Board wants to keep Apache name. The Arcadia Board of Education voted unanimously to oppose AB 2115, a bill that would forbid Arcadia High School from using the Apache mascot.
Parents protest a school boundary change for Baldwin Stocker Elementary that was approved two years ago. Residents are surprised by this change and say it hurts their home values.
The Arcadia Board of Education has adopted a resolution opposing SB 1419, which would limit the authority of school boards to contract out for services. The bill is on the governor's desk for signature or veto. The bill would restrict districts from using personal services contracts if the duties can be performed by district employees.
Foothills Middle School music teacher Sandra Ragusta resigned after 12 years, after receiving her lowest employee evaluation since 1990. She tried to withdraw her resignation but Arcadia Board of Education decided not to give Ragusta her job back.
The Arcadia Board of Education promised parents and supporters of former teacher Sandra Ragusa a statement on why she was not allowed to withdraw her resignation.
The Arcadia Board of Education voted to eliminate nearly nine teaching positions from next year's budget. The jobs cut are in 9th grade math and English, and in English language support in elementary schools.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles) has reintroduced her bill to ban the use of Native American names for school mascots. The bill was defeated in the last session, with opposition from the city of Arcadia and the Arcadia Unified School District. The act lists only two tribal names as specifically banned - Apaches and Comanches -- along with terms such as Redskins, Chiefs, Braves and Papooses. Under AB858, the only schools exempted from the ban are those under the regulation of tribal councils.
Assembly bill AB858, also known as the Jerry Ballesteros Act, is now going to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It is a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), calling for a ban on the use of Native American tribal names, specifically Apaches and Comanches, as school mascots. The Arcadia Board of Education opposes the bill. Arcadia leaders say the use of the name Apaches is a gesture of respect. Arcadia High School has a close relationship with the White Mountain Apache tribe, which supports the use of the name. This year's bill is different, in that last year's bill left a small loophole if the name is used respectfully.
The Arcadia Board of Education approved a Local Agency Education plan to bring the district into compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind program, which requires that students meet state proficiency standards by 2013-2014. For California, the standard is 100% graduation with all requirements for University of California admission met.
The Arcadia Board of Education will vote on a policy change regarding the release of students' personal information to military recruiters, colleges or prospective employers. In the past, Arcadia has had an "opt-in" policy, in which parents must specifically request information be made available, particularly to military recruiters. This policy is no longer allowed under federal guidelines, so the district will adopt an "opt-out" policy, putting the burden on parents to decide when information will be withheld.
Arcadia High students are collecting toiletries and other items to aid members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe who were displaced by a massive wildfire. They have formed the "Apache to Apache" drive. Because the high school mascot is the Apache, students have developed a close relationship with the Native Americans who live on a reservation in Arizona.
The school board election will take place on Tuesday. Two seats are available. Annie Yuen and David Leong are running against incumbents Mary Dougherty and Joann Steinmeier. Their positions on issues are stated.
Steinmeier and Yuen are elected to School Board. Yuen is the first Asian-American elected to the board and this was the first full election conducted on computerized voting machines in LA County.
Steinmeier and Yuen win seats on the school board. This was the first election to be conducted totally on touchscreen voting machines and results were available in 51 minutes.
A special reception will be held to thank Mary E. Dougherty for her 16 years of service on the Arcadia Board of Education. Her fourth consecutive term expires at the end of June.