Category Archives: News

Tristan Haile Receives 2016 DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award

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Tristan Haile

Submitted by Denair High School

Tristan Haile, of Denair High School, in Denair, California, was recently selected to be presented the school’s highest agricultural honor, the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, sponsored by Monsanto.

Haile, the Daughter of Randy and Debbie, received the award for excellence in academics, leadership and agricultural work experience. Haile’s significant experiences and accomplishments have included raising market and breeding hogs for the Stanislaus County Fair, owning, breeding, showing and selling lambs from her own flock of Suffolk Hampshire Cross Sheep, holding a Chapter FFA officer position for two years, actively participating on FFA leadership committees and receiving her California FFA State Degree.

This year the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award celebrates its 69th anniversary. Over these 69 years more than 168,000 high school seniors from across the country have received the award, which has become a symbol for excellence and the school’s highest agricultural honor.

As the winner of the 2016 award, Tristan Haile’s name will be recorded on a permanent plaque and displayed at Denair High School.

Monsanto, a long-time supporter of agricultural education, FFA, 4-H and other farm youth organizations and initiatives, sponsors the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award. Monsanto is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

Congratulations to Tristan Haile for her role in the agricultural field, leadership and representing the qualities that are a symbol for excellence in agriculture.

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” »