December 2010 Archives
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
Chino Valley's school district has been working to improve emergency preparedness in the past two years since a potent earthquake and a major wildfire struck the area.
This month, Chino Valley Unified's safety officials traveled to the district's 33 school sites to assess and maintain emergency supplies that include water tanks and nutritional food bars.
"My team has been going to the sites to see what's out there and what the need is," said Valeria Dixon, safety coordinator for the school district. "What we recommend is they have a three-day supply.
"Now, with all the new information, and after Katrina, we're trying to boost our supply inventory and with the budget crisis that's really hard."
This month, Chino Valley Unified's safety officials traveled to the district's 33 school sites to assess and maintain emergency supplies that include water tanks and nutritional food bars.
"My team has been going to the sites to see what's out there and what the need is," said Valeria Dixon, safety coordinator for the school district. "What we recommend is they have a three-day supply.
"Now, with all the new information, and after Katrina, we're trying to boost our supply inventory and with the budget crisis that's really hard."
Continue reading Chino Valley schools prepare for emergencies .
While most of us will be waking up on New Year's Day with confetti still in our hair - a group of Inland Valley high school students will be marching down the streets of Pasadena during the Tournament of Roses Parade.
On Saturday, the students will be playing with the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, which is comprised of Lancer Band students at the college and auditioned high school band and color guard students in grades 9-12.
In total, there are 83 honor Pasadena City College band students, and of the 500 high school students who auditioned, 140 made it to the Roses Honor Band cut.
On Saturday, the students will be playing with the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, which is comprised of Lancer Band students at the college and auditioned high school band and color guard students in grades 9-12.
In total, there are 83 honor Pasadena City College band students, and of the 500 high school students who auditioned, 140 made it to the Roses Honor Band cut.
Thomas R. Cordova/Staff photographer
Continue reading Strike up the school bands .
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - Harvey Mudd College offers the highest salary potential for 2011 U.S. college graduates, according to PayScale.com.
The Claremont science and engineering college, using starting median salary and midcareer median salary categories, outranks Princeton University, Dartmouth College and Harvard University. Caltech in Pasadena ranked fifth.
The college's potential starting median salary is $68,900 while its midcareer median salary is $126,000.
A Harvey Mudd official said the campus had not planned its curriculum based on salary potential.
The Claremont science and engineering college, using starting median salary and midcareer median salary categories, outranks Princeton University, Dartmouth College and Harvard University. Caltech in Pasadena ranked fifth.
The college's potential starting median salary is $68,900 while its midcareer median salary is $126,000.
A Harvey Mudd official said the campus had not planned its curriculum based on salary potential.
Continue reading Harvey Mudd ranks No. 1 in graduate salary potential .
Author: Monica Rodriguez , Staff Writer
POMONA - Holding down costs as they develop budgets for the coming fiscal year will be a top issue for the leaders of Pomona's city government and its school system in 2011.
For both entities, it will require going to labor groups for concessions.
Pomona City Hall has achieved temporary savings through employee wage reductions including work furloughs, resulting in 10percent cuts to employee wages.
Not only are employees working fewer hours but residents and others doing business with the city have less time to do so, City Manager Linda Lowry said.
For both entities, it will require going to labor groups for concessions.
Pomona City Hall has achieved temporary savings through employee wage reductions including work furloughs, resulting in 10percent cuts to employee wages.
Not only are employees working fewer hours but residents and others doing business with the city have less time to do so, City Manager Linda Lowry said.
Continue reading Pomona faces cuts in schools, city .
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - The state has agreed to significantly reduce a $7.5 million penalty for the Chino Valley Unified School District over missed instructional minutes at two schools.
Under an agreement with education officials, and brokered by Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, the penalty will be reduced to $1.5 million and paid over 8 years at $187,500 annually, starting next school year.
The agreement also requires the district to offer 428 additional minutes of instruction to all district students for the next two school years, as it had last school year.
Under an agreement with education officials, and brokered by Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, the penalty will be reduced to $1.5 million and paid over 8 years at $187,500 annually, starting next school year.
The agreement also requires the district to offer 428 additional minutes of instruction to all district students for the next two school years, as it had last school year.
Continue reading Chino Valley school district penalty reduced .
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - Terry Nichols has decided to leave the Claremont Unified School District after less than two years as its superintendent.
Nichols will leave Claremont Unified to be superintendent of Duarte Unified School District.
"Everyone feels like Dr. Nichols is coming home," said Pam Kawasaki, Duarte Unified school board president. "Duarte is his home. I haven't had a single person who isn't thoroughly excited about his returning."
Nichols will leave Claremont Unified to be superintendent of Duarte Unified School District.
"Everyone feels like Dr. Nichols is coming home," said Pam Kawasaki, Duarte Unified school board president. "Duarte is his home. I haven't had a single person who isn't thoroughly excited about his returning."
Continue reading Claremont district superintendent to leave for Duarte .
Figuring out how to provide the best education for students is not an easy task -- that was evident after a roomful of school officials, union leaders, teachers, parents and politicians watched the documentary, "Waiting for 'Superman."
"The bottom line is the future of the region is dependent on the success of our schools. Our economy can be no better than the skills and ability of the people who live here, so at the end of the day that is the truth -- the kindergartners today are the future 20 years from now.
So understanding (education) and thinking about it, figuring it out is all of our responsibilities as a whole," said Steve PonTell, president of the Rancho Cucamonga- based La Jolla Institute, an economic and policy research organization.
PonTell helped organize the screening with a group of local leaders.
PonTell helped organize the screening with a group of local leaders.
Continue reading Seeking better schools.
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - Claremont Unified School District board member Steven Llanusa clashed last week with fellow board members over not being selected as board vice president.
Llanusa was visibly upset and offered pointed comments over the snub Thursday during the board's annual reorganization.
At the meeting, Beth Bingham was named board president and Jeff Stark vice president. Llanusa later declined to serve as clerk, a position he held for the past year.
Llanusa was visibly upset and offered pointed comments over the snub Thursday during the board's annual reorganization.
At the meeting, Beth Bingham was named board president and Jeff Stark vice president. Llanusa later declined to serve as clerk, a position he held for the past year.
Continue reading Board member stunned .
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - Claremont Unified School District's first interim budget report of the school year has turned out a little better than expected, school officials said.
As a result, class sizes in the district's kindergarten through third grades will remain at 24 students per teacher.
Transportation funds will continue to be severely limited and fewer dollars will go to the adult school.
"Right now, with the current assumptions, it makes the bottom line adequate enough so if we get major cuts we can absorb them for one year," said Lisa Shoemaker, assistant superintendent of business services, at Thursday's board meeting.
As a result, class sizes in the district's kindergarten through third grades will remain at 24 students per teacher.
Transportation funds will continue to be severely limited and fewer dollars will go to the adult school.
"Right now, with the current assumptions, it makes the bottom line adequate enough so if we get major cuts we can absorb them for one year," said Lisa Shoemaker, assistant superintendent of business services, at Thursday's board meeting.
Continue reading CUSD budget boosts outlook .
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - Superintendent Wayne Joseph said his office has identified $13.7 million in potential cuts to address Chino Valley Unified's sizeable budget deficit.
The district's potential $31.5 million deficit over the next two years could be addressed through personnel cuts, school officials said Thursday. The shortfall stems from a projected $25 billion state deficit, which experts said would likely cut into education funding.
Board of Education members met with top district officials on Thursday for its first budget study session.
The district's potential $31.5 million deficit over the next two years could be addressed through personnel cuts, school officials said Thursday. The shortfall stems from a projected $25 billion state deficit, which experts said would likely cut into education funding.
Board of Education members met with top district officials on Thursday for its first budget study session.
Neil Nisperos/photographer
Continue reading Chino Valley Unified braces for 2011 cuts .
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
The Chino Valley Unified School District will begin work to replace the pipe over winter break.
The district's school board recently approved an emergency request to San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to award a no-bid, no advertising contract for the replacement work.
Cost to the district for the repair was not to exceed $35,000.
Continue reading Oxford Prep's gas turned off .
ONTARIO - The Ontario-Montclair School District has teamed up again with Kids Come First to open a second health clinic by next school year.
The nonprofit's partnership with the district will allow it to lease space at the Linda Vista school site for the Kids Come First Community Health Clinic to provide medical treatment and outreach services to children up to 18 years of age who are uninsured or under-insured.
The first clinic has shared space with the Baldy View Regional Occupational Program in Ontario and sees about 6,000 visits a year involving about 2,500 children.
The nonprofit's partnership with the district will allow it to lease space at the Linda Vista school site for the Kids Come First Community Health Clinic to provide medical treatment and outreach services to children up to 18 years of age who are uninsured or under-insured.
The first clinic has shared space with the Baldy View Regional Occupational Program in Ontario and sees about 6,000 visits a year involving about 2,500 children.
Continue reading New clinic to open in Ontario.
Author: Monica Rodriguez , Staff Writer
POMONA - It might have seemed that Pomona Unified School District's budget problems couldn't get any worse, but they have become so.
Members of the district's school board were informed this week that the state's growing deficit means the district will have to cut even more expenses than initially planned, said Leslie Barnes, Pomona Unified's assistant superintendent of business services and chief financial officer.
School district administrators have been preparing to find ways to cut $15million out of the 2011-12 fiscal year budget.
Now that number has grown to $19million, Barnes said Wednesday.
Members of the district's school board were informed this week that the state's growing deficit means the district will have to cut even more expenses than initially planned, said Leslie Barnes, Pomona Unified's assistant superintendent of business services and chief financial officer.
School district administrators have been preparing to find ways to cut $15million out of the 2011-12 fiscal year budget.
Now that number has grown to $19million, Barnes said Wednesday.
Continue reading Pomona schools fall deeper into budget hole .
The state's top school official is attributing an increase in students dropping out of high school to reductions in public school funding.
The state Department of Education on Tuesday reported a four-year dropout rate of 21 percent of public school students for the 2008-09 school year, up 3 percentage points. The report also showed that 79 percent of public school students graduated from high school that year, down 1 percentage point.
The dropout rate is "too high, unacceptable and must be addressed," said Jack O'Connell, state superintendent.
The state Department of Education on Tuesday reported a four-year dropout rate of 21 percent of public school students for the 2008-09 school year, up 3 percentage points. The report also showed that 79 percent of public school students graduated from high school that year, down 1 percentage point.
The dropout rate is "too high, unacceptable and must be addressed," said Jack O'Connell, state superintendent.
Continue reading Dropout rates on the rise .
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - A group of parents and educators plan to file a petition this month for a new K-8 charter school in the Chino Valley that would specialize in arts and business education.
About 11 educators and parents from the region have been working on submitting the petition to the Chino Valley Unified School District.
The proposal comes as the school district faces a budget shortfall and has been trying to attract and retain students in order to preserve state attendance funds.
The charter's founders said they hope to open the school - which is being called Champions Arts and Entrepreneurial Academy - in fall 2011.
About 11 educators and parents from the region have been working on submitting the petition to the Chino Valley Unified School District.
The proposal comes as the school district faces a budget shortfall and has been trying to attract and retain students in order to preserve state attendance funds.
The charter's founders said they hope to open the school - which is being called Champions Arts and Entrepreneurial Academy - in fall 2011.
Continue reading Charter school proposed in Chino.
Author: Sandra Emerson Staff Writer
UPLAND - John Nunez, 8, carefully placed toothpick upon toothpick in order to build a stable base for a bridge.
The third-grader, along with 27 other students at Sierra Vista Elementary school in Upland, are part of the after-school GATE program.
The group has been building bridges out of toothpicks.
"Well I'm a big fan of building," John said. "I have a ton of Legos at home and that's a whole different story."
The program, Gifted And Talented Education, is organized by teachers volunteering their time after school.
The third-grader, along with 27 other students at Sierra Vista Elementary school in Upland, are part of the after-school GATE program.
The group has been building bridges out of toothpicks.
"Well I'm a big fan of building," John said. "I have a ton of Legos at home and that's a whole different story."
The program, Gifted And Talented Education, is organized by teachers volunteering their time after school.
Continue reading Students learn by building bridges with toothpicks .
FONTANA - Hearing the story of Rachel Scott changed the life of Isaiah Parks.
Rachel - who believed if she treated someone with kindness then they would feel compelled to treat someone else with kindness - was the first person shot in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado where 13 people died.
During an assembly on Thursday at Heritage Intermediate School, Isaiah saw footage of the shooting as well as heard the message of the former high school student and accepted Rachel's Challenge to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
Rachel - who believed if she treated someone with kindness then they would feel compelled to treat someone else with kindness - was the first person shot in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado where 13 people died.
During an assembly on Thursday at Heritage Intermediate School, Isaiah saw footage of the shooting as well as heard the message of the former high school student and accepted Rachel's Challenge to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - A debit card company is contesting the cancellation of an agreement for a fundraising program it provided the Chino Valley school district.
In October 2008, the district entered into an agreement with Rancho Cucamonga-based Student Reward Card, Inc., after a unanimous vote of the school board.
Prepaid debit cards supplied by the company and distributed to district high school students would have been used as both an ID card and a district fundraising mechanism.
Superintendent Wayne Joseph directed cancellation of the agreement last year. In the past year the company has contested the termination despite a provision that allows for a termination "without cause."
In October 2008, the district entered into an agreement with Rancho Cucamonga-based Student Reward Card, Inc., after a unanimous vote of the school board.
Prepaid debit cards supplied by the company and distributed to district high school students would have been used as both an ID card and a district fundraising mechanism.
Superintendent Wayne Joseph directed cancellation of the agreement last year. In the past year the company has contested the termination despite a provision that allows for a termination "without cause."
Continue reading Chino Valley district faces potential legal issue over debit cards.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Liesl Nydegger said she believes students are never too young to learn about HIV and AIDS.
In fact, Nydegger said she thinks students need to be taught about the pandemic as early as the first grade.
To help educate young people, Nydegger spoke Wednesday at Etiwanda High School's World AIDS Day prevention event.
This was the fourth year that the school's peer counselors hosted the event to commemorate World AIDS Day, which is observed Dec. 1 each year. The day aims to raise awareness and, hopefully, diminish stigmas of HIV and AIDS.
In fact, Nydegger said she thinks students need to be taught about the pandemic as early as the first grade.
To help educate young people, Nydegger spoke Wednesday at Etiwanda High School's World AIDS Day prevention event.
This was the fourth year that the school's peer counselors hosted the event to commemorate World AIDS Day, which is observed Dec. 1 each year. The day aims to raise awareness and, hopefully, diminish stigmas of HIV and AIDS.
Continue reading Students learn AIDS prevention .
