Chris Amico: Journalist

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LANCASTER — The Lancaster School District board of trustees voted to implement a “philosophy” of science instruction that encourages students to question Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and that permits science teachers to insert critiques of the long-standing and accepted scientific theory into the curriculum.

The new statement, updated from an older document, does not include any alternative theories such as “intelligent design,” which posits a master plan or master “designer” as an explanation of how the universe began. Outside groups quickly pounced on the move as a way of sneaking creationism — or a divine explanation — in the back door of the classroom. (more…)

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LANCASTER — A state-appointed trustee with veto power over the principal’s decisions will take up residence at Antelope Valley High School in the coming weeks as part of the long-troubled school’s efforts to boost student achievement.

The decision follows a blistering report issued last month on the state of education at the Valley’s oldest high school and three years of state monitoring. State Superintendent Jack O’Connell handed down sanctions for six schools around the state, including two in the Antelope Valley and two in Kern County. (more…)

Starting this fall, every ninth-grader in the Antelope Valley Union High School District will take algebra or a higher math class. The district announced this week it will adopt a more rigorous math sequence in order to give more students options when they graduate, but some skeptics worry it will push some kids too far, too fast.

“Our mission is that the district is to provide students with options,” said David Vierra, the district’s superintendent.

The algebra requirement is part of a broader push to align curriculum at all eight comprehensive high schools in the district. “Whether a student lives in the north valley, south valley, east valley or west valley, we want to offer the same things,” said Michael Vierra, assistant superintendent of educational services and the superintendent’s brother. (more…)

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The day after losing her seat on the Palmdale School Board, Shawny Barcelona was back at work, running her salon, trying not to let the loss get to her.

She was frustrated but hoped to get back on the board when another seat opens up. She says she’ll at least stay active.

“I ran a good, positive campaign, and I’m very happy with that,” she said. “I think everyone else is more sad than me.”

Barcelona lost her seat to newcomer Jeff Ferrin, a vice principal at William J. “Pete” Knight High School. Both had the backing of Valley Republicans, and Ferrin had state Senator George Runner, R-Lancaster, behind him. Republicans also endorsed incumbent Sheldon Epstein.

Ferrin, Epstein and Sandy Corrales, the current board president, all of whom won seats in Tuesday’s election, were on the slate of candidates endorsed by the California Teachers Association. Barcelona drew the union’s wrath for supporting Governor Arnold Schwarzennegger, whose propositions the union adamantly opposed. She came in fourth, finishing 466 votes behind Ferrin.

The big winner in this election, locally and at the state level, was the California Teachers Association. (more…)

PALMDALE — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Monday night fund-raising dinner put at least two Palmdale School District trustees in the awkward position of supporting the governor but opposing a pillar of his “Year of Reform.”

At the same time, two other trustees from that district were marching in protest outside the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. (more…)

ACTON — Since deciding not to seek a third term on the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School Board, Trustee Steve Harbeson has clashed frequently with his fellow board members.

Now the only incumbent not running for re-election has turned on his colleagues, endorsing three challengers in the Nov. 8 election.

Harbeson said Larry Layton, Deborah Jauregui-Rocha and Leona Sexton are “the only candidates that I feel really care about the children of our district.” (more…)

ACTON — The lights over the Vasquez High School athletic field are almost finished, but trustees for the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District still have doubts about the project.

School Board President Fred Heslep refused to hear an update on the lighting project at Thursday night’s meeting, since the school board has never officially voted to endorse the project started by Vasquez High athletic director Tim Jorgensen.

“It doesn’t exist as far as the board is concerned,” Heslep said in the meeting. (more…)

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LITTLEROCK — State, district and charter school officials continue to sort through financial records of the defunct Henry Hearns Charter School of Academic Excellence, some of which show how precarious the school’s budget situation was at the end.

The school, which opened in 2000 with fanfare and high aims, ushered in the Antelope Valley’s first major encounter with the charter school movement. Charter schools operate independently from traditional school districts, though under their auspices, and obtain state funding for their operations. (more…)

ACTON — The ghost of Acton School continues to haunt the district that voted to close the campus 18 months ago.

Trustees for the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District voted 4-1 to cancel a restroom installation project at Meadowlark Elementary and High Desert Middle School on Thursday night. Part of the reasoning, aside from fiscal considerations, was a lingering discontent over Acton School’s closure.

“There’s a strong feeling in my mind that we’re going back to Acton,” said Trustee Melissa Harnett, who voted with the majority. (more…)

PALMDALE — By almost a 3-to-1 margin, teachers in the Palmdale School District rejected a tentative contract agreement reached two weeks ago after nearly two years of negotiations.

If approved, the contract would have maintained no-cost benefits for teachers until the 2007-08 school year, when the new contract expires. Teachers again would have given up a pay raise on the exchange, as they have since 2000.

Whatever the cost of the most expensive health plan offered to teachers in 2006-07, that amount would become the maximum district contribution for the next year.

The sound rejection by teachers, 602 voted no; 218 said yes, throws the process back into uncertainty. (more…)