As we launch the second half of the 2008-09 school year, the Hart District has many accomplishments of which it can be proud, and some exciting challenges.
The major challenge we face in 2009 is the uncertainty of the state budget. The Hart District cut more than $10 million from its budget at the beginning of this school year, staying as far as possible from wide scale employee layoffs. The state’s budget is still unsettled, but any of the solutions under discussion will mean many more millions in cuts to the Hart District and the district is struggling to make the potential cuts without a major impact on the quality of local education.
On the positive side, the Hart District surpassed the state goal of 800 points on the Academic Performance Index this year, based on tests taken last spring. The scores placed the local district number one in the state among high school districts with 10,000 or more students.
The district’s teachers did well, too, with Christine Parr from Placerita Junior High going on to become a Los Angeles County finalist in Teacher of the Year competition. Several other Hart District staff members also received honors from their professional organizations, including Bowman High School Principal Robin Geissler, who was just named a regional finalist in California League of High Schools Educator of the Year competition.
Through the passage of Measure SA, our community again reinforced the value of education in our valley. Measure SA will provide $300 million in funds for new school construction and modernization of existing schools. The district moved closer to selecting a final site for a new high school in the Castaic area, with environmental studies currently underway, along with negotiations with the prospective site owner.
The Hart District was excited in December to learn that it had been approved for $1.6 million in career-technical grants to fund build-out of auditoriums at Golden Valley and West Ranch high schools, but due to the state budget situation, the state is placing a hold on all grants until further notice.
The district’s diversity program won a coveted Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for its proactive stance in recognizing the value of every student. Other state-level awards went to the Saugus High School girls cross country team, Hart High School’s Marching Regiment, and the West Ranch High School marching band and color guard.