
ABC Community Update
News from the ABC Unified School District - 2/8/24
Town Hall Meeting - Possible School Consolidation
Carver Celebrates Earning a National Blue Ribbon
News & Notes
ABC Film Festival
The first-ever District-wide Film Festival is looking for entries from our talented students. The Film Festival is open to all ABCUSD students and will culminate in an event on March 20, 2024, at the Grace Hu Auditorium at Whitney High School. Click here for more information about the ABC Film Festival.
ABCUSD Honor Band Concert
Student musicians from all District middle and high schools are joining together to perform as the ABCUSD Honor Band on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Whitney High School’s Grace Hu Auditorium. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to listen to great music from a group of talented musicians!
Free Workshop - Resume & Job Search Skills for Teens
The ABC Adult School is hosting a free workshop for families and teens focused on resume writing and how to search for a job. The workshop, part of the school's Parent Leadership Academy, is set for February 21, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the ABC Adult School Cabrillo Lane Campus. Click here for more information.
Author Shares Story with Families
How does a former gang member end up as a Master Chief in the United States Navy? Families and ABCUSD staff members learned about how author Raul R. Ramos did it at the December Parent Leadership Academy workshop. His book, “Ese to Master Jefe,” chronicles his journey from the dangerous world of street gangs to a 24 career in the Navy, where he earned the highest enlisted rank. Thank you, Master Chief Ramos, for sharing your inspirational story.
School Accountability Report Cards
It’s important to know what’s going on in public schools, so the State of California developed School Accountability Report Cards (SARC). Education Code requires schools receiving state funding to share their SARC annually. SARCs are updated annually and published on February 1st each year, providing families and communities with important information about their schools, including:
Academic achievement data (state assessments, graduation rate, etc.)
Class sizes
Curriculum and instructional materials
Demographic data
Fiscal and expenditure data
Opportunities for parent involvement
Postsecondary (College & Career) preparation information
School facility conditions
School safety and climate for learning information
Teacher and staff information
A school’s SARC is an effective way to report on its progress in achieving its goals. Families may also use SARCs to review and evaluate schools. Click here to find SARCs for ABCUSD schools.
Board Meeting Recap
The ABCUSD Board of Education held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Here’s a brief recap of the actions they took.
- Students from Stowers Elementary School led the flag salute, then shared information about the school, including the school’s Dual Language Immersion Program in Mandarin, and celebrated the Lunar New Year with a traditional fan dance.
- District Equity Officer Mr. Blain Watson gave a presentation about Black History Month, including student participation.
- Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Dr. Carola Castro gave a presentation about the Day of Remembrance programs taking place at schools. This program shared important lessons about the history of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
- Mr. Kirit Chauhan, Chair of the School Facilities Capacities and Declining Enrollment Ad Hoc Committee, provided an update on the work the committee has been doing to date and shared the dates of two town hall meetings scheduled for February 7 and February 15.
- Student Board Representatives from the ABC Adult School shared a report about the school's activities and programs, including career technical education, community education, English as a Second Language, and parent education.
- The Board adopted Resolution 23-17, acknowledging February 2024 as Black History Month.
- The Board approved community member appointments to the School Facilities Capacities and Declining Enrollment Ad Hoc Committee.
- The Board approved the application for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth program grant for the 2024-2025 school year.
- The Board approved a request to contract with Parker & Covert LLP to serve as counsel fo student expulsion hearings on an as-needed basis for the 2023-2024 school year.
- The Board approved a request to contract with the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Nutrition and Wellness Program to provide Hawaiian Elementary School students with a five-workshop series focused on health and nutrition for the 2023-2024 school year.
- The Board approved a request to contract with School Yard Rap, LLC to provide in-person assemblies for school sites and a districtwide community showcase production focused on the cultural and ethnic diversity of American culture for the 2023-2024 school year.
- The Board approved Bid Award ABC-1638 Roofing at various sites to Best Contracting Services and Danny Letner, Inc., DBA Letner Roofing Company as the lowest responsive and responsible bidders.
- The Board approved Bid Award ABC-1639 for Artesia High School Gymnasium HVAC to AP Construction Group, Inc., DBA Air Plus as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Dates to Remember
February 12 - Lincoln's Day - No School
February 15 - Town Hall Meeting (6:00 p.m.)
February 19 - President's Day - No School
February 20 - Board Meeting (7:00 p.m.)
February 21 - School Facilities Capacities & Declining Enrollment Ad Hoc Committee (6:00 p.m.)
February 22 - Finance & Audit Board Advisory Committee (6:00 p.m.)
February 27 - Strategic Planning Board Advisory Committee (5:30 p.m.)
February 27 - Citizens' Oversight Committee (Measure BB - 6:00 p.m.)
February 28 - Legislative/Policy Board Advisory Committee (6:30 p.m.)
The ABC Community Update is a weekly e-publication
produced by the ABC Unified School District.
ABCUSD
16700 Norwalk Boulevard
Cerritos, CA 90703
(562) 926-5566
In 1965 the Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita School Districts unified and became the ABC Unified School District. Today, the District serves over 20,000 Pre-K to 12th Grade and adult education students through its 30 campuses, adult school, and virtual academy. The District is home to some of the most awarded and recognized schools in California and serves the cities of Artesia, most of Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, as well as portions of Lakewood, Long Beach, and Norwalk.