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 Los Angeles County Office of Education has announced that Longley Way Elementary School's fifth grade teacher Sandra Burch has been selected as a 1999 Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year.
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.
Arcadia Board of Education selected Genna Helmberger as Arcadia Teacher of the Year for 2003-2004. She is an 8th grade science teacher at Dana Middle School (picture).
Arcadia Unified School District school board refuses to reinstate James O'Brien as the cross country coach. The school board expressed appreciation for all the individuals who shared their perspectives on the Arcadia High School cross country program at the Board of Education meetings. Mr. O'Brien continues to be employed as a teacher at Arcadia High School. Coaching assignments are made on a year-to-year basis.
Dorothy Denne, longtime Arcadia humorist, "Mother of the Force" honored by Arcadia Police Foundation at the Arcadia Police Foundation's Halloween Hoopla. Arcadia Mayor April Verlato and her husband attended. For 20 years, Dorothy wrote a weekly column called "Dorothy's Place" in Arcadia Weekly. She was a teacher for her career and has been a volunteer at the Arcadia Police Department. In 2015 she spearheaded the effort to bring back the K-9 program.
Foothill Workforce allocation of funds to South Bay continues to raise eyebrows in Monrovia. Monrovia has filed an application to withdraw from the Foothill Workforce Development Board (FWDB), which distributes federal money for job skills assessment, basic education, job training, job placement, and community workforce development. The FWDB covers Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Arcadia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, and Duarte.
Christina Aragon, Assistant Superintendent of business services at Arcadia Unified School District, totaled her district car that she uses as a personal vehicle. It is part of her salary package. Arcadia School Board members and Superintendent Mimi Hennessy defended Aragon in media coverage.
Christina Farrell, former Arcadia High School student and member of the Pasadena Rose Court, looks back at her year and what she learned as a Tournament of Roses princess.
New Arcadia City Council member April Verlato brings a new voice. She is a lawyer born and raised in Arcadia. She has been an activist against mansions. She is president of Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association (AIA). Her goals for her time in office are 1) to address the uptick in residential burglaries and 2) to improve Arcadia's business districts.
Arcadia Unified School District celebrates its 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year, Janice Dickson. She is a 4th grade teacher at Longley Way Elementary School.
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.
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.
Arcadia Unified appoints new Highland Oaks Elementary School principal, Debbie Champion.Champion began her career in Arcadia as a teacher at Holly Avenue Elementary School. She has been with the district for over 25 years.