The Arcadia Board of Education has adopted a $63.9 million General Fund budget for the coming year. The budget contains reductions across the board, with 10% cuts at schools, a reduction in categorical programs and no cost of living increase from the state.
The Library Board of Trustees voted to post a PATRIOT Act notice, as required by the act. The notice reads, "Although the Arcadia Public Library makes every reasonable effort to protect your privacy, under the federal USA PATRIOT Act (PL107-56), records of the books and other materials you currently have on loan from this library, your inter-library loan requests placed during the past year, or the Internet sites and e-mails that you access through our computers may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits library workers from informing you if federal agents have asked about or obtained your records.
Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education candidates discuss issues and answer questions posed by The Arcadia Weekly. Two articles are on this page.
Due to a lack of competition, the Arcadia School Board has canceled an April election and instead has appointed two newcomers, Lori Phillipi and Cung Nguyen, and incumbent Maryann Gibson.
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Dr. Daniel J. Healy, 52, of Arcadia, operator of Dr. Healy's Diet Centers and Clinics in Duarte and Rancho Cucamonga. He is accused of selling addictive painkillers from his office over a 3-year period to patients he often did not examine. Federal authorities allege Healy dispensed oxycodone and hydrocodone, among other drugs, essentially using his practice as a drug-dealing operation.
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.
Incumbents Maryann Gibson, John McClain, and James Romo, are the only candidates so far to request school board candidacy papers. Forms must be filed by Jan. 17.
Deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects to be done this summer include roofing, re-roofing, painting, kitchen and plumbing work at area schools.
Mimi Hennessy, Superintendent of Arcadia Unified School District, writes in response to anonymous letter about the district's vehicle perquisite, after a district vehicle was involved in an accident in Las Vegas.
According to Chester Zahn, gastroenterologist at Methodist Hospital, Chinese Americans have higher rates of colon cancer than other Americans. The American Cancer Society is teaming with Asian American advertising agencies to educate Chinese Americans about colon cancer screenings.
The Arcadia Unified School District's second annual Robotics Expo involved students with the district's pilot robotics classes. Next year all schools will teach about robotics.
The state's budget crisis could mean that Arcadia Unified School District will suffer a shortfall of an estimated $2.3 million in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Figures for other local school districts are included.
New regulations require that Arcadia, among other cities in the Los Angeles River basin, reduce the amount of trash put into the system to "zero tolerance" in twelve years. Arcadia has joined other cities in the Coalition for Practical Regulation to appeal the order.