Program will help parents get involved

Mary Castillo

The Laguna Beach Unified School District has joined forces with

Orange County Human Relations and the Laguna Beach Crosscultural

Council to present a leadership program for the district’s

Spanish-speaking parents.

The Parent Leadership Institute is an eight-week course that

teaches participants about the school system, curriculum and

instruction, personal growth and development, partnership building,

parental involvement and other skills that will enhance their ability

to become more effectively involved with their children’s school and

education.

“Providing empowerment and leadership activities for

Spanish-speaking parents highlights the district’s goal of maximizing

each student’s potential to learn and make a positive contribution to

the world,” said Steven Keller, assistant superintendent of

instruction.

Spanish-speaking parents with students at El Morro Elementary, Top

of the World Elementary, Thurston Middle and Laguna Beach High

schools make up 12% of the district’s parents. The district will fund

the entire program.

“It is essential to the Laguna Beach school that all parents

participate in decisions and activities,” said David Peck, president

of the Crosscultural Council. “Parent involvement in community

preschool programs like Even Start and La Playa have made those

organizations stronger and the same thing will happen when Latino

parents become more involved in all the Laguna Beach schools.”

The first session will meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at the La Playa

Community Center, 428 Park Ave. For information please call Lisa

Williams or Maggie Padilla at El Morro, (949) 497-7780; Delores

Marshall at Top of the World, (949) 497-7790; David Dixon at Thurston

Middle, (949) 497-7785, or Jim Garvey at Laguna Beach High (949)

497-7750, Ext. 381.

District and Faculty negotiate agreement

The Laguna Beach Unified School District unanimously approved the

2002-03 agreement negotiated by the Laguna Beach Unified Faculty

Assn./CTA/NEA and the district.

The association and district reached an agreement in August but

completed minor revisions before it was brought before the board.

Some of the highlights of the agreement include a 5%

across-the-board salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2002 for the

2002-03 school year. There will also be an annual longevity salary

increase of $2,000 for teachers beginning at 24 years’ experience

effective July 1, 2002. The instructional day for grades 1 to 3 and

release time for preparation for teachers of grades 1 to 3 will be

increased to equal that of teachers of grades 4 and 5.

The costs for the retroactive salary increase and statutory

payroll benefits are $489,045. The district’s agreement to cover the

increased premium costs of health benefit plans effective July 1 for

the 2002-2003 benefit year will cost $63,279.

SchoolPower raises $130,000 for district

SchoolPower raised more than $130,000 during the first two weeks

of its community campaign. Volunteers have been calling parents with

students in the Laguna Beach Unified School District asking for a

tax-deductible contribution.

“So far the community’s response has been extremely positive and

we’re half way to our goal,” said Bill Steel, president for

SchoolPower. “Many families we contact thank us for calling them and

doing what we are doing.”

More than 50 volunteers have agreed to individually contact 35

families to reach the campaign’s goal of reaching all 1,700 families

in the district before Oct. 14.

This year’s campaign goal is $260,000, and donors can direct up to

20% of their contribution to the classrooms and programs of their

choice, Steel said. SchoolPower funds go toward a variety of

programs, such as music and physical education programs at El Morro

and Top of the World elementary schools; zero period at Thurston

Middle School; and language and athletic programs at the high school.

Pledges of all amounts are welcome, Steel said. All donors of $50

or more will receive the new “Laguna Locals” discount card. Donors of

$1,000 or more will be designated as members of the “Million Dollar

Club” and receive special recognition throughout the year, as well as

two tickets to SchoolPower’s Golf Classic or Dinner Dance.

Anyone can send a pledge to the SchoolPower office, 733 St. Ann’s

Drive, or call (949) 494-6811.