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Schools

Recap of this Week's GUSD Board Meeting

New electives are being brought to high schools, AB165 is discussed, upcoming events are announced and more at this week's School Board meeting.

A power-packed Glendale School Board Meeting took place on Tuesday. Here are some highlights, in case you missed it!

  • National School Nurse Day is May 11 and Linda Burlison, head nurse for the District, was on hand to say that "We are glad to provide education on health, development, and disease awareness for all students. Just a reminder that all students attending grades 7-12 must have a DTAP before school starts."
  • May 11 is the California Day of the Teacher and the 2010 recipient of the award from Glendale, Roxanne O'Rourke spoke at the meeting. "Thanks for recognizing the California Day of the Teacher. We have the best teachers in our school district. Congratulations to all receiving the Masonic Employee Recognition Awards tonight as well." The Grand Mason, Travis Robinson, of the Glendale Mason Lodge #368, passed out over 60 awards to GUSD staff at the meeting. "It has been a privilege for our lodge for the past 39 years to acknowledge outstanding members of our community and outstanding service to the youth of Glendale,"  stated Robinson. 
  • Among the comments from the public communications forum were that of Glendale PTA President Elizabeth Manasserian. She informed the board and community as to some upcoming events in which PTA is lending their support. On May 13 the "Cuts Hurt Kids" budget rally will take place at , Glendale High School and Hoover High School. Manasserian also reported on the State PTA convention in Long Beach. She thanked Dr. Richard Sheehan for attending the convention and supporting the PTA. A state resolution was also read encouraging all schools to have an automated external defibrillator on their school sites.
  • Dr. Katherine Thorossian announced a new elective for GUSD high schools. "We are excited about launching the new speech and debate elective at the high school level," said Thorossian. This elective is recognized by the UC system and will cover some of the requirements needed for English Language Arts. School Board Member Mary Boger  commented "I love this curriculum. This is one of the classes that will offer critical thinking and every student should take this." School Board Vice President, Christine Walters said "This is a very exciting class. It will improve critical thinking and communication skills."
  • Thorossian also spoke on a proposal to educate students on domestic violence. "We want to offer a unit on domestic violence. While this topic is difficult, we want to address it in a safe environment for the students," she said.
  • Dr. John Garcia, Deputy Superintendent,  spoke on AB165 regarding a lawsuit from the ACLU to the state of California requiring that students not have to pay for being on a sports team, music, or other extracurricular activity. This massive bill also includes ideas such as not having to pay to see a sports team or drama performance. This "hot topic" discussion led way to questions about who will pay for fieldtrips, sports uniforms, and how the schools will be able to fund these programs if fees are not charged.
  • The Board discussed the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act from the No Child Left Behind initiative. The ESEA will allow Congress to provide educational funding to states that meet the certain requirements stated in the law.
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