Students showcase Westmont electives as Coatsen Foundation outlines funding for mentors and supplies

Students from Westmont Elementary described year‑long electives — theater, horticulture, business, robotics and script writing — during the board’s May 12 meeting, and district staff presented details of a partner‑funded professional learning program serving Golden View and Hope View.

Principal Diana Biano introduced fourth‑ and fifth‑grade students who spoke about hands‑on electives that let students audition for musical theater, tend a school garden, develop business ideas, build robots and write scripts. Several trustees praised the students’ presentations and asked staff how the model could be shared across the district.

Athena Allen and Tracy Hanoyan, mentors for the Coatsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching (presented to the board as a foundation partner), said the program provides mentor and fellow support, professional development, lab days, and funded sub days. Allen told the board the foundation provided $18,000 this year in classroom supplies (and said the same level would be available next year), paid for substitute coverage with about $25,000 expended so far, and funds mentor salaries and benefits at "a little more than $330,000." She emphasized these resources are provided at no cost to the district.

Trustees thanked the mentors and student speakers; board members noted the district’s appreciation for outside funding that pays mentor salaries and related costs. District staff said the foundation also funded travel and conference participation for mentors and fellows and that some family‑engagement grants have been facilitated by the partnership.

The presentation did not include a contract or memoranda of understanding on the public record at the meeting; trustees asked program staff to return with additional details about scalability and how costs are covered in future years.