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The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves.
– Joseph Campbell
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Press Inquiries:Contact the Office of the Superintendent
Gary Bloom
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Santa Cruz City Schools Announces 2011-12 Budget Adoption
At the June 15th, 2011 Regular Meeting of the Governing Board of Santa Cruz City Schools,
Santa Cruz City Schools Announces College Acceptances for Class of 2011SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) today released college and university acceptances for seniors graduating from Harbor, Santa Cruz and Soquel High Schools, the Alternative Family Education program and Costanoa Alternative School
“The Class of 2011 exemplifies the quality of our schools. We are very proud of our graduating seniors, their hard work and their successes,” said SCCS Superintendent Gary Bloom. The college acceptances are featured on the “College Tracker” found on the district home page. A partial list of colleges and universities listed includes: all UC campuses, Boston University, Cabrillo College, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Colby College, Georgetown University, Harvard, Harvey Mudd Pitzer, San Diego State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford, Tulane, University of the Pacific, University of Chicago and Vassar College. To view the full list, and to learn more about SCCS, visit: http://www.sccs.santacruz.k12.ca.us/home.html December 10, 2008
Santa Cruz City Schools District Nears Agreement on Lease with PCSAgreement Would Deliver Additional Funds for SCCS Student Achievement;Provide Facilities Flexibility to Address SCCS Enrollment IncreaseSANTA CRUZ, CA—Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) District today announced its Board of Trustees has given District staff direction to move forward and finalize a facilities use agreement (FUA) with Pacific Collegiate School (PCS) for the District’s Natural Bridges Elementary School campus. The District hailed the potential agreement as a fiscal and facilities win for SCCS students because the FUA would replace the current under-valued lease agreement with a market-rate agreement, delivering short-term revenues to support the District’s 7,000 students; the FUA also provides SCCS flexibility in long-term facility planning to accommodate the District’s growing elementary school population. “We are very pleased with this potential outcome,” said Superintendent Alan Pagano. “With this agreement, SCCS would meet its twin goals of protecting revenue in the current state budget crisis and retaining flexibility in order to meet the steady growth in enrollment at our elementary schools. This potential agreement would also better position the District to weather the state’s fiscal crisis and preserve taxpayer funds intended to support the classroom.” “This would clearly be a win-win agreement,” said Board President Cynthia Hawthorne. “Santa Cruz City Schools’ students and their parents, as well as the educators and taxpayers who support them, will truly benefit from this agreement. This agreement also would provide PCS a bridge to resolve their long term facility needs, while keeping their students together in one location.” Next Steps Following approval from the PCS board, details of the agreement will be worked out and the agreement will come back to the SCCS Board of Trustees for final approval. Pending its approval, the FUA would supercede PCS’s application for secondary schools facilities under Proposition 39. A PCS Proposition 39 request would necessarily divide the school by providing space only for the 56% of PCS’s student body residing within the SCCS district boundaries. Background & Timeline on the Lease Negotiations • 2004: SCCS (landlord) & PCS (tenant) agree to 5-year FUA for Natural Bridges Elementary School campus; average annual rent $200,000 (graduated yearly from $175,000 in 2004 to $275,000 in 2008) • November 2007: Negotiations open for 3-year renewal of FUA o PCS, using self-determined formula, offers 3-year average of $125,000 o SCCS, using professional appraisal of public school property seeks 3-year average of $420,000 • March 31, 2008: Negotiations conclude without resolution; PCS to vacate campus June 30, 2009 • April 1, 2008: PCS provides an informal offer of $200,000 • October 1, 2008: PCS files first-ever application for secondary school facilities under Proposition 39 • November 12, 2008: SCCS notifies PCS of willingness to consider reasonable offer for Natural Bridges campus • December 10, 2008: SCCS Board of Trustees directs District staff to move forward to finalize new FUA About Santa Cruz City Schools Santa Cruz City Schools is comprised of an elementary and a secondary district, governed by one Board of Education. The district serves students residing in the City of Santa Cruz, Davenport to Soquel. The district’s K-12 enrollment is approximately 7,000, with an additional approximately 7,000 enrolled in the district’s Adult School programs (in 44 locations throughout the county). There are 400 certificated teachers, librarians and administrators, and an additional 200 classified staff. Santa Cruz City Schools include: • Elementary Schools: Bay View, DeLaveaga, Gault and Westlake • Middle Schools: Branciforte and Mission Hill • Comprehensive High Schools: Harbor, Santa Cruz and Soquel • PreSchools: Santa Cruz Parent Education Nursery School, Soquel Parent Education Nursery School, Westside Parent Education Nursery School • PreK: Gault, Westlake • Continuation High School: Costanoa • Alternative Elementary School: Monarch • Independent Studies Program: Ark Independent Studies • Home School Program: Alternative Family Education For more information about Santa Cruz City Schools, visit: http://www.sccs.santacruz.k12.ca.us/. ### Santa Cruz City Schools Seeks Personnel CommissionerSanta Cruz City School District Board of Education is soliciting applicants for the position of Personnel Commissioner.
The following minimum qualifications must be considered: • Applicants must be registered voters and reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the schools district; and • Be a known adherent to the principle of the merit system (a person who by virtue of prior public or private service has given evidence of support to the merit system concept – i.e. the selection, retention and promotion of individuals upon the basis of merit and fitness). Reference: Education Code Section 45244 Those community members who wish to apply for this position should call the Office of the Superintendent immediately at 429-3410, X220 or email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and request application materials which will be available from October 8, 2008 to October 15, 2008. All necessary written material shall be received in the Superintendent’s Office by October 24, 2008. Superintendent Pagano Announces Retirement;
School Board to Outline Transition Process
Soquel, CA – Santa Cruz City School District Superintendent Alan Pagano today announced his retirement effective January 1, 2009. Now in his 30th consecutive year with the District and in his 6th year as superintendent, Mr. Pagano leaves with strong support from the Board of Trustees and with a legacy of student achievement and professional integrity. "I leave the Santa Cruz City School District with deep and abiding gratitude and appreciation for the exemplary and dedicated educational community that defines, supports and serves the District – including board members, administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, and of course the nearly 7,000 K-12 students and approximately 7,000 Adult School students," Mr. Pagano said. "Alan Pagano consistently displays a level of integrity and commitment to our students that will be challenging to replace and will be missed," said Cynthia Hawthorne, school board president. "I am especially thankful for Mr. Pagano's spirit of collaboration in working with the board and his willingness to innovate during the ongoing state budget crisis. "He has been a strong partner with the board on a wide range of issues, especially including increasing student achievement, emphasizing the classroom experience and working to reduce the district's carbon footprint," continued Ms. Hawthorne. "We wish him the very best." At its next meeting, the Board of Trustees will establish a transition and superintendent recruitment process. Superintendent Pagano Background Mr. Pagano began teaching Spanish (and later Latin) at Harbor High School in 1979 and, after 16 years of successful teaching experience (12 years as a Department of Education California Mentor Teacher), became an assistant principal at Harbor High School overseeing the Curriculum and Counseling Department. He later held the positions of District Director of Curriculum and Assessment and Assistant Superintendent of Education Services before being appointed superintendent in 2003. From 1975-1995 Mr. Pagano also taught Spanish at Cabrillo College as an adjunct instructor. Mr. Pagano has been a consistent voice and advocate for effective change and reform, significantly increasing the academic achievement of all students - including English Learners and socio-economically disadvantaged students. During his tenure as superintendent, the District successfully passed or renewed parcel tax measures increasing District revenue by over $3 million annually, and completed bond modernization and capital improvement projects of over $100 million. He participated in negotiation processes with district bargaining units which have provided for salary increases for all employees of over 10% since his first year as Superintendent – while maintaining fiscally and foundationally sound budgetary practices and a positive reserve. Graduates of Santa Cruz City Schools Awarded Over $625,000Santa Cruz, CA—Santa Cruz City Schools today announced the district’s graduating class of 2008, including students from Harbor, Santa Cruz, Soquel and AFE (Alternative Family Education), has earned scholarships and grants worth more than $625,000. Scholarships and grants ranging from $100 to $72,000 were awarded to 217 students by local businesses, trusts, non-profits and specific colleges and universities. Organizations granting awards include local chapters of Elks, Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, high school alumni associations and parent-teacher organizations Businesses include Granite construction, Comcast, Bank of America, Play it Again Sports, Dominican Hospital. College awards include University of California Regents & Chancellors, University of Puget Sound, Lewis & Clark, University of San Diego and more. Award amount by school: • Santa Cruz High School, $225,000 • Soquel High School, $202,000 • Harbor, $124,000 • AFE, $72,000 For a list of colleges and universities that have accepted graduating Santa Cruz City Schools students, visit the district’s “College Tracker ”.
Santa Cruz City Schools Launches 2008 “College Tracker”
First-ever Green Schools Report Issued bySanta Cruz City SchoolsSanta Cruz, CA – The Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) Green Schools Committee (GSC) today released its first annual Green Schools Report outlining the district’s progress over the last year in reducing its carbon footprint and increasing green curriculum.
In the year that has passed since the GSC was created, and based on strong momentum and a spirit of collaboration, members of the Committee are proud to have participated in—and in many cases led—successful efforts to:
“In our experience working with schools, SCCS is at the head of its class during 2007-2008 for adopting a comprehensive and holistic approach, for the breadth and depth of its efforts, and for finding cost-effective ways to achieve health and sustainability goals,” said Deborah Moore, executive director of The Green Schools Initiative, a statewide organization.
The GSC includes members from across the school community, as well as the greater Santa Cruz community. Members represent district staff and trustees, parents, students, area non-profits and local government. Members include:
Community Experts & Parents Karen Christensen—Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District Ilde Cummings—Farm-to-Schools Program Rachel Dann—Santa Cruz County Supervisor Neal Coonerty Julia Davenport—Curriculum Consultant Sue Lisin—Parent, Bay View & Staff, Monterey Bay Aquarium Kristen Liske—Ecology Action Bill Maxfield—Parent, DeLaveaga & President, Santa Cruz Education Foundation Glen Schaller—Parent, Mission Hill Middle School Kyrrah Sevco—Ecology Action Kristen Van Kley—City of Santa Cruz
District Staff Dick Moss—Assistant Superintendent, Business Services Peter Gutierrez—Interim Director, Curriculum Lynn Barry—Manager, Purchasing
SCCS School Board Cynthia Hawthorne, Board President Ken Wagman, Board Vice President
Students Steven DeMartini—Soquel High School Simone Fine—Santa Cruz High School Lisa Lewis—Soquel High School Clare Parker—Harbor High School Lucian Sabatino—Branciforte Middle School Cyril Smith—Costanoa High School Annie Soares—Mission Hill Middle School Ari Warren—Soquel High School
Santa Cruz City Schools Rolls Out All-new Community WebsiteWebsite Launch Signals Renewed Commitment to Community Involvement & Academic ExcellenceSANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz City Schools today announced the launch of a completely revamped district Website designed to increase access to key information for parents, students, staff and community members.
“This new Website goes far beyond a standard design change,” said Superintendent Alan Pagano. “With this new site, we’re throwing open the ‘virtual’ doors of Santa Cruz City Schools to invite our community in, encourage collaboration and share our growing successes. We’re tremendously proud of what we’re doing together as a community to provide all our students with an opportunity for academic excellence. And as we join together as a community to fight proposed cuts to education funding, this new Website will be a key tool.”
Key Features of the New Website
The new site, which features student artwork throughout, utilizes the latest content management tools in order to encourage faster development of relevant information and increase maintenance efficiency.
About Santa Cruz City Schools
Santa Cruz City Schools is comprised of an elementary and a secondary district, governed by one Board of Education. The district serves students residing in the City of Santa CruzDavenport to Soquel. The district’s K-12 enrollment is approximately 7,000, with an additional approximately 7,000 enrolled in the district’s Adult School programs (in 44 locations throughout the county). There are 400 certificated teachers, librarians and administrators, and an additional 200 classified staff. Santa Cruz City Schools include: and in county locations from
· Elementary Schools: Bay View, DeLaveaga, Gault and Westlake
· Middle Schools: Branciforte and Mission Hill
· Comprehensive High Schools: Harbor, Santa Cruz and Soquel
· PreSchools: Santa Cruz Parent Education Nursery School, Soquel Parent EducationNursery School, Westside Parent Education Nursery School
· PreK: Gault, Westlake
· Continuation High School: Costanoa
· Alternative Elementary School: Monarch
· Independent Studies Program: Ark Independent Studies
· Home School Program: Alternative Family Education
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