About 1500 people went to a hearing before the county Commission on School District Organization to discuss the possible transfer of Sierra Madre schools from the Pasadena Unified School District to the Arcadia Unified School District. The hearing is the first step in a long process that involves approval by the state Board of Education and local voters before an area can transfer to another school district.
Some Sierra Madre parents want to split from the Pasadena Unified School District and join the Arcadia Unified School District because of Arcadia's high-ranking CAP scores and low dropout rate. Members of Arcadia's Board of Education question whether they could handle the influx of new students.
The Los Angeles County Commission on School District Organization voted 9-0 to deny Sierra Madre's petition to join the Arcadia School District. The matter will go to the state Board of Education, which may take 3-4 months to make a decision.
School district gets CAP test scores. Although Arcadia students remained comfortably above the 80th percentile in most categories in California Assessment Program test scores, the influx of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students into the district is having a definite impact. In 1976, there were 63 limited or non-English speaking students in Arcadia school district. As of October 1 this year, 539 students are in the LEP program. 78% of LEP students are Asian; 14 % are Spanish, 2 % European, with the remainder from other cultures. Fifteen languages are represented. See hard copy in Box 51.
Dr. Stephen Goldstone, Arcadia Unified School District Superintendent, is leaving his post here for a similar position in Chino. He says it is an advancement for him since Chino has about 23,000 students, compared to Arcadia's 7500.
Results of statewide achievement scores for students in grades 3, 6 and 12 indicate that among area schools, only Arcadia Unified School District students scored above the state average in every area examined.
The Arcadia Unified School District has about 130 new elementary school students this year, prompting district officials to hire 4 new teachers, combine classes and add portable classrooms.
The proposed $1.2 million in program cuts will affect almost everyone in the Arcadia Unified School District. Discussed here is the recommended 47% reduction in support services staff, including counselors and nurses.
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.
Ben Dennison has been a Special Education teacher in the Arcadia Unified School District since September of 1954. He works with high school age students of very limited academic ability.
A $7,500 grant from the Arcadia Auditorium Foundation will provide performing arts opportunities for students of all grade levels in the Arcadia Unified School District.
The Arcadia Teachers Association has filed charges with the Public Employees Relations Board claiming the Arcadia Unified School District has acted illegally in its dealings with the teachers.
Dr. Ed Ryan, district superintendent, told the Board of Education that the teaching staff in the Arcadia School District must be reduced next year by 30. There are several reasons for the cut, including decreased enrollment and lack of funds. Plans for that reduction and the position of the Arcadia Teachers Association are discussed.
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.
Dr. John E. Hart has been named principal of Longley Way School in Arcadia. He has been in the Arcadia Unified School District for 22 years. The article tells of his various positions.