Starting in 1993-1994, Arcadia High School will change its grading policy that awards an extra grade point to students taking honors classes. The new system will give no more weight to honors courses than to regular courses.
Arcadia Unified School District officials prepared for a second try at a bond measure to rehabilitate school facilities by taking a group of seniors to Arcadia High School for a meeting and tour.
About 60 parents, teachers, and students staged an emotional show of solidarity for teacher Gary Southworth, who began a 1-year jail sentence in connection with a car crash that killed a 21 year old La Verne woman, on December 12, 1992. He pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter and 2 counts of felony drunk driving.
Incumbents Mary Dougherty, 57, and Joann Steinmeier, 47, beat out challenger Debbie Ewing, 29, for 2 Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education positions. A bond measure to raise funds to renovate AUSD facilities won by a vote of 71% to 28.3% (67% was needed to pass).
The family of Kelly Salomone, a 21 year old University of La Verne student who was killed when a car driven by Gary Southworth, 45, slammed into her vehicle on December 12, has started a letter writing campaign urging people to pressure the state into taking away his teaching credential. School Board members defended their decision to allow Southworth to return to the Arcadia Unified School District.
Nordstrom's Department Store is scheduled to open in August 1994, while 20 specialty shops and a 292-seat food court will open in October, 1993. The $34.3 million expansion is expected to generate about $1 million in sales tax revenue each year, as well a create 250 retail jobs.
The City Council increased the bed tax, charged to customers staying in a hotel, from 8% to 10%. The increase will generate an estimated $140,000 a year, which would help to close the city's projected $2.2 million shortfall in the 1993-94 budget.
127 city employees have agreed to postpone their salary increases for 6 months to help close the city's projected $2.2 million shortfall. This action would save the city $466,000.
The City Council approved a $3.4 million new fire station project bid by Merco Construction Engineers in Camarillo. The building will cost 20% more than originally estimated.
William Woolard, 50, Arcadia Planning Director for 22 years, resigned at the recommendation of City Manager Don Duckworth and a 4-1 City Council vote, with Robert Harbicht opposed. Woolard was asked to leave because of departmental reorganization, Duckworth said.
The City Council approved demolishing the building at 19 1/2 Lucille Street after City inspectors alleged that it was plagued by health and safety code violations. Earlier article in Pasadena Star News May 8, 1993 p. A-5 with photo.
Cara Yehle, 18, a 1992 graduate of Arcadia High School, died from and acute allergic reaction to chicken marinated in peanut sauce which she ate at a reggae concert at the Greek Theater on May 31st.