School Notebook

For the second year running, Hawthorne's Hanz Legaspi, currently a sixth-grader at Hawthorne Middle School, will compete in the state spelling bee.

Hanz, who routinely wins the district's spelling bee, for the last two years has gone on to take Los Angeles County honors, thereby setting up her now multiple trips to Northern California. (The championship is held at Sonoma State University.)

This time around -- the contest is set for this Saturday -- she'll compete against 60 other elementary-aged spellers, representing 32 counties, for awards including $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third.

You go, young Hanz. Good luck!

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As reported by Shelly Leachman in Saturday's Breeze, here's what each district would face under education funding cuts proposed by Gov. Schwarzenegger:

Centinela Valley Union High
Cuts: $3.5 million from a $68 million budget

El Segundo Unified
Cuts: $1.4 million from a 26.4 million budget

Hawthorne Unified
Cuts: $3.4 million from a $48.5 million budget

Hermosa Beach City Unified
Cuts: $0.4 million from a $9.4 million budget
Proposals: 28 teacher layoffs, increased class size

Lawndale Unified
Cuts: $2 million from a $30 million budget

Lennox Unified
Cuts: $1.9 million from a $61 million budget

Los Angeles Unified
Cuts: $460 million from a $8 billion budget

Manhattan Beach Unified
Cuts: $0.9 million from a $36 million budget
Proposals: 5-7 teacher layoffs, fund transfers, combining course sections at Mira Costa, using reserves

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified
Cuts: $4 million from a $95 million budget
Proposals: 50 layoffs, increased class sizes, eliminating extended-day kindergarten

Redondo Beach Unified
Cuts: $2.2 million from a $67.5 million budget
Proposals: Increased class sizes, early retirement incentives, combining classified positions, introducing fee-based transportation for athletic teams, reducing substitutes, using one-time monies

Torrance Unified
Cuts: $9.4 million from a $196 million budget
Proposals: 70 full-time teachers, 11 custodians, 5.5 full-time special ed teachers, reduction of security at high schools, elimination of incentives including the School Safety Violence Program and the P.E. Incentive Program, early retirement incentives, reduction of travel/conference allowances

Wiseburn Unified
Cuts: $0.5 million from a $17 million budget

Posted by Toni Sciacqua at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After placing fourth in the county contest and falling short of the point threshold for a wild-card bid, the long-dominant academic decathlon team of Torrance's West High School will not advance to the state competition this year.

Instead, Alhambra's Mark Keppel High School, runner-up the past two years, was named the winner of the event on Thursday, with second-place finisher Duarte High School tagging along as the wild card. The state showdown takes place March 8-10 in Sacramento.

Read our story for more.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aiming to get through the school year without going bankrupt, the Centinela Valley Union High School District is considering a $1.2 million package of immediate cuts that include increasing class sizes, freezing overtime and eliminating some extra money-making jobs for teachers.

The temporary reductions, which also nix long-term substitutes and freeze conference attendance, would ensure solvency through the current semester, according to interim Superintendent Jose Fernandez.

"These are short-term remedies designed only to meet our needs between now and June 30," Fernandez said, describing the multilayered proposal as a "quilt of cuts that did not penalize our employees."

"This buys us time," he added. "We have to survive today to be able to fight tomorrow."

Announcement of the cuts came during the school system's first-ever State of the District presentation, held during a special board meeting Tuesday at Leuzinger High.

A crowd of several hundred that included Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Darline Robles heard the Fernandez-delivered report, which urged "finding a way to collectively solve the problems that were not just created overnight with solutions that will stand the test of time."

Read Shelly's story for more.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

State Sen. Edward Vincent (D-Inglewood) will host a workshop to help students learn about and apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Cal Grant form. The workshop is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 2) at the Hawthorne Memorial center, 3901 W. El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne.

Vincent will award one student a $1,000 scholarship.

Students must apply for a Cal Grant, a state monies given to students to help pay for college expenses, by March 2.

For more information, contact the district office of Vincent, who represents Gardena, Hawthorne and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Call 310-412-0393.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Interesting nuggest in Shelly's story about the new hirings. Turns out, the recently fired superientendent is still collecting coin:

It was also revealed on Tuesday that the district's prior, recently fired leader is still collecting a paycheck.

Though she was ousted in December, previous Superintendent Cheryl White continues to receive her roughly $157,000 annual salary, (Board President Gloria) Ramos confirmed, noting that a separation agreement has yet to be reached.

"Technically, she is on administrative leave," Ramos said of White. "We would hope that Dr. White would care enough about the district to work with us on an amicable separation."

Posted by Paul Clinton at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times had an interesting Column One feature about a school here in our backyard: The Media Arts Academy, a charter school in Hawthorne known as Hip Hop High.

From the story:

"(The academy) exemplifies, in some ways, the promise and the challenges of the charter school movement.

It is a place where failing students get a second chance. Media Arts showers them with attention, treats them with respect, offers plenty of independence and, along the way, gives them the opportunity to lay down their own hip-hop beats and raps."

Read the entire article here.

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Inspections required by state law found textbook shortages, deteriorating campuses and underqualified teachers at eight local campuses in Los Angeles Unified and Centinela Valley school districts.

County auditors singled out Hawthorne High School's campus for special scorn, detailing the dirty fountains, rotting wood, leaky roof, exposed wiring and pervasive bird droppings in a 24-page memo released last week.

Many of the restrooms were locked when the campus was inspected at a time when students were attending classes, records show.

A second Centinela Valley Union High School District campus, Leuzinger High in Lawndale, also was listed in poor condition because of broken and cracked windows, doors and locks that don't operate properly, trash stored in heating vents and one classroom with a wobbly wall.

Read Paul's story for more.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Centinela Valley Union High School District Superintendent Cheryl White was fired Wednesday in a heated special board meeting marked by tension among trustees and outrage among many trustees.

White's supporters call her "the best superintendent the district has ever had," while her detractors say progress in the district has stalled during her tenure. She was terminated, effective immediately, in a 3-2 vote that pitted newly elected trustees Gloria Ramos and Sandra Suarez, as well as two-year board member Rocio Pizano, against members Rudy Salas and Francisco Talavera.

For a full account of what unfolded, read my story in today's Daily Breeze.

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out Shelly Leachman's story about Luca Paparello, the 13-year-old autistic boy training for the Los Angeles Marathon. He's a sixth-grader at Dana Middle School in Hawthorne. Here's an exerpt:

With long, slender legs that propel him gracefully - and quickly - he smiles as he runs. Sun in his face, breeze at his back, friends at his side.

Each time he completes a lap, he cocks his head toward a pair of onlookers, offers up a warm, crooked grin and raises two fingers into a peace sign.

Once his workout is done for the day, flush-faced but barely winded Luca Paparello right away gives great credit to his shoes.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want a few nuggets of education-related news? Here you go.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Daily Breeze editorial today endorses Cristina Chiappe, a two-term incumbent, and Eugene Krank for the two open seats on the Hawthorne School District board.

The editorial cites Krank's new pespective as a parent with two students in Hawthorne schools and Chiappe for her work authoring a conduct code for public meetings.

For the scoop on the race, read Shelly Leachman's story in today's Breeze.

Posted by Paul Clinton at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shelly Leachman breaks down the Centinela Valley Union High School District school board race here.

Posted by Toni Sciacqua at 7:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Candidates for school board in the Centinela Valley Union High School District will participate in a public forum Thursday night in the Del Aire neighborhood.

Incumbents Jorge Arroyo and Rafael Ramirez will face off against their respective challengers, Sandra Suarez and Gloria Ramos, in the 7-9 p.m. event being hosted by the League of Women Voters.

The session is being held at Juan de Anza Elementary School, 12110 S. Hindry Ave., in Hawthorne.

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

About 50 students were involved in a lunchtime brawl, in which students threw full soda bottles at each other, according to Hawthorne police.

Here's the link.

Posted by Toni Sciacqua at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)