Torrance Ca Schools

On most days, the peace that hangs over western Torrance is disturbed only by lawn mowers, leaf blowers and the occasional bad muffler. But now and again, gunfire echoes along these landscaped streets--a sound that some residents call entirely unsuited to their suburban neighborhood. The gunfire emanates from an open-air pistol range in nearby Redondo Beach, operated by the city police department. Here, officers practice their aim in a range surrounded by 10-foot-high walls but lacking a roof.

A main sewer line at North High School collapsed Wednesday, forcing school officials to close most of the restrooms on the east side of the campus and order a dozen portable toilets that will be set up today. School officials said that the sewer line became clogged Monday afternoon and was plugged to prevent a sewage spill. Joe Zeiler, assistant vice principal of maintenance, said a rooter was unable to clear the line Tuesday and by Wednesday the clay pipe had collapsed.

A main sewer line at North High School collapsed Wednesday, forcing school officials to close most of the restrooms on the east side of the campus and order a dozen portable toilets that will be set up today. School officials said that the sewer line became clogged Monday afternoon and was plugged to prevent a sewage spill. Joe Zeiler, assistant vice principal of maintenance, said a rooter was unable to clear the line Tuesday and by Wednesday the clay pipe had collapsed.

Kindergarten teachers at Edison Elementary School in Torrance had their students wear mittens, parkas and hats to school Friday to keep them warm while playing in the snowy winter wonderland that was created on the playground. More than 90 kindergarten pupils were rotated through four stations, where they spent 15 minutes participating in various activities using 70 45-pound bags of snow that school officials ordered from a local ice company.

Missing out on the three Rs just got a little more expensive for students who cut classes in Torrance. The city passed an ordinance last week allowing police officers to detain students found loitering between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on school days in parks, playgrounds, streets, restaurants or public places. If a parent doesn't retrieve them or the students aren't returned to school within one hour, the students or their parents will have to pay a $57 fine. The new law goes on the books May 2.

The walls will come tumbling down next week at Torrance's Columbia School, and school officials and firefighters couldn't be happier. The elementary school has sat vacant for seven years, a victim of plummeting enrollment. The Torrance Unified School District planned to sell the site, as it had nine other schools. But residents strenuously objected, calling instead for a lease deal that would yield money for schools.

Standing in front of a group of Torrance's North High School freshmen, Luis Alfaro strained to read his prepared speech. A gunshot injury a year ago prevents him from seeing the lower half of the visual field, so one of his instructors held the paper above shoulder level as he read. He told the crowd he was shot in the head while working as a disc jockey at a friend's birthday party. The bullet went through his skull and damaged his brain.

An estimated 430 Torrance teachers and other employees called in sick Monday, forcing the city's four high schools to close for the day at lunchtime. Torrance Unified School District officials described the absences as an illegal sickout. A Torrance Teachers Assn. spokesman said the union did not authorize a job action, but that one was understandable in view of prolonged contract talks. Both sides expected teachers back in school today.

Dozens of Torrance students have been suspended in the wake of walkouts in support of their teachers' contract negotiations. Several North High School students who were suspended said they were informed that they could not return to school for two days. As many as 35 or 40 suspensions have occurred at North High after a Tuesday walkout, they estimated. School Board President David Sargent said he has been told that "at least 20" students were suspended at North High.

Members of the Canadian Forces Parachute Team paid a visit Friday to their pen pals at the South Bay Junior Academy in Torrance to talk about their daring canopy formations and what it's like to jump out of an airplane. This is the third year that the Sky Hawks, all members of the Canadian Forces regular or reserve forces, has visited the private school with 170 students in kindergarten to 10th grade.

Opponents of an $80.5-million school bond measure have formed a group to campaign against the ballot issue. Members of Save Money with Accountability and Responsible Taxation oppose Measure G on the ballot in the April 14 election, saying the school bond measure is too expensive and will take too long to pay off. "It is probably the most expensive way to get the job done," SMART spokesman Shawn Moonan said. "Why not propose a shorter tax that doesn't involve any bonds?"

The Torrance Unified School District and the superintendent were dismissed Thursday from a lawsuit filed by opponents of a June school bond measure who claimed that the district unlawfully spent public funds on the bond campaign, district officials said. Torrance Superior Court Judge Bob T.

A West High School senior has received a 1600 on his Scholastic Aptitude Test, the first student from the campus to obtain a perfect score in the Torrance school's 36-year history, officials announced Wednesday. Zachary Fornaca, 17, obtained the perfect score without preparing beforehand. It was the first time he took the test. "It was quite a surprise," said Fornaca, who hopes to attend Pomona College. "I did nothing to prepare for it, I've never taken one of the classes. . . .

Members of the Canadian Forces Parachute Team paid a visit Friday to their pen pals at the South Bay Junior Academy in Torrance to talk about their daring canopy formations and what it's like to jump out of an airplane. This is the third year that the Sky Hawks, all members of the Canadian Forces regular or reserve forces, has visited the private school with 170 students in kindergarten to 10th grade.

The Torrance Unified School District has decided not to expand kindergarten classes to six hours daily, noting that most 5-year-olds lose their attention span in the afternoon. However, they still will have five-hour classes, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., making Torrance the only school district in the South Bay region with kindergarten classes that run beyond the traditional 3 1/2 hours.

Missing out on the three Rs just got a little more expensive for students who cut classes in Torrance. The city passed an ordinance last week allowing police officers to detain students found loitering between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on school days in parks, playgrounds, streets, restaurants or public places. If a parent doesn't retrieve them or the students aren't returned to school within one hour, the students or their parents will have to pay a $57 fine. The new law goes on the books May 2.

The Torrance Unified School District has decided not to expand kindergarten classes to six hours daily, noting that most 5-year-olds lose their attention span in the afternoon. However, they still will have five-hour classes, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., making Torrance the only school district in the South Bay region with kindergarten classes that run beyond the traditional 3 1/2 hours.

Two South Bay public schools have won the U.S. Department of Education's prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in education. Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach and Calle Mayor Middle School in Torrance were among 266 secondary, junior high and middle schools nationwide to receive the 1996 award, according to the Department of Education.

In the past, the price students at Torrance public schools paid for skipping class was primarily educational--missed lectures, labs and perhaps a failing grade. The new price is 57 bucks. Under a new anti-truancy ordinance passed this week by the City Council, police officers will be authorized to cite students younger than 18 who are absent from school without a valid excuse.

Two South Bay public schools have won the U.S. Department of Education's prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in education. Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach and Calle Mayor Middle School in Torrance were among 266 secondary, junior high and middle schools nationwide to receive the 1996 award, according to the Department of Education.