Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: SAUSD

Time to pull your children out of the SAUSD and send them to Tustin public schools

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TUSD Accepting Student Transfer Requests for 2018-19 School Year

The Tustin Unified School District will accept transfer requests between Monday, January 22, at 8 a.m. and Friday, February 9, at 3 p.m. from elementary, middle and high school students for the 2018-19 school year.

Transfer requests can be made online from the TUSD website or on paper at TUSD’s Student Services Office. All applications submitted during the transfer period will be processed according to a random and unbiased process based on space availability. Notification of acceptance or denial will be sent this spring. Continue reading→

The SAUSD has been named to the 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll

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SANTA ANA UNIFIED NAMED TO 8TH ANNUAL AP DISTRICT HONOR ROLL

Santa Ana Unified has been named to the 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll, which recognizes school districts from the United States and Canada committed to increasing access to AP for underrepresented students while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.

Of the 447 districts named, 34 are in California. Continue reading→

The SAUSD launched a new video to help prevent student suicide

Posted on by Posted in Education, Mental Health, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

We Care. Get Help. [SAUSD Mental Health Assistance Awareness Video] from sausdnews on Vimeo.

Santa Ana Unified School District Releases ‘We Care’ Video to Encourage Students to Seek Help

(January 30, 2018) – The Santa Ana Unified School District recently debuted a new video titled “We Care” to show support for SAUSD students who may be experiencing stress and going through a difficult time.

The video features the Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips, staff, and students telling viewers: “We Care. Get Help.” Continue reading→

Hundreds of SAUSD students are participating in a speech and debate tournament today

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Hundreds of students to participate in SAUSD Speech & Debate Middle School Tournament Jan. 20

The program has grown to serve 600 students and sent a delegation to the National Speech and Debate competition for the first time in 2017, where five students placed nationally.

Hundreds of students from the Santa Ana Unified School District’s (SAUSD) national award-winning Speech and Debate team will showcase their skills during the upcoming Speech & Debate Middle School Tournament this weekend. Continue reading→

The SAUSD has hired Anastasia Smith to be their new School Police Chief

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Anastasia Smith is the new chief of the SAUSD Police Department. She brings more than 27 years of experience to the position.

Smith was sworn in as the new Chief of the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department on January 16, 2018. She was selected after a national search and a rigorous interview process and brings more than 27 years of experience to the position.

Board of Education members, Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips, district leaders and staff, Acting Chief of Police for the Santa Ana Police Department David Valentin, and Smith’s family and supporters attended the swearing-in ceremony. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana School Police are investigating a shooting threat at Valley High School

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One of our readers sent us a note tonight regarding a threat that was discovered regarding an alleged shooting that was supposed to take place tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 18, at Santa Ana’s Valley High School.

The note, which was sent by Valley High School Principal David Richey, states that the Santa Ana Police Department is investigating this matter. However school will be in session on Monday, despite the threat. Continue reading→

Santa and helpers to deliver gifts to 1,167 SAUSD students on Dec. 8

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

Santa and Helpers to Deliver Gifts to 1,167 SAUSD Students on Dec. 8

Chapman University President Daniele Struppa will play Santa; the effort is organized through Direct Effect Charities

(Dec. 7, 2017) All 1,167 students at Madison Elementary School in the Santa Ana Unified School District will receive personal gifts from Santa Claus and his helpers on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 through Direct Effect Charities, a Chicago-based charity that is currently expanding its hands-on programs to Orange County. Continue reading→

Santa Ana to host a national speech and debate championship in 2019

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Santa Ana Selected to Host National Forensic Association Tournament – Speech and Debate Championship – in 2019

SANTA ANA – The City of Santa Ana, in collaboration with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, has been selected to host the National Forensic Association (NFA) Tournament, a national Speech and Debate championship, from April 18, 2019 to April 23, 2019.

The National Forensic Association is an academic association dedicated to providing leadership in intercollegiate speech and debate education in the United States. Thousands of competitors from between 75 and 125 colleges and universities attend the national tournament each year with hopes of clinching the championship. Continue reading→

The SAUSD School Board wants to pass another bond measure – and raise your taxes yet again

Posted on by Posted in Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 3 Comments

A few weeks ago the SAUSD School Board inexplicably passed a Project Labor Agreement that will ban non-union contractors from bidding on school construction projects unless they agree to hire from the construction unions’ halls.  They voted for the PLA even though non-union contractors already have to pay union wages on local school construction projects.

Tonight the SAUSD School Board tried to vote to authorize an award a contract for bond and disclosure counsel, according to their meeting agenda. What this means is that the SAUSD School Board is going to try to pass yet another School Bond Measure – and that money, which will come from our property taxes, will pay for union-only construction projects. Continue reading→

SAUSD Superintendent highlights successes, growth during 2017 State of the District breakfast

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SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips Highlights Successes, Growth During 2017 State of the District Breakfast

Topics included the district’s 93 percent graduation rate, 93 percent college-going rate, and the increase of early college opportunities in the district.

(Oct. 13, 2017) – Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips welcomed and addressed more than 400 business and community leaders during the annual Superintendent’s State of the District Breakfast on Oct. 13, 2017 at Godinez Fundamental High School. The event was sponsored by SAUSD and the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation.

Dr. Phillips provided a key note address in her State of the District message highlighting the District’s successes, challenges, and plans of action to ensure all students are being prepared for college and careers and to be productive citizens of our society. Topics included the district’s 93 percent graduation rate, 93 percent college-going rate, and the increase of early college opportunities in the district. Continue reading→

The SAPD released an assistant high school wrestling coach who was accused of having sex with a student

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Jaime Orendain, a 34-year-old Santa Ana High School assistant wrestling coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old former student was released from jail Thursday when prosecutors declined to file charges against him, according to MynewsLA.com.

Apparetly the SAPD did not collect sufficient evidence against Orendain and will have to get back to work on building a case before prosecutors will consider filing charges. Continue reading→

The SAUSD responds to the arrest of Asst. wrestling coach Jaime Orendain

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Jaime Orendain

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Ana Unified School District’s Statement on the Arrest of Jaime Orendain

SANTA ANA, CA (August 30, 2017) – Santa Ana Unified School District was notified, August 30, 2017 that Jaime Orendain, an assistant coach of the Santa Ana High School Boys Varsity Wrestling team and an activity supervisor, was arrested and booked for allegations of sexual misconduct with a former student.

These allegations are being taken seriously and are in direct conflict of the District’s zero-tolerance policy relating to staff misconduct, in which all district employees are held at the highest ethical standards. This includes reporting any suspicious activity involving abuse or neglect of a child directly to authorities, as mandated by law. Failure to do so is a criminal violation of the law. Continue reading→

Santa Ana High School assistant wrestling coach arrested on suspicion of sex with a minor student

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Sports 8 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD ARREST HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING COACH/ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR FOR UNLAWFUL SEX WITH A MINOR STUDENT

Jaime Orendain (34) Santa Ana, a 34-year-old high school wrestling coach, was arrested Tuesday night for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

The victim, who is no longer attending Santa Ana High School, claimed she had an inappropriate relationship with Orendain, a part-time wrestling coach and activities director for the school. Continue reading→

Former SAUSD teacher gets one year in jail after having sex with a student 9 times

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

Alvar Gonzalez class of 1988, Santa Ana High School

Alvar Albert Gonzalez, a 47-year old former Santa Ana High School science teacher and resident of Santa Ana, was sentenced Friday to a year in county jail for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student, according to the O.C. Register.

Gonzalez had sexual intercourse with the female student at least nine times during school lunch breaks in 2013, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

Lockout at Davis Elementary lifted as man on Santa Ana Water Tower is finally arrested

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A man surrendered to police Tuesday Aug.  22, three hours after climbing 120 feet up onto the iconic Santa Ana water tower near the I-5 freeway, according to the O.C. Register.

Our readers reported that the man climbed the water tower just before noon today. He appeared to have a drone with him and was lugging a backpack. The SAUSD School Police opted to place the nearby Davis Elementary on Lockout while the SAPD tried to talk the man into coming down from the water tower. Continue reading→