 Yosemite
& Coarsegold Districts 
School
News
February
18, 2005
Superintendent's
Report
Bill McCabe, Superintendent
Business
report
Srini Vasan, Director of Business Services
Coarsegold
Elementary School news
Randy Haggard, principal
Alternative
Education Report
Roberta Tackett, principal
Rivergold
School News
Bob Rose, principal
Grant
Report
Earlene Ward, director of special programs
Yosemite
and Coarsegold Districts
Publication Information
 Superintendent's
Report
Bill McCabe
I am fascinated
by statistics; they give us valuable information. In our schools we
spend a lot of time compiling statistics from test data so we can evaluate
where are students are in various subjects. The state requires numerous
reports and plans and all of these require us to use statistical data.
Yosemite High School is currently preparing its self-study for a 2006
accreditation visit; this study will contain numerous charts based on
statistics we have compiled from a variety of sources. This information
gives a snapshot of the school and how the students are performing.
Recently I received a report full of statistics about the nation’s
schools from the National Center for Education Statistics and I want
to share some of that information with you. As an educator, I am always
concerned when I read a news report of California being among the lowest
states in the United States in academic achievement. No Child Left Behind
places a lot of mandates on schools but it does little to suggest how
to resolve the problems schools face.
The report includes the 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Out
of 10 rankings, California is in the top half in only three. California
is number one in teacher salaries (2002-03) with an average of $56,283.
The US average is $45,801 and the lowest is $32,416 in South Dakota.
California is number 11 in per capita personal income at $32,655. Connecticut
is number one with $42,377 and Mississippi is lowest with $21,653. The
US average is $30,413.
California is number 24 in public school revenue (2000-01) per $1,000
personal income in 2001 at $46. The national average is also $46; the
highest is $63 in Alaska and the lowest is $35 in Tennessee.
That’s the end of the good news about California.
The state ranked number 30 in expenditures per pupil in 2002-03 with
$7,244. The US average is $7,920; the high is the District of Columbia
at $13,355 and the low is Utah with $4,695.
Now the news gets really bad for the Golden State.
California ranks near, or at, the very bottom in professional (certificated)
staff to students. In district officials / administrators, the state
is number 47 with an average of 0.4; the US average is 1.3. For school
principals and assistant principals the state is number 50 with 2.2;
the US average is 3.4.
Then we hit the very bottom -- 51 out of 51 -- in guidance counselors
and librarians. The California average for guidance counselors is 1.1
and nationwide it is 2.1. The California average for librarians is 0.2
and nationwide it is 1.1
California is number 50 in the number of teachers per 1,000 students
(2002-03) with an average of 49.3; the US average is 63.3. The top is
Vermont with 85.4 and the low is Utah with 46.2.
Now, when we see a news report that ranks California near the bottom
in academic achievement maybe we can put the information in a better
perspective.
It is clear that California needs more funding to meet the needs of
the very diverse population in the state; the state needs more teachers,
librarians, counselors and administrators.
California, like many other states, is facing a fiscal crisis. Schools
are facing tighter budgets each year and many are being forced to reduce
staff and cut programs. We feel fortunate that the Yosemite and Coarsegold
districts have not had to do that yet, but the time may come when we
are faced with those decisions.
Under No Child Left Behind, schools whose students do not meet performance
requirements on standardized tests and don’t meet other criteria
over a period of time are designated as Performance Improvement (PI)
schools and they face numerous additional mandates. These mandates take
countless hours of administrative time and add volumes to the already
massive amounts of paperwork we are required to turn in to the state.
Again, Yosemite and Coarsegold are fortunate in that we do not have
PI schools at this time. However, the prediction is that eventually
every school in the nation will be PI because when the scores get to
a certain level, it is almost impossible to raise them any higher.
There are statistics available on PI schools and districts. As of now,
there are 14 school districts in California identified as PI. However,
the state is not yet in compliance with the federal formula and, according
to the
California Department of Education, if California immediately adjusted
for the federal formula, over 350 districts would enter the PI program
this year and by 2006 there would be over 800 districts in PI.
California must also change the way in which it counts students who
take the standardized tests. The federal guidelines call for 95 percent
participation. In the past, California counted students who were using
out-of-level tests and those who utilize modifications; these students
can no longer count toward the 95 percent rate.
If California immediately complies, 1,525 additional schools will enter
PI because they will fail to meet the 95 percent participation rate.
No one knows what it will mean when all, or nearly all, of the schools
in the country reach PI status. That is a question we ask frequently
but we do not receive answers.
While some people may find statistics dry, school administrators find
them fascinating, enlightening, worrisome and challenging. We read them
with interest, we study them and we ponder what they mean for us and
our students and the future of our country.
Business
report
Srini Vasan, Director of Business Services
 “A
promise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes
he or she has the biggest piece” - Anonymous quote.
Governor Arnold Schwarz-enegger has done a great job in making this
quote come true. Last year, the newly elected popular governor skillfully
negotiated the education budget to withhold $2 billion the state owed
to K-12 education. In return, he promised to keep the education community
protected from further cuts and that he would hold no more than $2 billion
from Proposition 98 money.
What is Prop 98? It is a California State initiative that guarantees
minimum funding to K-12 schools to offer good quality education. When
the state gets more revenue, K-12 education gets its share of additional
funding.
In 2004, the State of California received more tax dollars, and per
Prop 98, the state was required to give $1.4 billion more for fiscal
year 2004 to K-12 education. At least that is what the education community
thought until the governor unveiled his budget proposal -- without the
$1.4 billion.
To make matters worse, his budget calls for districts to spend their
money for programs that have been funded until now by the state. Don’t
take me wrong. I am sensitive to the state budget crisis. At the same
time, we business managers do a three year forecasting based on what
the state (governor) says (and promises). Such surprises place a big
burden on how we plan and budget our resources, especially when many
districts operate on a very thin reserve.
I do not want to belabor the budget crisis, but it is the duty of a
business manager to exercise fiscal prudence, keep the district financially
stable - short and long term - and keep the district positively certified.
I am told that more than 45 school districts will go under, forcing
a state takeover. Also, more than 100 districts are on the brink of
a severe financial crisis. Careful planning is required to avoid our
districts from falling into this deficit chasm.
The state budget timeline starts in January. The governor’s January
proposal is his first cut and is a political statement of things to
come. In May, the governor proposes a revision. Usually, the May revision
is pretty close to the actual budget that will be adopted. The state
is supposed to adopt the budget by June 30. The governor could come
back with a mid-year revision some time in Sep-tember. Every Californian
shares the budget burden and school systems are not alone. This is going
to be the toughest year for all agencies.
In my last column, I mentioned about school audits and promised you
that both districts would come out with flying colors. The business
office did keep its promise. We did come out with flying colors.
We kept our promise. How about you, Governor Schw-arzenegger?
 Coarsegold
Elementary School news
Randy Haggard, principal
It
is hard to believe that the year is flying by so quickly! We have passed
the mid-point in our academic year and are looking forward to an exciting
spring.
We have mixed feelings about the transition of our eighth grade students
to the high school: it makes us very proud and yet sad at the same time!
Several important events in the next months are designed with our graduating
students and their families in mind.
Our annual Yosemite High School (YHS) Parents Night took place at Coarsegold
School February 10 This special meeting for parents of eighth graders
is a presentation by YHS counseling staff about programs and opportunities
for students at YHS. For parents’ convenience, the guidance staff
held another meeting at Yosemite High School February 8 for parents
who were not be able to make the meeting at Coarsegold.
This was a terrific opportunity to begin to plan a student’s course
of study leading through high school to post-secondary educational and
career opportunities.
On February 9, eighth grade students had their orientation meeting with
counseling staff from the high school. These events with YHS staff are
getting students and parents ready for YHS registration on Monday, March
7, at Coarsegold School, when each eighth grade student will have an
appointment to register for their high school classes for next year.
Our wonderful PTA hopes to help families with the challenge of saving
for college. They brought in a representative from American Express
at their meeting on February 8 to present information about the options
available for financing college.
At Coarsegold School, we are committed to continuous improvement. If
you have suggestions, I hope you will contact me at 683-4842, or rhaggard@coarsegoldusd.com.
District and school information is available at www.coarsegoldusd.com.
 Alternative
Education Report
Roberta Tackett, principal
One
of the delightful aspects of working with alternative students is watching
them blossom and begin to strive to achieve more than the curriculum
offers in our small schools.
Frequently students’ teachers design individualized courses to
meet the specific goals of a student. Sometimes this involves the student
working with a skilled professional in the particular field of interest
such as auto mechanics, computer animation or construction.
As a result, former alternative students are now working in a variety
of highly skilled jobs including as a computer animator in Seattle,
a pit-crew member in the NASCAR circuit, and others who are building
homes, woring on cellular tower installations and the construction of
commercial buildings throughout the state.
Another way students can augment the curricular offerings in alternative
education is to take classes at our local community college or colleges
in Fresno. Generally these students plan to attend college and take
courses to meet entrance requirements or to get a head start on their
college careers.
Students have taken English, Spanish, biology, college algebra, photography,
computer and PE classes.
Taking one or two college classes not only gives students a head start
on their college careers, it provides the students assurance that they
can be successful in college after graduation
Alternative education programs can provide the flexibility for students
to work college classes into their schedules.
Adult education is also part of the alternative program. This program
offers a variety of vocational classes including welding, emergency
medical technician courses, first aid cardio-pulmonary resuscitation,
computer technology and business courses.
New this year is a search and rescue class run in conjunction with the
sheriff’s department.
In addition to vocational classes the adult education department offers
community interest classes that include Tae Kwon Do, art, knitting,
quilting and Photoshop.
With the opening of the YHS pool, we have recently added life guard
training to the vocational component of the adult program.
Catalogs are sent to every home in Eastern Madera County twice a year.
They are also available in the foyer of the district office and on the
district’s Web site which is www.yosemiteuhsd.com, click on the
YCEC link to the left on the home page.
Anyone who has a suggestion for a new class or would like to present
a class should contact me.
In conjunction with Heartland Opportunity Center, handicapped adults
are taught independent living and vocational skills.
Rivergold
School News
Bob Rose, principal
 Doing
the right thing
Everyday I see kids who “Live Strong”
through difficult situations. I am encouraged by the examples I see
daily where students are making the right choice and doing the right
thing. Just this last week I had an upper grade†student who was
helping in the cafeteria return a large amount of money to the cafeteria
staff. The money was lost by a kindergartner. The student overlooked
his own personal desires and did the right thing. Thanks Clint!
Success in school comes in many different ways, academics is the most
important thing, but we can all learn by the life lessons that our kids
teach us everyday. Life is not only about us and our needs as many kids
and schools have shown by the tsunami relief effort. If your school
is supporting one, please give them your support. I cannot say it any
better than the following letter from two students in our Leadership
Class.
Leadership Letter:
At Rivergold School, we always stress the importance that “impossible”
is not a word that should describe our dreams. We live by Mr. Rose’s
motto, “Live Strong,” exercising our voice in today’s
society. As we enter our third year of having student officers, we have
the opportunity to conduct meetings where we can take students’
and teachers’ suggestions and worries and make a change. The Leadership
Class is a powerful addition for an elective class.
Such activities included our much planned and exciting Valentine’s
Dance on February 11. The yearly event consists of student nominations
for king, queen, prince and princess followed by voting and presenting
our winners with crowns, capes and tiaras at the dance.
However, the Leadership Class is sure to not only plan dances, but also
make Rivergold a kinder and better place by being the ones to step up
boldly and make a difference.
For example, when graffiti was found on our campus picnic tables, we
designed a sign telling people that we loved our campus and we would
appreciate if people were respectful.
This leads to simple actions such as picking up others’ coats,
picking up trash because this might not be “our trash” but
it’s “our earth,” picking up lunch boxes instead of
kicking them aside, and performing other “random acts of kindness.”
To make ourselves better leaders and practice the changes we want to
see at Rivergold, elected class representatives inform their classes
about what’s being discussed and planned at Rivergold, and how
we can all do our part.
With the help of president, Kyle Bohigian; vice president, Makenzie
Hagerman; treasurer, Ashley Eggleston; secretary, Darrell Haggard; activity
directors, Chelcie Bohner and Gailyn Wensloff, as well as outstanding
class leaders to offer support and opinions, we can make a difference.
Also with help from our awesome teachers, Mrs. Simons and Mrs. Hansen
Sedor, we know that with leaders, supporters, and fresh new ideas and
dreams, we can accomplish anything. From dress code, to lunches, to
dances and to cleaning up our campus, we know that nothing is impossible
at Rivergold!
Calliope Holingue and Jordan Ellis
Yosemite
and Coarsegold Districts
School
News
is a publication of the
Yosemite Joint Union High School District
and the
Coarsegold Union School District
Published at the YJUHSD Office
50200 Road 427
Oakhurst CA 93644
559-683-8801 ext. 338
www.yosemiteuhsd.com
YJUHSD
Board of Trustees
Linda Olson, President
Priscilla Pike, Clerk
Tom Allcock
Karen Hutchings
Bert McSwain
Bill McCabe, superintendent
Trustees
can be reached through the
YJUHSD office, 683-8801 ext. 348
50200 Road 427, Oakhurst, CA 93644
CUSD
Board of Trustees
Sue O’Connor, Chair
Greg Schoonard, Clerk
Kathy Casey
John Reynolds
Christine Wilder
Bill
McCabe, superintendent
Trustees
can be reached through the
CUSD office, 683-8801 ext. 387
45426
Road 415, Coarsegold CA 93614
www.coarsegoldusd.com
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