Santa Ana Ca Schools

Gov. Gray Davis late Monday signed a controversial bill ordering Tustin to give 100 acres of the former Tustin Marine base to two Santa Ana school districts. Davis signed the bill with "great reluctance," according to a statement, because the land dispute should have been settled without state interference. "I am persuaded that the districts' request for land is not unreasonable," the governor wrote. "These two districts are among the most severely overcrowded in the state."

Long after the last class is over at Roosevelt Elementary School, dozens of neighborhood kids are still there. Some are getting help with their homework. Others are out on the field learning the Cub Scout oath. In a partnership between the city and the Santa Ana Unified School District, Roosevelt recently became the first local campus open to parents and children after hours, up to 10 p.m. If it is successful, the after-school program will be extended to other campuses, officials said.

Washington Elementary parents now have a place of their own during school hours. The school has opened a Family Center where parents can check out books and magazines and hold meetings. For students to succeed, "you really need a partnership with the parents," Principal Robert Anguiano said. The school also will have Friday readings for preschoolers. The center will be staffed by parent volunteers and will be available for after-hour meetings.

Some of Santa Ana's most dangerous intersections will receive traffic signals and other improvements under a state program designed to reduce pedestrian accident rates around California campuses. The pedestrian safety problem in Santa Ana played an important role in passage of the state's $20-million Safe Routes to School program.

With an eye toward possibly following suit, the Santa Ana school board will hear a report tonight on a bill that would pave the way for Capistrano schools to gain districtwide charter status. Mike Kilbourn, a lobbyist for the Orange County Department of Education, helped write Senate Bill 1705 which would allow the Capistrano Unified School District to apply for districtwide charter status.

About 600 students gathered at Carr Intermediate School on Tuesday for the unveiling of a new 32-cent postage stamp on the theme "Helping Children Learn." Carr was one of 100 sites nationwide and the only one in Orange County that took part in the commemoration. The school was chosen because it has an educational partnership with the local post office. The stamp, designed by children's book artist Christopher Van Allsburg, depicts a man with his arm around a child as they read together.

April 15 is the application deadline for three scholarship programs offered to graduating high school seniors who plan to attend Rancho Santiago College in the fall. The awards being offered are the Herbert Hafif Vocational, Santa Ana 2000 and Leadership and Achievement awards. Twenty-five Hafif awards of $1,000 each will be given to students who need financial assistance, are planning to study a vocational trade and have a grade-point average of at least 2.0.

To improve campus safety and allow children to focus on schoolwork rather than clothes, the Santa Ana Unified School District has passed a mandatory uniform policy for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The policy takes effect July 1, and the school board is recommending uniforms of navy blue slacks or skirts and white tops. However, each individual school may decide its own colors. Parents may allow their children to opt out of the mandatory uniform policy.

Discipline policies have failed to curb the number of students expelled from the school district over the past three years, although the reasons for the expulsions have changed, according to a district report. The report notes that expulsions have remained steady since the 1992-93 school year at about 1% of the total student population, or an average of 285 students a year.

The school board has decided not to place a measure on the June ballot that would have raised $32 million to improve classroom technology by imposing a $15-a-year tax on property owners. The proposal effectively died at this week's3 school board meeting after none of the Santa Ana Unified School District trustees backed a motion by board President Sal Mendoza to vote on the issue.