The School Board reversed an earlier decision to order construction of two modular buildings at Holly Avenue School to permit the transfer there of 150 students from Hugo Reid, thus emptying one classroom there for future growth. It may not be possible at this late date to get the necessary work done by September 15.
The city of Arcadia will spend an estimated $108,875 to renovate playing fields at 3 public elementary schools: Hugo Reid, Highland Oaks and Holly Avenue, all used by the city's Recreation Department.
Arcadia Unified School District will purchase 2 portable classrooms at well under the expected cost of $60,000 each. The classrooms will be installed at Hugo Reid Elementary School.
September 11, 1950 p. 1 (picture and article. Addition to Hugo Reid School. Austin, Field and Fry are architects. "School starts here today"-in operation for the first time are the new permanent plant at Highland Oaks School, two portable units added to the Hugo Reid school and the new Longley school, which this year will be operated as a first, second and third grade annex of Holly Avenue school.)
September 11, 1950 p. 1 (picture and article. Addition to Hugo Reid School. Austin, Field and Fry are architects. "School starts here today"-in operation for the first time are the new permanent plant at Highland Oaks School, two portable units added to the Hugo Reid school and the new Longley school, which this year will be operated as a first, second and third grade annex of Holly Avenue school.)
New principals have been named for three Arcadia elementary schools. Jim Gerhardt has been named to head Holly Avenue. Charles Jarboe requested a transfer from Highland Oaks and was assigned to Camino Grove. Mrs. Suzanne Burton will replace Mr. Jarboe at Highland Oaks.
Teachers and parents at Camino Grove and Holly Avenue elementary schools are in communication with the Arcadia Board of Education to restore the School Improvement Program.
The family of David Taylor, an Arcadia High School student who was killed in a bicycle accident last year, has presented a claim of $500,000 to the Arcadia School District. The claim was denied by the school board and turned over to the district's insurance company.
There was a large crowd of parents at the school board meeting where the closure of two elementary schools was discussed. The board will make its final decision after the public hearings have been held on December 10 and January 8.
A report to the Board of Education indicates that the Elementary Childhood Education (ECE) program has not lived up to its expectations. ECE schools in Arcadia are Camino Grove, Longley Way and Holly Avenue.
The Arcadia Beautiful Commission intends to recommend that Holly Avenue School be submitted for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The city's oldest school building, Holly Avenue, built in 1927, is an example of the Spanish Colonial Revival Style.
Thirteen negotiating sessions have been held since March yet the teachers and the Board of Education are still at odds. The Board is reluctant to give up its authority over the disputed matters of transfers, evaluation and grievance arbitration.
Arcadia's Teacher of the Year, Marsha Burkhalter, a sixth grade teacher at Hugo Reid Elementary, is a contender for the 1989 California Teacher of the Year.