Ernest "Cal" Ford recently retired after 27 years of driving a school bus for Arcadia School District. Ford is a second generation school bus driver. His father drove a school bus for Arcadia in the 1930's.
Dolly McLain has retired after 23 years of service with the Arcadia Unified School District. For the last 17 years she has worked as secretary to the Superintendent and the Board of Education.
Lois Schubert, who has been an employee of the Arcadia Unified School District for the past 42 years, is retiring January 31. Mrs. Schubert worked for most of those years as a secretary.
Helen Weakley will be honored by the Board of Education for outstanding service. She has been a bus driver for the district since 1965. She also trains bus drivers. Biographical notes included.
Carolyn Searfoss, a bus driver for the Arcadia Unified School District, has been active for 12 years in the Arcadia Music Club, the parent support group for the band and orchestra. Among other things, she attempts to measure and fit some 200 uniforms for members of the band.
Isabelle Stires is retiring after 19 years in the Arcadia Unified School District. This past year Mrs. Stires has been teaching second grade at Camino Grove School. Before that she taught second and third graded at Bonita Park School. She and her husband plan to travel.
The Supreme Court has prohibited school districts from charging home-to-school bus fares. During the 1987-88 school year, approximately 800 students paid $59 a quarter for bus service in Arcadia.
John Blanken, newly retired 6th grade teacher from Holly Avenue, enjoyed 21 years at the school after a 20-year stint in the U.S. Navy. Biographical notes included.
The School Board approved an $18.8 million budget that represents a 2% increase over last years figures. The driver training program was not included in the budget.
Hope Todd is retiring from her position as District Administrative Secretary. She has worked for the district for 23 years. Biographical notes included.
Bert Johnson, recently retired after 46 years with Pacific Telephone, is a candidate in the upcoming election. He is particularly concerned with redevelopment.
Susan Robertson, 48, a 4th grade teacher at Hugo Reid School for 26 years, died on July 4 after an 11-year battle with cancer. Mrs. Robertson graduated from USC in 1963 and worked for the Arcadia Unified School District, teaching at Hugo Reid School for her entire career.
The School Board suspended all school bus fees for students in the district and discontinued the home-to-school transportation service for the majority of students to make up for the lost revenue.
A former Arcadia High School teacher challenged in small claims court the new contract between Arcadia instructors and the school district, maintaining the contract is unfair to individuals who retired just before the start of the current school year.