This Month's Community Report
July 02, 2007
A Message from Superintendent, Dr. George Mannon
It was a pleasure to see another successful school year come to an end in a safe fashion. I commend the parents and staff, and our city for ensuring the safety of our students as a top priority. Although most of our students and staff are hopefully enjoying a well deserved break, the administration continues to ensure proper planning for the upcoming school year. We will have our Hull Middle School community attending J.H. Hull at Levy, and hope this transition can occur as smoothly as possible. We have also received the report from the District Facility and Asset Review Committee, displaying graphically the poor conditions of our facilities. I appreciate the detailed work put in by all these individuals and hope the community will join in our concern of sustaining the expected levels of education in spite of our aging physical resources.
We are seeing some staff changes. It is always with bitter-sweet feelings that we view some of these changes, especially when some of our esteemed staff retires or chooses to make changes, but at the same time we welcome the new peers that join us with a true desire to uphold the goals of our District. In particular, TUSD wishes to express its appreciation for Dr. Schmitt’s 38 years of service to the District. He has served as a teacher, student activities advisor, curriculum consultant, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and most recently served as Associate Superintendent for School Administration. He is wished the best in his well-deserved retirement.
As always, it is a pleasure to be in this position to serve such an outstanding community. Thank you to all who continue to contribute.
New Administrative Appointments for 2007-2008 School Year
At the June 4, 2007 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved new administrative appointments, effective July 1, 2007, affecting the 2007-2008 school year.
The Board is pleased to announce the following appointments:
- Lynn Bedrosian will become Director of Child Welfare and Attendance. Ms. Bedrosian currently serves as TUSD’s Resource Teacher for Child Welfare and Attendance. She has previously served as a Secondary Teacher at Torrance High School, Program Specialist in English Language Development, and Middle School Assistant Principal at Magruder, Lynn, Hull, and Madrona Middle Schools.
- Dr. Karen Whisnant will join TUSD as Principal at Anza Elementary School. She comes from the Carlsbad Unified School District and served as Elementary School Principal at Magnolia Elementary School. She received her B.A. at Southeastern Louisiana University in 1995, her M.A. also at Southeastern Louisiana University in 1999, and her Doctor of Education at the University of La Verne in 2005; and
- Pamela Williams from the Redondo Beach Unified School District shall become Principal at Walteria Elementary School. At RBUSD, she served as Coordinator of Instructional Services. She received her B.A. at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1980 and her M.A. at California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2006.
The following administrative appointments were approved at the Board of Education Meeting on June 18, 2007, effective July 1, 2007:
- Jamie Jimenez shall become Principal of Alternative Education at Shery High School and Torrance Community Day School. Ms. Jimenez currently serves as Secondary Counselor at Shery High School. She has previously served as Elementary Counselor at Lynn Middle School and Wood, Arnold and Walteria Schools, and Middle School Assistant Principal at Hull Middle School.
- Dr. E Don Kim shall serve as Senior Director of Elementary Schools. Currently, Dr. Kim serves as Elementary Principal at Hickory Elementary School. He has previously served as a Secondary Teacher at South High School and High School Assistant Principal at Torrance High School.
- Dr. Tim Stowe will become Senior Director of Secondary Schools. He currently serves as High School Principal at West High School, and previously served as a Middle School Teacher at Magruder Middle School, Middle School Assistant Principal at Richardson Middle School, and Middle School Principal at Hull Middle School.
The Board of Education is confident in these appointments and in their ability to serve the community and student body.
Facilities and Asset Review Committee
The Facilities and Asset Review Committee’s report is ready. It involves months of work from a parent, community members, staff and Board committee outlining the individual facility needs and assets for each school site. Over 700 pictures were taken to educate the public on the current facility challenges that TUSD is facing. The reportdemonstrates thatthe majority of Torrance schools are over 50 years old, dilapidated and in urgent need of repair and modernization. Many of our schools pose safety concerns, such as cracks in the asphalt on our playgrounds, old plumbing, lack of outdoor lighting, and rotting wood stadium bleachers. The mission of this committee was to assess the current condition of Torrance school facilities and to identify land assets which might provide a potential source of funds for school facility repairs and upgrades. Committee members visited every school site to make these assessments. These evaluations and photographs taken at each site comprise the bulk of the final report. The committee did not attempt to estimate repair or modernization costs. The committee urged the Board of Education and the entire Torrance community to take action in addressing the needs documented in the report in additional consideration of enrollment projections for both Torrance and interdistrict permit students so that projections might be made for actual facilities needs and usage.
Many of the items listed are in common to every school. These include, but are not limited to, antiquated plumbing, heaters and boilers, window mechanisms, electrical and lighting facilities, flooring, ceilings, cafeterias, high school gymnasiums, roofs, walls, gutters, eaves, walkways, and restrooms. Some additional considerations may include recommendations, such as that each middle school have a gymnasium, a shared resource room and an auditorium; that each elementary school have a science lab and a shared resource room; that each high school have an all-weather track, concrete bleachers at the stadium, an auditorium, and a centrally located swimming pool to share; that all schools have security cameras and lights, and that attention be paid to the architecture and aesthetics of Torrance school facilities.
Also, the potential land assets were identified by the committee to prepare the District and its stakeholders for the possible need to leverage District property in the event it was unable to fund future necessary repairs and upgrades due to a bond measure not being adopted by Torrance voters.
Funds from Measure R, the only School Bond to pass in the history of Torrance Unified, completed projects in electrical system upgrades, cabling, restrooms, floor replacements, plumbing, disability access compliance, playground equipment upgrades, and some other areas; however, so much more needs to be done to update our antiquated facilities. The District is also committed to rebuilding Hull Middle School. This report should be an urgent “wake-up call” to the entire Torrance community stating that our schools are in desperate need of repair and modernization. Copies of the report are available in the Administrative Services office, and here .
Association of American University Women (AAUW) announces its Tech Trek Scholarship Winners
Ms. Pam Kenoyer, Tech Trek Coordinator for the American Association of University Women, announced the 2007 scholarship recipients. This year’s scholarship sponsors included Honeywell International, ExxonMobil Corporation, Raytheon Company, Northrop Grumman, Moog, Inc., Sunrider International, the Weinan Family, Partners in Diversity, Air Force Association, Schriever Education Foundation, The Ball Corporation, Honeywell Engine, Systems & Services, and Honeywell Turbo Technologies. The students were recognized by the Board of Education at their May 21 Board meeting. Ms. Tammy Khan, Field Representative for State Assemblyman Ted Lieu, was also in attendance to congratulate and present each of them with Certificates of Recognition. Congratulations to the following students: Laura McLaughlin (Bert Lynn), Jin Young Choi (Bert Lynn), Kelly Park (Calle Mayor), Kristen Ishii (Calle Mayor), Morgan Rivera (Casimir), Destiny Burke (Casimir), Leann Knight (Hull), Olga Maskova (Hull), Samantha Davis (Jefferson), Analis Black (Jefferson), Christine Masternak (Jefferson), Calene Morris (Madrona), Maritess Reyes (Madrona), Yvonne Vergara (Magruder), Pauline Huynh (Magruder), Lauren Lloyd (Richardson), and Jenny Denault (Richardson).
Survey Reflects Benefits of Professional Learning Communities at The Middle Schools
A survey of the Middle School teachers was conducted to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the Professional Learning Center (PLC) program’s first year. This program involved middle schoolers having a late start every Tuesday. Representatives from the various schools advised the Board of Education that while this program is a process that requires teachers to learn a new way to approach their jobs, the overall consensus is it is beneficial in that it provides continuity for the students, allows teachers to learn from each other by working collaboratively, is good for the overall morale of the school, and has opened up lines of communication between staff, administration, parents and students. Principals reviewed the specific results of the surveys, indicating significant progress in every area. The program appears to demonstrate that schools are seeing a shift in their fundamental purpose with a focus on learning, proficiency, and collaborate team building, as well as a shift in the use of assessments.
Over the past year, parents had expressed concerns, such as that this program takes valuable instructional time away from the students, adjustment issues with the weekly late start schedule, and regarding how benchmarks are established and applied. Many also questioned theeffectiveness of communication with the community, and if, realistically, the meetings needed to occur every week. In response to some of these concerns, at the May 21, 2007 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mannon and Dr. Love, Chief Academic Officer, explained how research shows it is not only time that improves student achievement, but instead it is the quality of teachers, textbooks, and instructional training, and that the collaborative work being done through the PLC helps teachers to provide the quality instruction needed to improve student achievement. Dr. Love emphasized the importance of using this time to monitor students’ growth and progress by utilizing benchmark assessments, formative assessments, and common assessments in curriculum. She advised that, after the initial adjustment period, parents have been very positive about the program and felt it had improved communication between them and the school. Dr. Love explained all schools must comply with the five performance goals established under the No Child Left Behind Act, but after that, there is a great deal of flexibility at each site to establish specific goals for their particular needs. The Board of Education has approved that the Professional Learning Communities program continue for 2007-2008
Enrollment/Demographic Presentation and Permit Students
At the recent Board of Education meeting, Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Don Stabler presented the 2007 Enrollment Projections and Demographic Analysis for TUSD prepared by DecisionInsite forecasting the next 10 years. He discussed the many variables affecting community demographics including population, household and family trends, racial/ethnic trends, phases of life, family income, and employment factors. In summary, Dr. Stabler stated that the District is in stable enrollment, and assuming we continue to allow permit students, it will continue in that overall trend.
As part of this exchange, a discussion was led on the impact inter and intra district permits have on our student population, and the concept of the neighborhood school. Dr. Mannon and Dr. Stabler reviewed the effect permit students have on District revenues, explaining how their presence allows the District to maintain stable enrollment levels, which translates into funds necessary to provide adequate teachers, programs, and resources to students throughout the District. Most surrounding districts are experiencing declining enrollment. While members of the community have expressed concern that high permit populations in our lower-enrollment areas takes away from the sense of community, Interdistrict permits add to the student population and funds and discourage the need to combine campuses resulting in over-crowding and reductions in programs.
New Textbooks
Some new textbooks have been chosen for Biology and in the fields of History/Social Science. The District uses the same process with all new textbook adoptions. Some textbook selection committees are more largely represented than others, depending on the degree of specialty required for the subject. For the purpose of these textbooks, the committees conducted year-long analyses using blueprints, student assessments, content standards, and power standards, and found the best materials for those matches. The Biology textbook resulted from the Physical Science and Earth course that was adopted last year. The History/Social Science adoption was a continuation of what was done last year with K-8, and the committee followed the same adoption process. In cases when the adoption of books affects a single subject, the committee is normally formed by staff only; when a larger group is affected, such as K-8, or a new course is instituted, parents have participated in these committees. Furthermore, materials are available for public review.
TUSD and the Community
The Torrance Unified School District graciously accepted a gift to the District from the Korean Parents Association. At the June 4th Board meeting, the Reverend Jonathan Lee presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to the Board on behalf of the Torrance Korean Parents Association, stating the money could be used at the District’s discretion. He also introduced members of the group in attendance: Flora Park, Keum H. Moon, Jung Mee Chang, and Debbie Kim.
Mrs. Ashcraft, President of the Board of Education, presented Reverend Lee with a Certificate of Appreciation, expressing the Board’s gratitude for the Korean Parents Association’s continued support of the District.
Secondary Bullying
Dr. Laurie Love, Chief Academic Officer, and presenters from Hull, Jefferson, Magruder, and Richardson Middle Schools, and North, South, Torrance, and West High Schools discussed the topic of Secondary Bullying at the June 4 Board meeting. Dr. Love commented that TUSD does not have a bullying problem, however, the District was taking a proactive approach to ensure that it does not become one. She noted that all schools in the District have anti-bullying and character building programs in place. Most of these programs have been designed by each individual site to meet their needs; some include tolerance-based clubs, student surveys, the Safe School Ambassador Program, and community service.
For more information regarding the above content, and to review further discussions held during the Board of Education meetings, please see the corresponding Minutes from May 21, 2007 and June 4, 2007.
