We Need to Keep Our District Great!

By Robert N. "Bob" Hathaway

This paper presents the highlights of the programs that have made The Fullerton Joint Union High School District great and that need to be continued through my leadership.

We have been able to meet the educational needs of our diverse student population by providing a strong, comprehensive curriculum through courses for all ability levels, a wide range of electives and a concentration on basic skills such as reading, writing and math.
Additionally, we have:

• Magnet programs in medicine, marketing and business, technology, agriculture, humanities, culinary and fine arts.
• The most extensive summer school program in Orange County
• A program for the so-called "mid-students", called AVID, to prepare them for entry into UC and Cal state level schools;
• A 5-year program for students who would benefit from another year to grow up.
• An expanded Opportunity Programs for our most at-risk students
• A program to prepare entering 9th graders.
• A California Model Continuation School.
• Ongoing career counseling and guidance services available to all students

Being a 13 year Board member of the North Orange County Regional Occupational Programs, I have worked hard to provide relevant career vocational educational programs. Our District has over 2000 students taking at least one ROP course during the day and hundreds more taking classes at night, of a full array of over 70 programs designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce or further education such as:

We are engaged in a program to enhance our excellent Special Education services over the next few years by providing more emphasis on direct instruction in reading, writing, and math with additional psychologist services. A community based program will be added at Sonora High School in 2007 and an on-site facility for SED (Seriously Educationally Disabled) in 2008/09. We have just occupied a new 11, 000 square foot facility for Endeavor school special ed. students.

Last year our District had the highest change in API scores of all the schools in Orange County (33 points). The change has been an increase of 1,342 points over 5 years.

This effort by our students and staff has resulted in our schools receiving numerous prestigious state and national awards and recognition. To name a few:

• 5 California Distinguished schools
• 2 National Blue Ribbon Schools (Troy recognized twice)
• 1 New American School
• 1 National Exemplary School
• 10 California School Board Association Golden Bell Awards
• 3 Specialized Secondary Programs (Academy of the Arts, Heritage of Americas, Troy Tech.)
• 2 California Partnership Schools (Medical careers and Marketing and Business Academies)
• 1 AVID National Demonstration School
• Troy High School AP Computer Science program #1 in the world 200 & 2006
• Fullerton Speech and Debate Team # 15 in the nation, #2 in California
• Troy High School has been California State Champion 12 times with 6 National Championships since 1995
• 94.8 % Graduation Rate
• 93.34 % Daily Attendance Rate- Second Highest in Orange County

We are not content to rest upon our many successes . We have a number of studies under way to make our programs even better, and we expect recommendation from various study groups, such as:

• The Graduation Requirements Study group will have recommendations anticipated to go into effect for the class of 2010 or 2011
• Enhanced Counseling Services;
• Our enhanced special Education Program;
• Opportunities for more students to participate in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Honors placement;
• Improved summer school placement;
• Smaller Learning Communities at four of our District Schools;
• Programs for students needing academic preparation in order to be more successful in high school-level work;
• The Five year high school program;
• The Community Based Program for learning disabled students at Sonora high School;
• New academy programs in construction and engineering which will open in 2007/08

We have conducted a very successful building effort, that is ahead of schedule and under budget. We have built growth buildings on each comprehensive High School campus and take have improved facility infrastructure problems. Also, a new facility is under

Our District has a rich history of safeguarding public funds so that financial resources are carefully spent in order to support our high-quality educational programs. Fiscal responsibility has always our District has enjoyed, and are constantly investigating ways to refine existing programs and introduce new programs to better prepare our students been a District priority and is really evident in the management of our Bond construction projects.

For example, District Bonds received the highest possible rating for a school district. In granting that rating Moody's Rating Service on New York's Wall Street stated, "The District manages its finances as well as any school district in America." What does that mean for the voters of the District? Well, first--the Bonds will be paid off 4 years earlier than originally planned, and secondly--the cost to taxpayers has been lowered from almost $20 to just over $15 per $100,000 of assessed valuation on your annual tax bill.

My record of service has been marked by PROGRESS, INNOVATION, CONSISTENCY, ACCOMPLISHMET AND STABILITY. I believe that my record of service has earned your vote for re-election in order to continue to keep our schools GREAT.