|
News of the Rosemead Kiwanis Family and Network
Rosemead Kiwanicle
|
|
(This issue is being distributed to circulation lists of both the RKC Kiwanicle and RKC Reporter)
Monday, July 18, 2011 ---
Call to Election
Rosemead Kiwanis Club elections for the 2011-2012 term will be held as part of the general business meeting on Thursday, July 28, 2011.
Nominations are as follows – all elected officers will be ex officio Board members (as will the immediate Past President):
President: Sergio Medrano
Vice President / President-elect: David Barron
Secretary: Mario Manzano
Co-Treasurers: Elizabeth Landing and Carol Mahoney
Announcement of nominees for five additional “at large” Board positions to be elected will be forthcoming.
Meeting notes:
Attendance: Present at the Thursday, July 14, 2011, meeting of the RKC were Kiwanians Bob Bruesch, Dave Baaron, Jeanette Hoa, Art Landing, Elizabeth Landing, Carol Mahoney, Mario Manzano, Ken Pike, Lou Reade, and Scott Wick. Special guests was prospective members Ted Saulino.
Announcements and Reports:
This past Saturday the Key Clubs of Division 10 hosted a Car Wash at Jim’s Burger on San Gabriel Valley in Rosemead (see picture below).
Division 10 Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club members from
various local High schools collaborate for Car Wash at
Jim’s Burgers on San Gabriel Valley Blvd in Rosemead.
--- Picture by Kiwanian Lou Reade
Featured program – the Changing Face of Education
(see “Special Report” at bottom of this issue)
Happy/Sad $
Carol Mahoney reminded us of the monthly birthday party for clients of the Lincoln Training Center … Bob Bruesch reprised the dietary rules on sucrose received from his doctor … Mario Manzano shared news of his trip to Guadalajara to visit his family’s burial site … Don Wick gave thanks for the safe freeway today … Ken Pike gave thanks that he doesn’t live in Norway with a 35% income tax and 20% sales tax rate … Dave Barron was thankful for release of the latest issue of the West San Gabriel Valley Journal … Lou Reade was thankful for resolution of his wife’s 8 month long foot problem that baffled many doctors.
Upcoming Activities and Programs
Wednesday, July 20, 2011- LTC Monthly Birthday Project
Party Time - Interested Kiwanians are reminded to participate in our monthly birthday celebration and lunch for clients of the Lincoln Training Center, an organization with which the RKC has had a fifty-plus year relationship and situs of our SGV Aktion Club. Festivities start at 11:00 am in the Center’s facility at 2643 Loma Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733.
Thursday, July 21, 2011 – Regular Luncheon Meeting
University of West Outreach – Dr. Jerry Liu is an adjutant professor at Rosemead’s University of the West and the school’s Coordinator of Community Outreach. He will share with us the University’s three main outreach foci for the 2011- 2012 fiscal year.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a doctorate in Microbiology and Artificial Intelligence, his work has been featured on several television venues, including Animal Planet, Discovery, PBS and the BBC. Formerly with both NASA and JPL. He now serves as President of Rosemead-based Talkatell, Inc. This firm is a subscription based international long distance service covering fifty countries.
[Note: the RKC regular meeting July 21, 2011, will be preceded at 11:00 am by an orientation and education session for prospective new members.]
Thursday, July 21, 2011 – Public Safety Meeting
Swimming Pool and Water Safety --- John Vidaurrazaga of the American Red Cross will conduct a free workshop with open discussion on basic water safety beginning at 7:00 pm. Location will be the Rosemead Public Safety Center, 8301 Garvey Avenue in Rosemead. Whether using a residential or public pools, a spa or visiting the beach it pays to know basic preventative precautions and what to do if an emergency occurs. Reservations are not required. For more information, please contact Mandy Wong, Public Safety Coordinator, at 626/569-2292.
Friday, July 22, 2011 - Summer “Concert in the Park” series
Susie Hansen Salsa - Rosemead Park (4343 Encinita, Rosemead) will feature "The Susie Hansen Latin Band," has performed great Latin Jazz and Salsa since 1990,” fronted by what KLVE-FM has called the “greatest Salsa violinist in America.” from 7:00-9:00 pm – there will be no admission charge. Picnic baskets and readiness to dance is encouraged.
Thursday, July 28, 2011 – Special RKC Meeting and Election
Board Meeting and Election – The board meeting will begin at 11:00 am for officers and board members (all Rosemead Kiwanians welcome) and continue into our normal meeting time. There will be a break for lunch and 2011-2013 elections (see announcement above). If time allows we also hope to have a report on the Kiwanis International convention just concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, and KI’s Eliminate world-wide service project.
Friday, July 29, 2011 – Summer “Concert in the Park” series
Chico - Garvey Park (7933 Emerson Place, Rosemead) will feature "Chico,” which has been providing " quality professional musical entertainment for wedding receptions, community and corporate events for over 35 years.“ from 7:00-9:00 pm – there will be no admission charge. Picnic baskets and a readiness to dance are encouraged
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - Special Business Event
Payroll Tax Seminar – WorkSource/Career Partners (WS/CP) will be co-hosting (with the Internal Revenue Service and California Employment Development Department) a free Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar. It will extend from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the WS/CP offices, 3505 N. Hart Avenue, Rosemead.
Covered subjects will include:
· California payroll reporting requirements: forms, employer obligations, reporting, and payment requirements. This will include both green card requirements and mandatory notification procedures to the State of new hires.
· Independent Contractor reporting requirements
· Electronic filing and payment requirements and options
· Federal payroll reporting requirements: Forms 940, 941, 1099,
W-2, W-4, W-9, and alternative filing methods
Reservations are recommended, either via the telephone, 866/873-6086, or the Internet www.edd.ca.gov/payroll_tax_seminars/ .
Thursday, August 4, 2011 – Regular Luncheon Meeting
Solutions to Homelessness – Scott Chamberlain is the Executive Director of the SGV Housing and Homeless Coordinating Council. The Council has divided the San Gabriel Valley into four “Cluster” groups , of which Rosemead is in Cluster Two (comprised of Alhambra, El Monte, Montebello, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, South El Monte, and Temple City). The Council was authorized in April, 2009, by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and formally began operation in mid-2010. Each cluster has an estimated homeless population of 1200-1300 at any given time.
Within each cluster, according to the sgvhhcc.org website, the objective of the Council is to mobilize “churches and service providers that can interface with City staff in order to help increase capacity for housing and more effective referrals for those experiencing homelessness.” Pastor Chamberlain brings to the effort his experience of 20 years with the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission and similar groups.
In his presentation Pastor Chamberlain will be discussing Implementing the Regional Homeless Strategy for the San Gabriel Valley.
Friday, August 5, 2011 – Summer “Concert in the Park” series
Smooth Touch - Rosemead Park (4343 Encinita, Rosemead) will feature "Smooth Touch," billed as “one of the most sought after LIVE dance bands in Southern California,” from 7:00-9:00 pm – there will be no admission charge. Picnic baskets and a readiness to dance are encouraged,
Special Report
Changing Face of Education - 2012
Kiwanian Bob Bruesch has been an educator for 45 years. Now retired from the classroom he serves on the Garvey School District Board of Trustees as well as being a past Mayor of Rosemead. At the RKC meeting of July 14, 2011, he offered his observations on three education related topics:
1. Finance
2. Special education under NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
3. Teacher evaluations
Finance – 80% of the GSD budget goes for salaries, but school district finances are totally different than political subdivisions such as cities. The latter is a simple fund source vs usage approach. School districts, however, are faced with a much more complex system.
School districts must project balanced budgets for three years in advance based on pupil enrollment estimates – but can reliably count on funding from State sources one year at a time. With 80% of funding coming from State sources and class size variable due to economic conditions plus mandated costs such as Special Education and pensions a very complex conundrum is created.
The state amounts (including Federal pass-through amounts) reflect current year realities, not those three years from now. But California public schools can’t charge for books, supplies or support services such as nurses, counselors, field trips or librarians as is done in other states. Neither can they raise property taxes without voter approval,
Under such circumstances economic modeling becomes critical. The GSD has excellent ratings as to its accuracy, thanks to exceptional skills of staff experts. Still, to make the models work former services such as school librarians, nurses, and field trips have had to be sacrificed, schools closed, and extra-curricular activities curtailed. In this environment fund-raising efforts by educational foundations, service groups, businesses and parent teacher organizations become critical.
Special education – the Federal IDEA (special education) law mandates expenditures which are only 30% reimbursed by the Federal government – thus sapping other resources. Individual education plans and testing are mandated for special needs programs, but criteria are not defined. Instead individual plans must be worked out by parents, teachers, principals, psychologists and pupil advocates. The GSD spends $2 million per year on such programs affecting 8% of the student population. – or an average of $44,000 per special ed student as opposed to $14,000 for regular education students.
Sound high? Here’s an example of what happens. One parent and their pupil advocate wanted a student specific plan that would have entailed having their child in a special school in Boston that would have cost $120,000 per year - $15,000 of which would have been travel costs for family visits. To avoid a $100,000 court battle the District agreed to a local Los Angeles based program costing $60,000 with a $30,000 cash payment to the family.
Fighting advocate requests are expensive, which is why Districts cave. One “bleeding eczema” case cost the District $200,000 to resolve.
Teacher/School evaluations - One great issue facing education today is evaluating the effectiveness of teachers and schools. Testing is understandably the standard criteria favored by voters and politicians, but has a “fatal flaw” – most schools are testing subjects and techniques from the sixties and seventies while society and expectations have changed.
Today’s optimal classrooms do not stress chalkboard presentations, but the three Rs and interpersonal skills. No longer are we training students for industrial and machine age jobs (indeed, most schools no longer have metal shops and auto shops, nor do they teach sewing and crafts) but the information age. Kids today face 2.5 career changes in their life time and survival depends on the ability to think and communicate. These skills are not easily measured by standardized tests,
A superior and more modern model, Bob suggested, is for teachers as a profession to work collaboratively with each other and with parents, not just cover a subject in which they have expertise. Individuality must be an emphasis when it comes to grades – not just a footnote while test scores on specified topics are regarded as paramount. .
[Editor’s note: Bob will be serving on the California State Teaching Evaluation Board Task Force in 2012.]
The sad truth is that most school principals are trained and competent as administrators but not evaluators. Part of the reason is an environment where tenure is sacrosanct. They should, Bob asserted, have the responsibility for detecting under-performing teachers, suggesting improvements, and have the authority to release them after three consecutive years of bad reviews.
Curriculum is another concern. Competency in computer technology is now a necessity, not a reward. Kids need to be taught to differentiate between facts and opinions. Individual growth modules for pupils need to become the norm - paced teaching which expects every student to be ready for the same part of the text book at the same time (or even at the same age or grade) is ridiculous. It ignores individual differences – some may be capable of much more and become bored while others may need more development and become frustrated.
[Editor’s note: Curriculum topics are another area. The test emphasis is in reading, writing and arithmetic skills, However, there are advocates for schools to make available or mandate teaching more economics, physical education, nutrition, science, the Arts and Music, moral values, cultural diversity, drug and sexual awareness, family relations. languages, history, etc. Obviously every pupil can’t be taught everything – another reason for parents and teachers to collaborate and define individual priorities.]
Homework is another arena. Too many families regard it as a responsibility of the schools, to be done at school under supervision, rather than as a family affair. Factually some families are simply too fractured, too exhausted or too uneducated to be effective mentors to kids. Frequently there are language and cultural barriers. But this doesn’t justify being unconcerned.
The reality is that students from certain elements of the Caucasian and Chinese community do better by any criteria than those from Vietnam, Cambodia, and certain parts of the Hispanic community. This disparity needs to be acknowledged and addressed by all the community – not just the school district.
How can this be done? It should begin with teachers having universally high expectations of all students – not being biased by ethnic or cultural backgrounds. Then communication with parents must be opened and sustained – backed up by civic, business, service and spiritual elements of the greater community. We are today in a global competitive environment and cannot afford to accept less than development of student’s full potential.
