Bonita Unified School District

There is a critical issue that needs to be addressed by parents and child advocacy groups. We need the help of every citizen who will stand up on behalf of the health and safety of our children and let their voices be heard in Sacramento. AB 3205 is struggling to survive. It is a law that would give agencies the power to prevent industrial plants that house or emit toxic substances from being built next to schools. Our school district is one of many throughout the state where children have been hurt.

The Bonita Unified School District has agreed to a court settlement giving $3.5 million to a youngster who was molested by a teacher, who is scheduled to be released from prison this weekend. The settlement superseded a jury award last year that gave the child $10.8 million after finding that school district officials were negligent in their supervision of convicted molester Jack R. Kelley.

The board president of the Bonita Unified School District has withdrawn as a candidate for reelection in November, citing fundamental differences with other board members and school officials over alleged secrecy about district actions. In a statement, Robert Olander II said he decided not to seek reelection to the school board serving La Verne and San Dimas after it became apparent things wouldn't change in a second term.

Regarding the cost of the recall effort against Bonita school board member Robert Green, I feel democracy has been insulted. Board members Sharon Scott and Robert Green contend that paying for the recall election, scheduled for Feb. 23, will require money that should be used to hire more teachers. Does this mean that petitions with 7,000 signatures, community and parent involvement and the democratic process is acceptable only if the cost isn't too high by their standards? Thank heavens our forefathers did not feel the same way. Initially, Scott supported the recall of Green in this election.

Teachers in San Dimas and La Verne who have not reached a pay agreement with the Bonita Unified School District spent the third day of the new school year on the picket line as the district experienced its second strike in 18 months. District spokeswoman Barbara Ward said 70% of the district's 363 teachers did not show up for work Thursday, necessitating the use of about 200 substitute teachers.

The former public relations consultant for the Bonita Unified School District has been honored by California's First Amendment Coalition for her efforts to protect the public's right to know after she clashed with school board members over the release of information.

The superintendent of the Bonita Unified School District that serves San Dimas and La Verne was placed on paid administrative leave Monday by the school board, which revealed an ongoing investigation into allegations against the district's top educator. The decision to place Supt.

The Bonita Unified School District board said Friday that it has hired a search consultant to find a new superintendent as Ron Raya remains on paid leave amid allegations of sexual harassment. The Board of Education, in a special session Thursday afternoon, decided to hire the California School Boards Assn. to conduct a search for a replacement for Raya. Board members say they hope to hire a new superintendent by April to replace interim Supt. Stanley G. Oswalt.

Trustees of the Bonita Unified school district have agreed to pay $100,000 to a current and former assistant superintendent to settle a discrimination lawsuit, officials said. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Assistant Supts. Peter Schiff and Lorna L. Horton against the district, which incorporates San Dimas and La Verne. Schiff and Horton each will receive $50,000. Schiff, who is now superintendent of a district near San Diego, alleged that former Supt.

After weeks of uncertainty and delay, the Bonita Unified School District board last week approved by a 4-1 vote a plan to renovate a historic but dilapidated elementary school. The board awarded a contract worth almost $800,000 to ACS Inc. of La Habra to begin work immediately on modernization of La Verne Heights Elementary, built in 1937. The district estimates that the total project could cost from $1.1 million to more than $1.4 million.