District API Scores Exceed State Target; School Board Reveals Strategic Plan

The ABC Unified School Board met on the evening of June 21, and discussed the current strategic plan for 2010-2013  as presented by the Strategic Planning Board Advisory Committee. Some of the topics covered included the physical fitness and teen parenting program.

Accountability Reports
According to the presentation, from 2007-2010 the exceeds the Academic Performance Index (API) state target with a current score of 823. This means the district has performed well above the state in general, which averages a score of 768.

According to Board Administrator Valencia Mayfield, the state does not allow the district to take its API and rank it to another district - rather, similar school.

"It would be like comparing apples to oranges," Mayfield said. 

In 2011, the district had a 96.5% passing rate for the California High School Exit Exam with Whitney High School having a 100% passing rate and ABC Second School with the lowest rate of 65.3%

Enhancing Education through Technology Grant (EETT)
The EETT grant will provide $500,000 one-year funding toward 70 middle and high school match teachers. As for the technological aspect of the grant, mobile white boards, known as Mobis, will be implemented into the classroom. This will allow teachers to check their students work on the fly, as well as manipulate projected material.

Tracy Teen Parent Program
Expectant mothers, fathers, and students that are already parents can enroll in the Teen Parent Program which offers parenting classes along with their academic courses. Resources available include a nurse practitioner, group and individual counseling, on campus care for babies 2 months-2 ½ years old and a nutritionist.

Physical Fitness Test
The new physical fitness test includes the Fitnessgram, a state-designated test administered in March through May to grades five, seven and nine. This includes being able to perform in five out of six areas: Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, Body Composition, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility and General Flexibility.

English Language Arts, Reading Intensive Intervention and Secondary Mathematics
English Language Arts will include Effective Instructional Strategies -- writing strategies and literary response and analysis. Ninety percent of the teachers recommend this training.

Reading Intensive Intervention will include Targeted Instructional Strategies: writing strategies, reading fluency and comprehension and vocabulary development.

Secondary Mathematics includes Professional Development Focus: teacher developed districtwide pacing guides and benchmark data analysis. %93 off the teachers recommends this training.

Strategic Planning Committee Chairperson Dr. Steve Sherman said he enjoys the ABCUSD.

"If anyone asks me why they should move to Cerritos, Lakewood, Artesia or Hawaiian Gardens, my first response is because of the school district," Sherman said.

The 2011-12 Budget 

The school board also approved the 2011-2012 budget despite the state budget having yet to be approved. Board Administrator Toan Nugyen went over some of the specifics of the budget.

According to Nguyen, California is about $2,600 per student below the national average, and for the last three years, the district’s budget was cut by $28,900,000 – the current deficit being at $3,000,000. The district has responded to these cuts by implementing furlough days; cutting budgets, programs and personnel; utilizing categorical programs flexibility transfer; transferring fund balances from other funds (like adult schools); spending down fund balances and using federal stimulus funds.

“To this day we did not lay off any permanent employees,” Nguyen said.
When preparing the budget, the staff keeps five guiding principles in mind: people, quality services, clarity and honesty, student success and fiscal solvency.

Strategic Planning Committee Board Member Liaison Armin Reyes’ main concern is how the district can keep educating the students and continuing to achieve. He went on to commend the district's staff.

“It’s really the staff who deserves the recognition,” Reyes said. “They carry the district.”

Board President Maynard Law hopes the district can someday return to doing the things it used to.

“We understand and we deeply appreciate what’s going on, and we hope to someday get back to normal,’ he said.

ABC Federation of Teachers Chief Negotiator Gavin Riley explained that when test scores go up, the state provides less funding, and when scores go down, things like teachers’ pension and seniority are attacked.

“The piece they leave out is they continue to cut and cut and cut,” Riley said.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for July 13 at 7 p.m.