L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis joins Principal for the Day program

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis joined business and community leaders Wednesday in the Principal for the Day program in the Bassett, Rowland and Hacienda La Puente school districts.

“My home is actually about 10 minutes from here, where my mother still lives,” Solis said. “I’m a proud (La Puente High) Warrior,”

Growing up, Solis never expected to have the opportunities she has had.

“All I can tell you is that at a tender age I was once told not to dream, not to dream too big, to go along, get along,” Solis said. “Maybe just be a secretary … but I never thought I would receive a call from the White House to become the Secretary of Labor.”

PHOTOS: Hilda Solis joins Principal for the Day program

She credited local schools with giving her a good start.

“There were people in the school system that helped to direct me, to motivate me but also to give me the inspiration to go on,” Solis said.

After graduating from Cal Poly Pomona, Solis earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USC. Solis worked for President Jimmy Carter in the White House Office of Hispanic Affairs. Later, she became a management analyst in the Civil Rights Division.

“I know there are students we are honoring here,” Solis said. “Follow your dreams, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be or do what you want to do, because I know you can.”

Ten high school and two adult education students received scholarships for their outstanding achievements.

Solis called adult education and Regional Occupational Programs very important to the economy.

“It’s about the economic development, about education and continuing to open up a career path for all of us,” Solis said.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story PRINCIPAL

Hacienda La Puente Unified dropping out of Puente Valley ROP

In-fighting at one of the San Gabriel Valley’s biggest career-tech programs could put an end to 60 percent of specialized classes being offered at 10 area high schools, and has resulted in 40 teachers being placed on notice for possible fall layoffs.

Classes in computers, the healthcare industry, graphic design and accounting designed for students looking to enter the job market instead of a four-year college are being threatened by a funding dispute precipitated by the Hacienda La Puente Unfied School District, the largest district in the San Gabriel Valley.

On March 1, Hacienda La Puente sent a letter to the cooperative known as the La Puente Valley Regional Occupation Program saying it wants out, angering board members from the other two districts: Rowland Unified and Bassett Unified.

“Either they are bluffing, or they are trying to put Bassett and Rowland’s backs up against the wall,” said Bassett and ROP school board member Paul Solano.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo’s story ROP.