Calabasas High first to apply for state grants

Calabasas High School doesn't want to take any chances. When the state budget afforded a onetime opportunity to obtain direct school site funding, Calabasas High School Principal Dave Jackson jumped at the prospect of extra funds.

Calabasas High School is the Las Virgenes Unified School District's first school out of the gate to take advantage of the state's unexpected largesse. At the Nov. 7 board of education meeting, the school's proposal was discussed and approved by board members.

How much a school gets in onetime funds is determined on a perstudent basis. Calabasas High applied for $112,000.

To obtain the money, schools must submit a spending proposal for approval, first to their site council, then to the school board. "We acted quickly since we knew the money was coming," Jackson said. "We were already speaking with all of our stakeholders. We spoke with our ASB (Associated Student Body) kids, PFC (Parent Faculty Club), Academic Council, Round Table, administrative staff and site council, and since we have been working on what we would do when the money arrived, we were ready to go."

The money will be used for eight school projects. The largest portion of funds-$30,000-was allotted for the Coyote Connect eighth-to-ninth-grade transition program. The money would sustain the program for three years.

To pay for the professional development of teachers and students in the areas of leadership and educational technology and instructional materials, the school outlined a three-year, $24,000 expenditure in its proposal.

A school Career Support Center would be established at a cost of $24,000. The center would offer college admissions guidance to students and help them take advantage of scholarship opportunities, tutoring support and leadership and summer programs. Community service opportunities and testing information would also be offered.

Two sets of theater lighting equipment made the list at $4,000, and an automatic projector screen designed for instruction of larger classes is estimated to cost $10,000.

The remaining $10,000 would be used for supplies, maintenance and software upgrades.

Donald Zimring, district deputy superintendent, said the deadline for other schools to submit their spending plans is May. The funds can also be carried over from year to year, he said. The state, however, stipulated that the money could not be used to pay salaries or any ongoing expenses, but it could be used to build a program over three years.

Board member Terilyn Finders asked if Calabasas and Agoura high schools collaborated on any joint projects. Schools, she said, should explore the possibility of sharing programs as a costsaving, coststretching measure.

"Every single dollar matters," Finders said.

Superintendent Sandra Smyser said the money was designed to be "site based" and schools were not instructed to coordinate with each other.