A Report to Our Community - April 2007

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE – DR. GEORGE MANNON

After a very busy month of March, we welcome April as an opportunity to regain some energy with Spring Break from the 9^th through the 13^th. It is also a great month of preparation, since May will bring about AP and STAR testing exams. On April 23^rd we will have the opportunity to enjoy the High School Art Fair. At an Administration level, much planning for programming, enrollment and staffing assessment is starting to take place. The month of April is a time when we are still hard at work with the tasks at hand, and yet we have a refreshing opportunity to start planning for September, which brings new beginnings.

Along those lines, I would like to make note that Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Donald Stabler and I have been making presentations to discuss the District’s facility needs. By the end of the school year, we will have visited all campuses. We are living in desperate times. In spite of many attempts and possibly at the expense of tiring our voters and community, only one TUSD Facility Bond was ever passed by Torrance voters, yet 25,000 students spend 6 to 7 hours using these facilities on a daily basis. As over time most homes need new plumbing, roofing and general improvements, our 50 year old buildings are not exempt of these needs. Hull Middle School is the first site that based on State law can no longer be occupied by students and staff as of this coming September. The needs are many and the resources of funds and options are very limited.

I hope all students, families and staff have an opportunity to enjoy a restful Spring break. Thank you to all of you, who consistently encourage education and positive character in our city.

CURRICULUM

New course: Journeys Through Time is an interdisciplinary, upper-level science course designed to build upon students’ previous learning in physical, biological, and earth sciences. Completion of first-year chemistry is a prerequisite. Students will be challenged to consider the most current scientific ideas about the origin and development of the universe, of life, and the unique development of the human mind and technology, presenting the most current factual information available in the areas of cosmology, genetics, biological evolution, anthropology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. This yearlong course will include lessons, database investigations, simulations, readings, laboratory experiments, and projects that draw upon multiple disciplines in science. It is expected to satisfy the “g” requirement for the University of California system.

PROGRAMS

SCROC: Effective July 1, 2007, students’ transcripts will only reflect credit for completion of coursework, including a letter grade, aligning SCROC classes more closely with high school campus classes. In addition, the school has recently added a course called American Sign Language, which fulfills an A-G course requirement for foreign language.

STAFF UPDATES

The Board of Education and the TUSD community thanks Ms. Tamara Smith, Principal at Lincoln Elementary School and Dr. Victoria Estrada, Principal at Shery Continuation High School as they plan for retirement. Ms. Smith is thanked for her 38 years of dedicated service to students and families and wished the best in her retirement commencing July 1, 2007. She has served as an elementary school teacher, resource teacher, middle school assistant principal, and principal during her time with TUSD. Dr. Estrada is equally thanked for her 31 years of service, as she served as a special day teacher, resource teacher, program specialist, assistant principal, principal, and Director of Special Education. She is wished well in her deserved retirement commencing September 1, 2007.

TUSD welcomes Mr. Matthew Horvath as Principal at Richardson Middle School. Mr. Horvath comes to our District from the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District, where he served as assistant principal at Malibu High School, which serves grades 6-12.

Congratulations to South High School teacher, Tricia Blanco, for being selected to participate in the Toyota International Teacher Program’s trip to Costa Rica from March 8-20, 2007.  Ms. Blanco was selected as one of 20 participants in the United States for this program. As a Spanish/Spanish AP teacher at South High, she will be able to benefit from this travel, which includes participation in Spanish/Latino culture, and is directly related to the advanced placement tests and the cultural piece that is taught in foreign language classes.

FACILITIES

Welcome “J.H.Hull at Levy”: Hull Middle School Will Relocate to the Levy Adult Center Site

After months of assessments, reviews, and discussions, the Torrance Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the transfer of the 700 students and staff at Hull Middle School to the Levy Adult Center, effective this September. The majority of adult programs currently housed at Levy will be relocated to the Hull campus.

Most campuses at TUSD reach 50 years in age. Although many schools in the District are in desperate need of improvements and modernization to meet updated building codes, Hull was subject to State legislation mandating that its CalCor buildings, 28 of its 32 structures, be withdrawn by September 2007. State laws prohibits K-12 education to take place in these buildings, but allows for adult programs.

The move is intended to be temporary because the Board and administration are hopeful a new school facilities bond will pass soon. Where most surrounding school districts have passed multiple bonds to improve and expand their facilities, Torrance has only benefited from one, Measure R in 1998. Funds are necessary to upgrade most of the TUSD sites and reconstruct Hull Middle School, which alone is estimated at $20 million.

A group of parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and citizens, was commissioned to evaluate the best alternatives for housing Hull’s students. The group acknowledged that this move was necessary and the best of all alternatives, but knows well that families, staff and neighbors will be gravely affected. In order to lessen some of the impacts, a district-commissioned traffic study took place, which will implement several plans. In addition, the District has allowed for 8 morning and afternoon bus trips to take place between the Hull and Levy campuses to assist families and reduce traffic concerns.

Presentations to Discuss Facility Needs

Dr. Mannon, TUSD Superintendent, and Dr. Stabler, Deputy Superintendent, are visiting various corners of the community informing the public on the District’s facility needs. Although some meetings have already taken place, the following upcoming presentations still provide an opportunity for all members of the community to become better informed of the District’s needs. The materials presented reflect the District’s needs and are not site-based.

* Scheduling attempts are in process.

Report from the District’s Facility and Asset Review

This committee, consisting of parents, administrators and Board members, continues to visit school sites assessing their condition, needs, and assets. It has been observed that sites that have previously received modernization funds demonstrate improvement in areas directly benefiting the students, such as updated restrooms, new data and electrical wiring and overall classrooms. Beyond those areas, crumbling asphalt on playgrounds, uneven fields, decaying arcades, and archaic administration buildings become the norm. The committee will be listing its observations to establish a list of priorities for future modernization projects, when money is available. Furthermore, the committee continues to look for assets within the District that may be used to finance the necessary improvements to facilities, should bond measures continue to fail. One option would be to locate potential assets in sites with significant acreage that could be sold off for income.

School Bond Assessment. Pre-Election Services –

TUSD is currently working with Mr. Tramutola from Sidewalk Strategies to ascertain the steps necessary for the improved chances of a school bond passage. The Board is committed to having the best plan possible, having a plan that makes sense to the voters, and having adequate resources to be successful.  The passage of a bond measure will be the result of a team effort that would involve evaluation and review of previous bond efforts and the Torrance community, research to determine critical issues, and recommendations for a final bond plan. 

FINANCES

2006-2007 Budget Parameters

Ms. Judy Chai, Fiscal Services Officer made a presentation to the Board of Education pertaining to information on the proposed 2007-2008 budget calendar, with interim steps leading to an adopted budget on June 18, 2007 (the District is required to file twice yearly financial status reports to the State). Ms. Chai confirmed that the District is in stable financial condition and that it will be able to meet its financial obligations for 2006-2007 and two subsequent years. In addition, the District will be able to offer salary increases. Although in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 the District had a “qualified certification”, since that time, the District, Dr. Stabler and Mrs. Chai have worked on financial concerns to gain positive financial certifications.

 Update on TUSD Legislative Action Committee’s Legislative Goals for 2007

The District’s Legislative Action Committee has been meeting regularly since September and has formulated its legislative goals for 2007 to be developed with representatives in Sacramento:

1. Full Equalization Funding

2. Mandated Costs Claims Funded for 2007-2008

3. Full COLA Funding for Special Education

4. High Performing District Release from Categorical Program Monitoring

Assemblyman Ted Lieu has been instrumental in getting additional equalization funding for our District and will be co-sponsoring legislation for additional equalization funding with the support from State Senator Joe Simitian of Palo Alto.

POLICIES AFFECTING OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS

The policies set by Board of Education are subject to periodic revisions, deletions, replacement, and/or additions. The following policies, of particular interest, have recently been revised or adopted:

- BP 1330: Use of School Facilities. The District will continue to maintain awareness of the possible damage, maintenance, and appropriate compensation from usage of its facilities by groups outside of TUSD, including the City of Torrance, non profit groups, and sports organizations. These services are part of a large collaboration that needs to be regularly assessed to ensure fairness.

- BP 4119.22: Non-Fraternization with Students. Enhancements to obvious policies regarding the inappropriateness of non-professional student/school employee relationships are being put in place and will be released in the near future.

- BP 7214: General Obligation Bonds. This new policy is adopting the provisions of Proposition 39, which ensures the public that no bond monies can be used for administrative costs or salaries. In addition to the regular District audits, it establishes a requirement for separate and independent performance and financial audits of modernization projects.

TUSD AND THE COMMUNITY

Update on TUSD and the Joint Meeting of the City Council Committee on Citizen Development and Enrichment

1. Students in Government Day – The Torrance City Council requested that their staff work with the community to develop a Students in Government Day for selected eighth graders in the City of Torrance with the intent of developing students’ interest in civics. The 22 participants would be selected from essays submitted to the committee. The program would consist of job shadowing of city council members and department heads, culminating in the students’ running a city council meeting. TUSD staff is working with city personnel to facilitate the program.

2. South High Entrance off Calle Mayor – The City and District are considering possible barriers or signage to alleviate traffic and safety issues at the entrance to South High School along the alleyway off Calle Mayor.

3. Greenwood Park Fencing – Due to concern expressed by parents, TUSD and the City of Torrance are discussing fencing a small area of green space for physical activity to take place in a more secured environment for Fern Elementary students.

4. Maintenance of Fields - The District is investigating the feasibility of a shared model of field maintenance with the city and other organizations, in an effort to improve the quality of District fields.

5. Gym Floor Refinishing – Under the Joint Use Facilities Agreement, the city can hold activities in the school gymnasiums, but its scheduling is superseded by the District’s. The District is aware that its own usage has increased and will be working towards increasing notification of its activities to alleviate City planning conflicts.

TUSD will enter an Agreement to Permit the American Red Cross the Use of District Facilities, Grounds, and Equipment for Disaster Relief and to house disaster shelter supply containers at temporary shelters at some middle schools and high schools. This agreement would benefit the schools involved to become even better prepared in emergency preparedness.  Although the list of schools to be involved is not yet developed, the American Red Cross could utilize any of our schools in the event of a disaster.

CALENDAR

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