REALSAVI

Tustin Unified School District To Hold 12th Annual Advancement Via Individual Determination Recognition Celebration June 3rd At Beckman High School

realsavi — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:03:59 +0000

The Tustin Unified School District will hold its 12th annual Advancement Via Individual Determination Recognition Celebration at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Beckman High School, 3588 Bryan Ave.

About 400 high school students will receive awards and scholarships. AVID teachers and tutors will also be honored.

The program is offered at Columbus Tustin, Currie, Hewes, Pioneer and Utt middle schools, and Beckman, Foothill and Tustin high schools.

Information: Sharon Maeda at 714-730-7301, ext. 387.

State Of California Cuts Back “Federal Surplus Personal Property Program” That Allowed California School Districts To Purchase Equipment At Extremely Low Cost

realsavi — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:58:00 +0000

At precisely the time when a faltering economy means cities and schools need to save money, the state of California has decimated one of the very programs that helps local governments cut costs.

For decades, schools districts like the Huntington Beach Union High School District and the Anaheim Union High School District have depended on an obscure program that allows nonprofits, small businesses and local governments to acquire surplus federal equipment at dramatically reduced prices.

Under the Federal Surplus Personal Property Program, you can get a$15,000 forklift for $1,000, an $8,000 Dodge van for $750.

“That’s how we’re sending money to the classroom. We don’t have to buy a $60,000 truck,” said Steve Bradford, fleet manager for the Huntington Beach district. He said his district has acquired staff cars, trucks, vans, electric carts, forklifts, trailers and portable lights through the program.

“It’s been a life saver for us,” said Scott McDonough, garage supervisor for the Anaheim district, who estimates that 35 to 40 percent of the 150 vehicles in his “white” fleet (non-school buses) were obtained through the program.

To cut costs, however, the state recently closed the program’s headquarters in Santa Ana and moved the operation to Sacramento. That might not sound like a big deal, but McDonough and Bradford say it’s been a disaster. They say the program doesn’t work now and they can’t figure out what equipment is available.

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/author/bjoseph/

Charter Renewed For “Nova Academy” In Santa Ana, CA, A School Focused On High School And College Courses Taken Simultaneously

realsavi — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:42:53 +0000

The Santa Ana Unified School Board renewed the charter Tuesday for Nova Academy, a school focused on allowing students to simultaneously take college courses and high school classes.

Nearly 100 students, parents and teachers from the school attended Tuesday’s meeting to support the new five-year charter.

Nova Academy, with 79 students, allows some students to earn associate arts degrees from Santa Ana College at the same time they earn high school diplomas. The campus was originally granted a charter as a school for foster children and orphans, and is sponsored by Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused Children.

Charter schools receive funding directly from the state. They have to provide their own facilities and other services. School districts provide oversight of charter schools’ finances and curriculum and can deny charters if districts believe the schools are falling short of their obligations.

Santa Ana Unified officials had said there were concerns that the number of instructional minutes of many students did not meet minimum state standards. Some students left their high school courses early, or arrived late, so they could attend their college courses, district officials said.

But Nova Academy administrators said students now make up the lost minutes in extra classes during the week.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-students-charter-2407390-santa-schools

Orange County Schools Compete At El Modena High In “Orange County Mathematics Field Day Program”

realsavi — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:47:13 +0000

Hundreds of 4th-, 5th- and 6th-graders showed that it’s cool to be smart as they proved their math skills at the Orange County Mathematics Field Day Program at El Modena High School.

Top math performers from nearly 30 elementary and middle schools in north Orange County teamed up and practiced for months leading to the event, pouring over pre-algebra and geometry problems and learning mental math techniques to prepare for the competition.

Kathy Kim, a fourth-grade teacher and the math coach at Canyon Rim Elementary School in Anaheim Hills said some students, especially girls, shy away from doing well once they reach eighth grade.

Girls scored an average of 542 – 35 points lower than boys – on the SAT math section, according to 2004-2005 California Department of Education data – the most recent statistics available in revealing the gender gap.

“Some kids might be interested in trying out, but they feel like they’ll be labeled,” Kathy said. “What I try to let them know is you can be popular and outgoing and still be good at math.”

Fifth-graders from Anderson Elementary School in Garden Grove put their geometry skills to the test when constructing a boat out of card stock and a sticky label that was to hold pennies inside without sinking.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/grade-school-elementary-2401832-math-fourth

RealSAVI Number For Irvine Unified School District

realsavi — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:23:52 +0000

Orange County	2008 API High School Index	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number
Irvine School District		Feb-09	Feb-09	Mar-09	Mar-09
Irvine	848	$ 319.34	2.66	$ 353.55	2.40
Northwood	874	$ 308.56	2.83	$ 374.57	2.33
University	897	$ 459.18	1.95	$ 379.23	2.37
Woodbridge	844	$ 332.33	2.54	None sold

THE REALSAVI NUMBER IS DERIVED BY TAKING THE HIGH SCHOOL’S CURRENT “API” (”ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX”), WHICH IS FOR 2008, AND DIVIDING IT BY THE AVERAGE SELLING PRICE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES (”BY $/SQUARE FOOT’), THEREFORE PRODUCING OUR REALSAVI TM INDEX WHICH REPRESENTS A “SCHOOL-VALUE ADDED” VALUE FOR HOMES SELLING IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL’S DISTRICT AREA.

Huntington Beach And Fountain Valley Schools Honored As “California Distinguished Schools”: Dwyer Middle School, Edison High School, Marina High School, Vista View Middle School, Fulton Middle School, And Masuda Middle School

realsavi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:57:15 +0000

Dwyer Middle School and Edison and Marina high schools in Huntington Beach joined Vista View, Fulton and Masuda middle schools in Fountain Valley for the honor, which recognizes the top public schools in the state.The schools were among 136 middle and 125 high schools around the state to receive this year’s honor, out of nearly 2,400 schools statewide. State Supt. Jack O’Connell called each school’s principal Wednesday to give them the news.

This was Fulton’s first Distinguished School honor, and comes on the heels of big gains in its students’ math scores, Principal Chris Christensen said. The school surpassed 900 points on its recent API exam, giving it one of the top grades in the state.

After taking a dip in 2007, the school made a concerted effort to raise its math scores above even 2006 levels, which may have caught the eye of the nominating committee.

Fulton also has run a Spotlight program over the last two years that Christensen said gives struggling math and English students the chance to get extra tutoring during their regular elective period.

The school also has focused on improving its eighth-grade science program, and has become knowledgeable of data-driven instruction methods that allow the school’s Professional Learning Communities, groups of teachers who work together to improve student achievement, to go back to challenging portions of the curriculum and give students additional assistance.

Edison High chose to focus on its ways of integrating the school’s special education population in its application, as well as the parent partnership the school has developed, Principal D’liese Melendrez said. She has already notified parents of the achievement through the school’s phone system, and was delighted to find that the county Department of Education planted signs and balloons in front of the school last Thursday morning.

Principal Don Ruisinger said this is Dwyer’s third Distinguished School honor, but the first since he took the school’s helm.

http://hbindependent.com/articles/2009/04/09/top_stories/hbi-distinguished040909.txt

RealSAVI Number For Garden Grove Unified School District

realsavi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:48:51 +0000

Orange County	2008 API High School Index	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number
Garden Grove		Feb-09	Feb-09	Mar-09	Mar-09
Bolsa Grande	770	$ 263.40	2.92	$ 309.23	2.49
Garden Grove	782	$ 272.17	2.87	$ 282.92	2.76
La Quinta	849	$ 292.06	2.91	$ 305.92	2.78
Pacifica	798	$ 291.62	2.74	$ 285.78	2.79
Rancho Alamitos	740	$ 254.94	2.90	$ 239.58	3.09
Santiago	720	$ 225.08	3.20	$ 267.47	2.69

RealSAVI Number For Capistrano Unified School District

realsavi — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:53:24 +0000

Orange County	2008 API High School Index	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number

Capistrano Unified SD		Feb-09	Feb-09	Mar-09	Mar-09
Aliso Niguel High School	825	$ 287.33	2.87	$ 294.82	2.80
Capistrano Valley High School	812	$ 283.05	2.87	$ 276.74	2.93
Dana Hills High School	825	$ 334.50	2.47	$ 328.51	2.51
San Clemente High School	816	$ 314.96	2.59	$ 381.82	2.14
San Juan Hills High School *	748	$ 279.48	2.68	$ -
Tesoro High School	836	$ 265.69	3.15	$ 258.23	3.24

RealSAVI Number For Anaheim Union High School District

realsavi — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:58:11 +0000

Orange County	2008 API High School Index	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number	Average Price Per Sq Ft	RealSavi Number
		Feb-09	Feb-09	Mar-09	Mar-09
Anaheim Union School District
Anaheim High School	701	$ 215.47	3.25	$ 215.41	3.25
Cypress High School	843	$ 311.56	2.71	$ 309.94	2.72
John F. Kennedy High School	790	$ 258.48	3.06
Katella	690	$ 231.97	2.97	$ 240.70	2.87
Loara High School	717	$ 232.43	3.08	$ 241.53	2.97
Magnolia High School	698	$ 230.84	3.02	$ 238.17	2.93
Savana High School	697	$ 229.50	3.04	$ 223.49	3.12
Western High School	769	$ 245.59	3.13	$ 229.46	3.35

THE “RealSAVI” NUMBER IS DERIVED BY TAKING THE HIGH SCHOOL’S CURRENT “API” (”ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX”), WHICH IS FOR 2008, AND DIVIDING IT BY THE AVERAGE SELLING PRICE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES (”BY $/SQUARE FOOT’), THEREFORE PRODUCING OUR REALSAVI TM INDEX WHICH REPRESENTS A “SCHOOL-VALUE ADDED” VALUE FOR HOMES SELLING IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL’S DISTRICT AREA.

Tustin Unified School District: $12.5 Million To Be Eliminated From $160 Million Budget; “Categorical Money” From Federal Stimulus Funds Are Very Restrictive Says Superintendent

realsavi — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:39:21 +0000

Some school leaders said that restrictions on how stimulus dollars can be used are boxing them in.

“Getting more categorical money—that’s nice for the few of our schools that are Title I schools, but not all of our schools are Title I schools,” said Richard Bray, the superintendent of the 21,000-student Tustin Unified School District in southern California.

The district plans to cut about $12.5 million in the next fiscal year from a budget of $160 million. Teachers will be laid off, and programs such as elementary school music will be eliminated, Mr. Bray said, noting that the city plans to start providing a music program.

There are dollars available that can be used for general education purposes, Mr. Bray said, but superintendents will have to lobby for them in competition with colleges and universities.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/04/08/28districts.h28.html