The Arcadia Board of Education voted to begin a districtwide grade level restructuring plan, choosing a fall 1994 date for the change. The new school arrangement would be K-5, 6-8, 9-12.
Meetings have been held recently to study the feasibility of a new effort to get the community behind an auditorium. Representatives at these meetings have been members of the School Board, activists for the city, and ex-mayor Alton Scott.
Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education candidates discuss issues and answer questions posed by The Arcadia Weekly. Two articles are on this page.
Senate Bill 275 (Ding Bill), which provides for collective bargaining, binding arbitration, and the right to strike, is causing great conflict between the School Board and teachers in the Arcadia district. The Board has voted 5-0 to support the Winston Act and oppose any State legislation that would replace its provisions. The Winston Act was passed in 1969 and required that School Boards meet and confer in good faith with teachers in determining salary schedules, fringe benefits, and working conditions.
Planning Commission members and Planning Director Bill Woolard were bitterly disappointed at the slim turn-out of residents at a recent and much publicized hearing to review zoning in the city's central area.
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 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.
At the Board of Education annual organizational meeting, three members, Maryann Gibson, James C. Romo, and John R. McClain were officially sworn to begin their new term of office. A profile of McClain, the new 1999-2000 board president, is presented.
City Manager Bill Kelly is concerned about a new measure to penalize cities that are not meeting state affordable housing rules. The Dunn Measure could penalize cities as much as $1000 per needed unit and take away up to 60 percent of gas tax funds. Bill Kelly says Arcadia already has a number of senior citizen projects in planning.
In the election for Arcadia Unified School District board members, it seems incumbents Joann Steinmeier and Janet Chew are ahead. Steinmeier is seeking to extend her five terms on the school board.
Arcadia High School graduation requirements were defined and settled after considerable discussion by the Board of Education at the regular meeting last week.
Incumbents Maryann Gibson and Michael O. Lamb were re-elected to the Arcadia Unified School District board. They were joined by first-time candidate John McClain.