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Schools

School Board Approves Chinese Dual Immersion Program

Board approves a revision of its interdistrict attendance policy, the purchase of portable buildings, reduction of positions and the new language program.

Students starting kindergarten at  next year may have an opportunity to participate in a Chinese Dual Immersion Program.

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District approved a new Mandarin program at its meeting Tuesday night, adding a grade each year until the program spans grades K-5.

The class will teach math, social studies and science in a 50 percent Mandarin and 50 percent English model.

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A lottery system will be used if more students in the district sign up than the allotted space allows.

Board members called the program “amazing and exciting.”

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Also at the meeting, the Measure A Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee gave its final report to the district, pointing out many of the projects it has overseen throughout the years.

The committee worked on facilities requirements for the district from Measure A, a $260 million school facilities bond passed in 2002.

One major project overseen by the committee was the renovation of the gymnasium at in Danville.

At the meeting, the board approved the formation of an advisory committee and expansion of the number of people appointed to the panel from nine to 11.

Purchase of 31 portable buildings and removal of 22 of the 53 being leased by the district also was approved by the board.

The cost of buying the portables should not exceed $813,610, members agreed, with an expected savings for the district of $250,000 in annual lease costs.

The portables can be moved between schools and can be leased, to onsite child-care facilities, for example.

Assistant Superintendent Gary Black pointed out that the portable buildings will last many years and are easy to restore.

The board also approved the layoff of one 25.75 hour-per-week autism specialist paraeducator position.

Also approved was the reduction of hours for one autism specialist paraeducator from 33 hours per week to 30 hours, as well as one special education paraeducator from 29 hours per week to 14.5.

These reductions are not budget related but based on program needs.

Revisions to the interdistrict transfer policy also were approved by the board.

One of the changes includes grandfathering 11th and 12th graders from other districts so they would not need to reapply annually.

The district will allow parents or legal guardians who are employed within the district’s boundaries to enroll their children in the district. They would not need to re-enroll annually as long as they can continue to show that they are employed within the district’s boundaries.

San Ramon Valley Education Association President Darren Day gave an update on the group and explained this week's  event at Stoneridge Mall.

He said almost 100 teachers attended the event to grade papers at the mall in Pleasanton, illustrating to the public that teaching goes beyond the classroom.

Also addressed were the 59 Native American remains excavated during the San Ramon Valley High School gymnasium construction project.

Andrew Galvan, who was appointed by the California Native American Heritage Commission as the most likely descendant of the remains, spoke at the meeting.

Galvan said he received notice from the project manager that the district was ready to move forward with the completion of the mortuary preparation and eventual reburial.

Although Galvan said that was good news, he added that he wanted the board to “move the project to a successful completion.”

champions were honored at the meeting and given certificates from the board.

The students beat Shahala Middle School from Vancouver, Wash., 124 to 26 in the Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl.

“You represent the very best of this school district,” Superintendent Steven Enoch told the students.

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