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.
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.
Arcadia School District will continue to charge fees for bus transportation for students despite uncertainties caused by a Court of Appeals ruling and a pending state Supreme Court decision.
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.
A discussion of the proposed changes in high school graduation requirements. Proposed changes include an increase from 2 to 3 years of English and a minimum of 1 year of U.S. history rather than the 3 quarters now required.
Arcadia Board of Education members appeared somewhat disappointed at the disclosure that only 40% of those high school students eligible to take the voluntary anti-drug urinalysis tests are participating in the program.
Arcadia teachers are eligible for mini-grants of $100-300 under a program being implemented by the Arcadia Rotary Club. The program will provide funds to district teachers for special projects beginning in February. All teachers, from kindergarten to 12th grade, are eligible to apply.
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.
Arcadia city officials voiced support for a proposed commuter rail service that would run from Santa Barbara County to Los Angeles four times daily each way.
After 19 years as an employee with Arcadia Unified School District, Virgil J. Goode has retired. Goode worked over the years as custodian, groundsman and bus driver.
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.