This year, three initiatives hold the promise of significant educational gains for the 23,000 students attending the 34 campuses of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
And, unlike some split decisions by the district’s five elected trustees on major matters, such as a ban on teaching critical race theory and the adoption of a parental notification policy, all three have the unanimous support of the trustees.
One, of course, is the opening on Aug. 27 for approximately 600 seventh- and eighth-grade students of a district-affiliated charter school on the Bernardo Yorba Middle School campus.
The Orange County School of Computer Science is considered a “conversion charter school,” and, as such, will provide more opportunities for students than a privately run charter that would operate with a separate administrative staff and little oversight by a publicly elected board.
The district-approved conversion charter will have full access to district-level support on an existing campus with tested and experienced leaders – Principal Beth Fisher and Assistant Principal Rachael Collins.
And important financial matters, such as payments for expenses, will be overseen by knowledgeable school finance personnel answerable to the district’s publicly elected governing board.
A second initiative relates to hiring teachers with more than six years of experience in other districts. Prior to the adoption of this year’s contract with certificated staff, placement on the teacher salary schedule started at the sixth year, even if the teacher had more experience.
Teachers with more than six years of experience were reluctant to join the Placentia-Yorba Linda district because of a sizable loss of pay. For example, last year, a sixth-year teacher with advanced credits earned $82,625, while a 12th-year teacher earned $103,268.
A third initiative involves paying teachers extra for tutoring students after regular school hours to make up for the substantial…
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