Maynard Law Elected ABC Board President

By Jerry Bernstein

The ABC School Board elected Maynard Law Board President for the year 2010-11 at its Dec. 7 meeting. He succeeds Celia Spitzer. Serving with him are Armin Reyes, Vice President, and Olympia Chen, Board Clerk. Superintendent Dr. Gary Smutz was named Board Secretary
Outgoing President Celia Spitzer was congratulated for her past year’s service and was presented Certificates of Appreciation from civic leaders representing the communities ABC serves along with a gavel in a shadow box.
Upon thanking the School Board for its vote of confidence in electing him Board President, Law said ABC is about focusing on what matters most, student achievement. Academic performance of the student is shown by API scores. He said this past year ABC had an overall API score of 822 that he described as far exceeding the state average of 757. “This past weekend the District was privileged to receive its ninth consecutive Golden Bell Award that is given for excellence in education.
Law went on to say that in these financial times of uncertainties and budget cuts, and to say the least confusion at the state level, the District with more than the 500 partnerships and collaborations that are part of ABC, along with the leadership and willingness of our teachers and classified employees who he described as being full partners in the goal of good education for the community. He concluded by saying he looked forward to moving ABC to greater education heights.
Superintendent Dr. Gary Smuts issued a warning about school funding in the future. At the same time he said the state’s overall education achievement is pretty good. “It’s not great but it is pretty good.” He said this years state budget shortfall is $6 billion and combined with next years estimated $19 billion shortfall the budget picture in California is pretty bad.
Dr. Smuts agreed with newly elected Board President Maynard Law that too many people have jumped onto the “beat up the education bandwagon.” He said California’s K-12 school system is the largest one in the country. Twenty-five percent of the country’s English Language Learners are located in California. “We have more high school students eligible for college attendance than we have had in the history of California.” He noted that seven years ago 35 percent of the students advanced, This year 52 percent did. He said the number of math students seven years ago rose from 35 percent to 48 percent. High School students are taking 60 percent more college prep science and math courses than they did seven years ago.
“There’s a lot to be said. California is doing a good job. Not great, but there has been persistent growth for the last seven years. And we’re doing it for $825 less per child than the national average per child.” He said that was two years ago. Since then the number has grown. Two years ago the average American school had an average of 34 percent more teachers than California, 40 percent more administrators than California and 75 percent more counselors per student than California “We’re doing more with less in California he stated.
“Public Education in California is working, but think how great we would be if we received average funding for our children.” He concluded by saying achievement in California has grown during the last decade and this is especially true in ABC.