Schools

Bullying among students and the responsibility that parents and district employees have when it happens was addressed by six of the seven school board candidates Monday during a forum hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce. The candidates also opined about budget issues, traffic congestion and other issues, but it was the bullying problem that got the most time. “Certainly, the schools have quite a bit of responsibility,” said incumbent Christine Walters. “The adults in schools are part of shaping who students become and what kind of citizens they are with each other.” She added that parents were also responsible for being aware of how their children treat family, friends and siblings.

The race for Glendale school board looks like a power grab to me. Why else would anyone want to unseat any of the three outstanding incumbents who are running to serve us again? Let me start with this alarm - Jennifer Freemon is backed by the Glendale Teachers Assn. Her husband, Allen Freemon, is a past president of the GTA, and is still a GTA board member. That probably sounds great. But can anyone else see that these relationships create a clear conflict of interest for GUSD? The problem ahead is that the school board will be involved in labor contract negotiations with the GTA. I fear that school board members who may be perceived as beholden to the interests of the GTA cannot fulfill their duties to those who elected them.

Teacher evaluations and budget hurdles were among the topics submitted from the public for a forum that put the spotlight on the seven candidates vying for three seats on the Glendale Unified school board. The televised forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank on Wednesday, attracted about 20 people to the district headquarters, where candidates each were given up to one minute to respond to each question. Speaking on the teacher-evaluation process, incumbent Christine Walters said statewide test scores shouldn't be the only measurement of teacher effectiveness.

The Glendale Unified School District will undertake its largest solar project yet when it installs panels at Glendale High School this summer that could generate 427 kilowatts of power, which is about 25% of the power used by the school in a year. Solar panels will also be installed at Roosevelt Middle School, as well as at Balboa, Fremont and Marshall elementary schools. Construction is scheduled to begin in June after school is dismissed for the summer, said Alan Reising, administrator of facilities planning at Glendale Unified.

Glendale Unified Deputy Supt. John Garcia will become the next superintendent of the Downey Unified School District in April - making him the fourth leader of that district in as many decades.  Garcia was selected for the top job from an applicant field of about 30 people, according to Downey Unified school board member Donald LaPlante. LaPlante - who has served on the school board for 34 years - said Garcia's extensive experience as a teacher and administrator made him stand out from other applicants.

A political newcomer who's running for Glendale Unified school board has raised the most money in the race, according to the most recent campaign filings. A dentist by trade, Armina Gharpetian reported raising $12,250. Of that amount, $1,155 came in the form of nonmonetary contributions and $2,500 consisted of a self-made loan. The majority of Gharpetian's contributions came from 17 supporters, 10 of whom donated $500 to $1,000 to her campaign. The total listed in her most recent financial disclosure forms for the period ending Feb. 21 put her far above the six other candidates in the race in terms of amassing campaign funds.

Glendale Unified School District officials this week approved early retirement for 115 employees, allowing up to 125 others whose jobs were on the line to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Of the 115 individuals agreeing to leave the district, 61 of those are certified teachers whose positions will not be replaced. This is expected to save the GUSD $1.6 million in the first year, $4.7 million in three years and $7.9 million in five years, according to Maria Gandera, assistant superintendent of human resources.

Glendale Unified officials announced plans to beef up security measures at campuses districtwide following the tragic shooting incidents at schools nationwide, as well some recent scares locally. At the school board meeting on Tuesday, officials said they plan to equip all schools with security cameras. Reception areas at all 30 campuses will also get panic buttons that make direct emergency calls to 911 with a single push, said Alan Reising, an administrator of district facilities.

WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD Vaqueros in Western State Conference Relays : Glendale Community College received a school-record time of 12 minutes 8.71 seconds for first place in the 4,000-meter distance relay from the quartet of Charlene Quintanilla, Nafasi Mataei, Lilia Asserian and Grace Zamudio on Friday at West L.A. College. They eclipsed the previous best mark of 12:10.39, which was accomplished in 2010. Also picking up first-place finishes for the Vaqueros were Lizzete Gonzalez, Asserian, Quintanilla and Zamudio in 9:32.49 in the 4x800 and Ana Tonga in the long jump (15 feet 10 1/2 inches)

At the first Glendale Unified school board election forum of the season Wednesday night, candidates discussed districtwide diversity, language programs and commemorating the Armenian genocide. About 20 people attended the event hosted and televised by the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee. All candidates said they supported making April 24 - the day commemorating the Armenian genocide - a non-instructional day, effectively giving students the day off while district staff and teachers work on professional development and other matters.