Monthly Archives: May 2016

Denair Unified Trustees Thank Staff for Patience, Approve 1% Salary Increases for All Employees

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair Unified School District trustees approved 1% salary raises for all employees Thursday night, the first step in what they hope will be additional moves to restore across-the-board pay cuts imposed three years ago.

Even as trustees passed the motion 4-0 (board member Ray Prock Jr. was absent), they acknowledged that would like to do more as financial conditions improve.

“I look at this as we’re finally able to give something back,” Trustee Robert Hodges said. “This is a good-faith effort that we’re going to (restore salaries) as soon as possible.”

Salaries for every Denair employee were reduced by 8% in 2013 as one part of an effort to bring the district’s expenses and revenue into alignment. The lingering effects of the recession and declining enrollment combined to push the district into financial crisis, which required a short-term loan from the Stanislaus County Office of Education and intervention by the state.

Those dark days are well in the past now, district officials stressed Thursday, but enrollment remains an issue. Denair Elementary Charter Academy and Denair Charter Academy have consistently added students, but that growth has been offset by continued declines at Denair High School.

Enrollment provides the biggest chunk of income for any district in California, with the state paying about $8,000 per student per year based on what is known as Average Daily Attendance. In Denair, ADA has fallen the past five years from 1,535 students to 1,275.

“Our major goal is to not just restore salaries to where they were, but to go beyond,” Superintendent Aaron Rosander said. “We want our employees to have the salaries that they rightfully deserve.”

The pay raises take effect July 1 for the 2016-17 school year. Collectively, they will add $98,499 to the district’s budget next year.

The district remains in contract negotiations with the two bargaining units representing its 60 teachers and 63 classified staff. Continue reading “Denair Unified Trustees Thank Staff for Patience, Approve 1% Salary Increases for All Employees” »

Update From DUSD Superintendent Aaron Rosander

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Businesses and organizations are dynamic places that experience seasons of change. Denair Unified School District is no exception. Below are some the confirmed key changes occurring across our District.

Denair High School

Administration: We have recently learned that Principal Alecia Myers will be leaving our District and will not return to DHS this year. We thank Ms. Myers for her service and wish her well.

Interim Principal Joe Galindo will continue to fill in at the high school, teaming up with our talented faculty and staff to ensure that the school year ends smoothly and successfully.

Principal interviews will be held Monday, May 9th.

Teachers: We are currently recruiting for three teacher positions at DHS in the areas of Science, English and Mathematics.

Leaving DHS at the end of this school year are Breanna Vaughn (science) and Carrie Coldicutt (English). We thank both individuals for their terrific service and wish them well in their future endeavors. The talented Cristina Rojas (mathematics) will transfer to Denair Charter Academy next year where she will work full time.

Sandra Cisneros will move from DECA to DHS to teach Spanish. Ms. Cisneros will fill the vacancy of Maria Olivas who next year will serve as DUSD’s full-time Coordinator of English Language Development/English Learner Instructional Coach

Teacher recruitment and interviews are currently in progress.

Continue reading “Update From DUSD Superintendent Aaron Rosander” »

Top Denair High School Students Awarded $26,000 in Combined Scholarships

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Nearly $26,000 in scholarships were awarded as Denair High School celebrated the academic achievement of its students Thursday night.

Abigail Dirkse received the Jim Booth Memorial Scholarship worth $2,500, the top individual award. She also earned the $1,500 Turlock Chamber of Commerce Ag Scholarship and was awarded $250 from the Stanislaus County Women in Agriculture.

Logen Arndt was recognized as the Class of 2016 valedictorian for his grade-point average of 4.33, best among seniors. David Sweeten and Dirkse (both 4.25 GPA) will be salutatorians at the May 27 graduation ceremony.

About 300 people attended the one-hour ceremony in the Coyote Center at Denair Middle School.

Other scholarships, listed by student:

  • Logen Arndt: $500 from the Mark Selee Memorial Scholarship, $500 from the Denair Education Foundation, $400 from the Turlock Pentecost Association, $400 from the Denair Sports Boosters, $250 from Denair Farm and Family, and $150 from Denair Youth Football
  • Eric Borba: $1,000 from the Denair Lions Club Tom Dougherty Scholarship
  • Juan de la Cruz: $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Taryn Fletcher: $1,500 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship, $400 from the Denair Sports Boosters, $250 from Denair Farm and Family, and $150 from Denair Youth Football
  • Edward Flores: $500 from the Denair Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship, $500 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship $400 from the Denair Sports Boosters, and $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Lucas Gomes: $200 from the DUTA Scholarship
  • Tristan Haile: $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Molly Hall: $75 from the Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Brallen Hernandez: $500 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship
  • Heidi Johnson: $1,000 from the Bright Family Foundation
  • Malia Martinez: $750 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship
  • Eva Olivas: $1,750 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship and $200 from the DUTA Scholarship
  • Angela Parada: $500 from the Dairy Herd Improvement Scholarship
  • Markus Rocha: $800 from the Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship
  • Cheyenne Rutherford: $750 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship, $500 from the Kiwanis of Greater Turlock Ron Jesse Scholarship, $500 from the DUTA Roberta Prescott Scholarship, $400 from the Denair Sports Boosters, $300 from Denair Youth Football, and $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Megan Silva: $1,000 from the Denair Lions Club Tom Dougherty Scholarship and $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Isaac Starks: $500 from the Kiwanis of Greater Turlock Ron Jesse Scholarship and $400 from the Denair Sports Boosters
  • David Sweeten: $500 from the DUTA Roberta Prescott Scholarship, $400 from the Denair Sports Boosters and $200 from the DUTA Scholarship
  • Jacqueline Tachiquin: $1,500 from the SCOE Access Success Scholarship

Continue reading “Top Denair High School Students Awarded $26,000 in Combined Scholarships” »

Denair Schools Welcome Community with Open Houses

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The Denair Unified School District will open its doors to parents and its community Thursday night with open houses at all its campuses as well as academic demonstrations and awards presentations. Here is the schedule for each school site:

 

Denair High School

6:00 p.m. – Classrooms will be open for all parents to meet and talk with teachers and observe various projects.

7:00 p.m. (at Coyote Center at Denair Middle School) – Annual awards presentation. More than 150 of the 270 students on campus will be honored. Honor roll awards based on grade-point average will be announced, students receiving scholarships will be recognized and those with perfect attendance will be celebrated.

 

Denair Middle School

5:30 p.m. – Teachers in all classrooms will welcome parents and others.

 

Denair Elementary Charter Academy

5:00 p.m. – Science Fair in the elementary gymnasium.

5:00-7:30 p.m. – Art show featuring student creations in the cafeteria.

6:30-7:30 p.m. – Open house in all classrooms.

 

Denair Charter Academy

6:00 p.m. – Classrooms 39 to 45 will be open with student displays and science experiments. Python Ron will be on hand with various reptiles for an interactive experience. A baby boutique also will be open with donated clothing for students who are parents.