Westminster Ca Schools

World War II had just ended and the United States had established itself as a leader of freedom and democracy in the Western world--but not for everyone. Gonzalo Mendez and his three children were in the middle of a war at home for a simple freedom--the right for the children to attend school with other Americans.

Each year, the fliers go home with students, announcements are made at PTA meetings, and local newspapers carry the times and dates. It is an open invitation to parents of the Westminster School District's kindergarten through eighth-grade students to preview textbooks under consideration.

The City Council honored a sixth-grade student's perfect record at its meeting Tuesday. Victor Bui, who attends Anderson Elementary School, has not missed a day of school since kindergarten. He recently was awarded a bicycle from the Kiwanis Club in recognition of his attendance record. "My father taught me that school is important," Victor said after receiving a diploma from Mayor Frank Fry Jr.

Final uniform selections for the school district were made last week by the board of trustees. The district's 10,000 kindergarten through eighth-graders will be required to wear navy or khaki clothing beginning this fall. Parents will have the opportunity to opt out of the policy for their children after meeting with school officials.

Westminster elementary and middle schools showed across-the-board improvement on California's standardized test, raising their scores in every category for an overall gain of 5.2%. According to Stanford 9 test results released Friday, average scores in the Westminster School District ranged from a low of the 36th percentile, in third-grade reading, to a high of the 56th percentile, in sixth- and eighth-grade math.

The school board Thursday backed off a proposal that called for it to approve applications for grant money. However, the board reached a compromise, which will keep members informed when district staff applies for a grant. Board President Michael Verrengia had proposed that trustees provide more oversight of grant applications, in part because he is skeptical of some funds that come with conditions, he said. Verrengia suggested that the board approve applications before they are mailed.

The Westminster School District board will consider creating a fundamental school--which backers say would provide more focus on basic education, values, patriotism and discipline--at its meeting tonight. Board member Helena Rutkowski has proposed reopening the Franklin School campus at 14422 Hammon Lane in Huntington Beach. The school was closed about three years ago and leased to Head Start, a federally funded program for low-income preschool students.

Rico Garcia and Mike McDaniel didn't think that their search for their missing custodial cart would turn them into schoolhouse heroes. But the two La Quinta High School custodians achieved a measure of fame last week when they caught two men on campus following a string of thefts at the school's auto and wood shops. The janitors held the men and called police. The two intruders were later charged with burglary.

The abrupt departure of Westminster's schools superintendent this week gave blunt proof of the rising political power of the back-to-basics movement in Orange County. As chief of the 9,000-student district, Gail Wickstrom seemingly had everything going for her.

The city's school district has been awarded a $55,813 grant from the state Department of Mental Health for a program to help young children who have shown problems adjusting to school. The funding comes from the state's Early Mental Health Initiative, designed to help prepare at-risk children for academic success.

This school year, the cafeteria at Westminster High School began changing its menu with health in mind. It added teriyaki and Southwestern chicken bowls, a veggie bowl, a fruit bowl and, on Wednesday, a fruit and yogurt sundae. All this and more low-calorie and low-fat items are part of an effort by the school's grant-funded student group of California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition) to change the fast-food habit.

Citing safety issues and saying they want children to show respect for their schools and come to class ready to learn, trustees of the Westminster School District voted Thursday to require uniforms for all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Board member Lynn Covey said before the 3-2 vote that the policy is in the best interest of the students. "This is a way to be proactive for our students," Covey said.

Operation Clean Slate founder Mike Howard's idea of helping students gain respect for their school and community is to give them a paintbrush. His supervised public art plan was put to a test Wednesday at Westminster's Ray M. Schmitt Elementary School. As more than 60 students took their turn brushing paint on a mural of the U.S. flag and a world encircled with people, success was evident in at least one area: The kids had fun.

Westminster elementary and middle schools showed across-the-board improvement on California's standardized test, raising their scores in every category for an overall gain of 5.2%. According to Stanford 9 test results released Friday, average scores in the Westminster School District ranged from a low of the 36th percentile, in third-grade reading, to a high of the 56th percentile, in sixth- and eighth-grade math.

A citizens group seeking to recall three members of the city's school board has abandoned its efforts after failing to gather enough signatures by a February deadline, members said. In July, the 40-member group mailed formal notices to Westminster School District Trustees Sondra Rinker and Helena Rutkowski and then-President Michael J. Verrengia, notifying them of a pending recall effort.

Fueling the debate over bilingual education, a State Board of Education panel took steps Thursday to let Orange County's multiethnic Westminster School District teach all students in English, but compensate by increasing the use of bilingual teaching aides.

In a move expected to fuel the debate over bilingual education, the Westminster School District is seeking a state waiver that would allow it to teach all students in English, but increase the use of bilingual teaching aides. Westminster is the first school district in California to submit such a proposal to the state Board of Education, which is expected to discuss the controversial plan at its Feb. 8 meeting and vote on it the following day.