Monrovia Schools: Progress in Reducing Suspension Rate; Greatest Need in Math and Absenteeism - Hearing Scheduled

Monrovia Schools has developed its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) budget, which is now available for public review here: https://is.gd/cbK69d

The 344-page document details the strengths and weaknesses in the district and outlines what the district is going to do about the problems.

The district notes that its greatest progress has been in reducing the suspension rate, and its greatest needs are in mathematics and reducing chronic absenteeism.

The document says: 

Our immediate next steps are to:

1) Expand the math support provided include 4-5 grade teachers in the full implementation of the SWUN math curriculum [Common Core training], including a deeper study of the math framework. Also, continue to support the use of SBAC interims [progress tests] to guide adjustments to instruction based on the results.

2) District personnel and site administrators will focus on who are the students who are chronically absent and seek to provide supports based on individual needs. A portion of each Instructional Leaders meetings have been and will continue to be dedicated to the analysis of what has been effective in reducing chronic absenteeism and how to scale these approaches to other schools within the district.

The LCAP has been developed with community and staff input, based on student outcomes, and following guidelines regarding eight priority areas outline by the California Department of Education.

The LCAP hearing will occur during the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. Approval of the LCAP is set for Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release and LCAP document

- Brad Haugaard

Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks

Monrovia's Fourth of July Concert & Fireworks Show is scheduled for Thursday, July 4 with recorded music beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a live band at 7 p.m. and the free fireworks show beginning at 9 p.m. and lasting approximately 20 minutes. Spectators may reserve a park space no larger than 10 x 10 feet starting at 6 a.m. and must be supervised at all times.

- Brad Haugaard

Summer Concerts in the Parks - Station Square and Library Park

Monrovia's Public Services Department will host the 2019 Summer Concert Series.  Free musical entertainment from 7-8:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, sit back, relax and enjoy the variety of music.

Saturday Concerts at Station Square Amphitheater
1601 South Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016

July 6 - COLD DUCK BAND (Old School)
July 13 - Night Owl Productions (Top 40)
July 20 - Blue Breeze Band (Motown / Jazz / Blues)
July 27 - Salsa Caliente (Latin Jazz / Salsa)
August 3 - The Hodads (Variety Band)
August 10 - The Skinny Ties Band (80's Rock)
August 17 - Mark Easterday Band (Country)
August 24 - Langston Theard & Adoration (Gospel Soul)


Sunday Concerts at Library Park, Rotary Club Bandshell 

July 7 - SOTO Band(Top 40 / Latin)
July 14 - Langston Theard & Adoration (Gospel Soul)
July 21 - The Kelly Rae Band (Country)
July 28 - The Smokin' Cobras (Retro / 50's)
August 4 - Hit Me 90s (90's Pop)
August 11 - BUMPTOWN (Old School Disco)
August 18 - Yachty by Nature (Yacht Rock 70's & 80's)
August 25 - The Answer to Classic Rock (Classic Rock)

- Brad Haugaard

Foothill Unity Center Preps for Back-to-School Supply Event

Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center is prepping for its 2019 Back to School school supply event with a meeting at its 790 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, office on June 13, from 3-4:30 p.m. If interested, RSVP to information@foothillunitycenter.org

- Brad Haugaard

Officer Rosendo Ramos to Receive Distinguished Service Medal; Summer Reading Party; Etc.

In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports:

~ The Library will hold a "Backyard Party" to kick off its summer reading program on Saturday, June 8, from noon to 4 p.m. in the park and throughout the library. Activities for all ages, from fort building and a paper airplane contest for the kids, to karaoke and DIY summer crafts for adults.

~ Monrovia Police Officer Rosendo Ramos III will be presented with a Distinguished Service Medal at the annual Police Department Awards Ceremony, Thursday, June 13, at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. A cake and punch reception will follow immediately afterwards in the Police Department Community Policing Room.

~ The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) will hold a Warriors Art Evening fundraiser on June 20 at 6:30 p.m. Participants can paint (or watch others paint) in an art session led by veteran and artist Wadvin Alfaro. The $26 fee includes painting, or watching, and a cheeseburger and fries dinner. Drinks sold separately. Register online (https://is.gd/H3arzJ) to support vets and the local VFW.

~ How we vote is changing. We'll be using "vote centers." There'll be community meeting about this on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m., at the Second Baptist Church. https://is.gd/9MnKK5


~  The city's Community Garden project, hosted by Mountainside Communion Church, received 27 applications for 21 available garden plots. So all the spots are taken, but if you want to attend the ribbon cutting, it'll be Saturday, July 20 at 9 a.m.

~  The city is applying for a state grant to make improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park (at Olive and Mayflower). On Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m., city staff will show the Community Services Commission around the park so the commission can provide feedback on the staff plans.

- Brad Haugaard

Letter to Editor: Portantino Right to Drop SB50

The decision by State Senator Anthony Portantino to pull a bill that would have dismantled city planning authority over residential development in California was wise and necessary. SB50 was a blunt instrument that would have forced cities to allow 5 and 6 story apartment buildings regardless of considerations such as added demand for water, power, schools or other infrastructure. Historic neighborhoods would be destroyed. Quiet residential streets would find themselves construction sites for thousand-unit rental complexes.

Few of California’s 538 cities have existing buildings this large. It would dramatically change the character of these communities. Even the major cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles that do host similar buildings found SB50 unacceptable. Their city councils joined the opposition to this measure.

There is no doubt that California’s housing market is broken. Each year, the city of Houston issues as many housing permits than our entire state. But the blunderbuss that is SB50 is not the solution. Senator Portantino was right to pull the bill.

Robert Helbing
President
Monrovia Chamber of Commerce

Former Monrovian Leslie Van Houten Again Denied Parole

Former former Monrovia High School cheerleader and homecoming princess, Leslie Van Houten, was again denied parole - this time by Governor Gavin Newsom - for her part in the Charles Manson murders. https://is.gd/KBSOFg

- Brad Haugaard

I Only Wish!

This is rather funny.

According to the website, Zoominfo, MonroviaNow.com has an annual revenue of $3.2 million.

I wish! I think MonroviaNow made about $50 last year (Thanks for advertising Monrovia Historic Preservation Group! Hope it did well for you.)

Also, it says MonroviaNow has 16 employees.

Uh, no. Just me. Owner and chief bottle washer.

And it thinks we're based at 2033 E. Washington Blvd. in Pasadena (the address of St. James Church).

Nooo. I'm still in Monrovia. No idea where that came from.

Also, it appears the website believes Thomas Montes, who was recently appointed Monrovia Schools' new School Resource Officer, is somehow affiliated with MonroviaNow.

No again. He has no connection with MonroviaNow except for being the subject of a story.

I guess I should be flattered.

- Brad Haugaard

Report on Monrovia Music Fest

Here is a photo report on the 2019 Monrovia Music Fest by Gem City Images. https://is.gd/ptvcz7

- Brad Haugaard

New Features on MonroviaNow

Well, I finally got around to adding a feature to MonroviaNow that I should have added long ago. At the top of the MonroviaNow.com webpage you can now click on either "Schools" or "Police" to see the latest stories on either of these topics. So far I have added stories from 2019. Hopefully I'll get around to 2018 soon.

- Brad Haugaard

Sidewalk CPR - Learn to Save a Life

Need a Piano? Get One and Benefit Monrovia Historic Preservation Group

Monrovia Historic Preservation Group is selling a baby grand piano with its bench for $2,000. All proceeds benefit the group. https://is.gd/QCAF7h

- Brad Haugaard

Council to Vote on Putting Sales Tax on November Ballot

At its Tuesday, June 4, meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/oJoNJ8) the Monrovia City Council will consider calling a special election on November 5, 2019 to ask Monrovians to pass a .75% city sales tax to prevent the county or state from grabbing the money. https://is.gd/0Wnrul

The idea is that by increasing sales tax to the maximum level permitted by the state, that would make any new sales taxes passed by the county or state irrelevant in Monrovia.

The wording on the ballot measure would be as shown above.

The main uses for the tax money would be:

• To upgrade the Community Center.
• Achieve a AAA credit rating (meaning cheaper money if the city has to borrow).
• Give money back to residents.
• Capital and infrastructure improvements
• "Community Priorities," meaning affordable housing, youth programs, crossing guards, etc.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Church to Become Laser Tag Arena

This Friday a Monrovia church is going to turn its “whole auditorium into a giant laser tag arena” as part of a free event for high school students. From 6:30-10 p.m. The event will be held at Hope Unlimited Church (1900 Walker Ave., a block south of Duarte and a block east of Myrtle). 

- Brad Haugaard 

Comment: Let's Not Overlook the Trades at Monrovia Schools

Recently I commented on some new tech-related courses at Monrovia High, saying, "Well, this is good, but it doesn't give me much confidence that there is any follow-through on the discussion before the election about science and tech not being for everybody. How about adding some classes for the trades: auto mechanics, electricians, etc.?"

Well, I got a response from a member of the district saying, if I may paraphrase, that the new Advanced Graphic Design, Web Development, and Game Development classes ARE trades because by taking them students can get good jobs without going on to college.

Okay, I suppose this is an acceptable definition of the "trades," but it was not what I was thinking about. Nor, do I imagine, is it what other people think about when they think of the trades. What I was thinking about was the traditional get-your-hands-dirty kind of jobs.

So why do I - who spent a career at tech companies - think the traditional trades are so important?

Well, suppose you are a computer graphic designer, web developer, or game developer. Who is your competition? I'll tell you who - Every other designer or developer in the whole big, wide, hungry world! Any job that can be done digitally can be done pretty much anywhere.

I know this because I've lived in the midst of it. I've watched programmers go from making well over $100,000 a year to being laid off. A nearby tech company I know recently laid off about a hundred programmers. At the same time the company is hiring programmers overseas.

So, these jobs are very easy to outsource to India or Ukraine, but also everybody and his brother's cat is being taught computer tech. I just saw an article called: "Coding for kindergarten." The concepts and tools for programming are being made simpler and simpler, which means more and more competition, even locally.

But suppose instead that you are a plumber, welder, or auto mechanic - someone who has to be physically at a location. Who is your competition? Probably nobody outside of maybe a 20-mile radius. You are NOT competing against the whole world. And when I talk to people in the trades they complain that they can't get enough workers.

So while I don't want to demean tech jobs, and I think, in particular, that the robotics teams in the Monrovia schools are really great, I think we are giving the trades - in the traditional sense - very short shrift, and I think in fairness to our students who do not want to go on to college that we should offer them training in skills that cannot be done in India or the Ukraine for a quarter of the cost they can be done here.

Rant concluded.


Update: Oh yeah, I wanted to add this joke:

Man gets a bill from his plumber.

Man: "$150 an hour! I'm a lawyer and even I don't make that much."

Plumber: "Yeah, I didn't make that much when I was a lawyer either."


- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Jake’s Roadhouse

Dinner at Jake’s Roadhouse. Got the Smoked Sausage for $13.95 and a small beer for $5.25. Very good and filling. Had to take some home. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Former Monrovia High Teacher Honored by Citrus College

Citrus College has awarded former Monrovia High teacher Sal Medina the honorary title of Distinguished Alumni for 2019, one of two people to receive the honor.

Medina graduated from Citrus in 1995, went on to the University of La Verne where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science (1998) and master's degree in education (2000), then accpeted a position as a political science teacher at Monrovia High School, where he was known for his engaging style and ability to motivate students. In addition to teaching, he coached the girls' volleyball team and served as adviser to the Key Club.

In 2007 he launched his own business: Packing House Wines. In its first year, Packing House Wines was recognized as the Claremont Chamber of Commerce "Business of the Year." Since then, it has developed from a small boutique to a full-sized wine bar and restaurant located in the Claremont Packing House.

Source: Citrus College press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Instructor Featured on Radio

Monrovia Unified School District's Director of Performing Arts, Patrick Garcia, was featured on California School News Radio.

Garcia discusses Monrovia Days, a three-day civic celebration that highlighted the district’s visual and performing arts programs. Listen on iTunes. https://buff.ly/2Z4WMix

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Is Hartford, Connecticut, Interested in Monrovia's Idlewild House?

The Hartford Courant - the newspaper for Hartford, Connecticut - apparently finds Monrovia real estate an interesting topic. This story in the Courant is about Monrovia's Idlewild house: https://is.gd/x3vHmK

Actually, my guess is that because Monrovia Nursery (home office in Azusa) has a nursery in Hartford County, Connecticut, the newspaper's computer picked up the story and ran with it simply because the word "Monrovia" appeared in it. Computers gone goofy.

- Brad Haugaard

ABC7 Reports on Monrovia Eagle Scout John Maines

ABC7 News recently reported on Monrovia Eagle Scout John Maines, whose Eagle Scout project was raising money for an instrument rack for the violins and the violas for the music program at Monrovia High. Also, Maines recently wrote a suicide awareness PSA that was rated best PSA on this topic in all of California. https://is.gd/1riL69

- Brad Haugaard