El Monte Union High School District received the first two of 11 electric buses on July 21 and two more on July 22 as a part of the District’s participation in the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project, made possible by the $9.8 million grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This new fleet of electric buses is a part of the District’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, creating a healthier environment for students, families and staff. El Monte Union’s participation in the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project promotes the use of zero-emission vehicles and clean transportation options for its school community, thanks to the CARB grant.
Live theater is returning to Río Hondo College, which will stage and livestream two online performances of the Broadway musical “Working,” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6 and Saturday, Aug. 7. “Working” is a series of vignettes telling the stories of everyday Americans, in their own words, with professions ranging from steelworker to corporate executive. Based on a book written by oral historian Studs Terkel and developed for the stage by lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz, the musical debuted on Broadway in 1978. A 2012 revival of “Working” added two new songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which will be included in the College’s production.
Baldwin Park Unified received a donation of 79 Chromebooks to distribute to students in need from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), helping address the digital divide to ensure that every student receives an equitable education. CETF supplied the devices and BPUSD’s team of technology service technicians worked with school staff and home liaisons to identify families and assign Chromebooks to students. Each Chromebook has been enrolled in the District’s Google Management account for content filtering, and the devices have been added to TipWeb, which will allow the District to keep track of the devices.
Lynwood High School will return to its original campus, located on Bullis Road, and will welcome LHS Knights for the first day of the 2021-22 year on Thursday, Aug. 19 when it unveils an improved campus featuring high school amenities and new technology. Multiple upgrades are taking place across campus, including the addition of new portable classrooms, as well as updates to the dance room and locker rooms. The campus modifications also include updated classrooms and science labs, and a renovated quad with added greenery. A new technology hub will be installed in spring 2022.
Whittier Union Receives $45,000 from Credit Union of Southern California
Whittier Union High School District will receive $45,000 from the Credit Union of Southern California, which was presented to the District during its July 13 Board of Trustees meeting. The funds will be used primarily to enhance sports programs across the District and will also benefit student-athletes for years to come.
Baldwin Park Unified Prepares for School Year with Leadership Charge
Baldwin Park Unified School District and school administrators gathered together for the District’s annual Leadership Charge on July 15 and 16. Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza welcomed principals, program administrators, directors and supervisors to both professional development days, ensuring the entire BPUSD team is prepared to welcome back students to the new academic year.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees honored California High School’s girls swim team during a board meeting on July 13. The Lady Condors were celebrated for winning the CIF Southern California Division IV championship. During the recognition, Coach Todd Jacobsen presented each athlete with a certificate of achievement, celebrating their dedication to the sport and perseverance during an unprecedented year.
Fontana School Police Officer Honored for Safe Driving Education
Fontana School Police Department Officer Glen A. Johnsen has been honored with the 2021 Innovation in the Classroom Award, receiving national recognition for his creative approach to teaching students about safe driving. The annual accolade, awarded by the National Road Safety Foundation and the National Association of School Resource Officers, recognizes a police officer for their innovative teaching of traffic safety in schools. Johnsen’s award-winning approach features a computer game, developed with computer science students at Summit High School, that uses role-playing to demonstrate the potential consequences of bad driving decisions – including texting, reckless driving and driving under the influence.
Fontana Unified School District will begin the 2020-2021 school year on Aug. 24, at which time all students will return to school in an online setting. This will allow additional time for students, parents, teachers, and staff to better prepare for a new school year. The decision to start the school year on Aug. 24 was announced during a July 22 Board of Education special meeting.
Río Hondo College will benefit from $28.8 million in relief funds, presented by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez during her visit to the College on July 8. The financial relief comes from the American Rescue Plan, which provides funding to local colleges through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III). Authorized by the American Rescue Plan, HEERF III provided $39.6 billion to help higher education institutions serve students throughout the pandemic recovery process.
