Dear Parents
and Community Members,
Our community has been fortunate to have a
dedicated and talented Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC). The
COC oversees the “Building for Success” program for modernizing
and expanding our School Facilities Improvement District (SFID)
schools. By statute, the seven-member Committee reports directly
to the Board of Education and is responsible for ensuring
Proposition U bond funds are properly utilized. Since its
formation in 2003, our COC has not only taken on this task but
has provided professional advice and input into the planning
process, strategies to secure competitive bids in a heated
market, and overall program advice. Committee members have given
freely of their time and expertise to help ensure we stretch
every dollar to maximize our building program.
I know the COC shares the same disappointment we all feel that
construction costs have spiraled upward and inflation has hit
this industry at unprecedented levels. Although we are unable to
complete the original program, we are proud of how much has been
accomplished through securing additional funding sources and
effectively and efficiently managing limited resources. The
first priority was to modernize and expand all of the oldest and
most needy facilities, and that will happen. We are also
addressing needed technology upgrades in all of our schools and
providing new and safer playground equipment, even in our newer
SFID schools. I encourage you to read the
Citizens’ Oversight
Committee Winter 2006-07 Report
and, most importantly, to visit our schools as they are
modernized and expanded.
In March 2007, the terms of four Citizens’ Oversight Committee
members will end. At a special Board meeting held February 5,
the Board of Education selected four individuals from a total of
eleven applicants to replace those members. The Board has made
it a priority to seek members for the COC that have had
experience in large construction projects, architecture,
contract law, and finance. Our community is very fortunate to
have many more experienced and talented individuals apply for
the COC than can be seated.
Below is a brief description of the four members selected, each
of whom will start a two-year term beginning in March 2007. As
you will see, they bring a wealth of experience and expertise to
the program as we continue to strive to prioritize and maximize
the available dollars we have to spend on modernizing and
expanding facilities with a clear focus on student learning
opportunities.
William C. Bonner
Mr. Bonner is a civil engineer with more than twenty-five years
of detailed experience in the professional fields of facility
construction management, engineering and architectural design,
contracts management, and master planning and facility project
management both in the U.S. and abroad. He earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in Engineering from New Mexico State University.
Chrissa N. Corday
Ms. Corday is an attorney with a background in construction law.
Her practice relates primarily to construction remedies for both
private and public works and business litigation. She graduated
from Arizona State University and received her law degree from
the University of San Diego School of Law. Her two high school
children have attended the Poway Unified School District since
kindergarten. Chrissa previously served on the Citizens’
Oversight Committee from 2003-2006.
Lee E. Dulgeroff
Mr. Dulgeroff is Interim Director of Project Management in the
San Diego Unified School District, working with the challenges
of building, modernizing, and maintaining school facilities. He
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and
a Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from
San Diego State University. He has two school-aged children in
the Poway Unified School District. Lee previously served on the
Citizens’ Oversight Committee from 2003-2006.
George W. Hawkins
Mr. Hawkins is President and CEO of Associated Builders and
Contractors of San Diego and has been involved with the
construction industry for over 30 years. He is also currently a
member of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s Executive
Board. He graduated from Washington State University, majoring
in telecommunications.
These four individuals join current Citizens’ Oversight
Committee members Roger Moyers, Jerry Ricks, and John Sturla in
March, 2007. For more information about the COC and the
Proposition U Building for Success program, please access the
following links:
http://www.powayschools.com/news/coc/members.htm
http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/bond/
http://www.powayusd.com/news/coc/reports/COC_WinterReport-2007.pdf
Warm regards,
Don Phillips
Superintendent
STUDENT RECOGNITION
These are examples of the fine accomplishments occurring at our schools every day.
- Monique Wolfe,
a junior at Mt. Carmel High School, has been recognized by
the College Board for her perfect score of 2400 on the
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Nationwide, 1,465,744
students took the new SAT test in 2006. According to the
College Board, a score of 2400 was achieved by 238 students,
or 0.017% of those who took the test. In California,
Monique was one of 43 students who received a score of 2400
on the three-part test that now includes Writing along with
Mathematics and Language Arts.
- Alize Rozsnyai, a senior from Rancho Bernardo High School, has been selected as a finalist in the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts program recognizing top high school seniors in the arts. Of 7,300 applicants, only 142 finalists were selected to attend the week-long program in Miami, Florida, where they will audition to become a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
- Samantha Ellis, Rancho Bernardo High School senior, was named 2006 Junior Yachtsman of the Year by the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs. The award is presented to a senior who has demonstrated excellence in competition, contributed to yacht club activities, and worked to advance junior sailing programs, along with demonstrating good citizenship and integrity.
- Donnie McKillop, a senior from Poway High School, has been selected as a Scholar-Leader-Athlete for the 2006-2007 school year by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. This organization selects students who demonstrate outstanding academic, athletic excellence, and community leadership for a special award. The San Diego Chapter will honor Donnie and 30 other high school (CIF - San Diego Section), college, and university football players who have met their academic standards at an awards banquet on Friday, March 9, 2007, at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley.
- Members of the California Band Director's Association All-State Honor Band include Bernardo Heights Middle School eighth grade student Kyle L. McConnaughay (french horn) and seventh grade student Peter Jahl (tuba); Mesa Verde Middle School eighth grade students Hedda Bates (flute) and Brice Burton (percussion); and Meadowbrook Middle School eighth grade students Olivia Hsu (flute), Ben Jacobson (euphonium), and Payal Chinnappa (clarinet).
- Members of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s All-Southern California Honor Band include Bernardo Heights Middle School eighth grader Kyle L. McConnaughay (french horn); Black Mountain Middle School eighth grader Katie Woodruff (bass clarinet) and seventh grader Aaron Woolley (trumpet); Mesa Verda Middle School eighth grader Kaelyn Gima (trombone) and seventh grader Rachel Trumbore (trombone); and Twin Peaks Middle School eighth grade student Aaron Then (tuba) and seventh grade student Emilia Lopez-Yanez (oboe).
STAFF RECOGNITION
- Divona Roy, Poway High School English teacher, earned National Board Certification for 2007 based on extensive year-long assessments. The assessments measure not only the knowledge teachers possess, but the actual use of their skills and the ability to demonstrate highly accomplished teaching in the classroom.
- Joseph Dunne, Poway Unified School District Classified Employee of the Year 2005-2006, has been appointed by State Superintendent of Instruction Jack O’Connell to serve on the Autism Advisory Committee established as part of Assembly Bill 2513. This committee has been established to better serve pupils with autism and their parents.
- Ray Wilson, Poway Unified School
District’s Executive Director of Assessment and
Accountability, has been appointed to the National Council
for Educational Statistics (NCES) by the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell. Ray
will be the school district representative for the entire
state of California on this national council.
- Nicole Wahab, Ed.D., presented at the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse, 8th National Technical Assistance Conference on January 9, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia. She was one of three workshop presenters on "Working Effectively with Media and Coalitions to Effect Change." The workshop focused on effective communication strategies, developing a youth media campaign, and engaging the media in supporting local initiatives and efforts to reduce underage and binge drinking.
- For the third consecutive year, Poway Unified’s Leadership Academy program was selected as a featured workshop at the National Staff Development Council, a conference that attracts thousands of staff developers nationwide. Diane Cantelli, Assistant Superintendent; Janet Malone, Director of Staff Development; and Cindy De Clercq, Principal of Adobe Bluffs, presented at the December 2-6 conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Linda Foote, PUSD Technology Trainer, has been featured in the Hope International University magazine (Fall 2006) in an article about Hope Graduates Make the Grade. Linda’s photograph, which was taken outside the PUSD Administration Center, is on the cover of the magazine.
- Ray Wilson, Poway Unified School District’s Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, wrote an article on “Implementing a Growth Model in a School System," for the American Association of School Administrators magazine, The School Administrator. This feature appeared in the January 2007 edition of the magazine, which contained articles about measuring academic growth and assessing individual learning and what affects learning.
DISTRICT RECOGNITION
- The Twin Peaks Middle School 2006 Yearbook was selected by the American Scholastic Press Association for two national awards. The yearbook received a First Place Award along with a special award for the Best Theme (“That Was Then…This is WOW!”). The American Scholastic Press Association also recognized The Twin Peaks Literary Magazine and the school newspaper (RAM Review and the Twin Peaks RAM) with second place awards. Twin Peaks Middle School staff member Shari Lyon is the yearbook and newspaper advisor.
- The Poway Unified School District was recognized in the Building Design and Construction Magazine with a Dream Clients Award for its business relationships with business partners and its commitment to serving children in all decisions. PUSD was nominated by NTDStichler Architects, San Diego. Recognized were Don Phillips, Superintendent; John Collins, Deputy Superintendent; Doug Mann, Executive Director of Facilities; Sandi Burgoyne, Director of Planning; and Mark Miller, Director of Educational Facilities and Programs.
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