Schools unexpectedly get more money
Whittier Union High School District sites are getting nearly $11,000 in extra money, thanks to the campaign organizers for Measure W, the $75 million bond extension measure approved by voters in November for new vocational classrooms, lighting and security.
Treasurer Jeff Ball said when he closed out the campaign's bank account last month, there was a "significant surplus" that the committee wanted to go straight back into the schools.
As such, $2,000 will go toward the Associated Student Body groups at California, La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools; $400 will go to Frontier High continuation school; and $200 will go to the Whittier Adult School.
For more details, check out Thursday's edition of the Whittier Daily News.
This might be a good follow-up for the reporter: Why is Frontier only getting $400, and the adult school a miserly $200, while the other 5 "regular" schools are getting $2,000 each?
Here's a better question. Why isn't Sierra Vista High School getting any money at all? YES! they are part of the Whittier Union High School district. Always forgotten!
Whittier Resident,
You raise a good question, and I apologize for neglecting Sierra Vista.
Dog Spot questions why the ASB groups at the five regular high schools -- California, La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier — were getting $2,000 apiece while Frontier High only got $400 and the adult school received $200.
Here’s the answer from Associate Superintendent Paul Muschetto:
“There are two reasons. Obviously, the first is the size. The five comprehensive high schools are far larger than Frontier and the adult school.”
Enrollment at the five high schools ranges from about 1,500 at Pioneer to nearly 3,000 at California and Santa Fe high schools, according to county figures.
Frontier High has 740 students, Muschetto said.
“The second reason is that the ASBs at these schools also host and pay for many of the activities they undertake, with the biggest example of this being the athletic program.
“They charge people money to get into the athletic events, which goes to pay for referees and clean-up and all that kind of stuff. That’s some of what ASB funds do. Frontier has no outside athletic program, nor does the adult school.”
Money went to these seven schools because they have an active ASB club, which the Sierra Vista independent study program does not.
As such, Muschetto said, there is no similar organization at Sierra Vista that can receive that extra money for student activities.