Monrovia School Link

Monrovia School Link ~ Number 6 ~ May 10, 2000

Well, I feel better in my ignorance. Apparently veteran board member Roger Graziani (currently the board VP) also didn't know that 30 percent of Monrovia High students have a grade point average of less than 2.0. But he's shocked. That's good.
~ Brad Haugaard

EXTRACURRICULAR ~ Somebody or other gave a presentation on extracurricular activities at Monrovia High School. I don't know who it was because nobody bothered to introduce him. However, I'll bet a doughnut (Krispy Kreme) that it was the principal. Anyway, whomever it was said studies show that extracurricular activities prevent drop-outs and boost academic performance. So, should MHS raise or lower the grade point average students need to maintain to participate in these activities? Hmmmm. He didn't give an answer (though I suspect he was thinking of one). Instead, he suggested: - Forming a committee this September to study the question.
- Have the committee develop a plan by January, 2001.
- Have the commitee examine the elegibility requirements and present a recommendation by March, 2001.
- Track progress of whatever program is implemented.

SHOCKED ~ In his presentation about extracurricular eligibility Al (I know his name was Al because somebody said "Thank you Al" when he was done) mentioned that 30 percent of Monrovia High students have a grade point average *under* 2.0 (I think that means a "D" or lower, like I used to get in algebra. Do they still use "D"s?) Anyway, Board VP Roger Graziani, filling in for injured Board President Yolanda Gallardo, said of the grades: "Frankly, I'm a little shocked." He added, however, that this is the first time in his tenure on the board that he has seen a plan (see above) with "concrete goals." I hope he was just being off-the-cuff because it would be a bit disturbing to think that nobody in the district has come up with any concrete goals during the past years.

BASIC ~ Also, while I join Mr. Garziani in being a little shocked at the grades, I'm also a little shocked that he's shocked. I mean, isn't this basic sort of data available to school board members? If it is, why aren't they aware of it? If it isn't available to them, why isn't it?

KEIN DEUTSCH ~ There is apparently some thought being given to dropping the German language program at Monrovia High. Or, at least that's what one parent told the board, and nobody (including Al) contradicted her. She said a school of 1,600 should teach more than just two foreign languages (Spanish and French being the others). Board VP Roger Graziani said the district would "take it under advisement."

YUCK! ~ That phrase "take it under advisement" should be tied to a brick and drowned in the depths of the sea. I'm sure Mr. Graziani didn't mean it like this (he does seem like a nice guy), but what it says to me is, "The bureaucracy is not listening to you." Oops! Sorry about that. I'm getting on my bandwagon again.

GIFTS ~ I noticed the list of gifts people and organizations have given to local schools. (Slow meeting.) There were 20 of them this time, all money except a 1987 Pontiac Bonneville. What struck me is that out of those 20 gifts, eight were for Mayflower Elementary, more than for any other school. Monrovia High was second with five gifts (including the Pontiac). Of the other elementary schools, Monroe had just two and Plymouth, Wild Rose and Bradoaks had one each.

THREE DOCS ~ A truck strikes a limo and kills three doctors. St. Peter asks the first doctor, "Why should I let you into Heaven?" Doctor says, "I won the Nobel Prize in Medicine." "Welcome to Heaven," Peter says. "How about you?" he asks the second doctor. "I devoted my life to a free clinic." "Welcome to Heaven," Peter says. "And you?" he asks the third. "I am responsible for setting up HMOs throughout the United States." St. Peter looks him in the eye and says "You may enter Heaven as well, but you can only stay for three days."

NEXT BOARD MEETING ~ The next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at the administration office at 325 E. Huntington Drive. It's one of those "Jt. Pers.Comm./Bd Mtg."s. But this time I think I've figured out what it means. It means "Joint Personnel Committee/Board Meeting." Ta Da!