Superintendent’s Message:

An old African proverb states that, “It takes a village to educate a child.” El Centro is not an African village but the proverb is as appropriate here as it is any where else. Children are society’s most valuable resource. Children are the foundation for the future.

As a part of the community, schools have a significant role in the development of this most valuable resource. Primary grades develop socialization and foundational academic skills in literacy and numeracy. The middle grades further develop academic skills. The high school pushes those skills to mastery level and puts the finishing touches on the academic preparation of an adolescent ready to enter the productive adult world. The Central Union High School District strives to prepare every student who leaves the front door of the school house with the background, knowledge, and skills to knock on the door of any post high school experience and be welcomed in with open arms.

Research shows that two years of post high school training/.education are needed to secure a job with career potential and family sustaining income. This training may come in many forms-universities, college, junior college, military, or on-the-job. Ivy League colleges, the UC/CSU systems, Imperial Valley College, the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines, and local businesses are all recipients of district graduates.

The Central Union High School District has the staff, curriculum, and facilities to prepare every student for whatever post high school door of opportunity they want to knock on. The curriculum is consistent with California curriculum content standards and end of the year assessments, part of the STAR assessment and accountability program, are based on those standards. In addition to core academic classes, the district offers a diverse selection of vocational and elective classes. Currently, 69% of the district’s teaching staff meets the rigorous requirements of the President’s No Child Left Behind mandate for being highly qualified. By 2006 the expectation is that 100% of the district’s teachers will meet this requirement.

The school district has numerous community partners. The City of El Centro provides the district with school resource officers. The University of California at Berkley partners with the district to provide an outstanding summer program for college bound students. The El Centro Education Foundation produces several professional shows each year at one of the most beautiful high school theaters in the country and also awards thousands of dollars towards student scholarships. The high school district coordinates with and receives students from five excellent elementary districts.

Parents are a critical partner in the education process. The natural maturation process causes young adolescents to struggle for independence. Parent involvement with their high school age children is sometimes in conflict with this struggle. None the less, the high school needs and welcomes parent involvement in the education of their children.

The Imperial Valley is a wonderful community to live in and the Central Union High School district is a great partner in the education of the adolescents of that community.

History and Tradition
Central Union High School District has a long history and proud tradition of offering quality instructional programs to the El Centro community. The City of El Centro serves as the County Seat of Imperial County, California and is located 60 miles west of Yuma, Arizona, 110 miles east of San Diego and 15 miles North f the Mexican border town of Mexicali, Baja California. Central Union High School has been in existence since 1908. Desert Oasis High School, our alternative education high school, was constructed in 1993 and Southwest High School opened its doors in February, 1996.

Demographics
The Central Union High School District serves approximately 3,400 students in grades nine through twelve in its secondary education program, and over 500 students in its adult education program. Based on California Basic Education Data System (CBEDS) information collected in October, 1998, CUHSD hosts a diverse student population of whom 80% are Hispanic, 15.7% are White, 2.3% are Black, 1.4% are Asian and 0.6% are of other ethnic background. Nearly one-third of students are limited English proficient, 53% receive free/reduced lunches and 20% qualify for CALWORKS assistance.


 

 

BUDGET UPDATE FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE

 

In January 2008 the governor declared a “fiscal crisis” and a time of uncertainty and concern began. Public agencies including school districts were told to expect mid-year reductions and even bigger cuts next year.  The implications were significant, and in some school districts the anxiety about layoffs began. Some school districts have initiated staff reductions (one southern California district reportedly sent lay-off notices to over 500 certificated employees) other districts are struggling with balancing the budget.

 

Budgets are spending plans for employee compensation, equipment/material, and capital expenditures; all necessary to run schools. The state recognizes three types of budgets: positively certified, qualified, and negatively certified. Simply, a positively certified budget means the district has enough money to pay the bills, a qualified budget means the district may not have enough money to pay the bills, and a negatively certified budget means the district does not have enough money to pay the bills. Even with a positively certified budget some districts will have cash flow problems and may have difficulty meeting the July and August payrolls, because part of the state’s budget strategy is to delay the money they should send to school districts in June to September.

 

The Central Union High School District has not issued layoff notices to either classified or certified employees, has a positively certified budget, and expects to meet its July and August payroll obligations.  In addition the district is proposing total compensation raises equal to the COLA for this school year. Next year will be more challenging and the proposed CUHS district budget will contain almost $800,000 in cuts from this year, none from employee compensation. The state will probably not adopt a budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year until the fall. So even though school districts adopt budgets in the spring, they must be adjusted once the state adopts its budget.