AHS to offer new honor’s English class

The Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education has given the final okay for a new English III honor’s class at Agoura High School starting next fall.

The Advanced Placement or AP English class began as a pilot program this year with about 80 students taking part. Veteran Agoura High School English teacher Nan Cano is the instructor.

The school board also approved two new textbooks for the class: "Norton Anthology of American English" and "Atwan and McQuade, the Writer’s Presence."

"This is a good class," said Terilyn Finders, school board member. "What a difference it makes for the kids."

District officials said the advanced English class also is being considered for Calabasas High School.

n In other action, the board of education approved its annual technology plan for the two high schools.

The plan, which outlines curriculum and equipment needs for the schools, is necessary in order to receive state funding under the California Department of Education Digital High School grant program.

"We want to ensure that students are achieving progress in technology," said John Fitzpatrick, the Las Virgenes superintendent.

Agoura and Calabasas high schools each have received more than $500,000 under the Digital High School program. Agoura began the digital high school grant two years ago; Calabasas started last year.

The amount of technology funding the district could receive through additional resources from the county is not yet known because of budget uncertainties, Fitzpatrick said.

—John Loesing