Elite Drum and Bugle Corps Training in Denair

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Santa Clara VanguardClass may be out for the summer, but the staccato beat of drums, the blare of horns and an array of colorful flags are filling the air around two Denair campuses this week.

The Vanguard Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from Santa Clara once again are using the grassy fields and other facilities in Denair to prepare for the summer competition season. It is the fifth consecutive year the 146-member organization has held a weeklong camp at the adjoining high school and middle school sites.

“The relationship between Denair and Vanguard has been positive and has generated interest to the degree that folks will stop by to watch and inquire,” said Aaron Rosander, superintendent of the Denair Unified School District.

Last year, the camp provided a springboard to the Drum Corps International Open Class Championship, which the Bay Area group won for the second time.

“The Vanguard Cadets are honored to once again spend time here in Denair. We have always been treated so wonderfully and want to give much thanks to the district office personnel and school administration,” said Steve Barnhill, the corps’ director.

The connection to Denair was established by Vanguard’s CEO a few years ago, Barnhill said, and has worked out perfectly. Continue reading “Elite Drum and Bugle Corps Training in Denair” »

Veteran Educators Join Denair Unified Team

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DUSD_logo-SmallTwo experienced educators will join the leadership team at the Denair Unified School District before the next school year starts.

Sara Michelena is the new Director of Elementary Education. She will oversee staff and students at Denair Elementary School as well as the adjacent Denair Academic Avenues campus.

Christine Skinner was hired as Associate Director of Secondary Education and will serve as the vice principal at Denair High School and Denair Middle School.

The hires were formally approved Thursday night by the district’s Board of Trustees at their monthly meeting.

Michelena comes to Denair from the Turlock Unified School District, where she was assistant principal of Cunningham Elementary in the 2013-14 school year. Before that, she spent 13 years in the Patterson Joint Unified School District as an elementary teacher, instructional coach and language coordinator, and as assistant principal at Apricot Valley Elementary.

Michelena has a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Chico, a teaching credential from St. Mary’s College and an administrative credential from California State University, Stanislaus. She is working toward a master’s degree in school administration at Stanislaus.

“I was drawn to Denair because I spent the majority of my career in a similar district and knew it would be a great fit,” Michelena said. “I was also very fortunate to work with many residents of Denair, in this last year, and they sang the praises of the community and district.” Continue reading “Veteran Educators Join Denair Unified Team” »

DUSD Sponsors Summer Movie Express

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Regal Summer Movie Express

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Denair Unified School District has partnered with Regal Cinemas to sponsor the Regal Summer Movie Express.  The Summer Movie Express features family friendly movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, throughout the summer, starting at 10:00 am. Admission is $1. Upcoming movies include The Lego Movie, The Adventures of Tintin, Kung Fu Panda 2, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Rio 2 and more. A complete listing movies is available at the Regal Summer Movie Express web site.

The Regal Turlock Stadium 14 is located at 2323 West Main Street, in Turlock.

Budget Picture Brighter for Denair Unified School District

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DUSD_logo-SmallThe Denair Unified School District’s financial situation continues to improve, with a major reduction in deficit spending in 2014-15 and the anticipation of a small surplus the following school year.

Trustees listened to a presentation and heard public comment about the proposed $8.15 million budget for 2014-15 at their meeting Thursday night. Though the district expects to spend about $130,000 more than it receives in revenue, there is no financial assistance required from the Stanislaus County Office of Education. The past two years, the county office loaned the district $2.4 million to prevent state takeover.

By 2015-16, Denair officials expect to have about $370,000 more in revenue than expenses.

“We remain on a fiscal recovery plan. We’re exactly on the trajectory we had projected,” said Superintendent Aaron Rosander, who took over in February. “This puts us right on our target so that 24 months from now the ink is black.”

Trustees will take a final vote June 26 on the 2014-15 budget.

The proposed spending plan reflects the staffing cuts and 8% salary reductions agreed upon earlier this year by the district and its employees. In February, the board eliminated the equivalent of 19 full-time teaching jobs and one administrative position to reflect declining enrollment. All but eight of those positions already were vacant or will not be filled after employees retired at the end of the recently completed school year. Continue reading “Budget Picture Brighter for Denair Unified School District” »

DUSD June Board Meeting Posted

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DUSD_logo-SmallDenair Unified School District has posted the agenda for the June regular board meeting, scheduled for June 12, 2014. The public meeting starts at 7:30 pm. The meeting will be held in the DUSD Leadership/Board Room.

Additionally, an agenda for a special board meeting, scheduled for June 12, 2014, has been posted. The public meeting starts at 5:45 pm. The meeting will be held in the DUSD Leadership/Board Room.