February 2011 Archives

The Historical Society of Pomona Valley will conduct its annual meeting Saturday evening.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Pomona Ebell Museum of History, 585 E. Holt Ave.

This year's meeting will have a 1930s theme and will explore historic events of the decade including the Great Depression and its impact on life in the region.

The evening's program will also include a talk by author and Cal State Los Angeles history professor Francisco Balderama.

Balderama will speak on a 1931 policy through which U.S. immigration authorities carried out massive deportations of Mexicans.

Included in the deportations were large numbers of U.S. citizens of Mexican decent.

The evening will include displays, music, and films from the period.

Tickets are $25. Reservations can be made by calling 909-623-2198.

Students and others interested in listening to the featured speaker only can arrive at 7:30 p.m. and pay a reduced fee of $10 at the door.

Information on a variety of the health services offered at Western University of Health Sciences Patient Care Center will be available Saturday during its open house.

The open house, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Patient Care Center, 795 E. Second St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tours of the Eye Care Center clinic will be offered and visitors can also participate in drawings and have visions screenings.

Flu shots, travel medicine counseling, and screenings for diabetes and osteoporosis are available through the Western U Pharmacy.

Information on family medicine, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehab along with osteopathic manipulative medicine will be offered through the Patient Care Center's Medical Center.

The Foot and Ankle Center will provide foot screenings, electronic foot pressure sensing and a presentation on general foot health.

Educational information on diabetes and hypertension will be offered by the Western Diabetes Institute.

Information on dental services will be available through the Dental Center.

The Patient Care Center is staffed by health care professionals and provides advanced level students from Western University's various programs an opportunity to begin using their knowledge.

For more information on the open house contact Christina Tatum at 909-469-5454.

Supporters of Inland Valley Hope Partners can enjoy a meal at Mimi's Cafe in Upland on Monday and help the nonprofit organization raise funds for its work at the same time.

The fundraising event will take place at Mimi's Cafe in Upland, 370 N. Mountain Ave., between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Guests must present a special flier to have 15 percent of their bill donated to Inland Valley Hope Partners.

Since 1968 the Pomona-based Inland Valley Hope Partners has been working to provide food to the needy and shelter to the homeless, according to a statement from the organization.

The fliers are available on the Inland Valley Hope Partners Facebook page or by calling 909-622-3806, ext. 231.

Pomona Unified School District's School of Extended Education Options, also known as SEEO, is accepting applications for the 2011-12 school year.

Enrollment is open to students who are residents of the district, which includes Pomona and part of Diamond Bar, and students living outside district boundaries, according to a statement from the school.

The campus, within the Village at Indian Hill on Holt Avenue and Indian Hill Boulevard, is an independent study charter school offering courses meeting the University of California A through G requirements and leading to high school graduation, the statement said.

SEEO's independent study courses, including its on-line courses, are rigorous but also provide students a chance to move at an accelerated pace while studying in a college-like atmosphere, the statement said.

In addition to SEEO's program, students can also participate in the district's comprehensive Career and Technical Education training options also available at the Village at Indian Hill.

For additional information, visit www.pusd.org/seeo or e-mail Jennifer Eddings at jennifer.eddings@pusd.org or call teacher specialist Sebastian Black at 909-397-4431.

Western University of Health Sciences' fourth-year veterinary medicine students topped the national average score for people taking their discipline's national licensure test this year.

The university announced recently the students, enrolled in the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, scored a college record and had the highest national average score among those taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination for the first time.

The group included individuals representing the United States' 28 veterinary medicine programs.

Western University's College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2011 will graduate in May. The students recently received the results of the examination and scored a 96 percent, the university statement said.

The national average is 95 percent, the statement said.

Last year's average for the college was 91 percent.

"This is great validation of all the efforts and hard work established by (the College of Veterinary Medicine) and Western U," said Dr. Teresa Morishita in the university's statement.

Morishita, a doctor of veterinary medicine, is associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of poultry medicine and food safety.

"Within five short years, we're already achieving similar standards as other long-established veterinary schools," she said.

The college graduated its first class of veterinarians in 2007.

The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in North America, the statement said.

Each senior veterinary medical student first must pass the national examination in order to be a licensed practicing veterinarian, the statement said. After passing the national exam students take a state exam in the state they wish to become licensed, Morishita said in the statement.

Pomona Catholic High School is pre-selling tickets for its annual Casino Night scheduled for March 5.

The event will take place at the school, 533 W. Holt Ave.

Pre-sale tickets are $30 per person and includes dinner, a drink and $50 worth of casino chips. Pre-sale tickets for couples are $50 and includes dinner for two, two drinks and $100 worth of casino chips, according to a statement from the school.

Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of the event for $40 for singles and $60 for couples.

As part of the event, which is themed "Sports Around the World," guests are invited to dress in their favorite team's clothing.

Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and casino activities will begin at 7.

For additional pre-sale ticket information contact Carolyn Fernandez at 909-910-4602 or Renya Pasillas at 909-319-6577.

Residents, business people and Neighborhood Watch groups of the city's southeast quadrant are invited to meet March 8 with members of the Pomona Police Department to discuss concerns affecting that part of the city.

The Southeast Area Commander Meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Simons Middle School, 900 E. Franklin Ave.

Part of the 90-minute meeting will be dedicated to crime prevention tips focusing on burglaries.

Residents, business people and Neighborhood Watch groups can call or e-mail questions or concerns affecting the neighborhoods within the southeast area, which consists of the areas east of Garey Avenue and south of Holt Avenue.

By residents sending or calling in questions ahead of time, police representatives can have answers to present at the meeting.

Questions can be e-mailed to AreaCommander_Southeast@ci.pomona.ca.us or phoned in to 909-802-7496.

For additional information call the Police Department's crime prevention office at 909-620-2318.

Pomona will soon have a new Lions Club.

Published Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011

POMONA - A group representing the Pomona Unified School District joined 150 school districts last week at a two-day conference in Denver designed to improve labor-management relations.

Pomona Unified's Superintendent Richard Martinez and school board member Jason Rothman, as well as Associated Pomona Teachers President Tyra Weis attended the symposium, which was titled the "Conference on Advancing Student Achievement through Labor-Management Collaboration." The U.S. Department of Education and several education-related organizations sponsored the conference on Feb. 15-16.

Officials from the districts learned how cooperation among administration, unions and school boards can lead to improved performances by students.

Weis said she left Denver confident in the work being done in Pomona Unified. While some districts are struggling with labor-management relations, Weis said, "We're ahead of the curve."

Pomona Unified has taken steps to keep communication lines open among district administrators, union members as well as the school board.

"We left there feeling pretty good," Weis said.

The districts that were invited to the conference receive federal financial assistance and were selected at random, Martinez said.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan billed the conference as a groundbreaking effort to build trust between unions and school leaders who are sometimes their adversaries.

Participants spent most of the conference hearing about changes some school districts have implemented to align themselves with what federal education officials say are necessary reforms, such as how a dozen school districts have implemented pay-for-performance compensation for teachers.

Ten sweeping points that federal educators want schools to consider - from evaluating teachers in new ways to handling layoffs demanded by budget cuts - were discussed.

The reforms are even more necessary this year as states continue to grapple with massive budget shortfalls and scores of teachers face the possibility of receiving a pink slip, Duncan said.

Some school district administrators, union leaders and school board members may have trouble communicating, but that's not the case with Pomona Unified, Weis said.

Union representatives regularly meet with Martinez and other top district administrators to discuss topics such as educational policies and budgetary matters, Weis said.

Pomona Unified's participation in the conference allowed the district to see how its labor-management relationship measured up against other districts.

"First and foremost, it provided validation," Martinez said. "We were looking to see if we're on the right track."

The summit also did something else.

"It was a time to celebrate what we're doing well," he said.

The conference also afforded him the opportunity to see methods that are being successfully implemented by other districts, such as evaluations of teachers and school administrators that involve multiple factors and not just the opinion of a supervisor.

Ideas on how to stretch scarce dollars were also shared.

"You can inject dollars into a (school) system, but what happens when the dollars stop flowing? How do you keep things going," Martinez said.

A school district in Philadelphia has used some of its federally-allocated funds to help parents earn their GED as they learn how to navigate the educational system so they can help their children and be prepared to be their advocates, he said.

Pomona offers workshops to prepare parents so they understand the educational system, but the Philadelphia model could have a place locally.

Pomona Unified must help students be successful, but it can also help parents so they are better prepared to work with their children and improve their lives, Martinez said.

In the midst of the fast-paced conference, there was time for teams to discuss what they had learned as well as where they are succeeding and where they must improve.

"It was an opportunity to be candid with one another," Martinez said.

Martinez, Rothman and Weis said they were committed to strengthening their efforts in communication, training and collaboration.

In the current economic climate, Rothman said that working together is critical.

"It's never been more important to collaborate with all the stakeholders," Rothman said.

Published Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011

Published Monday, Feb. 21, 2011

POMONA - Members of the Pomona Habla/Speaks Community Coalition went before the city's Charter Review Commission last week in support of creating a police commission.

Coalition members representing various groups addressed the Charter Review Commission Wednesday evening, saying such a body would go a long way in improving police-community relations.

Coalition member Angela Sambrano said Thursday a police commission would have a valuable role to play in the city.

"It would offer a vehicle or an entity that could review, impartially, complaints of citizens and residents," Sambrano said.

Right now if a resident has a complaint involving the Police Department, the person can take his concerns to the police or the City Council, she said.

"But there is no way to ensure impartiality," Sambrano said.

The police commission issue was not on the Charter Review Commission's agenda Wednesday evening.

A Charter Commission subcommittee established last summer to address the issue is expected to present a report on its research next month, said Eunice Russell, commission co-chairwoman.

Others who are supporting the idea are members of Pomona Valley Democratic Club, who submitted a letter of support to the city, City Clerk Marie Macias said.

Coalition member Catherine Kirui told Charter Commission members Wednesday a police commission would be good for the city's police and the public.

In addition, the city would fall in line with a number of large cities around the state including Riverside, Long Beach and San Diego that have such commissions, Kirui said.

Sambrano said a police commission would have been useful in addressing the incident that resulted in the establishment of the coalition.

The coalition came together following a massive checkpoint conducted in May 2008 at Mission Boulevard and San Antonio Avenue.

Local police were joined by multiple law enforcement agencies in carrying out the checkpoint that halted traffic in all directions for several hours.

Critics of the checkpoints accused local police of being heavy-handed.

Although a committee was created to address the matter, "it didn't have residents," Sambrano said.

Had a police commission existed in May 2008 the matter "would have been resolved with less tension," she said.

When people cannot find a resolution to a concern they often end up filing lawsuits, which cost the city money that could be better spent on other municipal needs, she said.

Coalition members suggested the Charter Review Commission consider establishing a police commission modeled after Berkeley's Police Review Commission.

The Berkeley model includes resident participation on the commission. It also provides residents a way to bring forth topics they feel need the commission's attention, Sambrano said.

That commission can carry out investigations, make recommendations on how to address community concerns brought to it and provide input on the police department's budget, she said.

Russell said Thursday the Charter Commission subcommittee focusing on the police commission topic has been doing a great deal of work.

Russell, who is a member of the police commission subcommittee, said as part of its work the group is gathering information on the number and nature of complaints filed by the public in relation to the Police Department.

In addition, the subcommittee is reviewing police commission models of other cities and other alternatives, Russell said.

"A lot of research is going into this issue," she said.

Russell said she understands the concerns expressed Wednesday evening.

"I believe the concerns of people are very real," Russell said.

Russell said she believes there is a need for a platform to address residents' concerns but isn't sure a police commission is the proper approach.

"We really have to look at all the alternatives," she said.

The Berkeley model is something Russell is familiar with and is one that involves a great deal of community involvement and commitment, she said. That results in a strong community policing component that starts with the use of Neighborhood Watch groups.

A group of Chino Hills residents made a Valentine's Day visit to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center to deliver dozens of knit caps to the facility's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The donation of close to 100 caps was made by participants of the "Knit and Stitch" group, which got together last year through the Chino Hills' Active Adults program.

About half of the caps were donated by Wendy Viola, a member who had just joined the group the day of the visit, according to a hospital news release.

Viola had made the caps prior to joining the group.

From the start, members of the group determined they would donate their work, Yvonne Friar said in a hospital statement.

"When we got together, we decided we wanted to create something that could be donated to help others," said Friar, a "Knit and Stitch" member. "I brought in a pattern for a baby cap that could be knitted or crocheted and everybody loved the idea of making them for premature babies."

The caps will be used to help warm premature babies in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

"The hospital is so thankful for the donation of these hand-made caps," hospital spokeswoman Kathy Roche said.

"With our 53-bed NICU, our families not only appreciate these gifts now, but, oftentimes, these gifts will continue as a message of love as these caps are passed on to siblings and stored as keepsakes for these babies to pass to future generations," Roche said. "We are so grateful that the Chino Hills Knit and Stitch group chose PVHMC's NICU for this generous donation."

Pomona Southwest Little League will have tryouts Saturday for its spring season.

Parents can still register their children to participate in the program that offers competitive sports opportunities for boys and girls.

Southwest Little League, which has been in existence for more than 50 years, offers baseball and softball.

Baseball registration is open to youngsters from 4 to 16 years old. Softball registration is open to those 8 to 16 years old.

Registration will be at Ralph Welch Park on the corner of Ninth Street and Buena Vista Avenue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday.

A registration fee of $80 includes the cost of a player's cap, jersey, trophy and a basic photo package.

For more information, call 909-680-2601.

The Fox Theater will have a ghoulish feel Sunday afternoon when the Friends of the Pomona Fox Theater screen "Dracula" and "Frankenstein."

In addition to screening the films, which were released 80 years ago, the afternoon's activities will include special displays.

Owners of vintage hearses will park their vehicles outside of the Fox.

Part of the afternoon will be dedicated to a panel discussion that includes a mix of actors, film historians and make-up and special effects experts.

The theater's doors will open at 2 p.m.

"Dracula" will begin at 3 p.m. and will be followed by the panel discussion.

"Frankenstein" is scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m.

Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under.

Members of the Pomona Unified School District's school board are expected to vote on a resolution Tuesday night that, if approved, would allow administrators to issue preliminary layoff notices to some of the district's teachers and other certificated personnel.

The notices would tell teachers, counselors and others represented by the Associated Pomona Teachers that their employment could end at the end of the current academic year.

Also expected to be affected are teachers in the district's child development programs, said Tyra Weis, president of the Associated Pomona Teachers.

Half of the about 100 certificated personnel in those programs could be impacted, Weis said.
Word on the reductions in the child development programs took the employees that Weis represents by surprise since they had not been affected in previous years.

Superintendent Richard Martinez said the programs depend on state funds that have been cut while others involve federal dollars that could possibly be cut as part of the federal budget process.

Although the federal budget process has not been completed, it's possible programs could see a reduction in funds and the district must prepare for such a situation, Martinez said.

The school board will meet behind closed doors at 6 p.m. and go into open session at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of the district's education center at 800 S. Garey Ave.

Western University of Health Sciences' Patient Care Center will have an open house to give visitors an opportunity to learn about the various services it has to offer.

The open house will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Patient Care Center, 795 E. Second St.

The event is free and open to the public.

Visitors will be able to visit the eye care center, which will offer vision screening and frame styles.

In addition, guests can participate in drawings, receive product samples and tour the clinic.

The Western U pharmacy will offer flu shots, travel medicine counseling as well as osteoporosis and diabetes screenings.

The Patient Care Center's Medical Center will have information on its family medicine, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehab programs as well as its Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine program.

Foot screenings, electronic foot pressure sensing and a presentation on general foot health will be offered at the Foot and Ankle Center.

Educational information on diabetes and hypertension along with post-screening educational services as well as the importance of arranging proper follow-up will be available at the Western Diabetes Institute.

Information on dental services will be available through the dental center.

The Patient Care Center is staffed by health care professionals and provides advanced-level students from Western University with various programs and opportunities to begin using their knowledge.

For more information, call 909-469-5454.

The Historical Society of Pomona Valley will travel back in time to the 1930s as part of its annual meeting.

The event is scheduled for Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pomona Ebell Museum of History, 585 E. Holt Ave.

The Depression had a huge impact on many people's lives in the 1930s, said Mickey Gallivan, president of the organization.

Pomona saw considerable activity during that decade.

It was a time when muralists were hard at work and the federal government carried out projects first through the Works Progress Administration and later the Works Projects Administration, she said.

In Pomona, the Palomares Adobe was restored through a joint effort between the Historical Society as well as city and federal programs, Gallivan said.

The decade was also a difficult one for immigrants and their U.S. born relatives.
In 1931, a policy was set in place through which U.S. immigration authorities carried out massive deportations of Mexicans.

Included in the deportations were large number of U.S. citizens of Mexican descent.

Members of the Historical Society have invited Francisco Balderama to speak on the deportations and other historic events.

Balderama is an author and a professor of history at Cal State Los Angeles, Gallivan said.

The evening includes music and film from the period along with displays of period clothing.

People can dress in period attire but it's not required.

Tickets are $25.

Reservations can be made by calling 909-623-2198.

Students and others interested in listening to the featured speaker only can arrive at 7:30 p.m. and pay a reduced fee of $10.

Published Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

POMONA - It started out as an invitation to have a conversation, and it developed into a faith-based group that will take on projects that benefit students.

The Superintendent's Faith-based Roundtable consists of more than 40 clergy and lay members of 16 different faith traditions, said Richard Martinez, superintendent of the Pomona Unified School District.

The initial concept was to meet informally to talk about the school district so the clergy could share the information with the members of their houses of worship, Martinez said. That was about nine months ago.

"It's grown into a lot more than I envisioned," Martinez said. "It's really about community and doing projects with a common goal."

That goal is working with and supporting Pomona Unified's youths, he said.

Members of the Roundtable have embarked on the Pomona Unified Peace Project, an anti-bullying and anti-violence initiative that will culminate in an art contest open to students from third grade through 12th grade across the district, including students in parochial, private and charter schools.

The project also includes putting on a series of assemblies next month for third-grade students designed to show them how to recognize bullying and how to stop it.

The Rev. Rick DeBruyne, of Lincoln Avenue Community Church, said for many years he has tried to bring the clergy together without success.

Martinez has succeeded.

"I think the fact it was something outside the faith community calling" helped bring clergy together, DeBruyne said.

In his case, DeBruyne said he responded in part because his curiosity was piqued by the superintendent's call.

The call has brought together a diverse group of people, some with very different views, for a common purpose, he said.

"We're not there to sell our beliefs or evangelize," DeBruyne said.

"We're all there to do something that benefits children and families...It's for the good of the community."

Collaborating with a diverse group with varied beliefs means a great deal of learning about each other and themselves is taking place, he said.

Among those participating in the effort is Haleema Shaikley, founder and principal of the School of Knowledge Islamic School in northern Pomona.

"We are here to work in harmony for peace and good character," she said.

Shaikley said a member of the School of Knowledge senior class working on an interfaith project is attending meetings with her and is also participating by recruiting students to take part in the project.

Faith-based groups can can lend a hand, particularly now, when schools are hurting due to budget cuts.

Members of the faith-based community can work in various ways from helping with after-school programs to helping determine why a child is missing school, said Nancy Matarrita, community resources director at First Baptist Church of Pomona .

When a child misses school it's not always because he or she is simply trying to get out of classes.

Sometimes a child won't go to school because he or she has to care for a younger sibling so parents can go to work. Or a child won't go to school because his clothes are tattered and he is embarrassed to be seen by classmates.

"If there's anything we can do and we can help, we will," Matarrita said.

Published Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

POMONA - The first project the Superintendent's Faith-based Roundtable will take on will be an anti-bullying, anti-violence project.

The Pomona Unified School District's Peace Project has two components: an art contest open to students in grades three through 12 and a series of assemblies to be presented to third-graders in mid- March.

The art project is open to all Pomona Unified students and students living in the city who are enrolled in private, parochial or charter schools, said Nancy Matarrita, community resources director at First Baptist Church of Pomona and the Roundtable member leading the art component of the project.

Students will be asked to create two-dimensional art pieces depicting a positive behavior, she said.

"We want them to show the difference between a hurtful attitude and behavior and a peaceful attitude and behavior," Matarrita said.

Deadline to submit entries is March 17. Entries, along with entry forms and other details, are available at the school office of all Pomona Unified campuses as well as private, parochial and charter schools. Information also is available by calling Matarrita at 909-629-5277, ext. 3014.

Prizes will be awarded in several categories, she said, but sponsors are still needed for the art contest.

The second aspect of the project involves a series of assemblies to be presented to third-graders about bullying, said Rev. Rick DeBruyne, of Lincoln Avenue Church, who is leading this aspect of the project.

Through the assemblies children will learn how to recognize bullying, how to keep from being bullied and what to do if others are being bullied, he said.

Diverse clergy teams will make the presentations, DeBruyne said.

Curriculum for teachers leading up to the assemblies has been developed, and people trained to work with children and parents who are dealing with bullying will be available, DeBruyne said.

Members of the Roundtable are coming up with ideas for future projects with Pomona Unified.

"I see people from all walks of life, of all faiths, coming together for the good of the children in our district," said Fernando Meza, director of community and employee relations for the district.

There is not limit to the ideas and projects the group can take on.

"Basically, the sky is the limit," Meza said.

The Roundtable is inviting others to volunteer their time and help out with this and other projects and in the process are bringing the community together, he said.

Members of the clergy interested in becoming part of the Superintendent's Faith-based Roundtable can obtain more information by calling DeBruyne at 909-576-5214 or Tommy Morrow at the Pomona Unified School District, 909-397-4800.

Published Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011

Pomona city leaders voted unanimously this week in favor of selling the Garey Village complex in southern Pomona.

City Council members, acting as the governing board of the city's redevelopment agency, voted 6-0 in favor of approving a sale and transfer agreement for the property on the southeast corner of Garey Avenue and Olive Street.

The interested buyer is Pasadena-based Velocity Investment Group.

The group would like to use the property for educational purposes.

Under the terms of the agreement the property would be sold for $7.1 million,

Escrow has already opened and the group has put down a $100,000 deposit, city administrators said.

As part of the agreement the investment group has 60 days to determine if they wish to continue with the deal. At that the end of that period if the group wishes to move forward with the purchase the deposit becomes non-refundable and goes toward the purchase price.

The buyers would have an additional 30 days to make a final decision or could request an 60 days to make a decision. If they chose to the later option the group would have to put down another $100,000 deposit.

Published Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011

The Friends of the Fox will mark the 80th anniversary of the release of two classic horror films this month.

The Friends of the Fox will screen "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" Feb. 20.

As part of the screenings special displays and panel discussion will take place.

Among the panel participants will be Sara Karloff, daughter of actor Boris Karloff of "Frankenstein" fame, and Bela Lugosi, Jr, son of "Dracula" star Bela Lugosi.

Also taking part in the panel will be actor Dan Roebeck, whose television credits include "Matlock," "Lost," "Glee," "NCIS," "CSI," "Bones," and "Desperate Housewives."

His film credits include "Halloween," "Agent Cody Banks," "Final Destination" and "The Fugitive."

Shane Mahan will also be part of the panel. Mahan has created special effects for more than 35 films including the forthcoming "Cowboys and Aliens" starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Mahan has also worked on "Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," "Iron Man," "War of the Worlds," and "Jurassic Park."

Other panel members include film historian Ted Newsome; movie and monster historian Bill Warren; and makeup expert and artist Craig Reardon.

Scott Essman, University of La Verne instructor in cinema, will serve as panel moderator.

Doors will open at 2 p.m.

"Dracula" will screen at 3 p.m. and "Frankenstein" at 4:45 p.m.

Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under.

Published Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 

Trinity United Methodist Church will welcome concert organist James Walker to participate in its Trinity Concert Series.

The free concert will begin at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the church, 676 N. Gibbs St.

Walker, a nationally recognized organist whose music has been broadcast on National Public Radio, will play music by Vivaldi, Pachelbel, Bach, Vierne and from a number of Southern California composers, according to a church statement.

Admission to the concert is free but donations will be accepted.

Published Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011

Mt. San Antonio College will host a free financial aid event designed to help area high school seniors and their parents complete necessary financial aid forms.

The "Cash for College" fair is scheduled to take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 26 on the campus, 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut.

"Financial aid is now more important to many students than ever before," said Susan Jones, Mt. SAC's financial aid director, in a statement. "It can mean the difference between attending or not attending college."

Mt. SAC is sponsoring the event in partnership with area high schools and elected officials including Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Ontario, Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, and state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Montclair.

At the Cash for College event students and their parents will find assistance as they work to complete and file the Federal Student Aid and Cal Grant financial aid forms for the 2011-12 academic year, the statement said.

The event is being offered so participants will be able to complete the necessary forms and submit them before the Cal Grant deadline, which is March 2.

Parents and students must bring a copy of the students' Social Security cards or permanent resident cards along with their 2010 federal 1040 tax return and W-2 form, the statement said.

If 2010 information is not available, a 2009 tax return may be used along with 2010 W-2 forms.

The assistance will be available for students planning to attend Mt. SAC and other colleges the information will be useful to anyone who is planning to apply to any college.

In addition, admission application forms to Mt. SAC, to the Extended Opportunity and Program Service and other Mt. SAC student programs will be available.

Participants will be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship sponsored through the California Student Aid Commission.

Reservations are required for the event.

Online reservations can be made by going to www.mtsac.edu/students/finaid/cashfair.htm or by calling the Mt. SAC financial aid office at 909-274- 4458.

Published Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011

Pomona Catholic High School is pre-selling tickets for its annual Casino Night scheduled for March 5.

The event will take place at the school, 533 W. Holt Ave.

Pre-sale tickets are $30 per person and includes dinner, a drink and $50 worth of casino chips. Pre-sale tickets for couples are $50 and includes dinner for two, two drinks and $100 worth of casino chips, according to a statement from the school.

Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of the event for $40 for singles and $60 for couples.

As part of the event, which is themed "Sports Around the World," guests are invited to dress in their favorite team's clothing.

Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and casino activities will begin at 7 p.m.

For additional pre-sale ticket information contact Carolyn Fernandez at 909-910-4602 or Renya Pasillas at 909-319-6577.

Published Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011

POMONA - By the summer motorists could be using a new Mission Boulevard bridge to travel over the 71 Freeway.

Although construction on the $47 million project at Mission and the 71 Freeway had a difficult start, steady progress is being made, city personnel said recently.

Work on retaining walls is nearly complete and work is taking place on bridge components, Pomona City Engineer Ati Eskandari said.

"We're hoping by the end of July to be done with the bridge," she said.

Once the bridge is in place, construction crews will shift their attention to the 71 Freeway, she said.

Completion of the Mission-71 project is expected to improve traffic circulation in the area.

Public Works Director Daryl Grigsby said once construction got under way last summer work has moved along smoothly.

Plans call for the project to be completed by the end of December, Grigsby said.

Joe Kim, general manager of the nearby HD Supply Repair & Remodel, said he had not heard of the estimated opening of the bridge to traffic but said it will make a difference in traffic flow.

"That would definitely help," Kim said.

During construction some customers have continued shopping at his store, but others have stayed away.

"The core customers have been coming, but customers from Chino or outlying areas have not," he said.

The latter group is avoiding the construction zone, Kim said.

Craig Furniss is awaiting the completion of construction so his firm can move ahead on a project of its own.

Furniss is president of Seventh Street Development, owners and developers of 71 Business Park, on the northeast corner of the intersection.

The firm has sold or leased all but two of the nine buildings in the business park to entrepreneurs, Furniss said.

Plans call for constructing three more buildings along a portion of property facing the 71 Freeway, he said.

But "we can't build until (the city) is done," he said.

As soon as construction on the intersection is complete his firm can begin building, Furniss said.

The city and Seventh Street Development are also in talks over a piece of the firm's land along Mission Boulevard.

Land being used for the detour road taking Mission Boulevard traffic across the 71 belongs to Seventh Street Development, Grigsby said.

The city had worked out an agreement for a temporary construction easement for the property but it expired before the project was done due to delays early on, Grigsby said.

Both sides are now trying to reach an agreement for an extension, Grigsby said.

City Council members recently took steps that would allow the city to acquire the property for a period ending in October through eminent domain if both sides do not reach an agreement.

"We're hopeful we can reach an agreement," Grigsby said.

Furniss said his firm understands the steps the city took but "we're working with the city on it."

Closures ahead

A series of full and partial overnight closures are planned for Feb. 28 through March 4 around the Mission Boulevard and 71 Freeway construction zone.

A community meeting to update area businesses and residents on the project is planned for 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at Westmont Park Community Center, 1808 W. Ninth St., Pomona . Information on the community meeting and the closures is available at www.mission71project.com.

Published Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

POMONA - The city-owned property often referred to as the Garey Village Complex in south Pomona could be changing hands within a few months.

City Council members, acting as the governing board of the redevelopment agency, will hold a public hearing tonight involving the sale of the Garey Village property.

After the hearing, council members will vote on an agreement for the sale and transfer of the property on the southeast corner of Garey Avenue and Olive Street.

The interested buyer is Pasadena-based Velocity Investment Group, which would like to use the property for educational purposes, said Raymond Fong, the city's redevelopment director.

Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the complex would be sold for $7.1 million, Fong said.

In 2006, city leaders authorized city personnel to purchase the complex from the Pomona Unified School District for $7 million, according to a city staff report.

The complex has been acquired to convert it into a state-of-the-art headquarters for the Pomona Police Department.

Administrators later determined converting the former credit union facility into a police station would cost more than the $32 million the city had budgeted for such a project.

In October, council members authorized city personnel to enter an eight-month contract with a real estate firm to market the property.

At one point it was believed the property could sell for $9 million to $11 million.

Reaching the $7.1 million price required some negotiating with the investment group, Fong said.

"We agreed this is a fair price for (the redevelopment agency) to sell the property and a fair price for them to buy," Fong said.

The investment group has already put down a $100,000 deposit on the property as part of opening escrow, Fong said.

Under the agreement, the investment group has 60 days to determine if they wish to continue with the deal, Fong said.

At that point, if the group wishes to move forward with the purchase, the deposit becomes nonrefundable and would go toward the purchase price, he said.

The buyers would have another 30 days to make a final decision or could request an additional 60 days to make a decision, but would have to put down another $100,000 deposit, according to the staff report.

"This could be stretched out five months before escrow closes," Fong said.

During that time, the city would be allowed to take other offers, he said.

The Garey Village complex consists of four buildings totaling more than 114,000 square feet on about 8.75 acres, according to the staff report.

Such a facility lends itself to various potential uses, said Chuck Lau, development manager for Velocity Investment Group.

Among the options is establishing a trade or vocational school or opening a private middle or high school program for foreign students, Lau said.

Other options include establishing a medical rehabilitation center, he said.

"We will keep our options open but there will probably be a mix of several uses," Lau said.

Among the things the investors found appealing about the property was its proximity to major freeways and the look of the building.

"It has a very institutional look to it," Lau said.

Pomona Unified School District is looking at the possibility of using electronic devices such as the iPad in a pilot project involving sixth graders at Pantera Elementary in Diamond Bar.

Part of what district administrators, in collaborations with teachers at Pantera, are researching how best to use the evolving devices to enhance and support education, said Stephanie Baker, the district's chief academic officer.

The uses for such devices are varied, said David Jaramillo, the district's director of technology.

Some districts are using the electronic devices as textbooks, while others are using them as research devices giving students access to on-line encyclopedias and other reference materials, he said.

Other districts are using the devices for such courses such as algebra, Jaramillo said.

Although Pomona Unified, like other school districts, is experiencing a financial crisis, it must continue to look for ways to prepare its students for the 21st century, Baker said.

Students may already be using some of this technology at home for entertainment purposes but the same devices can play a valuable role in an educational setting, she said.

Plans call for completing research on the use of the devices by the end of the current academic year and possibly have a pilot program to implement at Pantera by the start of the 2011-2012 year.

Pantera personnel had expressed an interest in piloting technology that could later be used around the district, administrators said.

Once educators determine which electronic device is best suited for classroom needs, district representatives will approach the manufacture, Jaramillo said.

Right now the cost of devices could range from $15,000 to $25,000 but it's not known for sure, he said.

The 45th annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Sociable will take place Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Pomona Public Library.

The free event, sponsored by the Friends of the Pomona Public Library, is a family friendly event that includes crafts, story time and a performance by one-man band Craig Newton.

Activities will be offered in the Library's Laura Ingalls Wilder Children's Room.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center announced this week it has received Primary Stroke Center certification.

The certification comes from The Joint Commission, formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is the only hospital between Arcadia and Colton that has the designation, according to a statement from the hospital.

The certification followed an on-site evaluation and demonstrating it met nationally developed standards for stroke care, the statement said.

With the certification the hospital now qualifies to be a member of Los Angeles County's Emergency Medical Services Agency's Approved Stroke Centers.

Such hospitals are "linked to improve response times, treatment and overall outcomes for people in Los Angeles County who suffer a stroke. A similar network of hospitals in San Bernardino County hopes to have their network of stroke specialty centers operational by mid-year," the statement said.

"Each year approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation's third leading cause of death," said Dr. Bhupat Desai, a neurologist and the medical director of the hospital's Stroke Program.

Stroke Centers provide a series of services that play a role in preventing death or disability in stroke patients, Dr. William Koenig, medical director of the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency said in the statement.

L.A. County's stroke network couples primary stroke centers with a policy that allows emergency personnel to take select 911 stroke patients to a primary stroke center instead of the closest hospital in order to ensure specialized care is received quickly, the statement said.

The Friends of the Pomona Public Library will have a book sale from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 12.

The sale will take place near the library's loading dock adjacent to its parking lot on the corner of Garey Avenue and Seventh Street.

Included in the sale will be hardcover books and paperbacks, non-fiction titles, biographies, children's books and other items

The Pomona Breakfast Optimist Club is accepting applications from students attending Pomona high schools interested in participating in its annual Oratorical Contest.

Participants will be asked to deliver a speech using the phrase "If I were leader of the Free World, the first issue I would address would be...." as the basis of the talk, according to a statement from the club.

Students have until Feb. 15 to enter the contest.

Participants will be asked to deliver their speeches in late February or early March with winners announced in March.

Judges will consider participants' poise, content of speech, delivery and overall speech effectiveness, the statement said.

Contest entry forms and details area available through the English Department or assistant principal offices of the following high schools: Diamond Ranch, Ganesha, Garey, Pomona, Park West, Pomona Alternative, Pomona Catholic, School of Arts and Enterprise, School of Knowledge and Village Academy.

Additional information and applications are available by calling 909-392-8666.

"Young students today have many fresh ideas about the world and the world's future," said contest Chairman Vernon Price. "As Optimists, it is our goal to encourage students and do what we can to bring out the best in each of them."

The contest affords students a chance to use their creativity and compete for scholarships, he said.

Pomona Unified School District will organize "Secondary Showcase" from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Village at Indian Hill, 1460 E. Holt Ave.

Access to the event is from Entrance 3.

The showcase provides parents and students, from within and outside the district, an opportunity to see the various programs offered by Pomona Unified's high schools.

"Students and parents need to know about the great opportunities available to them right here in Pomona and Diamond Bar," said Stephanie Baker, the district's chief academic officer, in a statement.

"We have outstanding academic offerings, and all students can succeed here and move on to America's great colleges."

Colleges such as Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and other Ivy League institutions actively recruit Pomona Unified seniors, Baker said.

"Our graduates are very successful," Superintendent Richard Martinez said in a statement. "The PUSD Class of 2010 was offered a record $49 million in scholarships and grants, and our alumni are now studying at the very best colleges and universities in the nation. We want all our families to know what our high schools have to offer them."

Participating in the Showcase will be representatives of Pomona, Ganesha, Garey and Diamond Ranch high schools.

Also participating will be Village Academy, Park West, The School of Extended Educational Options, along with Fremont Academy of Engineering and Design, and Palomares Academy of Health Sciences.

Fremont and Palomares serve students in grades 7 through 12 which have enrollment of 700 students.

A panel discussion featuring NHRA drivers or various periods in the history of the motor sport will participate in a fund-raising event at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum Feb. 24.

The event will take place in the Hall of Champions found within the museum at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.

Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 and the panel discussion at 8, according to a statement from the museum.

The event celebrates the 60th anniversary of NHRA and coincides with the first night of the 51st annual NHRA Winternationals taking place Feb. 24 through 27 at the Pomona Raceway, also located at Fairplex.

The discussion will include drivers Joe Amato, Gary Beck, Tommy Ivo, Tom McEwen, Gary Scelzi and Tony Schumacher.

NHRA track announcer Bob Frey will serve as the discussion moderator.

As part of the evening NHRA memorabilia and other events will be auctioned.

Tickets to the fund-raiser are $98 per person. Tables for nine can be purchased for $800.

Information is available by e-mailing themuseum@nhra.com or calling the Museum at 909-622-8562.

Event proceeds benefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

Published Friday, Feb, 4, 2011

DIAMOND BAR - For the second time in about three weeks, Pomona Unified School District board members authorized administrators to issue layoff notices to a small group of employees.

The notices, which were mailed out Thursday, will go to a group of 10 employees who work in the district's child development offices.

However, another request, which involves a much larger group, teachers and other certificated employees, is expected to be made later this month.

Thirteen positions were cut, which will affect 10 classified employees, said Steve Horowitz, assistant superintendent of personnel services. Three of the positions are vacant.

School board members, who met Wednesday evening at Pantera Elementary School in Diamond Bar, voted unanimously to issue the notices.

The cuts were necessary after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated the funding in December used to run the program, district administrators said.

Horowitz said some of the affected employees may be able to move into other positions in the district, but some of those posts are filled by employees with less seniority.

The employees are classified personnel who work with adults in certain programs, such as welfare to work, said Ofelia Lariviere, administrative director for child development programs.

Employees work with adults living in a region between the 605 Freeway and the 15 Freeway to find child care programs while they work and gain financial stability, she said.

Layoff notices were also mailed out Jan. 13 to six Pomona Unified employees who make up the district's capital facilities staff. Superintendent Richard Martinez said the layoffs represent what will be an on-going savings of $700,000 a year for the district, which will have to cut $27 million to have a balanced budget for the 2011-2012 school year.

At the school board's Feb. 22 meeting, district administrators expect to take a proposal requesting authorization to distribute preliminary layoff notices to teachers and certificated employees, Horowitz said.

How many notices will be issued is being worked out, he said.

District administrators must prepare for another possible loss of funding, Horowitz said.

Gov. Jerry Brown is calling on legislators to place a series of taxes, set to expire this year, on the June ballot so voters can determine if they wish to extend them for five years.

If voters approve the extension, school districts will be spared from additional cuts, but if voters oppose the tax extensions more cuts will have to be made to school funding.

A decision by legislators to put the measure on the ballot may not be made by the March 15 deadline that school districts have to notify teachers and other certificated employees that their services may not be needed after the end of the school year, Horowitz said.

If a decision is made after the March 15 deadline, "It'll be too late to reduce staffing. We have to have the flexibility in case (the tax proposal) doesn't get on the ballot," Horowitz said.

Something else the district must plan for is that the tax proposal could appear on a ballot, but might not receive voter approval, he said.

"We have to hope for the best and plan for the worst," Horowitz said.

Associated Pomona Teachers President Tyra Weis said members of her organization are concerned about what is ahead.

"We anticipate Feb. 22 for us will be the worst," Weis said. "We've been expecting it for a couple of months."

What needs to happen now is for all sides - teachers, board members, district administrators, parents and others - to come together and establish a team that can go door to door and talk to voters, Weis said.

The goal would be to encourage voters to lobby their legislators to put the tax extensions on the ballot.

Attention especially has to be given to contact voters who live around schools, Weis said.

"Hurdle No. 1 is getting (a measure) on the ballot. Hurdle No. 2 is getting it passed," she said.

All that can happen if people work together, Weis said.

Surveys are starting to show voters will support such a measure if revenue from extending taxes goes to schools, she said.

Published Friday, Feb. 4, 2011

POMONA - A group of Pomona High School parents celebrated the grand opening of their new Parent Center on campus this week.

The center, located within a few steps of the campus' front gate, will offer parents various resources designed to assist them in helping their children be successful students.

In addition, the center at the north Pomona school will provide parents a welcoming place where they can learn how to become more involved in their children's schools.

Those like Zoila Monnette who is familiar with the parent leaders at Pomona High said people shouldn't confuse the center with a parent lounge.

"This is not a center for having coffee. (The involved parents have) evolved way beyond that," said Monnette, Pomona Unified School District's program administrator over categorical programs including oversight of parent involvement efforts.

The parents who called for establishing the center have taken the time to educate themselves so they can help students, she said.

"They are the advocates (for students) and interested in knowing what they need to know. They've done a lot of homework."

Parents have taken the time to learn about education, educational programs, grants and policies that impact students and schools in an effort to play a role in the success of students and the school, Monnette said.

The center is a symbol of Pomona High parents' commitment to becoming a part of a team determined to have students reach their highest potential, she said.

Parents are now using their knowledge to recruit other parents to become active at Pomona High, Monnette said.

Parent leader Dolores Nunez said the center is something she and others have long sought.

About two years ago a parent center was established on the campus but it shared space with the school's career center, which was often in use making it difficult to organize parent meetings and workshops.

"Really, we felt like we had nothing," Nunez said in Spanish before the ceremony.

This new center offers something special to parents.

"It's an excellent opportunity for parents to come and become involved," Nunez said.

Parents can find out how they can become school volunteers, about specific ways then can assist teachers and about steps they can take to assist their children so they will be ready for college, Nunez said.

Among the services available through the center are monthly parent theme nights where speakers meet with parents to discuss subjects such as teen self-esteem, premature sexual activity, college preparation and other topics relevant to parents raising teen children, said Marcella Guillen, the parent and community facilitator who staffs the center.

Also, if parents have problems that require accessing social services or referrals to other resources then Guillen can help connect to those services, she said.

Parents without access to the Internet can use center computers to look up their children's attendance records, grades and other information available to them, said Principal Roger Fasting.

Plans call for establishing additional volunteer and educational opportunities for parents, Guillen said.

School board members Roberta Perlman and Richard Rodriguez were among those attending the opening. They congratulated parents for their interest and commitment to students and the school.

"This job of educating students cannot be done without you," said Perlman.

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama spoke about education and how a child's education begins at home with family, Perlman said.

"We need your help," she said.

She went on to say schools welcome parents.

"This is your home," Perlman said.

Published Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has backed away from a plan to add 20 days to the calendar for its elementary schools.

Cardinal Roger Mahony announced last week that the archdiocese would become the first school system in California to move to a 200-day academic year. Mahoney said the idea was to improve student performance.

The change would have affected some 52,000 students in three counties.

But some parents complained that would disrupt family schedules.

On Tuesday, Chancellor Mary Elizabeth Galt said the decision on whether to add instructional days will be left up to the 210 elementary schools.

St. Madeleine Catholic School in Pomona is expected to go to the 200-day calendar, said Principal Adela Solis.

A longer school year may present a challenge for some families.

"Different parents have different concerns," Solis said.

Some families may have family vacation plans for the summer and others may have plans for their children's summer vacation, she said.

"Some parents like to put (their children) in enrichment programs for the summer," Solis said.

Solis said that St. Madeleine parents she has spoken to have welcomed the longer school year, she said.

Students this summer will have a two-month break. Students will complete the school year in mid-June and return to classes in mid-August, Solis said. The following summer vacation will be about six weeks long.

Students who attend summer school will have a shorter summer this year.

"They'll be here four or five weeks of summer," Solis said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Published Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011

For parents and teachers at St. Madeleine Catholic School in Pomona, news that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will lengthen the academic year for its elementary schools is welcome.

"My teachers are very excited about this," said Adela Solis, principal at St. Madeleine. "It gives them more time with students."

This week, the head of the archdiocese, Cardinal Roger Mahony, announced that its elementary students will have 200 days of school - 20 more than the federal government requires.

Schools are being encouraged to adopt the new calendar in time for the start of the 2011-12 academic year.

The archdiocese, which includes Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, is adding the 20 days because of the clear relationship between time spent in an academic setting and increased student performance, Mahony said.

"Elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are responding to this critical national issue in order that our students grow up to be successful leaders in the global workforce," Mahony said.

In President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday, he called on schools everywhere to heighten demands to put American children on par with other countries emphasizing math and science skills in classrooms.

The change by the archdiocese will affect 52,000 students.

The additional 20 days represent about a month of school beginning about mid-August and ending in late June, Solis said.

Generally, the first two weeks of school are dedicated to reviewing concepts from the previous academic year, Solis said.

Starting earlier means that by the start of September, students will be focusing on new concepts and preparing to take standardized tests administered later the same month, Solis said.

The longer school year will allow teachers to enhance the curriculum, she said.

Teachers will have a little more time to work with students on a concept if they haven't quite mastered it, Solis said.

Teachers will also be able to add a project in a subject that in the past they may not have been able to include in the curriculum due to time constraints, she said.

Victoria Reyna, the parent of a first-grader at St. Madeleine and president of the school's Parent Teacher Guild, welcomes the longer school year.

The shorter summer break means students will retain more of what they learned the previous year, and will have a chance to advance more in their education.

At a time when public schools have had to trim days off their school calendar due to budget problems, the Los Angeles archdiocese is able to add days.

"It's beautiful to have that opportunity," Reyna said.

The additional month of classes will represent an extra month of tuition, but the cost is worth it because it's for the benefit of her child, she said.

Parents for whom the additional cost may present a burden can turn to the archdiocese's Catholic Education Foundation, which works with parents to come up with financial aid, Solis said.

"We're still committed to making Catholic education affordable to all our parents," Solis said.

Solis said the longer calendar may also work to parents' advantage. For some parents, summers represent a challenge as they try to work out child- care arrangements or sign up their children for other summer activities.

The additional weeks of school mean students will "have something safe and educational" to engage in during part of the summer, Reyna said.

For some families, summer means vacation, and while that time is valuable, sacrificing some of it will be worthwhile because it will benefit students, Reyna said.

While the Los Angeles archdiocese is adding days to the academic calendar, those at the diocese of San Bernardino will be watching.

The Dioceses Office of Catholic Schools has had discussions on the advantages and disadvantages of extending the school year but has not gone beyond talks, said John Andrews, diocese spokesman.

Adding days to the calendar is "not something that's planned right now," Andrews said.

"We're certainly paying attention (to) what kinds of pros and cons come out of the Los Angeles archdiocese experience," he said.

Some educators in the public education system said Friday a longer calendar is something that's been talked about for some time but less so now.

"The discussion is waning right now just for the financial implications," said Kevin Ward, Claremont Unified School District's director of human resources.

Many educators have taken note of how foreign countries often have longer school days and longer school years, Ward said.

Such calendars allow schools to provide academics and still have time for the arts and physical education, he said.

Educators see the value of having students in school longer.

"Public education is consistently looking for ways to improve," Ward said.

Trying to extend the calendar, however, even as part of a pilot project, would be difficult for schools because there are so few grants and other sources of money to pay for such an experiment, he said.

During an economic period in which schools are cutting deeply to balance budgets, educators can't attempt to lengthen the academic year.

"We have schools struggling to come up with pencils and papers and copier allocations," Ward said.

A public school district could decide to lengthen the school year, but it would not be reimbursed by the state for the additional costs - costs such as operating expenses and salaries - beyond the legally required number of instructional days, said Margo Minecki, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Also, an increase in the number of school days would have to be negotiated with the district's labor unions, she wrote in an e-mail.

"In theory, more instructional days should lead to increased academic achievement. However, there is no conclusive evidence from research that this is the case," she wrote.

But other educators such as Carl Cohn said that even in difficult financial times, society must consider options such as longer academic calendars if the country wants to compete successfully with other nations.

"We're going to have to think seriously" about such approaches, said Cohn, a professor and co-director of the Urban Leadership Program at Claremont Graduate University's School of Educational Studies.

"I think the archdiocese is doing something important for the youngsters. It's a very smart move," said Cohn, who recently was appointed to the state Board of Education.

Cohn, who volunteers at a Long Beach school near the Long Beach-Compton border, said many students there, like others around Southern California, would benefit from longer school days and longer school calendars.

Educators know that students would benefit from that extra time, he said.

"Choice and competition do have a way of spurring change," Cohn said.

Some parents with children in public schools may be motivated to move them to an archdiocese school, he said.

"Initially it does give the archdiocese a competitive edge," Cohn said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.