School District News

Andrew Wainer

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Huntington Beach City School District Board of Trustees and staff

Tuesday discussed the creation of a Budget Committee to spread

information about the district’s budget to a combined committee of

teachers, board members, and community members. The district’s financial

team usually presents the budget results to the board four times a year,

but Administrative Services Assistant Supt. Jerry Buchanan said sharing

and discussing the information with a wider group of people could

demystify the complicated process for the whole community.”A committee

could spend in-depth time looking at the budget,” Buchanan said. “Trying

to comprehend the vastness of the 200 page budget document is difficult.

If we sat down with a committee and explained the process it would be

better understood by all.”

FOUNTAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING

ISSUE: SALARY INCREASE

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The board approved a 5.5% salary increase retroactive to July 1,

1999 for the district’s management personnel, including assistant

superintendents, superintendents, and psychologists and other

administrative personnel. The adjusted salary schedules for all the above

groups will reflect an annual increase of $155,304.

ISSUE: ENROLLMENT FIGURES

Vote: None

Summary: As of Sept 15, 1999 there are 6,303 students enrolled in the

district, 62 above the district’s projection. Of the 62 students, 47 are

in grades one through three and 15 are in grades four through eight.

Kindergarten is six students below projection. Staffing has been adjusted

at affected school sites and all classes are at or below mandated class

sizes.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Speech and language pathologist Sonia Edwards was chosen by the board for

the district’s “Teacher of the Year” award. Superintendent Marc Ecker

said Edwards made the district “shine” during her 27 years of service.

Edwards has made numerous presentations at California State University,

Long Beach and the California Speech and Hearing Association annual

conference. The award makes Edwards eligible for the Orange County

“Teacher of the Year Competition.”

“Every time a former student comes up to me and says ... ‘Thank you for

making me a better speaker,’ I know that I am in the right profession,”

Edwards said.