In search of $50,000 in additional money for education, the Arcadia Unified School District has kicked off a district-wide energy conservation program in an effort to cut energy usage for each school by 10% compared with last year.
Classroom of the future is in Arcadia. Arcadia Unified School District embraces AltSchool's "Personalized Learning" technology in an experimental lab that has flexible seating, desks and walls that can be written on, hanging chairs, an observation room, Google Jam Board, and other tools and techniques not typically used in other public schools.
Arcadia Mayor's Breakfast / State of the City and Methodist Hospital update at Community Connections by Joan Schmidt. Mayor Peter Amundson was born and raised in Arcadia and spoke about what a great city it is to live, love, learn and leave a legacy. He spoke about the great Arcadia Public Library with its 42 high tech computers.
Arcadia wine seller Rudy Kurniawan, 35, was arrested on suspicion of trying to sell $1.3 million worth of counterfeit wine and fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in loans.
Fundraising efforts (primarily via direct mail solicitation) by the Arcadia Educational Foundation have yielded $45,000 to be used for a new science lab at Arcadia High School and $20,000 to buy mini-computers for Arcadia grade school students.
The Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association will break its ties to the Chamber of Commerce and will form an independent body in order to gain status as a tax deductible organization.
Huntington High School started an Independent Study Program last September. The program is free and open to anyone older than 18 who did not finish their diploma. 75 students are currently enrolled in this successful program.
Immediately after passing a balanced budget of $25.4 million, the Arcadia Board of Education eliminated another $265,854 worth of jobs from the district payroll to help provide pay hikes for district employees.
Arcadia Unified School District upgraded and improved four campuses over summer break, costing nearly $10 million. Funded under the district's $218 million Measure I Bond, the four schools that got updated classrooms and facilities are Arcadia High School, Camino Grove Elementary, Hugo Reid Elementary, and Highland Oaks Elementary schools.
The Arcadia City Council put off voting for a combined school and city election until it can determine whether the county, in that instance, would give up running the school election.
Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) Deputy Superintendent Robert Leri has resigned. Arcadia High School Principal David Vannasdall will take on the additional role of Deputy Superintendent March 1 and leave his job as principal at end of school year to become Deputy Superintendent. Other personnel changes within the school district. AUSD is trying to cover a projected $7 million annual budget deficit with a proposed 5-year parcel tax. Arcadia Educational Foundation is doing its annual solicitation.
Arcadia police seized more than 154 lbs. of cocaine worth an estimated $70 million and arrested 4 Colombian nationals in the largest drug haul in the city's history. Homes on Fairview Avenue, Arcadia Avenue and Huntington Drive were raided.
Santa Anita Park completed its most successful season ever with $445 million wagered. Total attendance was also an all-time high. The admission tax netted the city $1.1 million. The Park's other contributions to the city are discussed.