Covina-Valley Unified’s Covina and South Hills high schools are each searching for qualified candidates for their next head football coach. Both schools are looking for coaches who will help coordinate all aspects of their football program and foster the development of student-athletes. Covina High School has an outstanding football team—winning the Sierra League Championship and reaching the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) quarterfinals in 2021.
South Hills High School also follows in a strong football tradition, winning five CIF titles – most recently in 2018.
El Monte Union High School District has selected Kirk McGinnis as the District’s new Director of Curriculum and Instruction. A key focus for McGinnis will be to provide leadership and expertise in developing career technical education (CTE) pathways within the District. With a history of building and maintaining positive school environments, McGinnis brings more than 20 years of experience in education to the role, as well as deep knowledge in how to build and expand programs such as dual enrollment for college credit, and CTE pathways that provide training in fields such as automotive technology, engineering, video production and sports medicine.
Seven Covina-Valley Unified elementary schools have been recognized among the top-performing public schools in California, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best K-8 Schools rankings. Mesa Elementary School and Barranca Elementary School ranked in the top 15 percent of elementary schools in the state, while Merwin Elementary School, Grovecenter Elementary School and Rowland Avenue Elementary School all ranked within the top 20 percent. Workman Elementary School and Ben Lomond Elementary School also ranked in the top 25 percent. U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural K-8 rankings draw from U.S. Department of Education data on student proficiency and performance in mathematics and reading.
Río Hondo College has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant to fund the Hope Scholars Program, a basic needs assistance project that provides holistic support services for unhoused and transitionally unhoused students. The College was one of five schools nationally to be recognized with the Basic Needs in Postsecondary Education award by the Federal Department of Education. On Dec. 29, Río Hondo College received notification of the award, which will be used for the continued support of unhoused and transitionally unhoused students. The total funds, amounting $989,798, will increase staffing for the Hope Scholars Program.
El Monte Union High School District released an eighth draft trustee area map for public review ahead of its next Board of Trustees meeting and final public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 2. The maps were created to support the District’s transition from at-large to by-trustee area elections. The newly released map – NDC Green 3 – was developed by professional demographers, National Demographics Corporation (NDC), based on comments received from the Board during the Jan. 5 public hearing. This map, includes a small revision to ensure the area bordered by Santa Anita Ave. on the west, Bryant Rd. on the north, Tyler Ave. on the east, and Valley Blvd. on the south is united in the proposed Trustee Area 3.
Buena Park School District students experienced learning in a way that captured their minds and imaginations as they interacted with flora and fauna, grasped rigorous scientific concepts and acquired wilderness skills during a weeklong science camp in the woods at the Pali Institute. The Pali Institute, located in the San Bernardino National Forest, gives students the opportunity to see the wilderness and combine science techniques with first-hand experience. Some 300 sixth-graders from Gordon H. Beatty Middle School and Buena Park Middle School attended the camp from Jan. 18 to 21.
Rosemead High School senior Madison Loterina has received a full-ride Posse Foundation Scholarship to attend Bucknell University, where she will continue to explore her passion for learning and pursue her dream of becoming a history teacher. Madison, a first-generation college student with a 4.15 GPA, discovered her passion for helping others to learn at an early age while volunteering with younger students at her elementary school. Madison credits her Advanced Placement (AP) history teachers at EMUHSD for nurturing her love of the subject and inspiring her career goals.
Rio Hondo College students will soon have the opportunity to earn $10,000 toward their college education by participating in the recently launched Californians For All College Corps.
Río Hondo College is one of 45 institutions selected for the program, which provides students with financial support if they participate in community service opportunities such as climate action, K-12 education, COVID-19 recovery and food distribution.
Californians For All College Corps was created to alleviate the rising student debt challenges faced by California students, which is estimated at $147 billion according to EdSource. The program was announced Jan. 18 by California Chief Service Officer and the head of California Volunteers Josh Fryday, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the leaders of California’s college and university systems.
Covina-Valley Unified Delivers Over $6 Million in Taxpayer Savings
Covina-Valley Unified School District recently refinanced some of its General Obligation bonds, resulting in decreased interest rates and saving taxpayers $6.1 million. Under the leadership of the Board of Education, Covina-Valley Unified sought to refinance the bonds to take advantage of historically low interest rates in 2021. The refinancing reduced the interest rate on the prior bonds from 4.67% to 2.91%. This move will result in more than $6 million in savings to local taxpayers from 2023 to 2044 and lower the repayment ratio on these bonds.
Río Hondo College Students Receive Financial Support for Volunteerism
Río Hondo College students will soon have the opportunity to earn $10,000 toward their college education by participating in the recently launched Californians For All College Corps. Río Hondo College is one of 45 institutions selected for the program, which provides students with financial support if they participate in community service opportunities such as climate action, K-12 education, COVID-19 recovery and food distribution. The program was announced Jan. 18 by California Chief Service Officer and the head of California Volunteers Josh Fryday, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the leaders of California’s college and university systems.
