What’s new in school? Plenty

There’s a new superintendent in town and several new faces among the

teaching ranks, but with all the changes going on in Huntington Beach

schools, one thing remains the same: the city’s three school districts

say it’s always education first.

“There have been a few changes with us -- to say the least,”

Huntington Beach City School District Acting Supt. Kathy Kessler said.

“But our focus has been and always will be on our students.”

Gary Rutherford is at the forefront of those changes as he takes over

the role of HBCSD superintendent from the retired Duane Dishno.

When students head back to school on Tuesday, they will find new

teachers in all three school districts as well as continued focus,

district officials said, on meeting state standards.

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The big news, obviously, was the appointment of Rutherford as the new

superintendent of schools.

“We’re thrilled that Gary is coming back to us, but this time in the

role of superintendent,” Kessler said.

Kessler said that the district will continue its “thrust in literacy”

and also will be implementing new science textbooks in 2001-2002.

“That’s something we’re very excited about,” Kessler said. “We’re also

continuing to refine programs that we already have in place.”

Retirements were big in the district at the end of the 2000-2001

school year. In addition to Rutherford replacing Dishno (who retired June

30), Kessler said that 40-45 new teachers will grace the district in

2001-2002.

“They will fill spots at all levels, from K through eighth,” she said.

HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

The state’s high school exit exams are a top priority for the district

this year.

“As a district we’re trying to meet all the state standards in the

four specified areas -- English, mathematics, history and social studies,

and science,” said Jerry White, director of curriculum development.

“We’re making sure that our teachers are teaching and our principals and

vice principals are making classroom visits.”

Last February, the state board passed a visual and performing arts

specialty. The district is putting together a committee to write up

standards that will match or be more rigorous than state standards, White

said.

White also said that the district is “quite concerned” with the

California Exit Exams. The district, he said, soon will receive test

scores from last April’s exam.

“We’re working hard with students who have had problems with this exam

and we’re looking for remediation for math and language for those

students who did not pass the exam.”

OCEAN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT

The district’s big news, says Assistant Supt. Karen Colby says, is the

new Oak View Preschool and Education Resource Center, which received its

state licensing last Friday.

The 10-room complex will be home to 192 preschoolers and is in

collaboration with Huntington Beach Adult Education and UC Irvine.

She also said that the district hopes to “move forward” with

still-controversial proposals for the gymnasium/auditorium/locker room

facilities for its four middle schools.

Those plans have been challenged by neighbors and the city of Fountain

Valley, which have both filed lawsuits to halt the construction.

As it prepares for the new year, the district again is implementing

all mandatory state standards, Colby said.

“Still, there will be a huge thrust in the areas of reading and

language arts: reading, writing, speaking and listening,” she said.

Ocean View is looking at adopting new textbooks in the area of

mathematics and Colby says that the district is calling this a “year of

refinement” in regards to process and procedures that were implemented

last school year.

“We’ve always focused on the success of our students but now we’re

working one-on-one with each student so that nobody falls through the

cracks,” she said. “We’re working on what best meets their needs,

especially with promotion and retention.”

Teachers reported back to school on Tuesday. There are nearly 30 new

teachers and two new psychologists for the 2001-2002 school year, Colby

said.

The district also is working under a continuing theme of “Charting the

Course, Success For All.”

Colby added that the district is implementing Edison’s “Flex Your

Power” program, which the district undertook during the summer with a

major conservation effort that featured four, 10-hour work days during

the week.

“Our goal is to reduce energy consumption by 20%,” Colby said.