responders to ensure we have the most up-to-date and accurate information as the situation unfolds. It’s important to remember that on any given day, one of the largest gatherings of people in our community is at our schools. The safety of students and staff is the top priority for both the district and emergency personnel. All judgment calls are made with an abundance of caution to protect our students and staff, and our decisions reflect a conservative approach to ensure their well-being at all times.

Thank you again for your understanding, support, and partnership in ensuring our schools remain safe spaces for all.
May 6, 2025 · Superintendent
Superintendent's Newsletter 10.15.24
TLDR:

Coffee Chat on October 18 at Neil Cummins from 9:00-10:00 (all district families welcome)

Pulse survey coming soon for Imagine Tomorrow Together

Outdoor education was a big success

Safety Update Video (Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean)

Board Meeting October 23

Get to know the Board Candidates on Tuesday October 29 at 7:30pm (Zoom link)

Dear LCMSD Community,

As we transition into the fall season, I am excited to begin this newsletter by honoring National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. These observances celebrate the rich cultural contributions and histories of our Hispanic, Latin American, and Indigenous communities, whose resilience and traditions have shaped the fabric of our society. At LCMSD, we believe that diversity is our strength, and these celebrations remind us of the importance of inclusivity and understanding as we build a future for all of our students. Speaking of the future, we are excited about the key District initiatives currently underway—each one focused on fostering a thriving and safe learning environment. Below you will find the LCMSD updates.

Dr. Brett Geithman

Superintendent

Coffee Chat: Let’s Connect!

Parent, staff, and community engagement is essential to our District’s success. Join me for a Coffee Chat on October 18 from 9:00-10:00 AM at Neil Cummins for an open discussion. Parents from Cove, Hall, and Neil Cummins are welcome, and all topics and questions are encouraged. I look forward to seeing you there!

LCMSD 2036: Imagine Tomorrow Together

Our visioning initiative is in full swing, and we’re excited about the progress being made! The Guiding Coalition (see photo above) - composed of Hall and Redwood students, parents, teachers, staff, community and business leaders, and elected officials - met for the second time recently. During this meeting, we reviewed all feedback gathered from surveys, student engagement sessions, community sessions, and the Board. These data were compiled and shared with the coalition, which then worked in teams to create prototypes of the Graduate, Adult, and Systems Portraits.

The next step in this process is a quick pulse survey for all stakeholders to help identify the most important elements of each portrait. Please keep an eye out for this survey in the next two weeks—your input is invaluable as we shape the future of LCMSD together!

Outdoor Education: Learning in Nature

Last week, our 5th graders from both Cove and Neil Cummins had an unforgettable experience at Nature Bridge. They spent three days together immersed in outdoor education, exploring nature, fostering teamwork, and applying classroom learning to real-world environments. These hands-on experiences not only enhanced their understanding of the natural world but also created strong bonds among students. It was a wonderful opportunity for growth and learning beyond the classroom. Thank you 5th grade teachers, staff, and parent volunteers for making this such a fantastic experience!

Safety Updates Safety Update Video (Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean)

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff remains a top priority. Here’s a look at the recent and upcoming actions we are taking to enhance our safety measures:

Incident Response Protocol: In partnership with Critical Friends, we recently introduced this protocol that works in coordination with our district’s discipline matrix, particularly for incidents involving a protected class. This protocol focuses on education and repair, ensuring responses are both grade-level appropriate and constructive. Our goal is to support student growth through meaningful learning and restorative practices.

Summer Safety Summit: Over the summer, we held a district-wide Safety Summit that brought together staff and safety experts. The summit focused on best practices in restorative circles, first aid and CPR certification, intruder table top exercises and the incident response protocol mentioned above. The insights and strategies developed during this summit are now being integrated into our daily operations. Thanks Amanda Estes and Dr. Toni Brown for your leadership as LCMSD Grant Coordinators!

Neighboring School District/Organization Threat Protocol: We have reviewed and updated our protocols following the September 13 threat to TUHSD. There have been threats to neighboring schools/organizations in the past; however, we haven’t had one at the start of school, which created a unique situation. We have shared this with the School Safety Task Force and trained all staff. Additionally, Dr. Lisa Miller and Scott Ostendorf from MCOE trained all staff in restorative practices specifically during an emergency or potential threat.

Safety Task Force Meetings: We are continuing to prioritize safety through our ongoing Safety Task Force. The next meeting dates are scheduled for December 4, February 5, and April 30. All parents and community members may join us in these critical discussions even if you didn’t fill out the interest form in the beginning of the school year. Your feedback and involvement are vital as we work together to strengthen our safety practices.

Board Updates

On October 23, 2024 the Board will meet at 6:00 in the Hall Library. Trustees will be presented with an update on the 2024 CAASPP results, the literacy adoption process, and the enrollment and staffing report. Additionally, Trustees will vote on Hall’s single plan for student achievement, the elementary LCAP, and 2024-25 professional services contracts. The meeting will be live-streamed via Zoom (link; passcode - lcmsd). Please know, public comments will only be taken by in person attendees; public comments via Zoom will not be available. We hope to see you there. All agendas can be found here.

Get to Know the LCMSD Board Candidates

Please join Neil Cummins, Cove, and Hall parents at the "Get to Know the LCMSD Board Candidates" virtual event on Tuesday October 29 7:30 - 8:30 pm hosted by our schools’ PTO/As. The LCMSD Board candidates will introduce themselves and answer a few questions from our parent community selected in advance. There will be no live audience Q&A so if you would like to submit a question to be considered for the event please add it to this survey by midnight on 10/23. PTO/A reps will select 2-3 of the questions submitted to ask the candidates. The event will be recorded. Zoom link to join meeting - we look forward to you joining us Tuesday October 29 at 7:30pm.
May 6, 2025 · Superintendent
Superintendent's Safety Newsletter 8.28.24
Dear LCMSD Community,

Our top priority is to keep students and staff safe. It is important for you to know that we, LCMSD, Central Marin Police Authority (CMPA), and Central Marin Fire Department (CMFD) have a strong partnership and work regularly with one another to keep our schools and community safe. Due to these clear lines of communication, we are continually revisiting procedures and implementing the practices recommended by first responders.

Over the years, CMPA, CMFD, and the FBI have supported and trained LCMSD staff through tabletop exercises, de-escalation strategies training, school resource officer visits, and an FBI active shooter workshop and simulation. CMPA and CMFD have keys to all school sites, access to live cameras on campuses, and direct phone numbers of our administrators.

This partnership and ongoing safety efforts were an essential component of our application and award of the School Violence Prevention Grant ($900,000 over three years), which has allowed us to expand our training and further our school-first responder collaboration.

Please review the important information below. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain safe schools.

Chief Michael Norton Chief Ruben Martin Brett Geithman, Ed.D.

Central Marin Police Authority Central Marin Fire Dept LCMSD Superintendent

Anonymous Tip Line

Is located on the main LCMSD page and each school’s homepage

Talk to students about this ****anonymous tip line. It can (and has) been a forum for students (and parents) to report concerns about friends or classmates (i.e. Charlie is acting different than usual and I am worried about him, I’m concerned that Chloe might hurt herself, Jaden told me there was going to be a fight after school).

Notification is sent immediately to the principal, superintendent, and Senior Director.

ID Badges

All visitors are required to swipe a photo ID in the main office (this will perform a background check).

If there is an issue with the individual checking in, the principal is notified immediately via text and the visitor is told to wait in the office for the principal.

All staff have been issued ID badges to be worn at all times.

If you see someone without a staff or visitor badge, say something - tell the individual to report to the office or call the office.

Per California Law, all middle school student IDs will have the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline printed on the back

Intruder/Active Shooter/Lockdown Drills

LCMSD drills intruder/active shooter protocols on a regular basis.

We do not call these “active shooter drills” as that may scare students. We call them lockdown or intruder drills. It is explained that sometimes there are unsafe situations on campus where we need to lock the door. For example, one year Hall Middle School went on lockdown because horses were running through campus.

Updated Fire Drill Protocol: Several years ago we implemented this recommendation from law enforcement and will continue drilling this new procedure. If the fire alarm is triggered, classrooms go into lockdown unless they smell smoke, feel heat/flames, or are instructed over the intercom to exit the building.

It is difficult to shelter children from hearing about violence in the world. Here is a tool to help talk to your child about violence.

Air Quality

All LCMSD classrooms are outfitted with air purifiers and upgraded HVAC units that include MERV 13 filters and ionization equipment. The HVAC units are on a schedule to run the fan periodically regardless of temperature settings. Our classrooms’ air is filtered better than most homes; therefore, even when air quality isn’t optimal, our classrooms can offer safe spaces for students and staff. With that said, there are air quality guidelines that we follow based on AQI. Please know our very last resort is to close school.

Alert Marin / Nixle

If you have not already done so, sign up for Alert Marin today to receive incident specific information or potentially life-saving instruction to a precise geographic location. Alert Marin only initiates contact if action is needed where you are such as evacuation or shelter in place. You can sign up for Nixle in any zip code (by texting your zip code to 888-777) for updates on road closures, police active and general public safety information.

Marin County Public Emergency Portal

Please bookmark this page, or just remember to google “Marin Emergency” to be led to this portal to stay up to date on emergency situations in our county, where the Public Information Map (with some amazing features, including “school status”) is also located.

ICE

ICE is not allowed access to any student or student records, as California is a Sanctuary State.

LCMSD is committed to protecting the right of every student to attend public school, regardless of the immigration status of a student or of a student’s family members. This commitment extends to school employees having the right to work in a welcoming environment as well.

The police, superintendent, and our legal counsel will be called immediately if ICE enters school grounds.

Getting to School Safely

Safe Routes to School

Check out this website for information on getting your child safely to campus.

e-Bike Registration Policy

E-bikes must be registered (Registration form) by students with a parent/guardian.

Only class 1 & 2 e-bikes are allowed on LCMSD campuses

No e-scooters, no 750w+ or class 3 capable bikes (i.e. Super 73)

Complete training course

Safety Plans

Annually they are updated and reviewed with staff members.

All documents are not published for the public to review. This protects our schools from potentially harmful individuals.

LCMSD schedules drills monthly and collaborates regularly with first responders.

Share911 is used district wide in coordination with first responders

Facilities

Lock Bloks - all LCMSD doors are in the locked position at all times. They can be propped open with a LockBlok, which is a device that can quickly secure a classroom in the event of an emergency.

Window Coverings - all LCMSD classrooms are outfitted with window coverings in the event of a lockdown or other emergency.

Security Systems - LCMSD has expanded the alarm/security network across all schools. This also includes controlled substance detectors.

Cameras - Have been installed at all school sites and are accessible by first responders in the event of an emergency. Additionally, we have AI built into all cameras to monitor specific threats to campus.

Questions to Ask Before a Playdate

Safety is important to all of us, and might have been a driving factor in your decision to raise your children in Marin. Even though we live in a safe community, it is important for us to ask some simple questions (from this article) before our children go on a playdate.

Who will be watching the children? Is it an older sibling, nanny, relative, or parent?

Do you have a pool, trampoline, or any other things that are potentially unsafe? If your child is younger, ask who will be watching the children if they go in the pool. If your child cannot swim, let the parent know and ask if there is a fence around the pool.

Do you have any unlocked guns in your house? Experts believe that 8 kids a day are shot unintentionally by unsecured guns found in the home. The Brady Center partnered with the AdCouncil to create and launch a campaign to end "Family Fire."

What are your rules about screen time? Common Sense Media and Parenting in the Digital World are great resources to create your family rules around screen time.

Do you have any pets? Ask if the pet is friendly around children, or if there is anything you should know about it before your child comes over.

Updated California Laws Regarding Firearm Storage & Prevention of Child Access to Weapons

The California Legislature (Assembly Bill 452, Section 1, 2023) has found and declared:

Guns are the third leading cause of death of children in America. Every day, eight children and teens are shot in instances of family fire, which is a shooting involving improperly stored or misused guns found in the home resulting in injury or death.

Data show that 75 percent of school shootings are facilitated by children having access to unsecured or unsupervised firearms at home. Eight-seven percent of children know where their parents’ firearms are stored and 60 percent report that they have handled them.

Over 80 percent of teens who have died by suicide used a firearm that belonged to someone in their home.

Below are the important updates to California’s child access prevention laws and laws relating to safe storage of firearms.

With very limited exceptions, California makes a person criminally liable for keeping any firearm, loaded or unloaded, within any premises that are under their custody and control where that person knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the child’s parent or legal guardian, and the child obtains access to the firearm and thereby (1) causes death or injury to the child or any other person; (2) carries the firearm off the premises or to a public place, including to any preschool or school grades kindergarten through twelfth grade, or to any school-sponsored event, activity, or performance; or (3) unlawfully brandishes the firearm to others.[1]

Note: The criminal penalty may be significantly greater if someone dies or suffers great bodily injury as a result of the child gaining access to the firearm.

With very limited exceptions, California also makes it a crime for a person to negligently store or leave any firearm, loaded or unloaded, on their premises in a location where the person knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to it without the permission of the child’s parent or legal guardian, unless reasonable action is taken to secure the firearm against access by the child, even where a minor never actually accesses the firearm.[2]

In addition to potential fines and terms of imprisonment, as of January 1, 2020, a gun owner found criminally liable under these California laws faces prohibitions from possessing, controlling, owning, receiving, or purchasing a firearm for 10 years.[3]

Finally, a parent or guardian may also be civilly liable for damages resulting from the discharge of a firearm by that person’s child or ward.[4]

[1] See California Penal Code sections 25100 through 25125 and 25200 through 25220.

[2] See California Penal Code section 25100(c).

[3] See California Civil Code Section 29805.

[4] See California Civil Code Section 1714.3.

Thank you for helping to keep our children and schools safe. Remember that the easiest and safest way to comply with the law is to keep firearms in a locked container or secured with a locking device that renders the firearm inoperable.
May 6, 2025 · Superintendent
Welcome Back to the 2024-25 School Year!
Too Long Didn’t Read (TLDR)

Survey: Imagine Tomorrow Together (super important - we want to hear from everyone)

Interest Form: Want to be more involved in this process? Fill out this form.

Hall Feedback Session: August 29 at 5:30 in the Hall Gym before Back to School Night (RSVP)

Neil Cummins Feedback Session: September 13 at 8:15am-9:15am in the NC Gym (RSVP)

Cove Feedback Session: September 20 at 8:15am-9:15am in the Gallery (RSVP)

Full email from August 16

Dear LCMSD Community,

As we continue to shape the future of LCMSD, your perspective is invaluable. Our “Imagine Tomorrow Together” survey will be closing on August 30, and this is your opportunity to make your voice heard.

This survey is more than just a form—it’s a chance for you to contribute to the vision and strategic plan that will guide our district through 2036. Your insights will help define what our students, staff, and community will experience in the years to come.

Why your input is important:

• Shape the Graduate Portrait: What skills and knowledge should our students have by the time they graduate?

• Influence the Adult Portrait: How can we best support our educators, administrators, and staff to achieve our shared goals?

• Refine our Core Values: Help us ensure our core values align with the needs of our evolving community.

👉 Take the Survey Now

Thank you for being an active participant in this crucial process. Together, we can imagine a brighter tomorrow for all of LCMSD.

Dr. Brett Geithman

Superintendent

Questions to Ask Before a Playdate

Questions to Ask Before a Playdate