Searching Poway U.S.D.

Poway USD guilty of ‘Viewpoint-based restriction’

2011-05-07T15:03:00.001-07:00

‘Viewpoint-based restriction’

Hearing today before federal appeals court in case of teacher ordered to take down classroom banners

News from the Thomas More Law Center

Thomas More Law Center senior trial counsel Robert Muise will defend the right of public high school teacher Brad Johnson to display patriotic banners in his classroom before a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today at 9 a.m. in Pasadena.

The Poway Unified School District ordered Johnson to take down his banners that contained historical slogans such as “In God We Trust, ” “One Nation under God, ” as well as the preamble to the Constitution, because “they may offend a Muslim student.”

Johnson had been displaying the banners for 25 years. He was ordered to remove them in 2007.

Because of the national significance of this case, C-SPAN will be videotaping the oral arguments, which will be broadcast at a later date.

The school district allowed religious classroom displays by other teachers, including displays of a 35- to 40-foot string of Tibetan prayer flags with images of Buddha; a poster with the lyrics from John Lennon’s anti-religion song “Imagine;” a poster with Hindu leader Mahatma Gandhi’s “7 Social Sins;” a poster of Muslim leader Malcolm X; and a poster of Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama.

TMLC filed a federal lawsuit in 2007 against the Poway Unified School District, alleging that the school district violated Johnson’s constitutional rights by imposing a viewpoint-based restriction on his speech.

In February 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez ruled in favor of Johnson in a 32-page, strongly worded opinion critical of the Poway school district's aversion to mentioning God.

“[The school district officials] apparently fear their students are incapable of dealing with diverse viewpoints that include God’s place in American history and culture… That God places prominently in our Nation’s history does not create an Establishment Clause violation requiring curettage and disinfectant for Johnson’s public high school classroom walls,” wrote Judge Benitez. “It is a matter of historical fact that our institutions and government actors have in past and present times given place to a supreme God.”

Shortly after his ruling, however, the school district board voted to appeal Judge Benitez's ruling at a closed-session meeting.

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Monterey Ridge in the news!

2009-02-03T13:00:00.001-08:00

Inspiring the digital natives with Activexpression

February 2nd, 2009 Posted in Assessment and Learning, Expression, Liam O'Marah, Your Stories
To coincide with the Activexpression feature currently on Planet, I took time out to catch up with an Activexpression enthusiast, Lynne Harvey, a fourth grade teacher from Monterey Ridge Elementary School in San Diegeo, California.
Lynne’s blog article is a true testament to her desire to involve all her pupils in her lessons, all of the time, and to positively embrace new technology, whilst inspiring others.
Here’s Lynne’s story:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” ~ Authur C. Clarke
I recognized the “magic” the first time I saw an Activboard and an Activexpression Learner Response System in action, and I didn’t need a sales pitch to convince me I wanted, and needed, to add them to my instructional tool bag. Watching a demonstration of the equipment at a technology expo in my school district about two years ago, I immediately realized their combined capabilities were nothing short of, as Arthur Clarke describes, ‘magic.’
Of course, acquiring this new magic wasn’t easy. Activboards were just hitting the market in California and my district had only a handful that were installed and being used in classrooms, and they were mostly at the secondary level. With the help of a grant I was able to convince my district’s IT department that my elementary school site needed to pilot this new ‘advanced technology.’ The response systems, then Activotes, were put on the back burner.
Waiting on the Learner Response Systems was the right decision because a short four months later, Activexpression was released. It took some doing, but I was able to find the funding, and was one of the first of two teachers, out of over 1,000 in my district, to get them in to my students’ hands. Teaching and learning in my classroom and across the school has not been the same since!
The dictionary defines Promethean as: daringly original; boldly inventive or creative, inspiring. If you have used any of the Promethean products, you will probably agree - I know I do. The Activboard alone changed my entire approach to instruction. The mundane became exciting and the typical lesson was transformed into a mesmerizing tool for learning. The magical Activexpressions added yet another flare that helped engage and inspire the teaching and learning of my ‘digital natives’ - as today’s students are often referred to.
The generation of students we are all now working with are growing up knowing nothing but the fast paced, constantly changing information age and need an engaging curriculum to develop their skills and knowledge base while motivating and retaining their attention and interest. The Activboard and Activexpressions provide well designed tools to accomplish this, and more
First and foremost, using Activexpressions to respond to questions or exercises gives every child a voice. There is no longer the question of only calling on the select few that have their hand in the air; or having shy students sitting back and not participating; or unmotivated students letting others around them do the work. Every student responds and wants to be engaged and involved!
Since the units look like a cross between a calculator and a cell phone they attract students’ attention and curiosity immediately. From the first day of this school year when my students saw the Activexpressions they wanted to use them for everything. After one or two exposures to what the various buttons did the students caught on very quickly to the how to’s of operating them and have become very adept at using the devices.
“Are we using the Activexpressions today?” is how I am greeted practically every morning. The students don’t care if it is an exercise, quiz, test, opinion gatherer, or discussion generator, so long as the Activexpressions are included at some point during the day.
Having five different modes for students to respond allows for a wide variety of uses and more open-ended questioning. Some of the ways I’ve utilized the Activexpressions are:

Beginning a unit of study to see what background knowledge the students have. This can be done with a range of agree-to-disagree on a Likert Scale, or a series of True / False questions about the topic.
Gathering opinions about a topic before it is studied, then returning at the end of the unit to see if opinions have changed after instruction and in-depth discussion has been valuable to both the students and myself.
Checking for understanding as we are moving through a unit. Asking several objective questions about the main concepts with the True / False or Multiple Choice options.
True / False and/or Multiple Choice modes can naturally be used at the end of a lesson or unit to measure the retention of skills or knowledge as well. The feature that allows you to save the responses to a spreadsheet allows for instant grading too - a huge time saver.
A game-like format flipchart to review for a test is always a popular way to study.
Texting a response gives every student the chance to be included, then sorting or graphing the responses allows everyone to see trends in thinking. I have found that one word or short phrase texts work better than sentences.
For anything with numbers, there is the numeric response - calculations, math equations, problem solving. For a non-standard math problem it is affirming for the students to categorize all the responses that come to the board, showing the variety of thinking and strategies being used by students.
Back-To-School Night in the fall - my entire presentation was done on the Activboard. At the conclusion I had a ‘quiz’ for the parents to participate in so they could use the Activexpressions and see what their students would have access to. The parents all wanted to return to fourth grade the next day.

All this has happened in one short year. This month, 21 new Activboards are being installed on my campus. This occurred because of the interest teachers generated seeing my Activboard in action. I am now training those teachers how to use the software and create engaging flipcharts. Several sets of Activexpressions are also on their way. These ‘magical tools’ have created a cultural shift in how teaching and learning is bring approached on my campus.
As Stewart Brand writes: “Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” I am thrilled that the magic of Promethean technology has arrived on my campus.
Lynne Harvey, Fourth Grade Teacher
Monterey Ridge Elementary
Poway Unified School District
San Diego, CA., USA

Inspiring the digital natives with Activexpression | ActivEducator Blog from Promethean Planet

STMA honors Tarantino, Miller, Reiss and Campbell - Athletic Turf

2009-02-03T12:58:00.001-08:00

Feb 2, 2009
Athletic Turf News

SAN JOSE, CA — The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) handed out its Founders Awards during the recent STMA Conference. The awards are named after the four founders of STMA: Dick Ericson, Dr. William H. Daniel, George Toma, and Harry Gill, and each award has separate and distinct judging criteria. Those nominated are evaluated confidentially and independently by the STMA Board of Directors, and winners are not notified until their name is announced during the banquet.
Mike Tarantino from Poway Unified School District in Poway, Calif., received the Dick Ericson award, which is given to a sports turf manager who positively impacts the sports turf industry and exhibits effective team leadership. His nomination referenced his professionalism, team leadership, a commitment to improving the industry, and his contributions to STMA committee service.
Founder Dr. William Daniel set the standard for educator and researcher involvement in the STMA, and created a partnership between sports turf managers and educators and researchers. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the sports turf industry through his or her research, teaching or extension outreach. Dr. Grady Miller, North Carolina State University was presented this honor in recognition for his substantial research on sports field management techniques during drought conditions, his accessibility to sports turf managers and his authorship of numerous books and scientific manuscripts dedicated to the profession.
The George Toma Golden Rake Award, which acknowledges an individual’s strong work ethic and job performance, was presented to David Reiss from Wasatch County School District in Heber City, Utah. He is described as an outstanding turf man, an advocate of excellence and accountability in his profession, and his nomination acclaimed his enthusiasm and dedication to providing high quality sports and practice fields.
The Harry C. Gill Memorial Award was presented to former STMA board president Bob Campbell, CSFM, from the University of Tennessee. The Gill Award recognizes an individual for their hard work in the sports turf industry and acknowledges their dedication and service to the STMA. Campbell was honored for his extraordinary commitment to the profession. His sports field management practices have raised the bar for all sports turf managers, and he is lauded as a mentor to many in the industry. His leadership helped to navigate STMA through turbulent times, and it is through his leadership that the association is strong and vibrant today.

STMA honors Tarantino, Miller, Reiss and Campbell - Athletic Turf

Parents not notified when children are out of school? Interesting article (Poway mentioned at the end)

2009-01-24T19:17:00.001-08:00

Board places parental notification issue on hold

By Mike A'Dair/TWN Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2009 11:59:24 AM PST
The Willits Unified School board has tabled discussion about whether the district should notify parents when their children leave school to obtain confidential medical services until Superintendent of Schools Debra Kubin receives clarification on the issue from the state Department of Education.
The controversy revolves around the question of how to interpret WUSD policy 5113, based on state Education Code section 46010.1. That section of the code states school authorities "may" excuse students from school for confidential medical services without parental consent.
Currently, the district interprets 46010.1 as mandatory. The district's policy states: "At the beginning of each academic year, notifications shall be sent to the parents/guardians of all students, and to all students grades 7 through 12, informing them school authorities may excuse any student from school to obtain confidential medical services without the consent of the student's parent/guardian."
A related district policy states: "Students in grades 7-12 shall not be absent from school without their parents/guardians' knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency or confidential medical appointment."
But Robert and Donna Lovato, parents of Willits High School senior Jenna Lovato, are urging the district to change its policy and notify those parents who wish to be informed of their children's medical appointments.
"We are requesting that either the school board reconsider and retract the implementation of this policy, or would develop a Parental Opt-Out a written statement of nonconsent as there are similar clauses in Education Codes 51240,51938 and 49451, since state law is permissive in nature [rather than required]." Donna Lovato wrote in a letter to Kubin.
The policy question has sparked some controversy.
"More is involved here than just birth control and abortion," according to Trustee Cynthia. "There is more than that out there that we are talking about here."
"This is not nice to talk about, but here it is," Kubin says. "I knew an administrator who worked at a large high school, who knew of a girl who was getting molested by her stepfather in the home. The student was seeking mental health services. Now, do you think it would have been right to require parental notification from that stepfather? Do you think he would have given it?"
Linda Davis-Alldritt, a Department of Education school nurse and health consultant, had previously told the Lovatos that section 46010.1 is permissive, an opinion she reaffirmed in a recent conversation with Kubin.
But Davis-Alldritt conceded she was not sure about the interpretation and would seek clarification from Department of Education attorneys.
That clarification is still pending.
"I don't know how long that could take," Kubin says. "It could be weeks. It could be months."
Donna Lovato says she doesn't "understand why the schools are involved in this. The kids can go to medical appointments after school. This would take liability off the schools, and it wouldn't take the authority away from the parents."
In a conversation with The Willits News, Lovato explained why a policy change is so important to her family. "We are teaching our children to be totally honest. So when you act without telling your parents when you do something you need medical treatment for and you don't let your parents know then you are not being totally honest. You are going around your parents. So this school board policy actually undermines what we are teaching our children.
"I don't think the school board has the right to do that.
"If we are teaching our kids something other than complete honesty, then what kind of citizens are we making?"
The issue is made more confusing because legal experts disagree on how to interpret EC 46010.1. Margaret Merchat of School and College Legal Services, the organization that acts as legal counsel for the Willits Unified School District, believes EC 46010.1 must be interpreted as mandatory.
Matthew McReynolds, an attorney with the Pacific Justice Institute of Sacramento, believes the section must be interpreted as permissive. "It is a basic principle of statutory construction that 'may' is permissive, whereas 'shall' is mandatory.
"California law permits schools to excuse students for confidential medical appointments without the approval of a parent or guardian, but does not require schools to do so."
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer agrees section 46010.1 must be interpreted as mandatory. In a 2004 legal opinion he wrote, "If a school district could require parental consent under the terms of Education Code section 46010.1, the statute would no longer concern 'confidential medical services.' By definition, such services are kept confidential from the guardian or parent of the pupil."
According to Lovato, former California Attorney General Dan Lundgren has opined "may" means "may" and school districts, while they may choose to offer excused absences to students for confidential medical services, may also chose not to.
In November, Kubin told the board she had researched the policies of 30 school districts in the state and had been able to find only two districts Poway Unified School District and San Diego Unified that interpreted 46010.1 as permissive.
On January 14, the Lovatos came back with copies of board policies from 12 more school districts in California that interpret 46010.1 as permissive.

Board places parental notification issue on hold - The Willits News

School district seeking new digs

2008-12-23T16:19:00.001-08:00

By Linda Lou

2:00 a.m. December 18, 2008
The Poway Unified School District is looking for a new headquarters building, and has to decide whether it wants to buy or build.
The search is starting as the district wraps up construction on what could be its last new school, Del Norte High School in 4S Ranch, scheduled to open in August 2009. Poway Unified also has been extensively upgrading older campuses.
Deputy Superintendent John Collins said ...
for the rest, follow the link below...
School district seeking new digs

Poway USD Teacher Marissa Ochoa Surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award

2008-12-10T22:28:00.001-08:00

December 03, 2008

Posted by: Milken Family Foundation
At a teacher staff meeting that third-grade teacher Marissa Ochoa once attended, Poway Unified School District Superintendent Donald A. Phillips said, "No matter what's going on in your life, this is the only year that that student is going to be in your classroom."
Ochoa never forgot those words, and she recalled them this morning when she was surprised by Milken Family Foundation Chairman Lowell Milken with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for her excellence as a teacher.
Note: click on the picture for a bio of Marissa Ochoa ------------------------------->>
As with every other Milken Educator, Ochoa did not expect to receive the honor this morning, nor did she even know she'd been nominated. As she stood along the wall near her students during a schoolwide assembly inside Valley Elementary School's multi-purpose room, listening to speeches from a roster of famous people and educational leaders, she had no idea that the whole thing had been organized to celebrate her achievements as an outstanding educator.
"You're all really lucky to be here and learning," said football legend Rosey Grier to the students of Valley Elementary School, "so that when you grow up, you can be anything you want to be: a doctor, a lawyer, a minister, a teacher—you can even be president!"
"It takes a whole community to make a great school," said California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. "We all have a stake in making education great."
And that emphasis on the importance of teaching and learning continued as Lowell Milken began to speak, revealing hints about the real purpose of the assembly: to surprise a Valley Elementary teacher with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award.
In a profession that seldom honors its best practitioners with public acclaim or substantial reward, the Milken Educator Award, Lowell explained, was being given to a teacher at Valley Elementary "who is representative of the many outstanding teachers in this school, district and across the nation."
When Lowell announced Marissa Ochoa's name as the recipient, her students and colleagues filled the room with thunderous cheers and applause. Meanwhile, in the back of the room, a woman began to cry with joy and pride: Mary Ochoa, an employee of the Poway Unified School District and mother of the newest Milken Educator.
Giving Ochoa a moment to regain her composure, veteran California Milken Educators Linda Fisher (CA '98) and Susana Baum (CA '00) offered their congratulations and gave a brief glimpse of what it's like to be a recipient of the Award.
"This Award is life-altering," said Baum. "The Foundation does many good things and you should be proud."
Then it was Ochoa's turn to speak. She recalled the words of Superintendent Phillips and introduced her mother, whom she calls "Mama O." She then spoke about the profession she loves so much.
"Every student that comes through my door, I put my heart and soul into," she said.
She then addressed the students, telling them that "the teachers who push you the most are the ones who care the most for you."
For all her pushing and caring, her exemplary instruction and her commitment to her students, this was Marissa Ochoa's day, her Award, and the beginning of a brand new adventure in her life.
As Lowell Milken said to her, "You are a shining example of what's right in public education."

Milken Educator Awards Notifications Blog

Seventy seven PUSD teachers become National Board Certified Teachers

2008-12-10T22:22:00.001-08:00

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today congratulated 365 California teachers who have met rigorous criteria this year to become National Board Certified Teachers® (NBCTs) from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards®.

Release: #08-177
December 9, 2008
Contact: Tina Jung
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces 365
California Teachers Received Prestigious National Certification

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today congratulated 365 California teachers who have met rigorous criteria this year to become National Board Certified Teachers® (NBCTs) from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards®.
"This is a very prestigious honor for teachers who have worked hard to earn this national distinction," said O’Connell. "I congratulate them, and thank all teachers who I know are working hard to help our students succeed academically so they may compete in a more global, technologically challenging world."
This brings the total number of California teachers who have achieved NBCT status to 4,240, up from the total 3,878 last year. The 365 teachers who received their certification this year represent a 43 percent increase over the prior year. California ranks sixth nationwide this year in the number of new NBCTs, and ranks fourth in the total number of teachers who have achieved this certification. California’s 365 new NBCTs join 9,600 others nationwide this year, setting a national record for two years in a row.
The California school district that had the highest number of new NBCTs this year was the Los Angeles Unified School District with 129 teachers, ranking seventh compared to all other districts in the nation. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards also reports California’s top five school districts with the total number of teachers over time who have acquired NBCT status are:

Los Angeles Unified School District — 1,189;
San Diego Unified School District — 156;
San Francisco Unified School District — 154;
Long Beach Unified School District — 124; and
Poway Unified School District — 77.

Nearly 74,000 teachers in the nation have earned NBCTs. Educators achieving this status are comparable to board-certified doctors and accountants, who voluntarily meet rigorous criteria through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, and peer review. Research shows NBCTs consistently outperform their peers in knowledge of subject matter and ability to create challenging and engaging lessons for students.
National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize great teachers, reward them, and increase their skills. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, NBCTs have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills, and practices.The certification process typically takes between one and three years to complete. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes, and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching, including evidence of fairness, equity, and access in meeting student needs .Teachers are also assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.
NBCTs comprise 2 percent of the national teaching force, yet they have won nearly a fourth of the 2008 state teacher of the year awards and a third of the 2007 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Some prime examples of this are:

Lewis Chappelear of North Hills, teaches at James Monroe High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles County). He was named a 2008 California Teacher of the Year;
Caleb Cheung of Oakland, teaches at Frick Middle School in the Oakland Unified School District (Alameda County). He was the winner of the 2005 PAEMST award for mathematics; and
Margaret Cagle of Chatsworth, teaches at Lawrence Gifted/Highly Gifted Magnet in the Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles County). She won the 2005 PAEMST award for mathematics.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 700 local school districts recognize NBCT status as a mark of distinction and excellence. These municipalities provide valuable incentives to keep the nation's most accomplished teachers in classrooms where they are needed the most.For example, 63.7 percent of NBCTs in California teach in Title I eligible schools. Title I schools receive federal funding to help socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
Information about how California supports the process of helping teachers become NBCTs is available at National Certification for Teachers - Teaching. For more information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and National Board Certification, please visit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards [http://www.nbpts.org] (Outside Source). A searchable directory of these newly certified NBCT educators is located at National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: NBCT Directory [http://www.nbpts.org/resources/nbct_directory] (Outside Source).
# # # #

Jack O'Connell — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

National Board Certified Teachers - Year 2008 (CA Dept of Education)

Poway Unified School District gets an AA rating for its series A GO bonds.

2008-12-10T22:18:00.001-08:00

Summary: Poway Unified School District Facilities Improvement District No. 2007-1, California; General Obligation

Publication Date:
Dec 01, 2008
Report Type:
Summary
Abstract:
Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'AA-' rating on Poway Unified School District Facilities Improvement District No. 2007-1 (SFID), Calif.'s 2008 Election, series A GO bonds. The outlook is stable. In our opinion, the rating reflects: Proximity to the diverse and broad San Diego area economy, with very strong income and extremely strong wealth levels; Moderate average daily attendance (ADA) increases, the main driver of the state funding formula, in the past two years; Significant financial flexibility when factoring in all available reserves; and Moderate overall debt burden as a percent of market value. An unlimited ad valorem tax pledge levied within the improvement district secures the bonds. The SFID was created to improve and expand certain of
Brief Excerpt:
RESEARCH Ratings Definitions Summary: Poway Unified School District Facilities Improvement District No. ####-#, California; General Obligation Publication date: ##-Dec-#### Primary Credit Analyst: Hilary A Sutton, New York ###-###-####;...
Word Count:
1197
Issuer:
Poway Unif Sch Dist Sch Facs Imp Dist # 2007-1

Summary: Poway Unified School District Facilities Improvement District No. 2007-1, California; General Obligation - 2008/12/01 - S&P Credit Research - AlacraStore.com

Memo Stirs Pot In High School Cheating Scandal - Education News Story - KNSD | San Diego

2008-05-08T23:26:00.001-07:00

Memo Stirs Pot In High School Cheating Scandal

SAN DIEGO -- A blistering e-mail about student cheating from an administrator at Rancho Bernardo High School is angering some students and parents.

Watch Video

The e-mail was written by Rancho Bernardo High School Assistant Vice Principal Keith Koelzer and dated Saturday, April 26. It gives the details of a cheating scandal involving eight students accused of hacking into the school's computer network.
"Our worse technological nightmare has just occurred," Koelzer wrote.
According to Koelzer, the hackers distributed tests to students several days before they were administered and altered grades on student transcripts.
But does the e-mail go too far? In his letter, Koelzer also mentioned the funeral service of a former Rancho Bernardo student who was killed in a car accident several weeks ago. And he questioned the moral character of students.
"Our students need us now more than ever to direct their moral compasses northward," Koelzer said in the e-mail.
The Poway Unified School District is referring all media inquiries about the principal's e-mail to the district's lawyer. Attorney Jack Sleeth told NBC 7/39 that at issue is whether the e-mail violated any student's right to privacy, and the legal issues surrounding potential disciplinary action for those students. He said the student hackers have been suspended while the incident is investigated. Penalties for the students could include expulsion.
All students are required to review and sign the district's Academic Honesty policy and Student Internet Safety and Responsible Use policy, Sleeth said. Violations of the policies could result in disciplinary action, including financial restitution.
Bernard Kohan, a computer security expert with Comentum Corporation, said the school bears a degree of responsibility for not providing enough security for its computer network.
"It's unbelievable. It should be very difficult," he said. "It shouldn't be easy to break into a system if there are enough security protocol in place to prevent anyone from hacking into the system."
The district lawyer would not talk to NBC 7/39 on camera until a technology team can determine the full scope of the cheating scandal.

Memo Stirs Pot In High School Cheating Scandal - Education News Story - KNSD | San Diego

Court rules in favor of T-shirt

2008-05-05T16:11:00.001-07:00

Court rules in favor of T-shirt
Jeff Johnson - OneNewsNow - 5/5/2008 6:00:00 AM
A federal appeals court is upholding a student's right to wear a T-shirt that promotes a Christian viewpoint on the issue of homosexuality.
One day after the pro-homosexual "Day of Silence" in 2007, administrators at Neuqua Valley, Illinois, High School ordered senior Heidi Zamecnik to cover the message "Be Happy, Not Gay" on her T-shirt -- although students had been allowed to wear T-shirts with messages celebrating homosexuality the previous day.
But Attorney Nate Kellum with the Alliance Defense Fund says Heidi and another plaintiff, Alex Nuxoll, are pleased with the decision from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to allow such shirts. "He's able to use the T-shirt stating, 'Be Happy, Not Gay,' as a way of communicating his firm Christian belief that homosexual behavior does not lead to happiness," says Kellum.
Kellum notes public school officials have to understand that if they allow some students to publicly express their viewpoint on an issue, they must allow other students to voice differing opinions on the same topic.

Court rules in favor of T-shirt (OneNewsNow.com)

RANCHO BERNARDO: Six high school students suspended during cheating investigation

2008-05-01T00:07:00.001-07:00

Rancho Bernardo teens allegedly hacked into computer, changed grades

RANCHO BERNARDO ---- Six Rancho Bernardo High School students were suspended Monday for allegedly hacking into a campus computer system to change their grades and to access tests, a district official said Tuesday.

The students will remain suspended pending completion of a district investigation, Poway Unified School District spokeswoman Sharon Raffer said.

The hacking appears to have been isolated to the Rancho Bernardo campus, one of five high schools in the Poway Unified School District.

Raffer declined to name the suspended students and to provide details on how they allegedly hacked into the school's system. She also declined Tuesday to say how the school discovered that its computer system had been hacked.

"The police have been notified and we will review the results of the high school's investigation," Raffer said. "That's really all that I can say."

Students and parents in Poway Unified are required to sign both an academic honesty policy and an Internet and technology use agreement at the start of school each fall, she said. In both policies, the district has outlined consequences for cheating on tests, forgery, the alteration of materials and the inappropriate use of computer or technology equipment on campus.

The consequences for each offense depend on the situation. Typically, a cheating incident at the high school level could result in a parent-teacher meeting, a failing grade on the assignment or exam, or other school-site actions.

Raffer said that in this particular case, though, the gravity of the incident called for stricter discipline.

...follow the link for the rest of the story and the comments...

RANCHO BERNARDO: Six high school students suspended during cheating investigation : North County Times - Californian

Cheating probe leads to 6 suspended at Rancho Bernardo High School

2008-04-29T18:48:00.001-07:00

RANCHO BERNARDO – Six Rancho Bernardo High School students have been suspended pending the completion of an investigation into a recently discovered cheating scandal that involved hacking into the computer system, school officials said Monday night.

Grades were changed and some tests were accessed, Poway Unified School District Superintendent Donald Phillips said.
The hacking appears to have been limited to Ranch Bernardo High grades and tests and does not extend districtwide, Principal Paul Robinson and Phillips said.
Police are aware of what's going on but are waiting for the district to finish investigating before moving forward, Robinson said.
...follow the link for the rest of the story...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Cheating probe leads to 6 suspended at Rancho Bernardo High School

ACLU defends Poway student who protested Day of Silence

2008-04-22T21:47:00.001-07:00

We didn’t make this up

ACLU defends Poway student who protested Day of Silence
News Release
American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties
In a significant free speech case that has sparked national attention, the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties has filed an amicus brief in U.S. District Court in Harper v. Poway Unified School District. Our brief argues that the anti-gay t-shirt worn by Tyler Chase Harper did not amount to harassment that the school was permitted to punish.
In 2004, students at Poway High School organized a “Day of Silence,” a national youth-run effort using silence to protest the actual silencing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people due to harassment, bias, and abuse in schools. On the Day of Silence and the following day, Harper wore a t-shirt that said, "Be Ashamed, Our School Embraced What God Has Condemned" on the front and "Homosexuality Is Shameful 'Romans 1:27' " on the back. There was no evidence of any disturbance on the first day, and on the second day, a teacher observed “several students off-task talking about the shirt.” It was also alleged that there may have been a “tense verbal conversation” about it, but Harper characterized it and other conversations as “peaceful discussions wherein differing viewpoints were communicated.”
...for the rest, follow the link...

California Catholic Daily - We didn’t make this up

Three get Teacher of Year honors

2008-04-19T23:28:00.001-07:00

One winner has received notice of possible layoff

POWAY – One let out a yelp, another got very self-conscious about her attire, and the third heard a round of applause from a roomful of colleagues.
After each initial shock, it was a time of celebration for the Poway Unified School District's Teacher of the Year winners.
District Superintendent Donald Phillips led a small delegation in back-to-back surprise visits yesterday, bestowing compliments and a spring bouquet on the three teachers, and on two support staffers.
The awards place the teachers into a countywide competition that can lead to state and national honors.
Here are mini-profiles of the teachers who were honored:
Elizabeth Pletcher-Goff, a second-grade teacher at Shoal Creek Elementary School, emphasizes storytelling as a precursor to her writing curriculum. Her students are encouraged to ask their parents and grandparents to help them with written reports that draw on elements of their cultural background.
“You're very lucky to have her,” Phillips told the students as Pletcher-Goff admitted to a bit of embarrassment about her jeans and hooded sweat shirt. Phillips then made an announcement to the entire school over its public-address system.
... for rest of story, follow the link...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Three get Teacher of Year honors

Teachers' protest shirts require some alterations

2008-04-09T01:00:00.001-07:00

Murphy's Law, the theory that if something can go wrong it will, caught up with some local teachers.
The Poway Federation of Teachers distributed signs and T-shirts custom printed with anti-budget-cut slogans. The only problem is that a misspelling appears on all of them – much to the teachers' chagrin.
An employee of the union, which represents teachers in the Poway Unified School District, said no one noticed the error until the products arrived from the printer.
The misprinted shirts and signs criticize “Govenor” Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed education spending cuts.
With neither time nor money to correct the faux pas, they did the next best thing: They advised folks to black out, cross out or tape over the second half of the misspelled word, making it “Gov” Schwarzenegger.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro > Diane Bell -- Teachers' protest shirts require some alterations

Taxing the System : April 2008 : THE Journal

2008-04-09T00:58:00.001-07:00

Taxing the System

by Bridget McCrea
Eager to comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which addresses concerns over access to "offensive" Internet content on school and library computers, the Poway Unified School District made a move this year to ensure that its 33,000 students are kept as far away as possible from such content. By beefing up its Internet content-filtering, the San Diego, CA district also put itself in the position to qualify for federal grants not accessible to schools that don't comply with CIPA.
"Our first few filters were software-based and too slow and cumbersome," explained Marc Ludwig, systems engineer for the district, which comprises 23 elementary schools, six middle schools, four comprehensive high schools, and one continuation school. "Students were getting around the blocked Web sites by simply turning the proxy off in their browsers, so we knew we had to look around for something more robust and comprehensive."
When shopping around for a better solution, PUSD learned of a solution being offered by St. Bernard Software, also in San Diego. The vendor presented its iPrism Model 3100, a dedicated Internet filtering appliance that secures organizations from potential Internet-based threats, such as spyware, IM, P2P, and inappropriate content, while also helping to enforce acceptable use and security policies.
"We saw that the filtering would be easy to manage; you could pretty much install the appliance and forget about it," said Ludwig. "So we bought it." The appliance allows the district to block all pornographic, gambling-related, and other sites that district administrators have deemed inappropriate for students. "We have a whole list of categories that we give to our school board," said Ludwig, "which looks at it and decides what it wants blocked, based on CIPA and bandwidth."
In March, the district took its dedication to Web security a step further when it became one of the first to install St. Bernard's new iPrism h-Series Web monitoring appliance. Designed for enterprises of all sizes, the new models are available in five configurations (the iPrism 10h, 20h, 30h, 50h ,and 100h) and target risks associated with Web, instant messaging, and P2P applications.
Starting at $1,200, the iPrisms are hybrid-ready and designed to enhance iPrism Web Filter capabilities now while helping organizations prepare for new features and functionality in the future. Compatible with all supported versions of iPrism operating software, the new appliances provide throughput speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, depending on the model.
Steve Yin, St. Bernard's vice president for worldwide sales and marketing, said the appliance stands out from other security options in that it gives school districts a complete package that includes an operating system, applications software, and the necessary hardware.

Taxing the System : April 2008 : THE Journal

Proposed cuts protested at school

2008-04-06T01:12:00.001-07:00

RANCHO PENASQUITOS: About 60 students, teachers and parents protested proposed school budget cuts yesterday morning outside Mt. Carmel High School. They waved signs with the slogan “Save Our Schools” in the before-school rally on Carmel Mountain Road in Rancho Peñasquitos.
Many motorists caught in the traffic snarl of parents dropping off students honked in support.
The high school is in the Poway Unified School District, which would have to cut $15.5 million from its 2008-09 budget as part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 10 percent across-the-board reduction in state spending.
The governor's plan includes $4.4 billion in education cuts statewide. About 180 teachers, counselors and administrators could lose their jobs in the district, and class sizes in most grades could increase. –C.S.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Proposed cuts protested at school

Creative Teaching Awards - Hey PUSD is in here!

2008-04-02T19:33:00.001-07:00

Creative Teaching Awards

Winner: Vice Principal Rita Wilson, Rancho Bernardo High School, Poway, California
Approach: During the 2002 April Dance, Ms. Wilson wanted to make sure that female students were following the dress code. So, as they were entering the building, she lifted up the girls’ skirts to see if they were wearing thong underwear, which was prohibited. According to a source, she even did so in front of male students.
Reaction: The Poway Unified School District investigated and concluded that the vice principal “used poor judgment”…then demoted her to a classroom teaching job.

Creative Teaching Awards « The Loveliest Words

Extra security, no incidents at Black Mountain Middle School

2008-04-01T18:25:00.001-07:00

Extra security, no incidents at Black Mountain Middle School
Students streamed into Black Mountain Middle School Monday morning amid an extra degree of caution in response to a crude bathroom-graffiti threat.
A San Diego police squad car parked on campus and a more visible presence by counselors and other school officials before the morning bell, however, were the only visible signs the school was experiencing anything other than a normal day.
Principal David Hall said the school took the measures because of a message that read, “Going to kill you all 3/31/08,” found Friday afternoon in a boys' bathroom. Parents got word of the graffiti in e-mail and telephone messages later that day.
Sharon Raffer, a district spokeswoman, estimated roughly 260 students, or 20 percent of its 1,289 6th, 7th and 8th grade students, stayed home because of the threat. The number does not include additional absences due to illness.
... for rest of story, follow the link...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Extra security, no incidents at Black Mountain Middle School

RANCHO PENASQUITOS: Students: Racial incidents prompt discussion

2008-03-31T20:43:00.001-07:00

RANCHO PENASQUITOS: Students: Racial incidents prompt discussion

By SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer | Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:47 PM PDT

RANCHO PENASQUITOS ---- In the wake of three racially related incidents on Westview High School's campus this year, students say they are talking more openly about race, religion, cultural practices and opinions.
Student leaders conceded that the incidents cast a shadow over the 2,300-student campus, but they described the incidents as isolated acts that are not representative of the way many Westview students interact or feel about such issues.

On two occasions this school year, including once last week, a swastika was found painted on the window of Westview's student store. And on Halloween, a costume worn by a student created a stir because it was said to resemble a Ku Klux Klan outfit.

"I don't think that anyone at Westview could do those things," said senior Stephanie King, 18. "They are more just incidents that happened at Westview than things that represent Westview."

Still, King said, the incidents are not something that can be ignored.

As a member of the school's Human Relations Committee, King said she is trying to promote greater unity among students and more respect for the school's diverse student body. Statistics for the 2006-07 school year show that Westview is 55.3 percent white, 21 percent Asian, 9 percent Filipino, 8 percent Hispanic and 3 percent black.

The Human Relations Committee, which was founded last fall before the incidents, includes leaders of more than a dozen religious, ethnic and culturally focused groups on campus.

... for the rest of the story, follow the below link...

RANCHO PENASQUITOS: Students: Racial incidents prompt discussion : North County Times - Californian

Politics - California Lottery should repay state for party, audit says

2008-03-31T20:42:00.001-07:00

California Lottery should repay state for party, audit says

By Judy Lin - jlin@sacbee.com

California Lottery officials should repay $46,336 that was inappropriately spent on an employee celebration dinner last November, according to an audit released Wednesday by the State Controller's Office.
"Billed as an employee recognition and training event, the expenses actually went to entertainment, prizes and black-peppered prime rib dinners for Lottery employees, retirees and guests," Controller John Chiang said in a statement.
Nearly $30,000 was spent on the Nov. 8 event, intended to celebrate the lottery's $20 billion contribution to education. Besides a dinner and dessert, guests received silver-plated photo frames, and the lottery hired a disc jockey and photographer.
... for the rest of the story, follow the below link...

Politics - California Lottery should repay state for party, audit says - sacbee.com

East Coast Cities Hopes To Lure Away Local Teachers

2008-03-31T20:41:00.001-07:00

East Coast Cities Hopes To Lure Away Local Teachers

With more than 1,000 teachers being handed pink slips, a school district outside of California is hoping to entice them into heading east.

The Fort Worth Independent School District has begun a major billboard recruiting campaign. The signs, located along Garnet Avenue, west of Mission Bay Drive and La Jolla Village Drive, east of Regent Rd., will stay in place until June, according to the school district.
... for the rest of the story, follow the below link...

City Hopes To Lure Away Local Teachers - Local News Story - KNSD | San Diego

Poway Unified School District Fire Relief Fund charity under fire

2008-03-31T20:39:00.001-07:00

March 26, 2008

Poway charity under fire

SACRAMENTO -- State Lottery employees thought they were doing a good thing last fall when they decided to make a contribution to the Poway Unified School District Fire Relief Fund.
But a state audit released today said that the $2,558 contribution came from a Lottery fund where public and private funds were improperty mixed -- and the source of more than half the money was not properly documented.
The main target of a scathing audit released by state Controller John Chiang is a lavish $46,336 employee dinner held by the Lottery last Nov. 8 to celebrate $20 billion in Lottery funding for education.
... for the rest of the story, follow the below link...

Newsblog | Poway charity under fire

Black Mountain Middle School in Rancho Peñasquitos on alert due to threatening message

2008-03-31T20:25:00.001-07:00

March 30, 2008

Black Mountain Middle School in Rancho Peñasquitos will receive extra police protection on Monday because of a threatening message found on the campus.
A spokeswoman for the Poway Unified School District said a custodian found a message on Friday on a bathroom wall at the school that read “Going to kill you all 3/31.”
Sharon Raffer, spokeswoman for Poway Unified, said the bathroom was closed immediately and police were notified. She said Principal David Hall sent out a message – by phone and e-mail – Friday to notify parents of the incident and list the precautions that the district was taking, such as having more district security employees on campus.

... for the rest of the story, follow the below link...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Peñasquitos school on alert due to threatening message

ADF: Poway free speech case again before 9th Circuit - Alliance Defense Fund - Defending Our First Liberty

2008-03-31T13:09:00.001-07:00

Poway free speech case again before 9th Circuit

ADF attorneys file opening brief challenging school’s speech policies
Monday, March 31, 2008, 8:45 AM (MST) |
ADF Media Relations | 480-444-0020

U.S. Supreme Court vacates widely criticized 9th Circuit decision in Poway “T-shirt” case
SAN FRANCISCO — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and Advocates for Faith and Freedom filed their opening brief Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in a case involving the free speech rights of students. The lawsuit challenges policies within the Poway Unified School District that unconstitutionally restrict student speech.
“Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs. They have the same First Amendment rights as all other students on campus,” said ADF Legal Counsel Tim Chandler. “Speech cannot be silenced simply because someone else disagrees with it or deems it to be ‘negative.’ As the Supreme Court has stated, students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.”

In 2004, then-sophomore Chase Harper wore a T-shirt to school expressing a biblical viewpoint on homosexual behavior during the school’s “Day of Silence,” an event sponsored by the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance club.
A school official ordered Harper to remove the shirt, but he respectfully declined to do so. Instead, he was forced to sit in the office for the remainder of the school day, was subjected to “counseling” by school officials, and was interrogated by a deputy sheriff who took photographs of him. A school administrator told Harper he should “leave his faith in the car” because it might be offensive to others.
The 9th Circuit initially ruled that the school may have been justified in censoring Chase, but in March 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated that decision (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4027). Now Chase and his sister, Kelsie, are returning to the 9th Circuit to challenge the school’s policies because they prohibit students from expressing any religious beliefs that might be seen as “negative” or “offensive” to others.
A copy of the opening brief filed in the 9th Circuit in Harper v. Poway Unified School District can be read at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/HarperBrief.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.

ADF: Poway free speech case again before 9th Circuit - Alliance Defense Fund - Defending Our First Liberty

Students Protest In Support Of Teachers

2008-03-15T11:23:00.001-07:00

UPDATED: 5:04 pm PDT March 14, 2008

RANCHO BERNARDO, Calif. -- A brother and sister at Rancho Bernardo High School organized a school protest Friday in support of teachers who could lose their jobs due to state budget cuts.

View Images | Watch Video

Aaron Nigro, a senior at the school, said he and his sister Chris wanted to do something to show their anger and frustration over the situation.

Aaron said he was inspired by one of his teachers who stands to lose his job.

"He has a daughter and a family of his own. Now the governor has pretty much fired (him)," he told NBC 7/39. "The main goal of this was that hopefully, it will reach the governor… we don't want to be robbed of our education," Nigro said.

Students staged a peaceful walkout. With signs in hand, they stood in front of the entrance to the school.

Co-organizer, Carissa Nigro, a freshman, said the protest was a way for students to express their emotions about the ordeal. She said for her, increased class sizes are her biggest concern.

"I'm struggling as it is. I think it would be harder for us to get A's and get the one-on-one attention we need," if class sizes grow, she said.

Principal Paul Robinson said he admired the support the students have shown for their teachers.

"Our students are fantastic. They really care about their teachers. They're hurt, they're angry… it says a lot about our teachers because they care about our students too," Robinson told NBC 7/39.

Rancho Bernardo High School is part of the Poway Unified School District -- 106 teachers in that district have received pink slips.

"We’re too young to vote. This is our way of standing up for our teachers," said Aaron.

Robinson said their school stands to lose 28 out of 126 teachers. They would soon be receiving notices that there is no guarantee they'll have a contract in the fall, he said.

Ursula Kroemer, of the San Diego Unified School District, said that 903 people will receive layoff notices by mail and those will be going out starting Thursday.

In East County, the Grossmont Union High School District is getting ready to send pink slips to about 97 of the 1,100 teachers who work for the district.

Legislators React

NBC 7/39 spoke with several legislators regarding the crisis.

Republican Assembly member Martin Garrick of the 74th District said he's been working with schools to create more flexibility in their budgets and find more ways to save.

Democratic Assembly member Lori Saldana of the 76th District said the state needs to close tax loopholes and start bringing-in more revenue.

But both agree that it would be difficult to take money from other services that may already be underfunded.

"We have a grandparent taking care of a grandchild, and they receive some money to help with that. Suddenly we're telling them we're cutting those few dollars you receive for yourself as a senior in a low-income situation and we're also cutting the amount receive for your grandchild," she said.

Legislators said they are hearing the public outcry to support schools and they suggest writing to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Students Protest In Support Of Teachers - Education News Story - KNSD | San Diego

Impact Of School Budget Cuts Coming To Light

2008-03-13T21:21:00.001-07:00

Poway USD near the end of the article...

SAN DIEGO -- Details are beginning to emerge about who stands to lose their jobs and how schools could be affected in the wake of the budget crisis
Watch Video
Positions Slated For Cuts
Interactive Map: School Budget Cuts

The San Diego Unified School District voted 4-1 Tuesday in favor of massive job cuts. The board voted to hand out pink slips to 903 employees, including teachers, administrators, office workers, nurses, librarians and counselors. Sheila Jackson cast the sole vote against the layoffs.
Among the jobs on the list for elimination are 416 elementary teachers, 198 middle school, high school and alternative education teachers, including instructors in English, physical education and social science. There are also more than 60 counselors, 28 nurses and 15 librarians in jeopardy of losing their jobs.
The pink slips are going to be mailed out on Wednesday, according to Ursula Kroemer, district spokeswoman. But the actual details of who will be cut in the fall may not be known for several more weeks, she said.
"All of the schools submitted their budgets last week. Human resources will extract what positions are recommended for elimination or reduction," according to Kroemer.
Targeted jobs also include more than 21 principal positions, 54 vice principal posts and 12 central office managers. Kroemer also said that even though a person's position may be slated for cuts, some managers holding those jobs could be reassigned to new jobs, including going back into the classroom.
Impact Would Be Severe At One Campus

How would these cuts affect just one school?
Miramar Ranch Elementary School in Scripps Ranch stands to lose several positions and supplies and may not have a vice principal, a school nurse or a library when the school year begins next fall, said Principal Jennifer Wroblewski.
Wroblewski said she had to make difficult decisions when trying to figure out how to comply with the proposed budget cuts for next school year.
"What the vice principal does is daunting," Wroblewski said. "Essentially, I will have to do both jobs. I had to make a decision between having a vice principal and having an office staff."
Wroblewski said that Miramar Ranch has more than 700 students, and those students may not have any library to use, because the budget cuts would not afford an administrator for that library.
"It's ludicrous," Wroblewski said.
Miramar Ranch also has a media center, with around 30 computers that will sit unused next year because funding for the part-time media aids will be lost.
"Without them, the kids get nothing," said Debbie Kutyla, a parent of a third-grader at Miramar Ranch and president of the Miramar Ranch Family Faculty Association. "We also won't have a noon duty supervisor, which is basically child endangerment."
Kutyla said the school would also lose $20,000 for school and classroom supplies, which the parents will have to pick up.
"We're already asking parents for so much," Kutyla said. "We have lots of families who are just scraping by and a lot of military families really just scraping by."
Wroblewski said there is still some hope the governor could change his mind, but only if community members write to him and other representatives, and put pressure on them to back off the cuts.
Also on Tuesday, more than 900 employees of the Oceanside School District have been put on notice that they could lose their jobs. The school board voted to approve the possible layoffs. Board members said they wish there was some other way they could balance the budget.
District officials said their plan also includes the closure of two schools.
"I have all of these emotions inside of me: frustrated, angry, sad and depressed because for the life of me I cannot understand, how did we get in this mess?" said Evelyn Thomas, Oceanside High School teacher.
"We have been put in this position not from anything that his district has done, but as a result of the governor's budget and the Legislature and things that are completely outside of our control," said Janet Bledsoe Lacy, the school board president.
On Monday, the Poway Unified School District voted in favor of cutting more than 180 teachers. On Tuesday, they began the painful process of notifying teachers. The district's only ROTC program and its only agriculture program will be eliminated, among others.
"There will be the elimination or reduction of some particular kinds of courses, " said William Chiment, of the Poway Unified School District. "But also in the courses we're going to continue to offer…you're going to see the class sizes go up significantly."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed 10-percent across-the-board budget cuts have been a swell of protest. The schools in San Diego County may face combined budget cuts of nearly a quarter billion dollars if proposed cuts to state education go through.
The final numbers on job cuts will not be known until June when the state budget is finalized.

Impact Of School Budget Cuts Coming To Light - Education News Story - KNSD | San Diego

Poway trustees to notify 180 teachers of job cuts

2008-03-11T12:03:00.001-07:00

POWAY: Despite pleas from students and parents for Poway High School's agriculture program and Westview High School's ROTC program, Poway Unified School District trustees voted last night on cuts that will affect both programs.
Trustees, who must slash $15.5 million from the 2008-09 budget, voted to send notices to more than 180 teachers that they may not have jobs next year. The district's only ROTC program would be eliminated, and its only ag education program would be reduced.
More than 100 students, parents and teachers attended last night's school board meeting to show their opposition to the cuts. Students and parents spoke about the benefits of their favorite programs, with both groups citing the leadership and college preparedness offered by the ROTC and ag programs.
Trustees and district staff stressed that no final decisions on cuts will be made for several months, but state law requires school districts to notify teachers by March 15 if there is a possibility they won't have a job next year.
Superintendent Don Phillips said the budget problem was not created locally but the district must develop a plan to address the across-the-board cuts the governor proposed to deal with a $16 billion state deficit.–B.G.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Poway trustees to notify 180 teachers of job cuts

Poway Unified School District; St. Bernard Launches Industry's First Hybrid Security Solution

2008-02-25T22:17:00.001-08:00

St. Bernard Launches Industry's First Hybrid Security Solution, Combining Appliances With On-Demand Services Also Updates iPrism Web Filter Solution to Include Anti-Virus

St. Bernard Launches Industry's First Hybrid Security Solution, Combining Appliances With On-Demand Services

Developers, contractors big donors in Poway school bond campaign - North County Times

2008-02-05T20:14:00.001-08:00

Developers, contractors big donors in Poway school bond campaign
By: SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer
$179 million Prop. C on today's ballot
POWAY -- Supporters of a $179 million Poway school bond on today's ballot raised nearly $140,000 in four contributions last month from construction firms, political groups, consultants and developers who have worked with the school district, according to financial disclosure statements.
The four donations, ranging from $10,000 to $49,999 each, helped the Friends of Poway Unified Schools - Yes on Prop. C committee pay for last-chance election mailers, yard signs and surveys in the final push toward today's election, financial statements from the county registrar of voters' office show.
Meanwhile, the It's A Tax - Vote No on Prop. C committee collected and spent close to $2,000 in January on postage and recycled campaign signs that read "No New Taxes. No Blank Check. No 2 Prop. C."
If approved, it would raise money to complete a 24-school renovation and modernization project the Poway Unified School District began in 2002 when voters passed the $198 million Proposition U.
Prop. C would also pay for technology and campus security upgrades, as well as improvements that would bring schools in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act access requirements.
Funds from the 2002 construction bond were swallowed up by an unprecedented escalation in the cost of building materials, intense competition for contractors because of a housing boom and Hurricane Katrina, and unexpected repairs at nearly a dozen Prop. U-financed campuses, district officials have said.
At least 55 percent of the voters have to approve Prop. C for it to pass. Only homeowners within Poway Unified's boundaries who do not pay Mello-Roos taxes -- charges similar to homeowners association fees -- are subject to the extension and will be allowed to vote on Prop. C.
The measure would extend the current tax rate of $55 per $100,000 of assessed value on homes for an additional 11 to 14 years, without raising the rate.
"It's not going to change your tax rate and the money stays here," said Lorene Joosten, one of two parents chairing the Friends of Poway Unified Committee. "It goes right into the classrooms."
The Yes on Prop. C committee spent nearly $144,560 between November and February, according to financial statements filed through Jan. 26. During that same time period, the committee collected about $199,200.
The largest single donations to date flooded in last month, including a $49,999 check from construction firm Douglas E. Barnhart. Other big contributions from last month: $49,000 donation from NTD Architects; $30,000 from the construction consulting firm Pinnacle One; and $10,000 from the political action committee for the Associated General Contractors in the San Diego region.
The three companies have worked on the district's school renovation and building program.
Together, they have received nearly $42.1 million for projects in the district since 2002, the districts' Bond Program Manger Mark Claussen said.
Nearly 140 contractors have been hired by the district for a cost of more than $291.6 million during that same period.
Opponents of the measure argue that the contractors and other companies and groups related to the building industry have donated and supported Prop. C only because they have a financial interest in keeping the building program running.
Similar charges were also levied by opponents six years ago.
"The same people that donated to (the 2002 bond) are donating to this bond," Melinda Converse, chairwoman of No on Prop. C said. "Those are the contractors that are financially benefiting."
District officials and bond supporters have argued, however, that contracts are given to the lowest bidder and not to companies that donate money to help pass a bond.
Supporters have also received a handful of $5,000 to $10,000 contributions from bond consultants, law firms, and construction companies outside the region, a $10,000 donation from the Poway Federation of Teachers, and several $100 or more donations from district and school employees.

Developers, contractors big donors in Poway school bond campaign - North County Times

Honeywell Helps Power Poway Schools With Green, Renewable Energy

2008-01-29T22:48:00.001-08:00

Honeywell Helps Power Poway Schools With Green, Renewable Energy

Solar Power Agreement Reduces Utility Costs, Provides District-Wide Educational Tool
January 29, 2008: 09:07 AM EST
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Honeywell today announced that Poway Unified School District in San Diego, Calif. has awarded the company a solar project that is expected to save the district more than $1 million in energy costs over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, Honeywell will install solar arrays at four of the district's schools and sell the electricity the panels produce to the district.
"This structure allows the district to incorporate green, renewable energy sources with no capital investment," said Doug Mann, executive director of facilities for Poway Unified School District. "The combination of minimizing our environmental impact while reducing energy costs makes the project a win for the district, as well as the San Diego community."
Honeywell will install the solar arrays on the roofs at Poway High School, Westview High School, Oak Valley Middle School and Chaparral Elementary School. The arrays are expected to generate a collective 578 kilowatts of power and more than 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually -- enough energy to power 90 homes per year. They also will cut energy costs during peak consumption when utilities typically charge a premium.
In addition to reducing costs, the solar arrays are expected to provide an educational tool that faculty can use to teach students about energy conservation and alternative energy sources. Through a Web-based portal, teachers and students will be able to see the real-time electrical output from the solar technology and learn how the systems operate.
The new arrays will deliver substantial environmental benefits as well, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.1 million pounds per year. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 100 cars from the road or planting 400 acres of trees.
"The environmental benefits of renewable energy are well known," said Kent Anson, vice president of Global Energy for Honeywell Building Solutions. "But it can also have a positive financial and educational impact. Working with the school district, we identified the green technology and financing structure that would deliver the greatest benefit to the schools and surrounding areas."
The power purchase agreement builds on Honeywell's previous work with Poway Unified School District, which includes the installation of cogeneration systems at two high schools. These systems allow the district to generate electricity for its facilities while recycling the waste heat produced to heat its swimming pools. As a result, the district minimizes the use of natural gas and creates ongoing energy savings by avoiding pool heating costs.
Honeywell expects to install the solar arrays and begin providing the schools with electricity by October 2008. After the 20-year agreement expires, the district can continue purchasing electricity from the company or acquire ownership of the arrays.
Honeywell International is a $36 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For additional information, please visit http://www.honeywell.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access http://www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Honeywell Helps Power Poway Schools With Green, Renewable Energy

No Excuses Program - Program starts younger Inland students on path to college

2008-01-26T11:13:00.001-08:00

No Excuses University is in place in 16 schools in California, Oregon, Texas and Illinois, serving about 9,000 students.

Paul Alvarez/The Press-Enterprise
Second-graders Macie Luszeck Johnson, left, and Georgia Cuevas read with teacher Paulette Feraldi at Harvest Valley Elementary.
The concept came five years ago from an elementary school principal trying to make a district initiative relevant to his young students.
At the time, Poway Unified School District in San Diego County had decided that all students would be ready for college, said Damen Lopez, co-principal of Los Peñasquitos Elementary School.
Countless workshops offered middle and high school teachers the tools to help prepare students, but few sessions were aimed at younger students.
No Excuses University became a way for elementary educators to reassert their importance in preparing children for higher education.
"Our work has been dumbed down because we haven't taken our seat at the table," Lopez said. "Now, we're saying there's a lot that can be done from when a 5-year-old enters kindergarten."
After two years, Lopez and Jeff King, Los Peñasquitos' co-principal, made No Excuses University available to interested schools. The school's Academic Performance Index --a state measure of progress from one year to the next based on results from the California Standards Test -- was 875 in 2004 and has since risen to 906.
... for the whole story, follow the link...

Program starts younger Inland students on path to college | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

School officials say proposed budget means big cuts North County Times

2008-01-26T11:09:00.001-08:00

School officials say proposed budget means big cuts

By: PHILIP K. IRELAND - Staff Writer
North County educators decry governor's plan
NORTH COUNTY ---- Educators across North County said last week that they must hack millions of dollars from their annual spending plans after the governor recently unveiled a proposed budget that calls for "across-the-board" cuts in funding to most state agencies.
Midyear layoffs, larger class sizes and school closures are among the ideas administrators said they were considering.
Citing a projected $14 billion budget shortfall over the next 18 months, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency during his state-of-the-state address Jan. 10.
He ordered most state agencies to gird for what he described as a 10 percent reduction in expected state funding. That number was based on what agencies received this year and the increases they expect next year.
In truth, school districts will see an actual 2 percent reduction in per-student revenue next year, said Sandy Silberstein, assistant executive director of the California Association of School Business Officials.
She said programs such as special education, known as categorical programs, can expect a 6.5 percent cut. Those programs now account for about 30 percent of state money flowing to school districts now, she said
Schwarzenegger proposes giving the state's public schools and community colleges $400 million less than they had anticipated for the remainder of this fiscal year. He also proposes cutting $4.4 billion in anticipated spending for the fiscal year that begins in July.
Carlsbad Superintendent John Roach called the governor's command for across-the-board cuts "cowardly, lazy and thoughtless."
"When a governor proposes an across-the-board cut, he's taking what work should be his and giving it to others," Roach said Thursday. "Slashing everyone equally doesn't take any real thought."
The numbers
North County school districts now get an average base allocation of $5,500 from the state to educate each student. Under Schwarzenegger's plan, which must be approved by the legislature, school districts will get about $5,390 per student in 2008 ---- $110 less than last year and hundreds less than they had anticipated next year, officials said.
At the same time, the costs of labor, utilities and materials continue to rise, a fact that will mean "drastic cuts" in personnel and services, North County school administrators said.
According to district officials:
Carlsbad Unified School District would need to cut $4.3 million in spending.
Escondido Union School District would need to cut $12.6 million spending.
Poway Unified School District would need to cut $12 million in spending.
Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District would need to cut $4 million in spending.
San Dieguito Union High School District would need to cut $3.7 million.
Oceanside Unified School District would need to cut $12 to $14 million.
Quick action
Oceanside Unified officials have already acted. On Tuesday, trustees approved plans to lay off 15 temporary teachers when the semester ends in two weeks.
Oceanside Unified, which operates on a $175 million budget, has also frozen hiring of "nonessential" employees. The actions will save the district about $600,000, Superintendent Larry Perondi said Thursday.
"This is my 33rd year in education and this is about as bad as I've seen," said Perondi. He said plans to "turn over every rock in the district" looking for ways to trim spending.
Officials in other school districts said this week they are in the early stages of developing budget-cutting plans.
Carlsbad's Walter Freeman said the district will try to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. He ticked off a litany of questions to show that no department will be spared the budgetary knife.
"How many district office staff can we afford? How much maintenance? How often do we need to cut the grass? What personnel services are necessary? What level of payroll staff can do the job? How many psychologists can we afford? How many counselors, nurses and teacher aides that support classroom teachers can we afford?"
Freeman was among several district officials who said the fiscal crisis will hurt the quality of education in the classroom.
"It's going to have a dramatic impact on our educational program," said Poway Unified Superintendent Don Phillips, who oversees Poway's $259.2 million spending budget.
"It's just a really unfortunate series of events coming together and unfortunately our students are the real losers in this," he said.
Poway will look at increasing class sizes and reducing support services as part of the cost-cutting solution, Phillips said.
Phillips said the budget woes are compounded by the fact that districts went through major cuts in the 2003-04 school year.
"(We) haven't fully recovered from the first cuts and this one will take us at least as deep as the last time," he said.
"It's devastating," agreed Superintendent Lou Obermeyer of the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District. He said the district had already scaled back its spending dramatically over the past five or six years.
To save more money, officials in Valley Center are now looking to close the district's Upper Elementary School and relocate fifth-graders to the Lower Elementary and sixth-graders to Valley Center Middle School, Obermeyer said,
The Vista Unified School District could end up getting $4 million less from the state than expected, said Pam Hayden, chief financial officer for the district, which has an annual budget of slightly more than $200 million.
"There's no way we would be able to handle that kind of budget reduction without making cuts," she said.
The district's first budget priority is to keep cuts away from the classroom, Hayden said.
However, that may be difficult. The district has already cut $28 million in planned expenditures over the past several years because revenues did not increase as anticipated, Hayden said.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us," she said.
Staff writers Stacy Brandt, Shayna Chabner, and John Meyer contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Philip K. Ireland at (760) 901-4043 or pireland@nctimes.com.

School officials say proposed budget means big cuts North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News

Poway Unified School District wins--it was right on this one

2008-01-18T22:26:00.001-08:00

Thursday, January 17, 2008

This ruling was(temporarily)de-published by Supreme Court so the lower court could rule on certain matters. The lower court has now ruled, and so this decision may be re-published any day now.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the decision of Poway Superintendent Donald Phillips and principal Scott Fisher not to allow student Tyler Chase to wear to school a T-shirt that said

“HOMOSEXUALITY IS SHAMEFUL ‘Romans 1:27.’”

THE COURT WROTE:

"Poway High School (“the School”) has had a history of conflict among its students over issues of sexual orientation. In 2003, the School permitted a student group called the Gay-Straight Alliance to hold a “Day of Silence” at the School which, in the words of an Assistant Principal, is intended to “teach tolerance of
others, particularly those of a different sexual orientation.”

"During the days surrounding the 2003 “Day of Silence,”3 a series of incidents and altercations occurred on the school campus as a result of anti-homosexual comments that were made by students. One such confrontation required the Principal to separate students physically. According to David LeMaster, a teacher at Poway, several students were suspended as a result of these conflicts. Moreover, a week or so after the “Day of Silence,” a group of heterosexual students informally organized a “Straight-Pride Day,” during which they wore T-shirts which displayed derogatory remarks about homosexuals. According to Assistant Principal Lynell Antrim, some students were asked to remove the shirts and did so, while others “had an altercation and were suspended for their actions."

... to read the rest of the story, click the link below...

San Diego Education Report Blog: Poway Unified School District wins--it was right on this one

SD County Taxpayers Association: Ballot Measure Recommendations

2008-01-14T19:32:00.001-08:00

Sent in from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association this weekend...
February 5, 2008 Election
Ballot Measure Recommendations
Click on the links below for a detailed analysis of each measure.
LOCAL:
Proposition C: YES
Poway Unified School District $179 Million Bond Measure
Proposition D: YES
Cajon Valley Union School District $156.5 Million Bond Measure
Proposition E: NO
Rancho Santa Fe School District $34 Million Bond Measure
STATE:
Propositions 94-97: YES
Amendment to Indian Gaming Agreements
The remaining state ballot measure recommendations will be announced on January 21st.

A supermajority 60% vote of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) Board of Directors is required for a position to be taken on any ballot measure.

For 62 years, SDCTA has worked to inform its membership on the issues that affect our lives and our pocketbooks. Please read your ballot carefully, and if you have questions, don't hesitate to give us a call at (619) 234-6423.

SD County Taxpayers Association: Ballot Measure Recs - San Diego County, Part of the Red County Network

Governor's budget would be a major setback for schools

2008-01-13T23:27:00.001-08:00

'Staggering' cuts trouble educators

By Bruce Lieberman, Sherry Saavedra and Tanya Sierra
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
January 13, 2008
SAN DIEGO – The budget cut respite, if there ever was one, is over.
Public school officials said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts in education funding for 2008-09 would reach deep into classrooms.
STATE EDUCATION BUDGET ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
The governor has proposed several large cuts in public education over the next 18 months:
$400 million: In midyear cuts this fiscal year
$4.4 billion: For K-12 districts in 2008-09
$1.1 billion: For higher education in 2008-09
SOURCE: Governor's office
Last week, the governor proposed cutting more than $5.6 billion from education budgets in fiscal 2008-09. He called for a $400 million “midyear” cut this year.
According to Schwarzenegger's office and state education officials, the cuts would be distributed this way:
K-12 school districts would lose $360 million this year in a “midyear” cut and $4.4 billion more in fiscal 2008-09, which begins July 1.
The state's community colleges would lose $40 million in a midyear cut and $484 million more in 2008-09.
The University of California system would have to cut $332 million in 2008-09.
The California State University system would face a $312.9 million decrease in 2008-09.
Cuts within California's public colleges and universities could result in fee hikes for San Diego County's college students.
...For the rest of the story, follow the link...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- Governor's budget would be a major setback for schools

Schwarzenegger budget slashes education, releases prisoners

2008-01-12T15:32:00.001-08:00

Schwarzenegger budget slashes education, releases prisoners
By AARON C. DAVIS Associated Press Writer
Article Last Updated: 01/10/2008 06:08:45 PM PST
SACRAMENTO—Facing a ballooning deficit and a shaky economy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday proposed an enormous pullback in state spending that will affect nearly all areas of government service, from classrooms to parks to dental care for the poor.
Schwarzenegger announced the cuts as he seeks to close a $14.5 billion shortfall and, for the first time, declared a state fiscal emergency that will force lawmakers to begin immediate work on the budget mess.
Schwarzenegger's $141 billion budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year proposes cutting 10 percent from every state agency, even as California struggles to provide for millions of new residents, fix failing schools and address myriad problems in its overcrowded prisons.
The across-the-board spending cut is the kind of draconian tactic his Republican Party colleagues have long sought to realign state spending and revenue.

For the rest of the story, follow the link...

MontereyHerald.com : - Schwarzenegger budget slashes education, releases prisoners

New principals taking over at 5 Poway district schools

2008-01-12T15:30:00.001-08:00

New principals taking over at 5 Poway district schools

By Blanca Gonzalez
STAFF WRITER
June 2, 2007
Five elementary schools in the Poway Unified School District will get new principals next year, including one from Escondido, one from San Diego Unified and one from Los Angeles.

The new principals and their schools are:
Mark Atkins, Adobe Bluffs in Rancho Peñasquitos:
Atkins, a former assistant principal at Poway High, has been an assistant principal at Escondido High School since 2002. He previously taught fifth, sixth and eighth grade in the Lancaster School District. He also served as dean/vice principal at Antelope Valley High in Lancaster.
Atkins earned his master's degree in educational administration from California State University Bakersfield and his bachelor's degree in history from UCLA. Atkins will succeed Cindy DeClercq who was recently named principal of Willow Grove Elementary, set to open in 2008-09 in Poway Unified's Santaluz community.
Sabriya Pedretti, Tierra Bonita in Poway:
Pedretti has been an assistant principal at Meadowbrook Middle School in Poway since 2002. She taught sixth grade and physical education for the Rowland Unified School District in Los Angeles County. Pedretti worked as an elementary school teacher in the South Bay Union School District in Imperial Beach from 1996 to 2001.
Pedretti received her master's degree in educational leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University and her bachelor's degree in communications from California State University Fullerton. She will take over from Susan Foerster, who came out of retirement to serve as interim principal after Maureen Newell retired in December 2006.
Andrew Johnsen, Valley in Poway:
Johnsen is director of the Los Angeles Unified School Charter Schools Division and also teaches courses in administrative leadership at California State University Northridge. He was previously principal and director of instruction at Santa Monica Community Charter School. Johnsen was assistant principal at Santa Monica Elementary School and has served as a parent education coordinator and classroom teacher.
Johnsen has a bachelor's degree in Spanish from California State University Long Beach, a master's degree in educational administration from Pepperdine University and a doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA. He will succeed Sue Smith, who will be working on special district projects involving intervention programs and closing the achievement gap.
Carol Osborne, Morning Creek in Sabre Springs:
Osborne is director of literacy and history/social science for the San Diego Unified School District. She previously was principal at Brooklyn Elementary School in the San Diego district. Osborne has also been a K-1 classroom teacher, a literacy resource teacher and a vice principal.
Osborne received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and her master's degree as a reading specialist from San Diego State University. She will succeed Doug Johnson, who was recently named principal of Del Sur Elementary, which will open in 2008 in the northwestern part of the district.
Cynthia Venolia, Stone Ranch in 4S Ranch:
Venolia is assistant principal at Park Village Elementary in Rancho Peñasquitos. She previously worked in the Ramona Unified School District, including nine years as a teacher at James Duke Elementary School.
Venolia earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from San Diego State University and her master's degree in administration from National University. She will succeed Suzanne Roy, who has accepted a position as a middle school principal in the Rancho Santa Fe School District.
For the rest of the story...

New principals taking over at 5 Poway district schools | The San Diego Union-Tribune

Building For Success Poway Bond

2008-01-09T00:18:00.001-08:00

Building for Success Program
The Building for Success Program, authorized under the passage of Proposition U, includes modernization and expansion of sixteen elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, and one continuation high school in the Poway Unified School District. Some of the key aspects of the program are to optimize state school facilities program funds, minimize learning disruption, and maintain safety and quality standards.

Schools completed include Midland Elementary, Westwood Elementary, Tierra Bonita Elementary, Garden Road Elementary, Painted Rock Elementary, Twin Peaks Middle, Poway High, and Mt. Carmel High Schools. The first phase of Chaparral Elementary School is complete, and includes a new ten-classroom building, technology and playground upgrades.

Technology and playground upgrades are also complete at Sundance Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Turtleback Elementary, Rolling Hills Elementary, Deer Canyon Elementary, Canyon View Elementary, and Morning Creek Elementary Schools
Schools currently undergoing modernization and expansion include: Los Penasquitos Elementary, Valley Elementary, and Abraxas High Schools.

Schools in the design process include Meadowbrook Middle, Black Mountain Middle, Pomerado Elementary, and Rolling Hills Elementary.

The complete modernization and new construction program for the 24 schools in the program is projected to be finished in approximately 2010.

... See the pics...

Building For Success Poway Bond Prop U

Poway parents kick off Proposition C school bond campaign - North County Times

2008-01-06T00:10:00.001-08:00

Poway parents kick off Proposition C school bond campaign
By: SHAYNA CHABNER - North County Times
POWAY - Residents of Poway and the surrounding areas began seeing blue in their mailboxes, on their neighbors' lawns and even in car windows over the weekend.
The barrage of blue signs and fliers was delivered by a duo of Poway Unified School District parent volunteers to kick off the "Yes on Proposition C" campaign. The proposition - a $179 million bond measure that would pay for technology enhancements, security upgrades and modernization projects at 24 of Poway Unified's schools - will appear on the Feb. 5 primary ballot.
"In the next three days, people will know a lot about (Prop. C)," Lorene Joosten, campaign co-chairwoman, said Thursday while sitting at Prop. C headquarters - a three-room house converted into offices off Midland Road in Old Poway.
...Follow the link below for the rest of the story..

Poway parents kick off Proposition C school bond campaign - North County Times

New goals, construction, budget cuts mark 2008

2008-01-03T00:10:00.001-08:00

New goals, construction, budget cuts mark 2008
By: SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer
Poway, Ramona school districts prepare hurdles, growth
Construction on several campuses, plans to set multi-year goals, a school bond measure and possible spending and program cuts as the state grapples with a growing deficit in 2008 will likely make this year a momentous one, school officials said last month.
And many of the most significant and difficult decisions will come this spring as the Poway and Ramona districts wrap up the 2007-08 school year, they added.
"We are trying to build off past successes and not rest on our laurels," said Poway Unified Superintendent Don Phillips. "Our commitment is to do the very best job we can in educating our youngsters and challenging them."
Tight spending year
An estimated $14 billion shortfall at the state level could still pose a significant hurdle to that goal as officials are likely to have to limit spending and cut some programs, possibly midyear, district officials said.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently announced that the budget proposal he will release Jan. 10 will come with a fiscal emergency declaration. The emergency means that lawmakers will have to reopen the budget the governor signed in August and decide how to eliminate about $2 billion from the current year's spending plan.
...Read the rest by following the link below...

New goals, construction, budget cuts mark 2008 - North County Times

Bond, new policies to shape PUSD year

2008-01-03T00:09:00.001-08:00

Bond, new policies to shape PUSD year
By Pat Kumpan
January 2, 2008
Top issues facing Poway Unified School District in 2008 include gearing up for a $179 million bond extension on the February ballot to complete school renovations; fencing the perimeter of most schools; finalizing and implementing hate and harassment procedures; plus, eventual budget cuts.
Superintendent Don Phillips said those are the top priorities that he knows the PUSD school board and administrators will be dealing with in the new year.
If passed, the current bond that voters approved for renovations in 2002, will be extended by another 11 years with final payments due in 2044.
“Taxpayers won’t be asked to pay higher fees,” Phillips said. “The new bond would be an extension of the existing bond, or the same fees over a longer period of time.”
The original bond for the PUSD’s “Building for Success” program, passed by voters in November 2002, was for $198 million. The district secured $158 million from other sources to renovate 24 of the district’s 34 schools.
...Read the rest by following the link below...

Bond, new policies to shape PUSD year | The Pomerado Newspaper Group

Volunteer duo set to sell bond to voters

2007-12-31T01:22:00.001-08:00

District proposition seeks $179 million

By Blanca Gonzalez
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 30, 2007
There's no heat in the Proposition C campaign headquarters on Midland Road in Poway, but Lorene Joosten and Sabrina Butler make do with space heaters from home and an extra sweater or two.
Despite the chill, Joosten and Butler expect a warm response from voters Feb. 5 when residents decide on the Poway Unified School District's $179 million bond measure.
A survey conducted in September found that two-thirds of likely voters would support the bond, which would allow the district to finish school renovation projects that were supposed to be done using a $198 million bond measure approved in 2002. The district was unable to complete all of the projects planned for that money.
For the rest of the story, click below...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Volunteer duo set to sell bond to voters

Schools get alerts out in a hurry - Connect-ED is a Web-based mass notification service

2007-12-29T17:11:00.001-08:00

Thousands notified with one phone call

By Blanca Gonzalez
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 28, 2007
When a swastika and other graffiti were found on Westview High's campus this month, parents were alerted about it before students arrived home that afternoon.
Dawn Kastner, principal of Westview near Rancho Peñasquitos, notified thousands of parents with a single phone call using a communications system that allows educators to call or e-mail with important news or other announcements.
The days of notes to parents being sent home from school, often lost amid the clutter in students' backpacks, are long gone in Poway Unified and other school districts throughout San Diego County.
Connect-ED is a Web-based mass notification service that allows districts to send voice messages and e-mails en masse in minutes, a change from automatic dialing systems that require more equipment and could take hours to reach the same number of people.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Schools get alerts out in a hurry

Preschoolers call high school home in Poway Unified

2007-12-27T00:15:00.001-08:00

RANCHO PENASQUITOS – One of the most popular classes at Westview High School usually has a waiting list, and the children like it so much they sometimes cry when it's time to go home.

Marshall Lehew, an aide with Westview High School's full-day preschool program, chatted with a shy Sasha Greenhall recently.
Westview's preschoolers may not be learning calculus or economics like the teenagers in nearby classrooms, but amid the singing, drawing and playing in the sandbox, they are learning skills meant to prepare them for future success in education and life.
The Poway Unified School District is known as an academic powerhouse, serving about 32,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. What is less well-known is that the district also offers preschool programs at more than half its campuses.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Preschoolers call high school home in Poway Unified

High school counterfeiters held

2007-12-23T23:17:00.001-08:00

High school counterfeiters held

Government can't, shouldn't outlaw 'hate'

2007-12-20T20:42:00.001-08:00

Government can't, shouldn't outlaw 'hate'
By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer
If you have kids in the Poway Unified School District, you might want to simply assume there will be less money for instruction and classroom supplies in the years to come. Litigation is expensive, you see, and when you have a school board on a collision course with the U.S. Constitution, more litigation would seem pretty unavoidable.
Not that Poway is any stranger to being sued for stomping all over the rights of students who don't think the way the board majority thinks they should. The district has spent who knows how many tens of thousands of dollars (maybe more) defending itself in an ongoing lawsuit that arose when officials punished a student for wearing a T-shirt that read "Homosexuality is shameful."

North County Times - Jim Trageser's Flailing Against the Wind opinion column - Government can't, shouldn't outlaw 'hate'

Various Video Reports - FOX6 San Diego

2007-12-18T21:09:00.001-08:00

Noose, Racial Slurs at Nearby High School 11/28/07
A noose and racial slurs were found on campus at Rancho Bernardo High Scool, just weeks after a similar incident at Poway High School.

Racial Tension 10/5/07
A noose was recently found in a boys' bathroom of the Poway High School. Plus, a brush fire burned dangerously close to homes in Kensington.

School Threat 5/3/07
Sheriff's deputies will provide extra security at Poway High School after the school received a shooting threat. Eric Collins spoke with students, parents and administrators.

God in the Classroom 5/1/07
As Kristine Frazao reports, a Poway high school teacher has been ordered to take banners out of his classroom because they mentioned the word God.

Poway School Harassment Verdict 6/8/05
The Poway Unified school district has yet to decide if they will appeal the verdict of a harassment case. It was filed by two gay former poway students. The jury awarded each of them over 100-thousand dollars. FOX 6's Andrea Nguyen has reaction to verdict.

Swastika Found at School - FOX6 San Diego

2007-12-18T21:07:00.001-08:00

God in the Classroom 5/1/07
As Kristine Frazao reports, a Poway high school teacher has been ordered to take banners out of his classroom because they mentioned the word God.

Swastika Found at School - FOX6 San Diego

Poway superintendent nominated for national honor

2007-12-18T21:05:00.001-08:00

Don Phillips considers the district his classroom

POWAY ---- Nearly three decades have passed since Don Phillips stepped out of social studies and history classrooms and into school administration, but his conversations and everyday phrases are still colored with references to the Founding Fathers and world cultures.

The Poway Unified School District superintendent, who has been at the helm of the nearly 33,000-student district for six years, says that's because he still considers himself a teacher ---- he is just leading and learning from a much larger class of students.
"It's more interactive, more of a give and take," Phillips said, adding that his "students" these days are parents, teachers and community leaders. "It's been an opportunity to work with other people who care and who do want to do a better job of educating kids."
In the years since he joined the district in 2001 ---- after serving for 12 years as the superintendent of two suburban school districts in the Bay Area ---- that has meant tackling everything from updating aging facilities to improving student achievement at all levels.

Poway superintendent nominated for national honor North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News

People say the funniest things...

2007-12-15T23:57:00.001-08:00

"California is a natural disaster theme park..."

CalWatch

Race issues dominate PUSD board meeting

2007-12-14T22:11:00.003-08:00

SABRE SPRINGS -- A group of black parents and students asked trustees in the Poway Unified School District on Monday night to crack down on racial discrimination and hate with stronger discipline, accountability and a zero-tolerance policy for students and staff.
More than 50 people -- many representing the nonprofit minority community group Concerned Parents Alliance -- attended the board's monthly meeting Monday to discuss a proposed revision to Poway Unified's "Harassment and Hate Behavior" policy and raise awareness about racial discrimination in the district.
Their primary concern, they said, is that racial discrimination is not being dealt with seriously enough and that the consequences for such behavior need to be more clearly defined. Similar to the district's policies on alcohol and drug use or sexual harassment, parents said, there should be no question as to the penalties for discrimination.

Race issues dominate PUSD board meeting - North County Times

Swastika, foul graffiti scrawled on high school

2007-12-14T22:11:00.001-08:00

A swastika and a profanity smeared in feces were discovered on a window at Westview High School yesterday, just days after Poway Unified trustees considered toughening policies aimed at curbing hate behavior.

A custodian found the graffiti at the student store on the campus near Rancho Peñasquitos. It was cleaned up before most students arrived for classes, district officials said.
Principal Dawn Kastner e-mailed Westview parents decrying the vandalism and asking for help to find who did it. She said police are investigating.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Swastika, foul graffiti scrawled on high school

Poway district strengthening harassment policy

2007-12-12T20:20:00.001-08:00

December 11, 2007
The Poway Unified School District is toughening its policy on harassment and hate behavior after a series of incidents on campuses, including nooses being found at two high schools.
Superintendent Don Phillips said the recent “disturbing incidents” reflect racial harassment and intimidation against students. Phillips said that the district won't tolerate such behavior and that the policy revisions reflect the district's commitment to cultivating safe campuses.
The changes had a first reading at last night's school board meeting. They include more training for students and staff to promote tolerance and diversity and add “the presence of nooses” as a specific example of hate behavior.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Poway district strengthening harassment policy

Poway trustees to discuss tolerance, finances - North County Times

2007-12-10T20:03:00.001-08:00

SABRE SPRINGS - In the wake of three racially related incidents on Poway Unified School District's high school campuses in recent months, the district is looking to strengthen its stance against harassment and hate by promoting tolerance training and enforcement in a revised board policy, Superintendent Don Phillips said Friday.
The proposed "Harassment and Hate Behavior" policy will come before trustees for discussion during Monday night's board meeting.

Poway trustees to discuss tolerance, finances - North County Times

Del Sur school trying single-building design

2007-12-07T19:05:00.001-08:00

Most malls are built for shopping, not learning.
But the future Del Sur Elementary is designed as a two-story, enclosed-mall-type school to serve the fast-growing area west of Rancho Bernardo.
It's now just a steel skeleton of a building amid an expanse of dirt. But by next fall, students will start classes at a $29.5 million campus that combines the old-fashioned “schoolhouse” concept with modern design for energy efficiency.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Del Sur school trying single-building design

Red Pills » Teacher Applicant

2007-12-07T15:22:00.001-08:00

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, “Let me see if I’ve got this right: You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning. You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job. You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams.
You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English and Spanish by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps. You want me to do all this and then you tell me……..
I can’t pray - or conceal carry?”

Red Pills » Teacher Applicant

WorldNetDaily: Homosexodus! Students flee forced 'gay' agenda

2007-12-05T19:01:00.001-08:00

Parents in California have started reacting to the state's newly mandated homosexual indoctrination program by pulling their children out of classes, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell is warning districts they'll lose money if that happens.
A spokeswoman for a ministry called Considering Homeschooling said she already has seen an overwhelming increase in requests for information about homeschooling.
As a result, spokeswoman Denise Kanter told WND that her group is sending out 5,000 DVD packages to churches around the state that include basic "how-to" information to provide parents a direction to turn when they choose to protect their children from the new school agenda.
The new law demands, "No teacher shall give instruction nor shall any school district sponsor any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias because of a characteristic [including perceived gender.]"

WorldNetDaily: Homosexodus! Students flee forced 'gay' agenda

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Schools chief nominated for national award

2007-12-02T22:07:00.001-08:00

POWAY – When Don Phillips graduated from a Palo Alto high school 40 years ago, he had no idea he would eventually return to lead the Bay Area school district a few decades later as superintendent.

Don Phillips
The teenager, photographed in his yearbook with light bulbs in his ears, could not know his destiny. But today, as superintendent of the Poway Unified School District, he knows the importance of preparing students for anything.
Some careers of the 21st century don't exist yet, but Phillips says he wants the Poway district to get students college-ready and primed for any possibility.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Schools chief nominated for national award

Drive to replace instruments lost in flames in full swing - North County Times

2007-12-02T22:06:00.001-08:00

POWAY -- A partnership between the Poway Unified School District, a North County music retailer and a longtime resident could bring song and sound back into the homes of dozens of student musicians who lost their instruments in last month's wildfires.
Organizers of the collection drive said Monday that they want to give students the opportunity to replace instruments that can cost several thousand dollars apiece.

Drive to replace instruments lost in flames in full swing - North County Times

Firing teachers can be a headache for districts - North County Times

2007-11-25T17:33:00.001-08:00

NORTH COUNTY -- "Accountability" may be the new buzzword in public education, but getting rid of poor-performing teachers continues to be a challenge for school districts, officials say.
"Once a teacher obtains permanent, or tenure, status, removing them from the district is really difficult," said Bill Chiment, superintendent of personnel services for the Poway Unified School District. "It's a very lengthy process."

Firing teachers can be a headache for districts - North County Times

North San Diego County Times School News Briefs: PUSD creates Fire Victims' Relief Fund

2007-11-22T22:23:00.001-08:00

POWAY -- The Poway Unified School District has established the PUSD Fire Victims' Relief Fund and is working in collaboration with the Palomar Council PTA to assist staff members, students and families affected by the recent wildfires.
The fund was created to accept general and specific money donations. Make checks payable to: PUSD Fire Victims' Relief Fund. Donors may designate that funds be directed to assist staff members, students and families at a particular site. Mail checks to: PUSD, Attention: M.J. Stollfuss, Accounting Department, 13626 Twin Peaks Road, Poway, CA 92064-3034.

Comments from -- Westview student's costume wasn't Klan outfit, dad says

2007-11-15T21:33:00.001-08:00

article:"
The group, Concerned Parents Alliance, said the Westview High student wore a costume resembling a Ku Klux Klan outfit on Halloween. The group also was concerned about an incident last month in which a noose was found hanging in a boys bathroom at Poway High School in Poway. "
Comments:
By 1234san diego on 11/10/2007 at 9:34 p.m.
The personal talking about sensitivity training is the same person who ruined Westview's 2005 graduation. Ms. Darlene Willis shouted Westview was a good old white boy's club, she called people "crackers" and was physically abusive.
What was it over, people were told they could no longer enter the gym to view the Grad Nite stuff. Of course, in her eyes she was being stopped because she was black. Can you say someone has a horrible chip on their shoulder?!
It is all on record. No need to pull the post!!
I think the wrong person needs this training!
She always use to pull the race card when her son got in trouble.
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By 1234san diego on 11/10/2007 at 9:38 p.m.
Oh yeah, Ms Willis runs the Concerned Parent's Alliance. She has had numerous groups like this. They seem to last for a short time and then a new group is formed.
She had been an administrator at UCSD and then a very short stint at SDSU. Did something go wrong? Just maybe, not sure!
She ruined many people's graduation, including my daughters!!
No this "highly sensitive and tolerant person" is going after some kid.
Her sensitivity needs to stay very far away from the school system. She is scary!
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By sarah23 on 11/10/2007 at 10:04 p.m.
If I have understood the media coverage correctly, the noose was at Poway High, and the Ghost/KKK costume were at Westview High. The two incidents were unrelated except that they occurred in the same school district.

For more comments or to add yours, go to the link below and scroll past the bottom of the article...

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Westview student's costume wasn't Klan outfit, dad says

30-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty to Molesting 13-Year-Old Boy - FOX6 San Diego

2007-11-15T21:25:00.001-08:00

"I'm just glad it turned out the way it did," Paul Sweeney, a lead custodian for the Poway Unified School District, said outside court

30-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty to Molesting 13-Year-Old Boy - FOX6 San Diego

Southern California Cities and School Districts Use NTI Group's Mass Notification Services to Keep Residents, Students and Parents Informed

2007-11-14T21:41:00.001-08:00

NTI Group also announced:

San Diego Unified School District sent close to 400,000 voice messages in six different languages Monday to update parents on school closures quickly and efficiently with a 95 percent success rate;
Poway Unified School District, facing heavy parent and staff evacuations, sent over 280,000 voice messages;
The University of San Diego used its Connect-ED service to keep students and staff up to date, sending voice and text messages to its students and staff as needed throughout the day;
The city of St. Helena’s fire crews, in Northern California, used the service to call up its Strike Team units to Southern California to aid in fire containment;
The cites of Villa Park and Laguna Woods to send messages to residents regarding unhealthful air quality conditions due to the Santiago fire in Orange County;
Of all mass notifications messages sent Monday regarding the fires in Southern California, Connect-ED and Connect-CTY represented 68 percent of all voice call and 91 percent of all text and email messages delivered;
In total, throughout the country, NTI sent over three million messages and 750,000 text messages on Monday through the Connect services.

Emergency Notification: Southern California Cities and School Districts Use NTI Group's Mass Notification Services to Keep Residents, Students and Parents Informed

Escondido high school district goes paperless - North County Times

2007-11-12T22:33:00.001-08:00

ESCONDIDO ---- The Escondido Union High School District school board has gone digital, swapping bulky paper agendas for an online electronic database that catalogues searchable agendas, meeting minutes and audio recordings of trustees' discussions.
The move, district officials said Friday, will save the high school district thousands of dollars in printing, mailing and labor because employees will not have to spend dozens of hours binding agendas and back-up documents for as many as 60 different people.

Escondido high school district goes paperless - North County Times

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Westview student's costume wasn't Klan outfit, dad says

2007-11-11T18:18:00.001-08:00

RANCHO PENASQUITOS – The Halloween garb worn by a Westview student last week was a ghost costume, not a Klan outfit, the boy's father said yesterday.
“My son is not racist. He was more naive than malicious,” said the father, whose name is not being used because he said he feared his son could be subject to harassment.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Westview student's costume wasn't Klan outfit, dad says

Campus incidents prompt call for action in Poway school district - North County Times

2007-11-11T18:17:00.001-08:00

POWAY -- A nonprofit community group of minority students and parents asked Poway Unified School District trustees this week to provide teachers and students lessons in diversity and tolerance after what they described as racially offensive incidents at two campuses last month.
District officials said Tuesday that the first incident, on Oct. 4, involved a noose hung by an unknown person on the inside of a boy's bathroom stall at Poway High School. They said that as part of a Halloween event on campus Oct. 31, a Westview High School student wore a costume that resembled a Ku Klux Klan outfit.

Campus incidents prompt call for action in Poway school district - North County Times

Fresh Dining donates meals to fire victims

2007-11-07T22:08:00.001-08:00

(nice dig for the district... ~admin)

Fresh Dining donates meals to fire victims -- Fresh Dining announced that it will sponsor a week's worth of food delivery free for 100 San Diego residents in areas hardest hit by the recent fires. Ready-to-eat meals will be delivered daily to their respective temporary residences.
In addition, Fire Relief Fresh Dining Gift Cards can be bought for individuals, families and charities at a reduced cost of $135 per week. The cards are available online at http://www.freshdining.com.
Also, Fresh Dining is working with the Poway Unified School District, of which 22 teachers and 300 students were left homeless by the fires, to offer meal sponsorships for school district members at reduced costs via the district's Web site at http://www.powayusd.com.

North County Exchange: Internet Business Group to meet North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News - NCTimes.com - Californian.com

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Schools pushing new bond measure

2007-11-07T22:06:00.001-08:00

POWAY – The Poway Unified School District will ask voters to approve a $179 million bond to finish renovation projects that were supposed to be done with money from a similar measure passed five years ago.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Schools pushing new bond measure

Teen Collapses At Football Game, Dies - Local News Story - KNSD | San Diego

2007-11-05T21:28:00.001-08:00

SAN DIEGO -- A 15-year-old Mount Carmel High School student died Friday night after collapsing at a football game

Teen Collapses At Football Game, Dies - Local News Story - KNSD | San Diego

Tutoring program offered for PUSD students

2007-10-26T19:07:00.001-07:00

POWAY -- Members of the Poway Community Leadership Institute are developing a free tutoring program for Poway Unified School District students who need one-on-one assistance. The program will be open to students at all grade levels.
Tutoring will take place at the Poway branch of the San Diego County Library, 13137 Poway Road. Interested parents and potential volunteer tutors are invited to meet with the PCLI team to discuss the program. Members of the PCLI team, which includes Annette Gonzalez, senior management analyst for the city of Poway, and Nazem Agha, owner of Carpet Country Flooring in Poway, will be available from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 and 28 in the Meeting Room at the Poway Library. Those who are unable to attend but would like to participate in the program can call Susan Davis at (858) 679-0410.

North San Diego County Community News Briefs: Many events rescheduled - North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News

District strikes energy deal - North County Times

2007-10-17T20:07:00.001-07:00

By: SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer
Solar panels to be added to roofs of four schools
SABRE SPRINGS -- In an effort to curb rising electric rates and promote green policy, the Poway Unified School District has agreed to open up space on the roofs of four schools to a private company looking to build solar panels on them.
On Monday, trustees signed off on an agreement with Honeywell Building Solution that allows the New Jersey-based company to install photovoltaic panels on the roofs of Chaparral Elementary, Oak Valley Middle, Poway High and Westview High schools. The district would purchase all of the energy produced by the panels for 20 years.

District strikes energy deal - North County Times

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Poway presses on with schools

2007-10-17T19:37:00.001-07:00

By Blanca Gonzalez
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 17, 2007

Poway Unified will open two elementary schools next year in the growing west side despite delays in the state approval process for one of them.
The two schools are set to open on one campus next fall after Del Sur Elementary is completed in August, said Superintendent Don Phillips. Willow Grove Elementary will also open on that campus because the new school in the southwestern area of the district won't be ready until at least December 2008, district officials said.
Poway Unified School District trustees heard the building update at Monday night's school board meeting.
Del Sur is expected to open with about 120 students, leaving plenty of room for Willow Grove students, Phillips said, as the school is being built to serve 800 students. The Del Sur community, west of Rancho Bernardo, is expected to grow as new housing is completed.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Education -- Poway presses on with schools

Support seen for extending school bond

2007-09-26T18:23:00.001-07:00

POWAY – A majority of voters in the Poway Unified School District would support extending the current school bond to raise $150 million to renovate local schools and improve education, according to a survey conducted this month.

For the rest of the story--> SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Support seen for extending school bond

From High School Dropout to CEO

2007-09-26T18:21:00.001-07:00

"I said to myself that I'd show her! I went to an adult education school which was a branch of the Poway Unified School District in California and told them I wanted to receive my HS diploma.

Based on how well I did on my GED, they said I had enough units to graduate, but in order for them to issue me a diploma, I would have to take one class at their school. I did, and 16-weeks later I had a HS Diploma. Well the girl was long gone, but hey! I now had both a GED and HS Diploma. But in reality, I learned two valuable lessons that has served me well in life."

for the rest of the story-->The Student Operated Press

SearchPowayUSD Comment: You know, you never know who or how you will affect someone...

Survey finds support for another Poway school bond North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News

2007-09-25T22:00:00.001-07:00

POWAY -- A survey of 600 residents who live within the boundaries of the Poway Unified School District found that two-thirds of them probably would support the district's bid to extend its multimillion dollar bond measure for another 14 years, officials said Monday.

Survey finds support for another Poway school bond North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News

Deputy Superintendent John Collins

2007-09-17T12:11:00.001-07:00

Deputy Superintendent John Collins said the first wall recently went up at Del Norte High School in 4S Ranch, the district’s fifth comprehensive high school. Also, the foundation is ready to pour at Del Sur Elementary School, which will be the district’s first fully enclosed two-story school.

www.mylocalnews.com

Superintendent Don Phillips

2007-09-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

Superintendent Don Phillips announced the district had an increase of 366 students at the start of the 2007-2008 school year, bringing the student population of PUSD to 33,209. He said the district is “adding staff members at the last moment to balance that out.”

www.mylocalnews.com

PIP Gets funding...

2007-09-17T12:08:00.001-07:00

— About 20 classified positions will be reinstated this week after the district learned that a $1.2 million grant from the California Department of Mental Health will be awarded for the district’s PIP program in 10 schools.

PIP, Primary Interaction Program, helps kindergarten through third-grade students tackle issues ranging from cultural diversity and shyness to adapting to a new baby in the family. PIP is available at all of the district’s 23 elementary schools and is funded through grants.

Prior to the grant, which was awarded to the district on Sept. 7, the district had to serve layoff notices to 20 employees working as student services assistants and student services specialists. However, according to Associate Superintendent Bill Chiment, the district’s personnel department is in the process of rehiring those employees.

PIP has several components and serves “thousands” of students each year, according to Elaine Cofrancesco, the district’s executive director of Student Support Services.

www.mylocalnews.com

Trustees hear update on PUSD school projects

2007-09-12T17:23:00.001-07:00

POWAY – As the first wall of a new high school goes up, walls in old elementary schools come down.
It's all part of Poway Unified's building program, including major modernization projects at several schools. While work nears completion at Poway High, Mt. Carmel High and Garden Road Elementary schools, old buildings are gutted at Los Peñasquitos and Painted Rock elementary schools and construction has started at the future Del Norte High School, and Del Sur Elementary School in the western area of the district.

SignOnSanDiego.com -- Trustees hear update on school projects

Wow... Poway School District hits World Net Daily

2007-09-12T01:16:00.001-07:00

WorldNetDaily: State's 'hate crimes' code used against 'pure speech'

"When you start down the list of Western countries, Australia, Canada, Britain, France. Everywhere hate crimes plans have been adopted there are examples of problems. It's gotten to the point even pure speech is being criminalized, with no actions or violence," he said.
"That's where hate crimes legislation inevitably has led in other Western societies," he said. His organization has worked on a number of such cases already involving California's own version of a "hate crimes" plan.
"The law of unintended consequences – or perhaps intended consequences cleverly disguised – is starkly illustrated by the ongoing federal case Harper v. Poway Unified School District," he wrote in a summary of the problems. "In Harper, a student responded to the annual pro-homosexual 'Day of Silence,' which was being heavily promoted on his high school campus, by wearing a T-shirt which expressed his religious viewpoint that homosexuality was 'shameful.'
"Instead of allowing a differing viewpoint, school officials pulled aside Harper, demanding that he change his expression or face suspension. An assistant principal even suggested to Harper that he needed to leave his faith in the car while at school, in order not to offend homosexual students," according to McReynolds.
"Such a result clearly undermines basic Constitutional protections," including free expression and religion, he noted.

WorldNetDaily: State's 'hate crimes' code used against 'pure speech'

2007 Growth API LEA List of Schools Report

2007-09-10T15:47:00.001-07:00

2007 Growth Academic Performance Index Report

2007 Growth API LEA List of Schools Report (CA Department of Education)

Their simple secret to teaching successes

2007-09-10T09:11:00.001-07:00

Their simple secret to teaching successes | Inquirer | 09/10/2007

Parents wonder why Chaparral mural wasn’t saved | The Pomerado Newspaper Group

2007-09-08T15:53:00.001-07:00

“Apparently losing the murals was unavoidable,” Brommer said. “We have a ‘70s school and it really needed the new stucco and paint.”

Parents wonder why Chaparral mural wasn’t saved | The Pomerado Newspaper Group

City Hall Elections

2007-09-07T21:50:00.001-07:00

quote from commenter on story below;

District One Voter wrote on August 16, 2007 6:52 AM:
"Having lived in the City of San Diego all my life, I have seen the good and the bad. Carl DeMaio is one of the BAD. If you ever to get a chance to talk to this guy (good luck he never shuts up to listen to anyone) you will understand. Phil (Money Bags) Thalheimer is another example of someone with money who thinks he/she can buy their way into political office. What is sad is that the press helps by labeling them "front runners" placing the candidates who would do the most good for all of us and not willing to prostitute themselves at a disadvantage. Case in Point: Steve McMillan, 12 year Trustee for the Poway Unified School District who represented District 1 and 5 with honesty and professionalism. He would have been a GREAT choice but opted out of the $$$ chase. Too bad for Dist 1"

voiceofsandiego.org: Cafesandiego... City Hall Elections

Making the Grade - San Diego Magazine - September 2007

2007-09-05T22:29:00.001-07:00

Ranking our top elementary and middle school districts can be a subjective call. But there are guideposts. Using state and federal standards, here are 45 San Diego schools that measure up.

Poway USD and Creekside Elementary Principal Robin Robinson mentioned.

Follow this link 'for the rest of the story'.

POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT v. LINDSEY STEWART

2007-09-05T21:32:00.001-07:00

Since 1999, Stewart has filed at least 10 unsuccessful administrative actions on her son's behalf against the District.

POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT v. LINDSEY STEWART, No. D048901 (107 LRP - SchwabLearning.org

More info:

Subject: Parent shall pay District $1302.00 within 30 days of the issuance of this decision as a consequence of her bad faith. This order is enforceable in the same manner as a money judgment.

Yet more info:

PDF of the Court Decision

High Schools

2007-09-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

Another High School speech lawsuit aka Harper v. Poway Unified School District

Elliott Chambers, a high school student in St. Paul, Minnesota, was ordered by his school principal not to wear his "Straight Pride" sweatshirt to school after receiving a complaint from another student who represented several homosexuals.

Sorry, Your Viewpoint Is Excluded from 1st Amendment Protection:

2007-09-05T21:00:00.001-07:00

That's what the Ninth Circuit holds today, as to student speech in K-12 schools, in a remarkable -- and in my view deeply unsound -- decision (Harper v. Poway Unified School Dist.).

The Volokh Conspiracy - Sorry, Your Viewpoint Is Excluded from First Amendment Protection:

Strange but true at Poway Unified School District

2007-09-05T20:58:00.001-07:00

Don't have a date on this, but here it is.

Strange but true at Poway Unified School District

Westview High School - Junior Year Memories

2007-09-03T20:39:00.001-07:00

Very nice....

YouTube - Junior Year Memories

Survival Skills for the Principalship:

2007-09-03T19:46:00.001-07:00

Survival Skills for the Principalship: A Treasure Chest of Time-Savers, Short-Cuts, and Strategies to Help You Keep a Balance in Your Life (Paperback)

Author acknowledges ...

Susan Van Zant

Former Principal, Meadowbrook Middle School

Poway Unified School District

Can An $80 Million IBM Deal Save New York City's Schools?

2007-09-03T18:57:00.001-07:00

The city just awarded IBM a five-year contract to create a massive system to manage, track, analyze, and share information about student and school performance. But it won't buy Johnny new pencils.

Poway is mentioned wayyyyy at the bottom...

For the rest of the story...

Profiles in Success - Rancho Bernardo High School

2007-09-03T18:34:00.001-07:00

San Diego, CA — When the three car dealerships saw the concepts for their new television ad, they knew they had a winner. The Poway Honda, Toyota, and Chevrolet representatives also felt sure that the production company making the pitch would create a glossy, broadcast-quality product. Quite a vote of confidence, considering the entire crew was composed of students from Rancho Bernardo High School (RBHS).

Click here for the 'rest of the story'.

Model Continuation High Schools for 2007 - Year 2007 (CA Dept of Education)

2007-09-03T17:57:00.001-07:00

Go Abraxas!

Model Continuation High Schools for 2007 - Year 2007 (CA Dept of Education)

Implementing a Growth Model in a School System

2007-09-03T17:01:00.001-07:00

BY RAY WILSON

Making the shift from traditional, long-standing, institutional behavior is difficult for any organization. For those of us in public education, a shift that must be aggressively pursued is abandonment of our single-minded emphasis on an assessment model that relies almost entirely on measures of student status at a single point in time for a more balanced approach that also values student growth over time...

Follow link below for the rest of the story.

American Association of School Administrators - Publications - Implementing a Growth Model in a School System

Recent Poway USD News

2007-08-31T20:16:00.001-07:00

Poway Unified Buffs Out $100M High School With Tech, Energy Amenities (opens .PDF, page 9)

BY JESSICA LONG To prepare students for future advances, a North County school district has embarked on building nothing less than a next-generation training ground rich in technology advances and energy- saving attributes. The $100 million project, Del Norte High School, expected to open in fall 2009, is under construction on a 62- acre site in 4S Ranch.

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RBHS Highlights Newsletter March 2007 (opens .PDF)

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Blurb about Los Pen co-principal Damen Lopez from Midwest Members Seminar 2007 Keynote Sessions

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Poway USD News

2007-08-30T20:36:00.001-07:00

Supreme Court has declined to suspend a California high school dress code

March 2007 The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to suspend a dress code at a California high school that is at the center of a continuing legal fight over free speech and religious rights. Tyler Chase Harper (Chase), a Poway High School student, filed suit against Poway Unified School District in 2004, claiming his rights to freedom of speech and religion were violated when he was removed from class for wearing an anti-gay T-shirt.

Follow the above link to an excellently done article by Greg Moran and links to background on the case.

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Poway Unified School District is a coalition member in California

The man behind Character Counts!

Michael Josephson is the founder and president of the Josephson Institute, which he named for his parents after retiring from successful careers in business, law and education. He serves without salary and donates all fees and honoraria from his programs to the Institute, which is overseen by an independent, volunteer board of governors.

Recent Poway USD news

2007-08-30T20:35:00.001-07:00

Dual-language classes double the learning.

Poway Unified School Districts Valley Elementary school students – and parents – responsive.

Valley principal Sue Smith said the program's popularity has resulted in waiting lists the past few years, with many families from throughout Poway Unified trying to get in. About a third of Valley's 700 students in kindergarten through fifth-grade are in the program.

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District sued over removal of banners

The removal of banners with the words “God” and “Creator” from a high school math teacher's classroom have led to a lawsuit against the Poway Unified School District.

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Voters may be asked to extend bond

Not all planned projects in the Poway Unified School District will be completed unless voters agree to extend the current $198 million bond.

Searching Poway U.S.D.

Poway USD guilty of ‘Viewpoint-based restriction’

Monterey Ridge in the news!

STMA honors Tarantino, Miller, Reiss and Campbell - Athletic Turf

Parents not notified when children are out of school? Interesting article (Poway mentioned at the end)

School district seeking new digs

Poway USD Teacher Marissa Ochoa Surprised with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Seventy seven PUSD teachers become National Board Certified Teachers

State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces 365 California Teachers Received Prestigious National Certification

Poway Unified School District gets an AA rating for its series A GO bonds.

Memo Stirs Pot In High School Cheating Scandal - Education News Story - KNSD | San Diego

SAN DIEGO -- A blistering e-mail about student cheating from an administrator at Rancho Bernardo High School is angering some students and parents.

Court rules in favor of T-shirt

RANCHO BERNARDO: Six high school students suspended during cheating investigation

Rancho Bernardo teens allegedly hacked into computer, changed grades

RANCHO BERNARDO ---- Six Rancho Bernardo High School students were suspended Monday for allegedly hacking into a campus computer system to change their grades and to access tests, a district official said Tuesday.

The students will remain suspended pending completion of a district investigation, Poway Unified School District spokeswoman Sharon Raffer said.

The hacking appears to have been isolated to the Rancho Bernardo campus, one of five high schools in the Poway Unified School District.

Raffer declined to name the suspended students and to provide details on how they allegedly hacked into the school's system. She also declined Tuesday to say how the school discovered that its computer system had been hacked.

"The police have been notified and we will review the results of the high school's investigation," Raffer said. "That's really all that I can say."

The consequences for each offense depend on the situation. Typically, a cheating incident at the high school level could result in a parent-teacher meeting, a failing grade on the assignment or exam, or other school-site actions.

Raffer said that in this particular case, though, the gravity of the incident called for stricter discipline.

Cheating probe leads to 6 suspended at Rancho Bernardo High School

ACLU defends Poway student who protested Day of Silence

We didn’t make this up

Three get Teacher of Year honors

Teachers' protest shirts require some alterations

Taxing the System : April 2008 : THE Journal

Taxing the System

Proposed cuts protested at school

Creative Teaching Awards - Hey PUSD is in here!

Creative Teaching Awards

Extra security, no incidents at Black Mountain Middle School

RANCHO PENASQUITOS: Students: Racial incidents prompt discussion

RANCHO PENASQUITOS: Students: Racial incidents prompt discussion

Politics - California Lottery should repay state for party, audit says

California Lottery should repay state for party, audit says

By Judy Lin - jlin@sacbee.com

East Coast Cities Hopes To Lure Away Local Teachers

Poway Unified School District Fire Relief Fund charity under fire

March 26, 2008

Poway charity under fire

Black Mountain Middle School in Rancho Peñasquitos on alert due to threatening message

ADF: Poway free speech case again before 9th Circuit - Alliance Defense Fund - Defending Our First Liberty

Students Protest In Support Of Teachers

Legislators React

Impact Of School Budget Cuts Coming To Light

Impact Would Be Severe At One Campus

Poway trustees to notify 180 teachers of job cuts

Poway Unified School District; St. Bernard Launches Industry's First Hybrid Security Solution

Developers, contractors big donors in Poway school bond campaign - North County Times

Honeywell Helps Power Poway Schools With Green, Renewable Energy

No Excuses Program - Program starts younger Inland students on path to college

School officials say proposed budget means big cuts North County Times

Poway Unified School District wins--it was right on this one

Thursday, January 17, 2008

This ruling was(temporarily)de-published by Supreme Court so the lower court could rule on certain matters. The lower court has now ruled, and so this decision may be re-published any day now.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the decision of Poway Superintendent Donald Phillips and principal Scott Fisher not to allow student Tyler Chase to wear to school a T-shirt that said

“HOMOSEXUALITY IS SHAMEFUL ‘Romans 1:27.’”

THE COURT WROTE:

SD County Taxpayers Association: Ballot Measure Recommendations

Governor's budget would be a major setback for schools

'Staggering' cuts trouble educators

Schwarzenegger budget slashes education, releases prisoners

New principals taking over at 5 Poway district schools

Building For Success Poway Bond

Poway parents kick off Proposition C school bond campaign - North County Times

New goals, construction, budget cuts mark 2008

Bond, new policies to shape PUSD year

Volunteer duo set to sell bond to voters

Schools get alerts out in a hurry - Connect-ED is a Web-based mass notification service

Thousands notified with one phone call

Preschoolers call high school home in Poway Unified

High school counterfeiters held

Government can't, shouldn't outlaw 'hate'

Various Video Reports - FOX6 San Diego

Swastika Found at School - FOX6 San Diego

Poway superintendent nominated for national honor

People say the funniest things...

Race issues dominate PUSD board meeting

State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces 365
California Teachers Received Prestigious National Certification