La Cañada History: Teachers rally amid stagnant negotiations with district

Ten Years Ago

Teachers employed by the La Cañada Unified School District took out paid advertisements to draw the public’s attention to the fact they had been working without a contract all school year. The community was invited to rally with the teachers at an event planned for Memorial Park. Carrying homemade placards, more than 100 people marched along Foothill Boulevard to Plaza de La Cañada at Oakwood Avenue, then returned to the park. Then Supt. Sue Leabo announced that if the district and teachers could not soon reach an agreement a mediator would be called in to resolve the issue.

Twenty Years Ago

The City Council unanimously adopted a five-step procedure for the implementation of sewer lines in the residential areas. The action came after City Hall received numerous phone calls from homeowners inquiring about the availability of sewer lines in their neighborhoods.

Thirty Years Ago

A four-day event marked the dedication of the new $2.5-million Flintridge Prep Science-Cultural Center. The complex included a 400-seat auditorium and a classroom building with four science laboratories. Construction began in the summer of 1983 and was completed in March 1985. All costs were covered by school supporters.

Forty Years Ago

Edor G. (“Ed”) Anderson was selected to lead Flintridge Preparatory School after nearly a year’s search for a headmaster. It was reported the search committee had reviewed more than 200 applications before nominating Anderson for the position. Anderson’s tenure spanned from 1975 to 1991.

Fifty Years Ago

Although he still had a year left on his contract with La Cañada Unified School District, Supt. Paul Zintgraff announced in the spring of 1965 that he would resign at the end of that school year to take a newly-created position with Riverside County schools. The La Cañada school board quickly appointed 36-year-old Don Ziehl, who was serving as assistant superintendent, to the top job. It was reported that Ziehl, who would be paid $18,600 annually, would be among the youngest superintendents in the U.S.

Sixty Years Ago

Los Angeles County Supervisor Roger Jessup told the Pasadena Board of Education, which then had jurisdiction over junior high and high school programs for La Cañada students, that steps would be taken to open lower Cornishon Avenue to Descanso Drive to improve traffic circulation for La Cañada Junior High School. A delegation of residents attended the meeting where Jessup spoke to object to any possible cut-through to Chevy Chase Drive from either Atlee or Sheraton drives.

Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci.