A recent meeting between Asian parents, police and school district members was quite successful, School Board Member Robert Kladifko told the Board. He said recent fights between Asians and Caucasians at the Arcadia High School and the Arcadia Library were not racially motivated.
Inter-racial problems at Arcadia High School are not as bad as they have been made out to be, according to 2 Associated Student Body officers, but the problems there are, they said, can be blamed on both Asians and Caucasians.
Responding to a report of tensions between Caucasian and Asian students at Arcadia High School, Superintendent of Schools, Elbert Souders said the problem is "very small" and is being addressed by the district.
Arcadia Council PTA is joining with Parent Alert in sponsoring two town meetings to encourage parents and other citizens to join a community-wide campaign aimed at fighting school age substance abuse. Meeting to be held at 7:45 P.M. on succeeding Wednesdays, Nov. 2 and 9 at First Avenue Junior High School auditorium.
There was a large crowd of parents at the school board meeting where the closure of two elementary schools was discussed. The board will make its final decision after the public hearings have been held on December 10 and January 8.
Arcadia in 1989 is a changing city. Officials estimate Asians now comprise 15 to 17 % of the population and 27% of the student body. Minorities, including Hispanics, blacks and American Indians total 35% of the school enrollment.
There appears to be some progress in contract negotiations between the Arcadia Unified School District and the Arcadia Teachers Association. Though officials were reluctant to talk about specifics, fear of a strike by the teachers has been allayed.
At a meeting of about 200 Anoakia School parents, directors of the school, which has operated on the former estate of Anita Baldwin for 48 years, explained the reasons the school wants to relocate after June 1990. Lowry McCaslin, who owns the property, wants to develop the 20 acre estate.
Parents attending the school board meeting pressed for increased substance abuse education. The board expressed a reluctance to expand the program at the expense of more basic courses.
The Arcadia Council PTA in cooperation with Parent Alert has organized evening programs for parents of all 5th and 6th grade, junior and senior high school students. The programs are designed to offer education on drug abuse.
Dr. Robert and Mrs. Bell discuss the activities and services of Parent Alert. Over 75 families have been involved over the past two years in the support group aimed at helping educate parents about drugs.
About 200 Arcadia teachers marched outside prior to the Arcadia School Board meeting to protest what they called delays in negotiating a contract for the 1987-88 school year.
By the year 2000 Arcadia will have more homes and businesses, more traffic, higher property values, and a larger population of Asians, though the population of the city as a whole will not increase very much. Officials predict what the city will be like in the year 2000.
Arcadia High School graduation requirements were defined and settled after considerable discussion by the Board of Education at the regular meeting last week.
The Arcadia Unified School District has about 130 new elementary school students this year, prompting district officials to hire 4 new teachers, combine classes and add portable classrooms.
Protest by about 1/3 of 300 teachers in Arcadia Unified School District on stalemate in contract negotiations at school board meeting. ATA President Priscilla Tedesco and other teachers appeared before microphone to protest.