The Arcadia Board of Education approved a tentative $16.7 million budget. Included was an increase in special education programs. The figures are only estimates and will depend in part on any state school finance formulas to be decided.
The preliminary 1978-79 Arcadia School District budget has been approved. Public hearings will be held in September prior to the passage of the final budget.
An addition to the High School Little Theater has been approved for a bid of $67,350. The addition will be used for set design, etc. The $20,000 cost increase over what had been tentatively set did not please the School Board.
James Helms, Jr. has been installed as President of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce for 1978-79. Article includes a biographical sketch and plans for the Chamber's coming year.
A $9 million budget has been proposed for 1975-76. City manager Lyman Cozad feels that no tax increase will be necessary due to the higher valuation of city property.
Arcadia teachers picketed the open house at Arcadia High School to protest the 1978-79 raise offered by the Arcadia Board of Education. The teachers claim they received a 3.5% salary adjustment (vs. the average San Gabriel Valley increase of 5.5%) while the Board claims a 5% increase retroactive to December 1, 1978.
The Board of Education approved a $17 million budget for 1979-80, representing an increase of 8.2% over last year. The budget provides an 8.19% increase in salary and benefits for certificated employees. A major problem appears in special education, which the state has not fully funded.
The Early Childhood Education program, set up in 1973 for a five year span, probably will get only enough money to keep existing programs going and not enough to expand to other schools.
A $10.4 million budget will be aired for the public June 14, 1976. The largest item is $2.2 million for the Police Department. Next is the Fire Department at $1.6 million.
On July 18 the School Board approved an expenditure of $2000 for plans and specifications for an addition to the High School Little Theater to be used as a set shop. However, the $40,000 estimated cost of the addition is not in the published budget.
Teachers are looking for an effective way to show the School Board just how unhappy they are over their failure to support an override election which might have funded a 15.4% pay raise.
Two ad hoc committees have been established to help the Board of Education make a final ruling on two major problems: Smoking (recent legislation has made smoking on campus legal at the discretion of the local school board) and Graduation requirements.