Approximately 147 students who have attended Hugo Reid will be transferred to Holly Avenue next year if the proposal is passed by the school board. The transfer and boundary change are designed to alleviate over-crowding at Hugo Reid.
The Arcadia Beautiful Commission intends to recommend that Holly Avenue School be submitted for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The city's oldest school building, Holly Avenue, built in 1927, is an example of the Spanish Colonial Revival Style.
The city of Arcadia will spend an estimated $108,875 to renovate playing fields at 3 public elementary schools: Hugo Reid, Highland Oaks and Holly Avenue, all used by the city's Recreation Department.
Holly Avenue Elementary is the first school in Arcadia to test a year-round program for students. The year-round school began in 1995. Parents are questioning if other schools should follow.
New principals have been named for three Arcadia elementary schools. Jim Gerhardt has been named to head Holly Avenue. Charles Jarboe requested a transfer from Highland Oaks and was assigned to Camino Grove. Mrs. Suzanne Burton will replace Mr. Jarboe at Highland Oaks.
A report to the Board of Education indicates that the Elementary Childhood Education (ECE) program has not lived up to its expectations. ECE schools in Arcadia are Camino Grove, Longley Way and Holly Avenue.
The School Board reversed an earlier decision to order construction of two modular buildings at Holly Avenue School to permit the transfer there of 150 students from Hugo Reid, thus emptying one classroom there for future growth. It may not be possible at this late date to get the necessary work done by September 15.
Students at Holly Avenue Elementary School can choose the traditional September-June schedule or attend year-round classes with 4 shorter breaks, instead of the three-month summer vacation. The new schedule has the usual 180 days, but includes 4 sessions of about 9 weeks and breaks as long as 20 days.
Teachers and parents at Camino Grove and Holly Avenue elementary schools are in communication with the Arcadia Board of Education to restore the School Improvement Program.