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.
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.
Covina-Valley Unified School District recently refinanced some of its General Obligation (G.O.) 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 $6,133,480 in savings to local taxpayers from 2023 to 2044 and lower the repayment ratio on these bonds from 1.42 to 1. The refinancing applies to all current interest bonds.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will hold two meetings on Tuesday, Jan. 18 and Monday, Feb. 7 to evaluate the 2020 U.S. Census data and discuss updates to its trustee area boundary maps. On Jan. 18 at their next regularly scheduled meeting, the Covina-Valley Unified Board of Education will hear a presentation on the redistricting process and examine adjusted map scenarios that maintain population balance between the trustee areas. oThe Board of Education will then facilitate a public hearing at 7 p.m. during their regular board meeting on Feb. 7 at the Dr. Mary Hanes Professional Development Center, located at 220 W. Puente St., Covina, to receive community input on the draft map scenarios. The public is encouraged to attend the hearing and submit comments by completing the Request to Speak Card and handing it to the clerk before the meeting.
From there, the District will adopt and submit a final, revised plan to the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization for final approval.
In accordance with the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and revised health protocols outlined by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Covina-Valley Unified School District provided District students with more than 6,000 free, at-home COVID-19 testing kits during drive-thru distribution events on Jan. 6 and 7. Covina-Valley Unified worked with the Los Angeles County Office of Education to receive and distribute the tests, which are being provided to school districts by the California Department of Public Health.
Football history was made at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium as the Northview High School varsity football team competed in their first-ever CIF Southern California Division 4-A State Championship game on Dec. 11, 2021.
Coming into the game, the Vikings were experiencing one of Northview’s most successful seasons in years, winning the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division 10 Championship title for the first time since 1987 and the school’s first CIF-SS Division 4-A regional championship.
South Hills High School head football coach, Danilo Robinson, resigned his coaching position today. Robinson saw the team through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, charting a course to keep players safe while returning them to the field.
The Covina-Valley Unified School District welcomed Board of Education members to new leadership positions at their reorganization meeting held on Dec. 13. The Board of Education selected Rachael Robles as the new president. Sue L. Maulucci was selected as vice president and Gary C. Rodriguez was selected as clerk. Members Maria M. Caceres and Maria E. Roman round out the Board of Education.
Northview High School’s girls varsity tennis team was named CIF Southern Section Division 5 champions for the first time in school history after defeating Apple Valley High School 10-8 on Nov. 12. The Vikings entered the playoffs unseeded, but their unranked status did not stop them from making the most of the opportunity. Throughout the playoffs, they reminded themselves of their mantra – refuse to lose.
All three Covina-Valley Unified middle schools – Las Palmas Middle School, Traweek Middle School and Sierra Vista Middle School – have been recognized as 2021 California Schools to Watch, celebrating their efforts in closing the achievement gap, establishing positive learning environments and infusing technology into every aspect of learning. The middle schools are among 31 high-performing California middle schools to be honored this year. All three schools were re-evaluated to retain their Schools to Watch status.
