Overall enrollment for the Arcadia schools was down by 470 on the first day of classes. The drop in enrollment coupled with Prop. 13 has resulted in a very small number of new teachers this year.
Enrollment for 1975 is down about 1200 children for local schools in the San Gabriel Valley. Though stragglers will bring this figure down, school districts are wary.
For the first time Arcadia has a counselor, Eric Mordin, at the elementary level this year. At the present time he serves only Highland Oaks and Camino Grove schools.
A chronology of the city has been developed by the school district's Office of Elementary Instruction utilizing information from the Public Library, the Arboretum and the City Clerk's office. The 35+ page volume will be used by the third and fourth grade classes as they study the community's history.
A hearing was held re the Arcadia Unified School District definition of segregation. The Board's criterion is that a school is segregated only when one minority group exceeds 50% of that school's enrollment.
The Early Childhood Education program in effect at Camino grove School since last fall has been ranked 19th out of 800 in the State. The program provides funds to expand the program from K through 3rd grade. It is the ultimate goal of California State School Superintendent Wilson Riles that all schools will be able to have ECE.
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.
Beginning October 1, Arcadians will pay more for their water. The increase will be in two steps. The first will be an increase of 6% per 100 cubic feet. The second will be dependent on possible increases in the Edison rates for pumping.
The City Council will consider a proposed ordinance governing backyard sales on October 1, 1974. Regulations include: 1. A $1.00 permit would be required. 2. Sales would be limited to every 6 months. No sale could run longer than 2 consecutive days. 4. No signs could be placed on public property. 5. Sales must be between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. 6. No merchandise would be allowed in the front yard.
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.
Arcadia High School is the only school in the country to offer a class in race track management. Requirements to take the course are stiff. The aim of the class is to expose interested seniors to executive management techniques.
There will be summer school this year, for a price. Classes will be arranged through the Arcadia Department of Recreation and the University of La Verne.
Volunteer aides make the Early Childhood Education program work. the State mandated and funded program aims at giving youngsters from pre-school through the 3rd grade better learning experiences. Camino Grove is the only school in the district with the pilot program.
The Arcadia Tax Reform Committee has officially been formed and will petition the City Council to rescind the new sewer and street-sweeping levies and the increase of the utility tax from 5% to 7%.