Hacienda La Puente Unified awarded $3.5 million for Headstart programs

The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District has received a $3.5 million federal grant to continue its Headstart program in area schools. Teachers and staff had faced an uncertain future when the funding ran out at the end of the school year.

“This is great news, now we have funding for five more years,” said Gabriela Chavarria, the district’s director of childhood development and preschool programs.

Chavarria said the federal money will allow the district to serve more than 363 children 3 to 4 years old. All the elementary schools in La Puente offer a Headstart program, as does Kwis and the former Glenelder elementaries in Hacienda Heights.

“The grant also includes almost $400,000 in startup funding for a new portable classroom for Headstart at Lassalette school,” the director noted. “We hope to have that new classroom set up by the end of the year.”

Electronic waste recyling at Diamond Bar High on July 13, 14

A free electronic waste recycling event to benefit Diamond Bar High School will be held July 13 and 14 at the school, 21400 E. Pathfinder Road.

The drive, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, is put on by DBHS Magnificent 7 Families.

Items accepted include televisions, monitors, computers, laptops cell phones, stereos, video game systems, LCD, DVD players, VCRs, cords, wires, cables, cameras, fax machines, printers, keyboards, scanners, electronic tools, radios, and vacuums. Items not accepted include wood speakers, alkaline batteries, light bulbs of any kind, glass or tires.

Information: 909-467-4800.

Online registration begins July 16 at Mt. SAC in Walnut

 Online registration for Mt. San Antonio College’s fall semester credit classes begins July 16.  Classes begin on Monday, Aug. 26.

New and continuing credit students must register for classes online at my.mtsac.edu. New students must also submit an admission application online. For students who do not have computer access, computers and assistance are available in the Student Services Center during business hours.  The Admissions Office is open Monday throughThursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Before registering, new students are required to activate their personal Mt. SAC portal account at the same website, which provides set-up instructions.  Students will be able to view a registration date and time in their portal account and will not be allowed to register before their assigned time.  New students must also contact the Counseling Department to sign up for the required orientation session before registering for classes.  For more information about required orientation sessions, call the Mt. SAC Counseling Department at (909) 274-4380.

The enrollment fee is $46 per unit for California residents, and all fees are due upon registration. 

        For more registration information, call the Mt. SAC Admissions & Records Office at (909) 274-4415, or visit www.mtsac.edu.

Nakaoka says goodbye to Hacienda La Puente Unified

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Integrity begins with I. It’s an individual choice that has served Barbara Nakaoka well over the past 43 years.

A beacon that she says has guided her during four decades of service at Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. She has climbed up the ladder from teacher to superintendent of one of the largest school districts in the San Gabriel Valley.

“That’s the thing I’m most proud of, managing the district with integrity,” Nakaoka said. “Of doing what was right and not compromising my integrity.”

The 65-year-old retired on June 30, leaving behind a long list of accomplishments.

She actually began working at age 16 as an usher at the Music Center in Los Angeles.

“I loved it, I got to see actresses like Carol Channing in ‘Hello Dolly,'” the petite administrator recalled.
Read more in Richard Irwin’s story RETIRE.

Rowland Unified approves $132 budget

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The Rowland Unified School District approved a $132.5 million budget on June 25. Next year’s budget projects an $8 million deficit that will be covered by the district’s $52 million balance going into the next school year.

“The district doesn’t want to increase class size or cut more programs,” Superintendent Ruben Frutos explained. “So the school board decided to use some of our reserves.”

Frutos expects the district to receive $2 million more from the state, now that Governor Jerry Brown has finally signed the state budget. But Rowland has to wait while figures are finalized over the next couple weeks.

“We will also use other cost cutting measures over the next year to cut the deficit down,” the top administrator added.

Last year’s adopted budget anticipated a $20 million deficit, but actual figures show that deficit shrank to only $2 million. Revenue actually increased $4.5 million than expected, while expenditures were $14 million less than budgeted.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story BUDGET.