Santa Ana did not fare very well in a new study of the most family friendly big cities in California by the Estately Blog.
The report mentioned a few upsides: 5th lowest crime, 7th shortest commute, 9th most affordable housing market, 4th biggest children’s population.
But the downsides are significant: 5th lowest number of preschools, 4th lowest number of daycares, 5th highest cost of living. And check out the low GreatSchools Score: 5 out of 10.
Supporters of SAUSD School Board candidate Shuntele Andrews are hosting a “Lunch with Ms. Andrews” on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2014, from 12 noon to 2 pm, at 3617 W. Woodland Place, in Santa Ana.
The event will be hosted by Estella Ruiz Matthews at the home of Joe and Isabel Ruiz, and will feature homemade Mexican food. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2014
Contact: Sergeant Manuel Chavez, 714-558-5535; Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer , 714-673-4995
Back to School Safety Tips
School Begins September 2, 2014 in Santa Ana
The Santa Ana School Police Department would like to remind everyone that as summer draws to a close, back-to-school season is in full effect. It is important for parents to stay up-to-date on the proper safety precautions and share this information with their children to keep them safe throughout the school year.
Safety should be a priority for every family as 56,000 Santa Ana Unified School District students return to classrooms this fall. Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are some tips to make sure your child safely travels to school. Continue reading
The SAUSD School Board Members
For Immediate Release: August 26, 2014
Contact: Maryann Marino, 949-375-0856
Santa Ana Unified School District Spent More Than $6.4 Million on Litigation Over Three Years While Facing Budget Cuts, Report Finds
California’s Unbalanced Legal System Forces Districts to Bear High Litigation Costs, Citizen Watchdog Group Says
SACRAMENTO, CA – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report analyzing litigation costs to Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and 11 other California school districts over a period of three fiscal years from 2010 to 2013. The report found that SAUSD spent $6.4 million on litigation costs over the three years, and that all the districts combined spent $125.6 million.
High litigation costs contributed to budget crunches at districts across the state, resulting in fewer educational programs. SAUSD, as well as all of the other districts, faced multi-million dollar budget cuts during the years examined. Continue reading
SAUSD School Board candidate Shuntele Andrews, a retired teacher, has been endorsed by SAUSD School Board Trustee Rob Richardson, according to her Facebook page.
In February 2003, Richardson was elected to the Board of Education following a recall election and receiving 65% of the votes cast. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2008 to full four year terms. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514
Santa Ana School Board Vice President José Alfredo Hernández Endorses Rigo Rodríguez for School Board
(Santa Ana) – Today, Santa Ana School Board Vice President José Alfredo Hernández joined School Board Clerk Rob Richardson and President Audrey Yamagata-Noji in endorsing Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for School Board.
Vice President Hernández was appointed to the School Board in January 2007. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Whittier Law School Trial Advocacy Honors Board and was a Fellow at the Center for Children’s Rights. In addition to serving on the School Board José Alfredo Hernández works as a criminal and immigration defense attorney for the Santa Ana community. Continue reading
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2014
Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer , (714) 558-5555 Office, (714) 673-4995 Mobile
Media Advisory: Groundbreaking for Highly Anticipated SAUSD Sports Complex
What: Celebrate the groundbreaking of the highly anticipated Santa Ana Unified School District Sports Complex. Thanks to the passage of Measure G, a facilities improvement bond to construct and maintain the condition of the district’s school facilities, students in the city of Santa Ana can finally have a sports complex to call their own. Although the Sports Complex is located on the grounds of Valley High School, it will be jointly used by all of the district’s high schools.
Who: Members of the SAUSD Board of Education, Superintendent, Elected Officials (State, County, and City), students, athletes, coaches, parents, and community members.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12th, 2014
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514
Santa Ana School Board Clerk Rob Richardson Endorses Rigo Rodríguez for School Board
(Santa Ana) – Santa Ana School Board Clerk Rob Richardson announced his endorsement of Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for Santa Ana School Board today.
Richardson stated: “As an educator and active community member, Rigo Rodríguez has dedicated his career to strengthening the Santa Ana community through education. As a School Board member, Dr. Rodríguez will continue to lead efforts to improve schools for our children. He will fight for what is best for our students, I have confidence in him to lead our District forward.”
Rob Richardson has been a longtime leader in the Santa Ana community. He served on the Santa Ana School Board from 1987-1990, after which he served as a Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem for eight years. In 2003, Richardson returned to the School Board where he served another five years as President working to improve the quality of education in Santa Ana and he continues on the Board. He currently serves as an administrator for the County of Orange. Continue reading
Deanna Rodriguez and Jacob Pedroza
The John Muir Fundamental Elementary School student body and their parents were shocked this week to hear that popular fifth grade GATE teacher Deanna Rodriguez had suddenly passed away. Reportedly she had a fatal heart attack while undergoing an angioplasty procedure.
Rodriguez taught three of my children, including my son Joey who graduated with the highest GPA in the SAUSD – and who is now finishing his final year at UCLA with degrees in English and Film, and my son Jacob who received a Presidential Award this year as he finished his time at Muir and is now headed for Columbus Tustin Magnet School. Joey earned a Presidential Award too, with Rodriguez’ help! Continue reading
Mike Dalati
More candidates jumped into the crowded race for the SAUSD School Board today. One of them was Mike Dalati, a Democrat who ran in the June Primary Election this year for OC Auditor-Controller. He lost but got over 30,000 votes, according to Smart Voter. He says that he is a Tax & Accounting Professor with H&R Block in Santa Ana and an Adjunct Professor at ORT Jewish College in Los Angeles.
Valerie Amezcua finally filed her papers. She is running as a “Probation Officer/Parent.” She has lost twice in previous campaigns. You have to believe that the title of “Probation Officer” is a real problem for Amezcua given how many people in our city likely don’t like probation officers. Continue reading
Audrey Yamagata-Noji
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2014
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514
Santa Ana School Board President Yamagata-Noji Endorses Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for School Board
(Santa Ana) – Current Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education President, Dr. Audrey Yamagata-Noji announced today that she is endorsing Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for the school board in the upcoming November election.
Dr. Yamagata-Noji stated, “Through my many years of service to the Santa Ana Unified School District, I am keenly aware of the need to have well-educated, community-based individuals to serve on the school board. We have a hard-working and responsive Board but there is still more that needs to be done. As the sixth-largest district in the state, we serve over 57,000 students, so we need Board Members who will be able to understand and address the needs of our students and teachers in the short and long-term.” Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 6, 2014
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514
Dr. Rigo Rodríguez Announces Candidacy for Santa Ana Unified School Board
(Santa Ana) – Cal State University Long Beach professor and Santa Ana small business owner, Dr. Rigo Rodríguez announced his candidacy today for the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education. Dr. Rodríguez is an inspiring educator, an active community builder, and a proud Santa Ana parent and resident for almost 20 years.
“As the youngest child of 13 in an immigrant family, I experienced the many challenges that low-wage, hard-working families in Santa Ana face. With the support of my family and others, I was able to obtain university degrees enabling me to balance my personal experience with the knowledge needed to bring necessary change to our educational system here in Santa Ana. As an involved parent, I strongly believe that all families deserve to have their children receive a high quality education for the 21st century in Santa Ana schools to prepare them for college and a career,” said Dr. Rodríguez. Continue reading
Everlena Oliver, a retired SAUSD teacher, has pulled papers to run for the SAUSD School Board in November. According to her Linkedin profile she graduated from Santa Ana College and CSUF, with degrees in nursing, and was a Mild Moderate Specialist Educator at the SAUSD for over 16 years. She retired with pay and benefits of $98K a year according to Transparent California.
Oliver’s experience could serve the district well as the SAUSD has repeatedly been caught screwing up on Special Education. Ironically one of the other candidates, longtime incumbent John Palacio, has a son who grew up in Special Education at the SAUSD.
Other SAUSD candidates thus far include: Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with masturbating inside a van while parked outside school parking lots. Carlos Sanchez Hernandez, 42, Santa Ana, is charged with two misdemeanor counts each of indecent exposure and child annoyance. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is being held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading
Cecilia Aguinaga is hosting a fundraiser and silent auction to benefit her campaign for the SAUSD School Board on August 15, 2014, at Las Palomas Restaurant, located at 400 South Euclid St., in Anaheim, from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Cecilia was born in Jalisco, México and immigrated to the United States in 1978. She has lived more than 35 years in Santa Ana. Cecilia and her husband Armando have two sons (Ramsey and Allan) and a daughter (Sylvia). Ramsey was a police officer for the Santa Ana and Los Angeles Police Department, Allan graduated from the Culinary School of the Arts, and Sylvia graduated from University of California, Berkeley, is teaching for the Los Angeles Unified School District and is currently working towards her masters degree. Cecilia and her husband own a business in Santa Ana. Continue reading