Bear Valley Unified School District Students Return to School

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 29, 2010, 3:00pm – Next week on Tuesday, August 3rd, will be the start of the school year for students enrolled in the Bear Valley Unified School District’s 2010-2011 school year.  BVUSD operates under the guidelines for a modified-traditional school year calendar.  If you are new to the Valley or have not registered your child for school yet, school site personnel are available this week on Friday for registration.  Parents and students need to note that this year all of the schools will have a different start time than last year.  Questions may be answered by contacting the schools directly or visiting the District Office website at bigbear.k12.ca.us.  Bus route information can also be viewed on the transportation website at bigbearschoolbus.com.   Tomorrow, Friday, July 30th at the high school is “Freshman Friday” for all incoming freshman students from 3pm to 5pm.  The event is conducted by the Associated Student Body and is primarily for incoming freshmen for a tour of the campus but parents are welcome.  High School students will find out their class lists on the first day of school.  New this school year, for Big Bear Elementary School families only, the school will be implementing school uniforms known as learning clothes.  As a public school system, they are required to offer an opt-out policy, but, are encouraging parents and students to opt-in for the success of the new program.  Last spring, the school had surveyed families for their opinion on whether or not they would support a uniform policy and they received an 85% positive response.  Learning clothes are available at the Children’s Closet, the Hummingbird Thrift Store, Old Navy and Target.  Currently, the Children’s Closet is offering a 40% discount on learning clothes.  For BBES families in need of assistance with the purchase of learning clothes, clothing donations have been secured and a payment plan will also be offered.  This week the school will be selling some learning clothes for families in need at a reduced price as well as selling school T-shirts.  For more information visit the school’s blog site at bbes.edublogs.org.  BBES is also going to a no homework policy for all grades with the exception of nightly reading.  Therefore, students also will not need to have backpacks at BBES.  Big Bear Elementary will post student class list on Monday, August 2nd after 4pm.  Baldwin Lane Elementary School is holding a Kindergarten Visitation for kinders and their parents on Friday, July 30th from 2p to 3pm.  Their Back to School Night for parents only will be on August 5th from 6p to 7pm.  New at Baldwin Lane this year, all students and staff will join the 100 Mile Club promoting fitness with the kick off on Friday, August 6th at 2pm.  The school’s goal is to have all students and staff run, walk or jog 100 miles by the end of the school year.  Baldwin Lane Elementary will post student class lists after 5pm on Monday, August 2nd.  For North Shore Elementary School, kindergarten teachers will be contacting all parents of incoming kinders over the next few days to answer any questions families may have.  North Shore Elementary will be posting their class lists earlier than other schools.  Their lists will be posted sometime over this weekend.  At the Big Bear Middle School, 7th graders and their parents as well as students new to the school are welcome to attend an orientation on Monday, August 2nd at 4pm.  Seventh graders who attend will receive their full class schedule and have a chance to tour the school.  PE clothes and pre-payment for yearbooks will offered for purchase.  All students can preview their homeroom information beginning Monday, August 2nd after 4pm.  8th graders will receive their full class schedule on the first day of school.

Bear Valley Unified School District Reviews Budget Cuts Previously Approved

Big Bear Lake, CA, July 28, 2010, 10:20am – At the Bear Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, July 21st, Trustees revisited the previously approved Plan B of the Budget Advisory Committee’s Expenditure Reduction recommendations in order to entertain the possibility of reinstating any of approved cuts previously made.  The Board held discussion for about one hour centered on the elementary school strings program that had a budget of $20,000 that was one of the items previously cut from the budget.  The board agreed to reinstate the strings program in the amount of $10,000.  Sharon Rizzo, the strings instructor, was present at the meeting and she agreed to work on fundraising efforts to raise the additional $10,000 but would also create a second option of a program based on a total $10,000 budget.  Additionally, in a 3 to 2 vote, the Board approved an expenditure of $16,000 for the upcoming school year for a Discovery Education program called “Streaming Plus” allowing for streaming of network videos in all BVUSD classrooms to enhance classroom instruction.  Last year, Discovery Education offered a 3 to 4 month free trail offer to the schools that was used heavily particularly by the elementary school teachers.  In looking ahead to the fiscal solvency for the current and subsequent two fiscal years, the Board signed a resolution to authorize on-going budget reductions, if necessary, in the amount of $358,000 in fiscal years 2011-2012 and in the amount of $420,000 in the fiscal year 2012-2013 to maintain the state required minimum reserve levels for the next three years in the event the cost of living adjustment (known as COLA) figures do not materialize given the uncertainty of the state’s financial position.

San Bernardino Valley College Super Saturday One-Stop Registration Event

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 27, 2010, 12:12pm – San Bernardino Valley College is having a one-day, one-stop event aimed at registering students on the spot for Fall 2010 classes.  Mountain residents are invited to attend the Super Saturday One-Stop Registration Event at Big Bear High School on Saturday, July 31^st from 9am to 2pm.  Classes include Painting, Health, Safety and Nutrition for Young Children, Basic Writing, Intro to Computer Literacy, Into to Geographic Information Systems and US History: 1865 to Present.  The Super Saturday One-Stop Event will have representatives on-hand to help students through the application process, the assessment process for on-line or SBVC classes for English and Math as well as counseling and registration for SBVC campus classes.  Additionally, residents can enroll in any of the nearly 200 online, hybrid and distance education courses along with classes held on the San Bernardino Valley College campus.  Financial Aid Workshops will also be available from 9:30am to 2pm.  Prospective students are encouraged to apply for admission to the college on-line at valleycollege.edu at least 48 hours prior to Super Saturday to obtain a student ID prior to registration.

BBHS Freshmen Football Camp Starts Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 27, 2010, 9:15am – Freshmen Football Camp is this coming this Wednesday through Friday, July 28-30, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Big Bear High School for any incoming Big Bear High School freshmen who are interested in playing high school football are welcome. Players do not need to have prior experience.  Players are instructed to meet at the high school tennis courts the first day dressed in red shorts, a white T-shirt and black cleats.  All players should have a physical exam prior to reporting for practice. Spirit packs are available for sale the first day for those who didn’t purchase them earlier.  Senior football players will assist the coaching staff in running the camp. The incoming players will learn drills and plays in preparation for full practice, which begins the first week of school.  The final day of the three-day camp ends with a tour of the school as part of Big Bear High School Freshman Friday activities.

Bear Valley Unified School District Student’s Start School on August 3rd

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 27, 2010, 9:14am – One week from today on Tuesday, August 3rd will be the start of the school year for students enrolled in the Bear Valley Unified School District’s 2010-2011 school year.  BVUSD operates under the guidelines for a modified-traditional school year calendar.  If you are new to the Valley or have not registered your child for school yet, school site personnel are available this week today and tomorrow as well as on Friday for registration.  Questions may be answered by contacting the schools directly or visiting the District Office website at bigbear.k12.ca.us.

Bear Valley Unified School District Holds Regular Meeting and Special Meeting This Week

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 20, 2010, 10:00am – The Board of Trustees of the Bear Valley Unified School District will hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, July 21st at the school district offices located at 42271 Moonridge Road in Big Bear Lake.  In addition to discussions relating to the start of the school year on August 3rd, the Board will reconsider Plan B of the Budget Advisory Committee’s Expenditure Reduction recommendations previously approved by the BVUSD Board.  The open session meeting begins at 6:30pm.   Additionally, a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees has been called for this Friday, July 23 at 9am for the closed session for Board conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation and for a performance evaluation of the District Superintendent, Dr. Nancy Wright.

The Hummingbird Project Offers School Supplies and More to Families Who Qualify

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 19, 2010, 7:00am - For Bear Valley Unified School District’s students, summer is quickly running out!  The Hummingbird Thrift Store is currently taking Back to School Supplies Signups at the store located at 400 West Big Bear Blvd in Big Bear City now through Saturday, July 24, 2010.  Through the program, residents may be eligible for school supplies, shoes and haircuts for students returning to school.  In order to qualify parents must be low-to-moderate income, live in the Big Bear Valley and children must be enrolled in the Bear Valley Unified School District.  Families who could benefit from the assistance of the Hummingbird Project are encouraged to visit their Bear City location and are reminded to bring proof of income. Questions can also be addressed by calling 584-8642.

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Reports on Fiscal Solvency of The Bear Valley Unifed School District

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 15, 2010, 12:14pm – At the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Bear Valley Unified School District, a summary of the District’s 3rd Interim Report from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools was presented to the Board of Trustees as required by law regarding the fiscal solvency of the district.  The fiscal certification of BVUSD is qualified at this time.  The end of year projection indicates that the district has been able to reduce expenditures in the current year due to a detailed review of current staffing and categorical program funding levels.  The Budget Committee was able to identify additional budget reductions to be implemented in 2009-2010 and in the two subsequent fiscal years.  The District has submitted a fiscal plan for additional reductions for fiscal year 2011-2012 to maintain a 4% reserve level as recommended by the governing board.  As advised by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, BVUSD will need to closely monitor expenditures in future years to ensure that the trend of deficit spending is eliminated to ensure future fiscal solvency.  Their concern, at this time, is that there is a possibility of the District falling below the state required reserves in the 2012-2013 fiscal year if deficit spending continues.  The State requires a minimum reserve of 3%.  The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Bear Valley Unified School District is July 21st.

The Lighthouse Project Releases Information from Community Forum for Schools

Big Bear Lake, CA, July 15, 2010, 3:52pm – The Lighthouse Project has released the information they gathered from a Community Forum for Schools they hosted that was conducted on May 5, 2010 in an open forum for community members to share their ideas for coping with the current financial crisis in education in a proactive, constructive and unified manner.  Over 65 people from many different sectors of the community, including parents, educators, students, business owners and retired citizens were in attendance.  The data collected suggests a prevailing concern relating to curriculum.  There were many comments related to a continuing trend focusing education on remediation at the expense of high achieving students.  Equally, many called for the restoration of arts education, enrichment programs, vocational and technical courses as well as athletics.  The community seems to be amendable to a restructuring of the district and recognizes that including a place for leveraging the assets unique to Big Bear and our community in any sort of restructuring would be very beneficial.  Environmental factors, including facilities and class sizes, were also prevalent in the discussions.  Another prevailing theme was that schools should reflect a level of respect, including the care and maintenance of facilities and the social discourse between parents, teachers and students.  The important roles of parents and teachers in the quality of education were also noted.  All comments were captured by facilitators, categorized for data analysis, and provided to Bear Valley Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Nancy Wright.  The summary data from the forum provides the school district with insight into the concerns and desires of the community, as well as a resource for task forces and ‘think tank’ resources that can be deployed as we continue to navigate through rough financial times for our schools.  Many attendees expressed a willingness to participate in further discussions to move forward with ideas for revenue generation.  A full report can be viewed on the Lighthouse Project website at bigbearlighthouse.com.

The Big Bear Valley Education Trust and The Lighthouse Project Seek Adult Volunteers for Local Schools

Big Bear Valley, CA, July 13, 2010, 12:34pm – The Big Bear Valley Education Trust, in collaboration with The Lighthouse Project, are working together to help support our local schools.  Their goal is to help assist the students and teachers at this critical time when the California economy has brought about a funding crisis in our school system.  According to Liz Harris, Board Member and creator of the Big Bear Valley Education Trust, “we can’t depend on the state to provide for our children.”  The Board has developed a volunteer program and are looking for people who can commit to volunteer in the classroom for 2 hours a day, 2 days a week for one five-month semester.  Volunteers will be fully trained.  Grade levels that will benefit from this program are Kinder through 8th grade.  This opportunity is open to all Valley residents in an effort to extend the circle out into the community beyond parents who are already volunteering in the schools as their time permits.  The purpose of the program is to improve the adult to student ratio in the classroom and to utilize the skills and gifts a mentor can share with our Big Bear Valley youth.  Additional volunteers will work as a liaison between the teachers and the volunteer to ensure the program’s success.  A minimum total of 50 adult volunteers are needed to support the schools involved in this program.  If you are interested in helping children and our school system, you can contact Liz Harris at 744-2213.  The submission deadline is August 8th.

Next Page »