The MPWR supports "recreation and community programs, parks, facilities, and open spaces in Monrovia."
- Brad Haugaard
Gem City Images has a great photo essay showing current building sites around Monrovia and what is planned for them. https://is.gd/GMr0qB
- Brad Haugaard
The proposed project consists of a 3,100 square foot restaurant with 16 tables (50 seats), outdoor dining, and dual lane drive-thru service will be considered by the Monrovia Planning Commission at its July 14 meeting. https://is.gd/q422Uj
The Louisiana-based company's website says, "Our concept is simple and unique… we only have ONE LOVE – quality chicken finger meals!"
- Brad Haugaard
A parent with children in Monrovia schools wrote to express her concern about a new Monrovia School Board policy called, "Equity" (https://is.gd/neOlcA), which she believes means teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT), which is the idea that "racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies" and it "puts an emphasis on outcomes, not merely on individuals’ own beliefs, and it calls on these outcomes to be examined and rectified" (https://is.gd/nthBWB).
My correspondent, who wishes to remain anonymous, adds: "This needs to be an open discussion for all of Monrovia stakeholders not just a few people assigned to a committee to decide for all and especially for our children that attend Monrovia schools." She suggests that parents should be provided with a syllabus of each class, from Kindergarten up.
I've looked at this document and don't see anything specifically mentioning CRT, though there are elements that concern me. Such as:
-- "[T]he Board also acknowledges other forms of social inequalities and oppression, including gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, national origin, foster youth, involvement with the dependency or juvenile justice systems, and students with disabilities and learning differences, and how these different forms of oppression intersect."
Involvement with the juvenile justice systems is oppression? So if a student robs a liquor store and becomes "involved with the juvenile justice system" he is oppressed? And "gender" is a form of oppression? I don't think so and I don't think this was intended; it is just very badly worded.
-- "Adopt curriculum and instructional materials that accurately reflect the diversity among student groups."
If there are liberal and conservative students, religious and non-religious students, socialist and capitalist students, and so forth, does this mean instructors will be careful to explain multiple positions on political, economic, social and religious issues, or are we in fact using the word "diversity" in the least important sense, that of skin color?
-- "Promote the employment and retention of a diverse staff that reflects the student demographics of the community."
Again, I doubt the demographic diversity referred to here is about political, religious, and economic viewpoints, so since it is most likely referring to race, shouldn't we be teaching our children to learn from the best sources -- to accept good information without judging it based on the color of the instructor? I would really rather the district just hire the best teachers and employees, regardless of race.
- Brad Haugaard
Dinner at Jim’s Burgers, at Sixth and Duarte Road. Got the pastrami sandwich for $9.69 and an iced tea for $1.59. Very good.
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.
View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are available every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. for the following week.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Also, students from throughout the community will be awarded financial scholarships. The evening will kick-off with live mariachi by Mariachi Alma de mi Tierra and dinner by Max's Mexican Cuisine and Cabrera's Restaurant. To attend, RSVP by text to: (626) 703 2398.
- Brad Haugaard
The fireworks are on at Library Park.
~ Approving various enabling measures to allow for the construction of a Starbucks and Chick-fil-A project at the 2.09-acre Huntington Drive site occupied by the Claimjumper restaurant. The project will set aside 8,600 square feet on the south side of the project, next to Alta Street, to be turned over to the city for a park sometime in the future. https://is.gd/OV4Fbr
~ Adopting an Urban Water Management Plan, as required by the state. The staff report indicates that Monrovia is actually using less water per person than before - 154 gallons of water per person per day compared to its historically determined baseline of 195 gallons per person per day. Also, the report says staff has "determined that the City can meet water demands during normal, single dry, and five-consecutive dry year periods over the next 25 years." https://is.gd/jLZ6w7
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Dear Monrovia Unified School District Family,
I am excited to write this letter to you on my first official day as your superintendent. It is hard to truly express how much of an honor and a privilege it is to serve all of you in this capacity. I am grateful to our Board of Education for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading Monrovia Unified School District and ensuring world-class schools for world-class students.
I want to thank Dr. Katherine Thorossian for her incredible leadership over the last eight years, capping a stellar career in education.
Over the coming weeks, I am looking forward to meeting with as many of you as I possibly can. The thoughts of our students, parents and families, teachers and staff, and community members, are all very important to me. Meeting with our stakeholders is the best way to introduce myself, and provides an opportunity for me to hear what matters most to those I serve. I plan on asking questions and listening to learn and understand. I will use what I learn during this time to lead the work we do moving forward, and build on the strong foundation already in place, to propel Monrovia Unified to new heights.
Core values are deeply held beliefs that a person or organization operates from. In a sense, core values act as a compass that points to true north, especially in difficult times or when tough decisions must be made. I think it is important that you know what my core values are, as they are what drives me:
As we get to know one another, I am looking forward to sharing more about why these are my core values and what they mean to me. More importantly, I hope you see how I demonstrate them through my actions.
There is much to accomplish between now and the first day of school. We are diligently working to prepare for a full return to in-person instruction, following public health guidelines and strengthening remote learning options for families, should that be their preference. We are ensuring plans are in place to identify and address not only the academic needs of all our students, but their social-emotional needs as well. Our team is also in the process of recruiting highly qualified staff to fill our certificated, classified, and administrative vacancies. I will provide updates on our progress in these areas and others in the future.
Monrovia Unified School District and the community it serves are truly amazing. I am thrilled to be your superintendent and look forward to working collaboratively to reach new heights! If you see me while I am out and about, please take a few minutes to introduce yourself - if I don’t beat you to it. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about me, please listen to this podcast hosted by California School News Radio: https://tinyurl.com/DrSmithPodcast.
Source: Monrovia Schools press release
- Brad Haugaard
Wikipedea says the fundamentalist movement began at Princeton Theological Seminary (https://is.gd/RVyBzv) but adds that it was "prefigured by The Fundamentals: A Testimony To The Truth, a collection of twelve pamphlets published between 1910 and 1915, by brothers Milton and Lyman Stewart. It is widely considered to be the foundation of modern Christian fundamentalism."
Lyman Stewart was the co-founder and long-time president of Union Oil and helped found Occidental College, Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola University), Union Rescue Mission, and women's shelters, among other things. In 1909, he established Testimony Publishing Trust to produce and publish The Fundamentals, in defense of the Bible and traditional Christian faith. As they were published these collections of essays by conservative scholars were sent to Christian leaders throughout the English-speaking world.
Stewart asked Dr. Louis Meyer, Jewish by birth and Christian by faith, to join the editorial team. In 1911 Meyer took charge of the project, according to a paper entitled, "Dr. Louis Meyer: A Centennial Observance," by Paul W. Rood of Biola University.
Rood writes that overwork, constant travel, and personal attacks led to Meyer's physical deterioration, and to save his life Stewart "arranged for Meyer and his family to be transported by private rail car from Cincinnati to the Pottenger Sanitarium in Monrovia, where he was diagnosed with an acute and advanced case of tuberculosis and possible meningitis."
But Meyer brought his work with him.
"Meyer brought all of his boxes of manuscripts and correspondence with him and continued to edit and publish two more volumes of The Fundamentals during his last six months of life."
Rood adds that Meyer suffered terribly during his final seven weeks and died on July 11, 1913. His memorial service was at Pasadena Presbyterian Church and he is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena.
While Louis Meyer was living at the Pottenger Sanitarium his wife and young children were staying nearby. According to correspondence between Monrovian David Campbell – to whom I am indebted for bringing Meyer to my attention – and Rood, Meyer's family rented the house at 177 N. Encinitas until his death, then moved to Altadena.
Photo of Meyer from a 1913 issue of the Missionary Review of the World in a special article honoring Dr. Meyer.- Brad Haugaard
