February 2012

Page 1

Volume 60, Issue 6

February y 2012

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

Have You Heard About Measure A?

In this issue:

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE

ACADEMICS pg. 10 Gov. Team Champs: Gov. Team celebrates as they prepare to make their way to Nationals. Graphic by ALWYNA LAU

MEASURE A As the date to mail in ballots for Measure A draws closer, many members of our community are considering the impact it would have on Arcadia’s schools and their own households. By ARIANA ARZANI Executive Copy Editor Photo by LEO JIANG

SPORTS pg. 17 Boys Varsity Soccer: A young team learns many valuable lessons from an up-and-down season.

Photo courtesy of RONALD LEE

STUDENT LIFE pg. 19 Mr. Edwin Schreiner: Students and faculty fondly remember their time with Mr. Schreiner. Have a question, comment, or concern about the Pow Wow? E-mail the Editors-in-Chief at editorsinchief@apachepowwow.com or find us online at apachepowwow.com.

In recent weeks, a drive around Arcadia will prove to be filled with visions of brightly colored signs propped up on lawns advocating for voters to mark “Yes on Measure A”. For many, the tough economic times have hit home and the strain on pocketbooks and textbooks alike can be felt throughout Arcadia. Measure A, or the Arcadia Teacher and Academic Instruction Protection Measure, hopes to raise $3.4 million per year solely for AUSD without having to return a share back to Sacramento. As state funding continues to decrease, Principal David Vannasdall understands that this measure “is essential to maintain the quality of education in Arcadia as [they] can no longer rely on the state for appropriate funding.” In return for the stable local funding it provides for schools, the measure will cost property owners $228 annually for a maximum of five years. Voting for the measure will last from mid-February to mid-March and the entire election will be conducted through mail, with every registered voter receiving a ballot in the mail. If approved by two-thirds of those who vote on it, Measure A will pass and begin to provide stable local funding for Arcadia’s schools. Once the 2011-2012 school year draws to a close, AUSD will have made a total of $17 million in cuts since 2007. If passed, Measure A hopes to restore our

schools back to standards that once defined Arcadia’s schools and try to maintain that high reputation. With the increased funds, the measure will protect quality programs as well as maintaining AHS’ high-caliber honors and AP courses. The funding will prevent the reduction or elimination of extra-curricular programs on campus such as academic teams, clubs, and Band. Activities and curriculum will not be the only things possibly safeguarded as the measure hopes to attract and retain high quality teachers into Arcadia to further improve our schools. The improvements will not be limited to AHS, but rather every school in AUSD. Parents, students, and teachers are some of the largest advocates for the measure but the benefits apply to all Arcadia citizens, not just those involved in education. High-achieving schools usually substantially increase property values for their cities and Arcadia is no exception. For Mr. Kevin Fox, searching for a home in Arcadia proved to be an interesting task as he saw “two homes that looked virtually identical but one house was $100,000 more expensive because it was in Arcadia and therefore in the Arcadia School District while the other was not. Around $228 for five years to maintain the value of my house to $100,000 more than a house across the street is a great deal so it doesn’t even matter if I have a kid.” Property values are not the only reason why the measure will benefit all Arcadia citizens, regardless of age or occupation. Although they will not be at AHS, or possibly even Arcadia in the next few years, seniors Greg Chang and Chung Chan are still heavy supporters of the measure. Greg loves “Arcadia, and

[he] thinks Measure A is what Arcadia’s school district needs to continue being what it was for [him]; a great learning facility. On a side note, [his] diploma will, hopefully, maintain its value in the years to come if AHS’ reputation of quality is preserved.” Similarly, Chung’s “sister, sophomore Cheryl Chan, and other very deserving students, will still be at AHS in the next few years. The maintenance of property values will also positively affect [his] friends and family.” The benefits of Measure A will extend to all students as it will maintain the quality education we have all become accustomed to. For many, the only negative effect of the measure is that it would drain money out of taxpayer’s wallets. Regardless of the financial strain, Principal Vannasdall “believes that the measure will, in fact, be passed by Arcadia voters because people live in Arcadia for the schools and $228 is a small price to pay for the maintenance of an excellent education.” In regard to opposition against the measure, sophomore Albert Gianatan believes “that this measure is simply working to sustain our current budget and in a school district with both teachers and students who share such a profound passion for learning, you cannot place a price tag on education.” If passed, Measure A will benefit all residents of Arcadia while ensuring that current and future generations of students who walk out of AHS with a diploma in hand receive a top-notch education, benefiting themselves and society. aarzani@apachepowwow.com


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February 2012 by The Arcadia Quill - Issuu