ABC School Board Meeting of “Circumstances and Pomp"

By Kenneth Giron


The ABC School Board held its monthly meeting June 22nd honoring outstanding awards gained from schools within the district, reviewed their average school district performance, discussed school district finances, and held a short pulpit for the public after a controversial board meeting motion caused some debate.
Following a pledge of allegiance salute in American Sign Language by the Girl Scout Daisy Troop No. 1433, the assembly supplemented the upbeat introduction with commemorating achievements for five presiding elementary schools. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation honored their Bronze Award to recipients’ Aloha, Burbank, Kennedy, and Niemes elementary schools. Those present to accept the prestigious achievement were Niemes’ Network for a Healthy California coordinator Dipa Shah and teacher Lora Ballard, Burbank principal Beth Bray, Aloha principal Julie Yabumoto, and Kennedy principal Melissa Valentine. All five elementary schools exercised exemplary school policies that promote better eating habits
And physical education to their respective student bodies in order to ensure a healthier future lifestyle.
The district’s satisfactory performance of elementary school level education also won the attention of KV Mart Foundation, where representatives of the foundation donated a check for $25,000 to Furgeson elementary school. The check, approved by Phil Gentile, Alex Gutierrez and Liana Macias of KV Mart Foundation, were presented to the very grateful and honored Furgeson principal, Mayra Lozano.
Another noted contribution was supplemented by Rutgers University, having approved a scholarship program for Fedde middle school. The scholarship program is intended as an aid to all students that demonstrate an intent and effort for the future enrollment to an Ivy League School. The scholarship program is also concurrent with other tentative special programs to be added for further aid to young Ivy League bound students.
The 2009-2010 school performance reports were quite positive for the district, with high schools in the district reporting a significant increase in English and Mathematics of about 62 and 47 percent respectively. Adding to this already impressive record, the performance report lists that all district high schools reflect a 97.2 percent California Exit Exam pass rate. Finally, the district’s Academic Performance Index (API) average score for 2009 was 812, 12 points above the projected minimum.
Public survey results for schools within the district were generally positive, though specific concerns were raised by Gahr High School. As reported by Gahr High School representatives Evan Machado and Simone Evangelista, primary concerns from the student body were in regards to school safety. Machado and Evangelista also reported that the student body does not approve the technological aptitude of their teachers, even going as far casting doubt on the competence of some.