New Santa Ana | Category Archives: SAUSD

OCDA to provide free turkey dinners for at-risk youth on Nov. 20

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Food, Gangs, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: November 19, 2013

DOUBLE THE THANKS AND DOUBLE THE GIVING

AT-RISK YOUTH EARN 851 TURKEY DINNERS IN 4TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE

SANTA ANA – Turkey dinners will be awarded tomorrow to 851 at-risk students who succeeded in Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership’s (OC GRIP) 4th annual Thanksgiving challenge to improve their attendance, behavior, and grades in time for Thanksgiving.

Ralphs/Food 4 Less and Saddleback Church donated double the number of turkey dinners, over 850 this year compared to 400 in years past, as part of the ongoing OC GRIP gang prevention effort to keep kids in school and out of gangs. The total donation is valued at over $25,000. OC GRIP extended the incentive to twice as many students at 43 schools this year compared to the previously-participating 23 schools. Continue reading→

Welcome breakfast for new SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Miller set for 11/21

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Entertainment, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Unified School District and Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation Host a Welcome Breakfast for New SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Rick Miller

THE EVENT: Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education together with Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation are holding a Welcome Breakfast for New District Superintendent Dr. Rick Miller. The event will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. at Godinez Fundamental High School.

Proceeds from this event are to benefit the SAPSF Scholarship fund, music and art programs, and the Educator Make a Difference Grant programs. Please post on your community calendar and consider providing coverage for this community event that will bring state, county, and city elected officials and business and community leaders of Orange County together to support the students and staff of the Santa Ana Unified School District community. Continue reading→

Battle of the SAUSD’s High School Marching Bands set for Nov. 20

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Battle of the Bands – SAUSD’s Annual Marching Band Showcase

THE EVENT: Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) is bringing the rhythm of feet and the sound of drums to Segerstrom High School Wednesday, Nov. 20. SAUSD will host its Annual Marching Band Showcase starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

The event will feature marching bands from Century, Godinez Fundamental, Saddleback, Santa Ana, Segerstrom, and Valley High schools. Continue reading→

The SAUSD and the City to celebrate new community center at Garfield Elem.

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer, Deidra.powell@sausd.us, (714) 558-5555

SAUSD AND CITY CELEBRATE GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER OPENING WITH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

SANTA ANA, CA (November, 15, 2013) – An innovate approach to provide a new Community Center to students and area residents will have its ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, November 18, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at James A. Garfield Elementary School, located at 850 Brown Street in Santa Ana.

A 2-story, 10,000 square foot Community Center has been built in order to be jointly operated between the Santa Ana Unified School District and the City of Santa Ana. This partnership will add much needed benefits to both the students and families from the surrounding neighborhoods. The concept for this project was made by a coalition of residents that identified a need for a local community center. Continue reading→

Segerstrom High School’s Kayla Stephens to play basketball for Alabama State

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana, SAUSD, Sports Leave a comment

Santa Ana Unified School District Press Release

National Signing Day 2013

Segerstrom High School Senior Kayla Stephens To Sign National Letter of Intent to Play Basketball for Alabama State University

THE EVENT: National Signing Day is Wednesday, November 13, and Segerstrom High School’s Kayla Stephens will be the first girl in the history of the school to sign a letter of intent to enroll and play basketball at a Division 1 school. Kayla will sign her letter of intent to attend Alabama State University next fall. As powerful as Kayla is on the court, she is just as strong in the classroom with an overall GPA of 3.2. Continue reading→

Rehabbed former SAUSD Trustee is back with her husband, Bill Lockyer

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Democratic Party, Drugs, Nadia Lockyer, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Bill Lockyer, an evergreen of California politics, is retiring next year after 41 years in public office, and he’ll be chief honoree at the Democratic Foundation of Orange County’s annual awards dinner on Nov. 17, according to the O.C. Register.

The Register also reported something far more important than Lockyer’s retirement – he has apparently reoncicled with his wife, former SAUSD School Board Member Nadia Maria Davis. That is big news given the awful times she has had since she became an alcoholic, got elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, went to rehab, had an affair with a meth addict, Steve Chikhani, a San Jose construction worker, and ultimately became a meth addict herself.

Dan Noyes, the Chief Investigative Reporter at ABC7, sat down with Nadia for two stunning interviews that turned into two articles. Click here to read his first article and here to read the second one. Here are a few excerpts from the first article: Continue reading→

SAUSD teachers Benavides, Ramirez and Bush honored as Teachers of the Year

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Education, Emily Benavides, Santa Ana, SAUSD 3 Comments

Teachers Daniel Ramirez, Emily Benavides, and Mark Bush were honored.

SAUSD Teachers Daniel Ramirez, Emily Benavides, and Mark Bush were honored earlier this year as “Teachers of the Year,” according to the SAUSD.

Emily Benavides has served the district for 13 years. Benavides has taught everything from sixth-grade science to math and the Advancement Via Individual Determination program. Benavides boosts morale, encourages other teachers and is involved in lunchtime events, fundraisers, dances and activities that support school spirit. Benavides also finds the time to support after-school tutoring at Carr Intermediate School. She even stays in touch with her former students who have gone on to high school and college by attending their sports games and even helping them and their families with monetary support, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Solorio and Iglesias step up for Santa Ana youth basketball

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Cecilia Iglesias, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Sports, Youth Activities 12 Comments

Two Santa Ana School Board members have stepped up to help Santa Ana West NJB (National Junior Basketball) in the wake of our article about how the Santa Ana Unified School District is charging youth basketball organizations $180 per hour to use school gyms that were built with our tax money.

I heard today from SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias, who said her own son is interested in youth basketball. I put her in touch with the mother of four who is running Santa Ana West NJB.

I also got an email message from Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Jose Solorio. Continue reading→

SAUSD Student rehearsal for Shelia E. Benefit Concert set for Sunday, 10/27

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Education, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Media Advisory: Student Rehearsal for Shelia E. Benefit Concert

Hope Alive! Keeping Music Alive in the Schools

Who: Students of Santa Ana High School will be rehearsing to share the stage with the talented drummer/percussionist Sheila E at the Hope Alive! Benefit Concert. Media is invited to the rehearsal to preview what the students will be playing for the concert. Interviews and photo opportunities are available with student musicians; Victor de los Santos, band director, and Pastor Chineta Goodjoin. Continue reading→

Santiago Elementary honors Red Ribbon week with family of slain DEA agent

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Santiago Elementary School Honors Red Ribbon Week with family members of Enrique “KiKi” Camarena

Special Agent Whose Death Spurred National Attention to Establish this Week to Promote a Drug-Free Environment

THE EVENT: Santiago Elementary School is proud to host a Red Ribbon Week school-wide assembly on Monday, October 28, 2013 in which the family of Enrique “KiKi” Camarena, the Special Agent who was killed while working undercover on a multimillion dollar drug investigation and whose death spurred the creation of Red Ribbon Week, will be the school’s guests of honor. Students will hear from the mother and sister of the late Mr. Camarena, and two Special Agents from Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Continue reading→

Poll: Did the SAUSD blow it by tossing out fundamental school dress codes?

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD 5 Comments

Efforts by Santa Ana Unified to restore uniformity to a patchwork of inconsistent and occasionally stringent dress code policies across the district is being met with resistance and even anger by teachers at one of the city’s top schools, according to the O.C. Register.

District trustees say some of the different campus dress codes were not in keeping with the state Education Code, and that parents are complaining to them about students being pulled from class for minor violations, such as not wearing a belt. Continue reading→

Shelia E. and her father, Pete Escovedo headline SAUSD benefit concert

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Education, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Unified School District Media Advisory

Shelia E. and her legendary father, Pete Escovedo Headline Benefit Concert

Hope Alive! Keeping Music Alive in the Schools

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Hope Alive! Keeping Music in the Schools by raising funds for music education in Santa Ana is coming soon! This benefit concert pairs world-class musicians with aspiring youth artists to create an evening of inspiration and hope. Santa Ana High School Jazz Ensemble and community students will have the rare opportunity to share the stage with guest artists, Grammy nominated drummer/percussionist Sheila E and her legendary father, Pete Escovedo. Through New Hope Presbyterian Church’s partnerships with the Santa Ana Unified School District and other community organizations and businesses, Hope Alive! has grown to be an exemplary model of how community driven initiatives can help bridge the gap for our young people in the midst of tough economic times. Continue reading→

SAUSD Trustee Iglesias reportedly considering running against Tinajero

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, SAUSD 12 Comments

Cecilia Iglesias and Janet Nguyen

I have heard from several inside sources that SAUSD School Board member Cecilia Iglesias is considering running against Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero next year, in Ward 6.

Tinajero also served on the SAUSD School Board before he ran for the Santa Ana City Council.

Tinajero won his first election in Ward 6 back in November of 2o06, when his main opponent was Jennifer Villasenor. She had Mayor Miguel Pulido’s support. Tinajero was hammered via direct mail for weeks and he actually ran out of campaign money. However Villasenor was undone by the presence of George Collins on the ballot. Collins ended up with over five thousand votes and Tinajero squeeked past Villasenor by 880 votes, according to Smart Voter. Continue reading→

All kids in the SAUSD are now eligible for free meals

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Food, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

The SAUSD Becomes a Provision 2 District Providing Meals at No Charge to All Students

The Santa Ana Unified School District has become eligible to provide at no charge breakfast and lunch meals to students.

Based on their high percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced meals, they are eligible under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Letters were sent to parents earlier this week. Continue reading→

No surprise – the SAUSD overpaid their new Superintendent

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

Santa Ana Unified School District officials were less than excited last week to share their new superintendent’s salary contract – one that makes Rick Miller one of the highest-salaried school district superintendents in California, based on the latest figures from the state Department of Education, according to the Voice of OC.

The new Superintendent’s “contract includes a $300,000 salary, a $7,200 annual car allowance and other benefits – is set to receive a $35,000 salary increase over the previous superintendent at a time of major financial challenges at the district.” (That is crazy money but Miller is still making less than Randy Barth, the CEO of Think Together, who banks $330K a year!).

This is of course what we predicted would happen. Miller is very old and does not figure to work in Santa Ana for very many years. He is spiking his retirement pension with this huge salary – at our expense. Continue reading→