Trustee Seat Available on Governing Board

This communication is to announce the resignation of Eric Schmautz from the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District Board of Trustees on September 17, 2025. Eric has served on the Board since 2022 and was Board President in 2023-24. Eric was presented with a unique and exciting opportunity abroad and has made the difficult decision to step away from his role. We sincerely thank him for his years of dedicated service as a board member. Serving the community has always been one of Eric’s greatest passions, reflected not only in his role as Trustee but also as a long-time Rotarian. Through his Rotary connections, he helped facilitate scholarships for summer and after-school programming for students in need. He was also a champion of intervention, playing a key role in the Board’s commitment to use one-time funds to double intervention services last year and this year. Eric’s leadership and commitment to students leave a lasting impact on LCMSD, and we are deeply grateful for his service. We thank him for her service to the District. Please join me in wishing him the best with his family and his future endeavors.

Below is a copy of the Press Release announcing the vacancy on the Board created by the resignation. The remaining Trustees will accept (via the District Office) and review applications from qualified candidates residing within District boundaries, interview, and appoint a new Trustee within the 60-day period required by law and according to the following timeline:

Vacancy Announcement and Press Release

• October 8: Informational Meeting on “Becoming a Trustee” at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom (LINK). This Zoom will be recorded and posted (HERE) for those unable to attend. 

• October 8-October 24 (noon): Application Window. The application will be posted on October 8 on the home page of www.lcmschools.org under “News”. Applications must be dropped off at the District Office or emailed to kcleary@lcmschools.org by noon on October 24.

• November 12: A Special Board Meeting will be held to interview and appoint one of the candidates. This Special Board Meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m.  Candidates should plan on attending in person.

• November 12: Swear-In Appointee to serve on the Board as Trustee for the duration of the appointment.

The duration of the appointment is through the November 2026 Board meeting. 

Trustees encourage interested community members to apply and contact Superintendent Geithman (bgeithman@lcmschools.org) with any questions regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Governing Board and Trustees and/or attend the Informational Meeting or watch the recording of that meeting to be posted on October 9. We encourage interest and applications!

You may also wish to contact one of our current Trustees with questions, or to set up a time to talk, at the below email(s):

Amir Movafaghi, Board President, amovafaghi@lcmschools.org

Beth Blair, Vice President, bblair@lcmschools.org

Natalie Medved, Clerk, nmedved@lcmschools.org

Ava Fruin, afruin@lcmschools.org

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Press Release

Trustee Seat Available on Governing Board

September 23, 2025

Dr. Brett Geithman, Superintendent of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, announced that there is an open seat on the Governing Board, due to the resignation of Trustee Eric Schmautz. Applications will be available starting October 6, 2025, on the District’s website (www.lcmschools.org) under “LCMSD News” on the home page through the submission deadline. Completed applications must be submitted in person to the District Office, 230 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, or via email to kcleary@lcmschools.org, by noon on October 24, 2025,

Interested persons who live within the boundaries of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District and who are registered voters are welcome to apply for the vacancy. All applications will become public record and will be part of the November 12, 2025 Special Board Meeting packet.

An informational meeting on “Becoming a Trustee” will be held via Zoom (LINK) on October 8, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. The recording will be posted on the home page of the District’s website on October 9, 2025. On this Zoom, the Superintendent will review the basic roles and responsibilities of the school board and individual trustees, and one or two Trustees may be present to answer questions.

The duration of the appointment is through the November 2026 Board meeting. Candidates will be interviewed (in person) during a Special Board Meeting on November 12, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. by the remaining Trustees. General inquiries from interested parties can be made by calling Karmela Cleary at (415) 927-6960 x5 or by emailing her at kcleary@lcmschools.org.

Interested parties wanting additional information may also contact the Superintendent directly at bgeithman@lcmschools.org. 

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Dear LCMSD Families,

Superintendent Coffee Chats are a great way for parents to connect with school staff, district leadership, and one another. Some chats are open-ended while others highlight specific initiatives taking place in our schools.

On our September 5, 2025 chat we focused on Depth and Complexity Icons —a Hall-only initiative designed to further rigor and differentiation in student learning. Here you will find the slide deck and a video recap. We will also update this website after each chat with materials and/or videos. We encourage you to check it out!

We have scheduled our next chat for September 24, 2025 from 8:30 am - 9:30 am at Neil Cummins. This session will be focused on the SPARK budget and programs funded within the district. The last 20 minutes of the chat will be open to questions about anything and everything district related. All district families are invited to attend. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

TLDR (Too long, didn’t read)

• Take the Raising the Bar Survey (ENGLISH SURVEY LINK; SPANISH SURVEY LINK)

• Check out the Let’s Talk parent resources and workshops

• Register for the MCOE artificial intelligence parent workshops

Dear LCMSD Community,

Partnerships are essential to our students' success. Raising the Bar, the Let’s Talk Series, and the Marin County Office of Education are a few of our amazing partners. Below you will find information and resources from all three.  

Dr. Brett Geithman
Superintendent

Raising the Bar

LCMSD is proud to partner with Raising the Bar, a county-wide initiative committed to keeping youth events substance-free through policy that prohibits adult drinking or drug use at youth-centered events. Research shows that parents and caregivers play a powerful role in shaping young people’s attitudes and decisions around alcohol and other substance use. By working together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youth – reducing the short- and long-term consequences of underage substance use for adolescents, families, and our broader community. Raising the Bar, a program of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships works in collaboration with Marin Prevention Network, Marin County Office of Education, Marin Health and Human Services, Marin schools, youth sports teams and organizations and other local community-based organizations. Together, we aim to shift norms around substance use and encourage healthy choices by promoting positive adult role modeling. 

LCMSD requests that all adults abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other substances at youth-centered events, during youth sports competitions, and at team celebrations. By collectively promoting healthy behaviors, we can support a safer, healthier environment for all youth. To learn more, please visit rtbmarin.org or email lisa@mhyp.org.

We are working with Raising the Bar this Fall to support a parent survey to better understand perceptions and understanding of drinking and substance use among our community members. Below there is a link to an anonymous survey. Please take a few minutes to fill this out and contribute to this very important work. 

ENGLISH SURVEY LINK

SPANISH SURVEY LINK

Let’s Talk Series  
Let’s Talk is a local initiative dedicated to helping parents and families navigate youth substance use in Marin County. Every year, Let’s Talk holds a series of community discussions during which guest facilitators and topic experts present, and parents/caregivers have the opportunity to learn best practices and share their experiences in a safe, solution-oriented environment.

These FREE offerings are intended to provide support to both you and your families throughout the upcoming school year.  All events will have Spanish interpretation provided (except for the Sept 16 event, which is offered entirely in Spanish).

We’d like to draw your attention to the following September and October events:

Sept 16          Hablemos – Cómo nos cambia la vida familiar al llegar a este país?  (in English – “Let’s Talk - How does our family life change when we arrive in this country?”). Note: Session offered entirely in Spanish.

Oct 8              Let’s Talk: Underage Substance Use in Marin

Oct 15           Let's Talk: The Elementary Years – Laying Strong Foundations: Parenting for Prevention

Visit the Let’s Talk site to explore updated resources that offer guidance for parents and caregivers, and support youth growth and well-being.

MCOE Artificial Intelligence Parent Education Series

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of how children learn, communicate, and create. Future Ready Families is a free, three-part webinar series designed to help parents and caregivers better understand this evolving landscape.

Each session will explore a different aspect of AI in students' lives, including: 

• How children are currently using (and could be using) this technology, 

• Key privacy and safety considerations for families, and 

• How adults can support digital wellness and thoughtful technology habits at home. 

Register HERE

Dear LCMSD Community,

Strong communication is the foundation of successful partnerships. In our final video, Communication, we outline how to best connect with teachers, administrators, and other parents. Topics include:

• When to email vs. call

• The order of who to contact for support

• Setting expectations around time and resources

• Navigating parent communication tools
  
  

📽️ Watch Video 6: Communication

📑 View Slide Deck

We have also created a central hub with all six videos, slide decks, and resources in one place:

🌐 LCMSD Parent Partnership Resource Page

Thank you for engaging with this series and for your continued partnership in supporting every student, every day.

With appreciation,

We are proud to announce an amazing $100,000+ donation of musical instruments that will enrich music education for all LCMSD students. See the press release below for details!

The Larkspur-Corte Madera School District (LCMSD) band program has received a transformative gift of over $100,000 to fund a full set of instruments for all 5th through 8th grade students donated directly by the Freemasons. The donation was facilitated by SPARK – the Larkspur-Corte Madera Schools Foundation, which helped connect the organization’s giving priorities with a critical district need.

The effort was inspired by Geoffrey Barnard, a Freemason from the Mountain View De Anza Masonic Lodge and parent of a third grader at Cove Elementary. Barnard was deeply moved by his son’s second-grade classroom experience with teacher Peter Eldredge, whose dedication to creativity and hands-on learning left a lasting impression. Among the highlights was a SPARK-funded mini-grant project where students designed and played their own box guitars. Inspired by both the teacher’s impact and the opportunities provided, Barnard wanted to ensure all LCMSD students could access meaningful music education. He brought the idea to SPARK, who worked closely with the Freemasons to make it a reality.

“Music has a profound impact on all of us, and I am grateful for the positive influence our schools and teachers have on students every day,” shared Geoffrey Barnard. “It is an honor to contribute to the district’s efforts to build an outstanding music program that will inspire and benefit students across all three schools for years to come.”

“These donated instruments will make an immediate difference in our program,” said Jeff Derby, Hall Middle School Band Teacher. “They ensure that every student has access to a quality instrument, allowing us to strengthen our ensembles and provide the best possible music experience.”

“This partnership is a perfect example of community generosity and collaboration,” said Jaime Heaps, Executive Director of SPARK. “When Geoffrey Barnard and the Freemasons stepped forward, we were honored to help identify a need and coordinate the process. Because of this gift, every 5th–8th grader in our district now has the opportunity to pick up an instrument and experience the joy of making music.”

Music teachers Max Abrahams and Jeff Derby surveyed students on their musical interests to build a comprehensive instrument order. Over the summer, SPARK and the Freemasons worked together to identify the needs of the LCMSD music program and place an order in time for the start of the school year. The result: every 5th–8th grade student in LCMSD now has access to a band instrument at no cost to their families. The new instruments will support the district in building an inclusive and thriving music program for all.

Dear LCMSD Community,

In today’s video, Academics, we highlight the many ways families and schools work together to support students. Topics include:

• Academic supports (SSTs, reading/math interventions)

• IEP and 504 services

• Conferences and assessments (i-Ready, DIBELS, CAASPP)

• Pathways in math, music, and language
  

📽️ Watch Video 5: Academics

📑 View Slide Deck

Tomorrow, we’ll close our series with a focus on Communication.

With gratitude,

Dear LCMSD Community,

LCMSD is community-funded, and your support makes a direct impact on our schools. In today’s video, School Funding, we explain:

• LCFF vs. Community-Funded districts

• Local revenue sources including parcel taxes, SPARK, PTO/A, and bonds
  
  

📽️ Watch Video 4: School Funding

📑 View Slide Deck

Tomorrow’s video will focus on Academics and how we support every learner.

Thank you for your partnership,

Dear LCMSD Community,

The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. In today’s video, School Safety, we share how we maintain secure campuses while fostering a strong sense of connection. Topics include:

• Drills and emergency plans

• Safety partnerships with first responders

• Campus check-in procedures

• Belonging, relationships, and proactive safety measures
  
  

📽️ Watch Video 3: School Safety

📑 View Slide Deck

Tomorrow, we’ll turn to another important topic: School Funding.

With appreciation,