This just in from Azusa:
The Board of Education of the Azusa Unified School District has passed a resolution opposing the Governors 2008 budget. The Board and the Districts four employee associations including the Azusa Educators Association, Azusa Chapter 299 of the California Classified Employees Association, Azusa Management Association and the Azusa Federation of Adult Educators signed the joint resolution.
The resolution points out that under Governor Schwarzeneggers budget Azusa Unified schools would lose $340,000 in the current fiscal year due to mid year cuts and $6.4 million in 2008-09 due to the suspension of Proposition 98.
In recent years, Azusa Unified has cut more than $3.5 million, which has affected the purchase of textbooks, teacher training, and class size. The Board noted that California spends $1,900 less per student than the national average.
The resolution points out that the budget reductions are inconsistent with the states goal to improve student achievement, at a time when our students are making progress meeting rigorous state and federal education standards.
For 18-year-old Danny Noriega, school is the last thing on his mind.
The Azusa resident, who planned to start college this past fall, has pushed back his plans in order for a chance at fame. I recently interviewed the Sierra High School student over the telephone, who of course had his trusty PR guru on the line to make sure he didn’t answer any pressing questions. One subject he couldn’t go into detail on was rehearsals, or of course, what song he would be performing during this Tuesday’s American Idol show.
But I did ask him what he liked to do for fun, besides singing. He loves to dance, and often goes out to clubs with his friends. What club you ask? Well, for some reason Noriega didn’t want to answer that either.
On Fox’s American Idol website, the long-haired contestant claims to love artists Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson and Chris Brown.
This is the second season Noriega has competed to be named American Idol, which is in its seventh season. Last season, he said he was trying to maintain a look that he thought the judges wanted (shorter hair). Unfortunately, he wasn’t what the panel was looking for. So this season, he came back as himself, he says, and made it through to the top 24.