PVUSD zone system debated
By DONNA JONES
WATSONVILLE — “A proposed revision of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s management structure is meeting with resistance.
Superintendent Dorma Baker presented the plan to reduce the number of assistant superintendents from four to three and manage the district by grade levels rather than the current geographic zones Wednesday.
Though the plan eliminates district office oversight of zones, Baker said she hoped to keep the concept alive in the community.
“There has been lots of conversation and concern about zones,” Baker said, adding she had been flooded with e-mail about the plan. “We need to listen to those voices so we don’t have people standing outside.”
The zone system, established in 2000 in the wake of an unsuccessful attempt by Aptos parents to split the district along north-south lines, is in trouble due to a fiscal crisis.
As district leaders hacked $14 million from next year’s spending, critics called for more administrative cuts. When Catherine Hatch, assistant superintendent for the central zone, subsequently announced her retirement, Baker and school board President Leslie De Rose recommended freezing the position.
But Baker’s plan to put 16 elementary schools under one assistant superintendent has raised concerns.
Trustee Willie Yahiro, who has served on the board for more than 16 years, worried that academic progress would be stymied by such a large grouping of schools with disparate needs as evidenced by widely divergent levels of achievement.
“When I first came on the board, everyone said everything is fine,'” Yahiro said. “When the first state tests came out, it was shocking to find the south zone was so far behind. This was the system we used.”
Assistant Superintendent Ylda Nogueda said a lot had changed since then. The state not only implemented a new testing scheme about the time the zones were established, it has since developed academic standards and textbooks to support them.
“In the 1980s, the state did not have curriculum defined. All of that is in place now,” Nogueda said. “With that you will see student achievement continuing to go up.”
Trustee Kim Turley said though the plan was created on the assumption that Hatch’s job would not be filled, trustees had yet to vote on the freeze.
“Parents right now, as they go through the system, have one person they deal with whether elementary, middle school or high school,” Turley said. “With this that is going to shift.”
Baker stressed that her plan was a draft, and there likely would be changes during and after implementation to get the bugs out.
Trustee Doug Keegan called the plan “bold” and “creative.”
“The people on whom the burden of this new plan will fall are among the most dedicated and talented people,” Keegan said. “That gives me confidence.”
De Rose urged parents to attend an all zone meeting set for Monday at Pajaro Valley to discuss the plan.”This is going to be a yea or nay to it,” De Rose said. “If you have a strong opinion, show up.”
PVUSD zone system debated
By DONNA JONES
Posted: 05/29/2009 01:30:41 AM PDT
WATSONVILLE — A proposed revision of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s management structure is meeting with resistance.
Superintendent Dorma Baker presented the plan to reduce the number of assistant superintendents from four to three and manage the district by grade levels rather than the current geographic zones Wednesday.
Though the plan eliminates district office oversight of zones, Baker said she hoped to keep the concept alive in the community.
“There has been lots of conversation and concern about zones,” Baker said, adding she had been flooded with e-mail about the plan. “We need to listen to those voices so we don’t have people standing outside.”
The zone system, established in 2000 in the wake of an unsuccessful attempt by Aptos parents to split the district along north-south lines, is in trouble due to a fiscal crisis.
As district leaders hacked $14 million from next year’s spending, critics called for more administrative cuts. When Catherine Hatch, assistant superintendent for the central zone, subsequently announced her retirement, Baker and school board President Leslie De Rose recommended freezing the position.
But Baker’s plan to put 16 elementary schools under one assistant superintendent has raised concerns.
Trustee Willie Yahiro, who has served on the board for more than 16 years, worried that academic progress would be stymied by such a large grouping of schools with disparate needs as evidenced by
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widely divergent levels of achievement.
“When I first came on the board, everyone said everything is fine,'” Yahiro said. “When the first state tests came out, it was shocking to find the south zone was so far behind. This was the system we used.”
Assistant Superintendent Ylda Nogueda said a lot had changed since then. The state not only implemented a new testing scheme about the time the zones were established, it has since developed academic standards and textbooks to support them.
“In the 1980s, the state did not have curriculum defined. All of that is in place now,” Nogueda said. “With that you will see student achievement continuing to go up.”
Trustee Kim Turley said though the plan was created on the assumption that Hatch’s job would not be filled, trustees had yet to vote on the freeze.
“Parents right now, as they go through the system, have one person they deal with whether elementary, middle school or high school,” Turley said. “With this that is going to shift.”
Baker stressed that her plan was a draft, and there likely would be changes during and after implementation to get the bugs out.
Trustee Doug Keegan called the plan “bold” and “creative.”
“The people on whom the burden of this new plan will fall are among the most dedicated and talented people,” Keegan said. “That gives me confidence.”
De Rose urged parents to attend an all zone meeting set for Monday at Pajaro Valley to discuss the plan.”This is going to be a yea or nay to it,” De Rose said. “If you have a strong opinion, show up.”
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PVUSD zone system debated
By DONNA JONES
Posted: 05/29/2009 01:30:41 AM PDT
WATSONVILLE — A proposed revision of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s management structure is meeting with resistance.
Superintendent Dorma Baker presented the plan to reduce the number of assistant superintendents from four to three and manage the district by grade levels rather than the current geographic zones Wednesday.
Though the plan eliminates district office oversight of zones, Baker said she hoped to keep the concept alive in the community.
“There has been lots of conversation and concern about zones,” Baker said, adding she had been flooded with e-mail about the plan. “We need to listen to those voices so we don’t have people standing outside.”
The zone system, established in 2000 in the wake of an unsuccessful attempt by Aptos parents to split the district along north-south lines, is in trouble due to a fiscal crisis.
As district leaders hacked $14 million from next year’s spending, critics called for more administrative cuts. When Catherine Hatch, assistant superintendent for the central zone, subsequently announced her retirement, Baker and school board President Leslie De Rose recommended freezing the position.
But Baker’s plan to put 16 elementary schools under one assistant superintendent has raised concerns.
Trustee Willie Yahiro, who has served on the board for more than 16 years, worried that academic progress would be stymied by such a large grouping of schools with disparate needs as evidenced by
——————————————————————————–
Advertisement
——————————————————————————–
widely divergent levels of achievement.
“When I first came on the board, everyone said everything is fine,'” Yahiro said. “When the first state tests came out, it was shocking to find the south zone was so far behind. This was the system we used.”
Assistant Superintendent Ylda Nogueda said a lot had changed since then. The state not only implemented a new testing scheme about the time the zones were established, it has since developed academic standards and textbooks to support them.
“In the 1980s, the state did not have curriculum defined. All of that is in place now,” Nogueda said. “With that you will see student achievement continuing to go up.”
Trustee Kim Turley said though the plan was created on the assumption that Hatch’s job would not be filled, trustees had yet to vote on the freeze.
“Parents right now, as they go through the system, have one person they deal with whether elementary, middle school or high school,” Turley said. “With this that is going to shift.”
Baker stressed that her plan was a draft, and there likely would be changes during and after implementation to get the bugs out.
Trustee Doug Keegan called the plan “bold” and “creative.”
“The people on whom the burden of this new plan will fall are among the most dedicated and talented people,” Keegan said. “That gives me confidence.”
De Rose urged parents to attend an all zone meeting set for Monday at Pajaro Valley to discuss the plan.”This is going to be a yea or nay to it,” De Rose said. “If you have a strong opinion, show up.”
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PVUSD zone system debated
By DONNA JONES with comments by Cameron Jackson in brackets
WATSONVILLE — A proposed revision of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s management structure is meeting with resistance.
“Superintendent Dorma Baker presented the plan to reduce the number of assistant superintendents from four to three and manage the district by grade levels rather than the current geographic zones Wednesday.
Though the plan eliminates district office oversight of zones, Baker said she hoped to keep the concept alive in the community.
“There has been lots of conversation and concern about zones,” Baker said, adding she had been flooded with e-mail about the plan. “We need to listen to those voices so we don’t have people standing outside.”
The zone system, established in 2000 in the wake of an unsuccessful attempt by Aptos parents to split the district along north-south lines, is in trouble due to a fiscal crisis.
As district leaders hacked $14 million from next year’s spending, critics called for more administrative cuts. When Catherine Hatch, assistant superintendent for the central zone, subsequently announced her retirement, Baker and school board President Leslie De Rose recommended freezing the position.
But Baker’s plan to put 16 elementary schools under one assistant superintendent has raised concerns.
Trustee Willie Yahiro, who has served on the board for more than 16 years, worried that academic progress would be stymied by such a large grouping of schools with disparate needs as evidenced by
widely divergent levels of achievement.
“When I first came on the board, everyone said everything is fine,'” Yahiro said. “When the first state tests came out, it was shocking to find the south zone was so far behind. This was the system we used.”
Assistant Superintendent Ylda Nogueda said a lot had changed since then. The state not only implemented a new testing scheme about the time the zones were established, it has since developed academic standards and textbooks to support them.
“In the 1980s, the state did not have curriculum defined. All of that is in place now,” Nogueda said. “With that you will see student achievement continuing to go up.”
Trustee Kim Turley said though the plan was created on the assumption that Hatch’s job would not be filled, trustees had yet to vote on the freeze.
“Parents right now, as they go through the system, have one person they deal with whether elementary, middle school or high school,” Turley said. “With this that is going to shift.”
Baker stressed that her plan was a draft, and there likely would be changes during and after implementation to get the bugs out.
Trustee Doug Keegan called the plan “bold” and “creative.” (Oh reallly?)“The people on whom the burden of this new plan will fall are among the most dedicated and talented people,” Keegan said. “That gives me confidence.”
De Rose urged parents to attend an all zone meeting set for Monday at Pajaro Valley to discuss the plan.”This is going to be a yea or nay to it,” De Rose said. “If you have a strong opinion, show up.”
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