Community Presented with Update on Duarte
State of the City, Schools and College Districts
DUARTE, CA, MARCH 12, 2012 – Tempering the good news of a $578,900 budget surplus at mid-year, repercussions from the demise of redevelopment could spell additional budget and service cuts Duarte Mayor John Fasana cautioned during State of the City remarks, delivered at a Duarte Chamber of Commerce sponsored luncheon on March 6 at Westminster Gardens’ Packard Hall.
Stressing the impact of the loss of redevelopment on the budget, Fasana reminded the more than 100 community and business leaders assembled, that redevelopment had served as the “economic engine” that created much of the City’s housing, the 210 business corridor, and developments including the Ralph’s shopping center that provided needed services to the community.
“Those days are over. Redevelopment is coming to a close. It is creating a budget hole of a quarter of million to one million dollars annually. We can’t sustain this kind of deficit,” said Fasana.
“What the surplus told us is that we made the structural changes that needed to be made. We’ve had our house in order but now we have additional cuts or revenue enhancements that we will need to look at. So taxes, cuts, some kind of combination of that, we’re going to have to figure it out. We’ll go to the voters if there are any government enhancements that we need,” said the Mayor.
Adding to budget concerns is uncertainty over a $7.5 million transfer to the General Fund made last year as a repayment of the City’s loan advance made to the Redevelopment Agency in prior years. If deemed invalid by an oversight committee and ordered surrendered to the State, the City’s current $12.5 million General Fund balance would be reduced to $5 million. “In that case the imperative of doing something very quickly to bring our budget structurally in order becomes very time sensitive,” said Fasana. 
“Collectively we’re all going to have to draw a vision for this community that really focuses on the well-being of the entire community…in terms of the fabric of the community that will be important and should be sustained,” the mayor stated.
Despite the budget uncertainties, Fasana said he is excited about the City’s future, “based on the inherent strengths of our community.” Among other highlights of his State of City message:
- Duarte is a safe place to live. Crime is down. Part 1 crimes constituting homicide, assault, robbery, burglary, auto theft, and arson are down 20% in the past four years, from 611 crimes in 2007 to 488 in 2011.
- The City continues its active partnership with the School District and the Regional Occupation Program with a Public Safety presence working on intervention and positive strategies. City Council and School Board members and staffs work closely together. Fasana noted, “Keeping the lines of communication open, using our resources across lines really makes for an effective community.”
- With the Metro Gold Line maintenance facility issue settled and to be built in Monrovia, and bridge work progressing on schedule in Arcadia, the Gold Line through Duarte and Azusa is on track for completion by December 2015.
- Sierra FIAT of Duarte, operated by Sierra Autocars, will open soon in the former Mitsubishi site on Duarte’s 210 Freeway auto row. A brand new 99 Cent-Only Store set to open in the shopping center in the northeast corner of Huntington Dr. and Buena Vista St. provides a “a very necessary shot-in-the-arm to revitalize that center,” said Fasana.
- The City is working on plans to build a ramp that will improve safe access to and from Huntington Dr. to the Duarte Senior Center. The project will be constructed utilizing Community Development Block Grant funds.
- City Council is making appointments of individuals to work with the Economic Development Commission to reassess plans for a downtown Duarte area. “The greatest benefit we can have is to have a plan that we can develop consensus as a community that will guide our long term planning,” said Fasana. “But it may be many years before we can construct what many would view as a downtown center.”
- The City’s appeal in a lawsuit against Vulcan Materials and the City of Azusa to curtail a mining expansion plan that would destroy historic Van Tassel Ridge above Duarte is expected to be heard sometime later this year. Duarte’s City Attorney, Ruttan & Tucker, filed a brief in the matter with the Court of Appeals the week of March 5. “We’re hoping for some success. Probably entirely stopping the mining may be outside of our grasp but doing so in the way that doesn’t create as much in the way of health impacts and visual impacts to our community certainly remains our goal,” stated the Mayor.
- City of Hope will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013 and there will be many opportunities for the schools and the community to participate in the community-wide and worldwide celebration.
State of the Duarte Unified School District
Community members are also heard from Duarte Unified School District Superintendent Terry Nichols who made a presentation on the State of the School District. Budget uncertainties were also uppermost in Nichols’ remarks.
D.U.S.D. comprised of eight schools, 3,875 students and 440 employees operates on a current budget of $32.9 million. Revenue has decreased by $6.8 million over the last five years. D.U.S.D is among the bottom five in the State in per ADA funding at $4,800 per child. The current annual loss of income is $2,547,690. If the governor’s tax initiative fails, the district’s loss would increase to $3,964,215 annually. If it passes funding would remain flat. In view of the ongoing challenges, Nichols said the board has been proactive in its decision making and has not had to reduce services for students or staff.
A $62 million Duarte school bond passed in November 2010, has allowed the district to begin to put technology into the schools. Every classroom is now equipped with a Smart Board, “because engagement of students is important to success,” said Nichols.
Bond money is also going in to upgrading facilities throughout the district. This summer construction will begin at Northview Intermediate on a new cafeteria, kitchen and boys and girls locker room. A new stadium at Duarte High School is under construction and expected to be completed by this fall. Maxwell Elementary, in line to become an International Baccalaureate school, is in the design phase for a major modernization that will include new drop-off area, entry and multipurpose building, as well as additional restrooms, administration building, portable classroom demolition and other campus improvements.
The district has just been informed that it will be part of a $1.3 million grant with the City of Hope “to develop a passion in our kids for science and mathematics,” said Nichols.
State of the College District (Citrus College)
Superintendent/President Dr. Geraldine Perri delivered the State of Citrus College. Among the highlights: California Community College system with 1,200 community colleges is the largest educational system in the United States with 2.6 million students. Citrus serves five cities, including Duarte. In 2011, Citrus had 1,246 graduates with Associate Degrees and more than 800 students transferred. It is consistently ranked one of the top 100 colleges in the United States, said Perri. The relatively new Citrus nursing program offering practical nursing and RN programs came in 45th in the nation in a new survey.
Dr. Perri noted that some of the newer innovations in terms of models for education are being piloted in Duarte with the Early College program, in collaboration with the Dean of Physical and Natural Sciences. Already 80 students have gone through the program which blends high school and college in a rigorous yet supportive cohort program, enabling a student to complete a high school diploma and 30 college credits simultaneously. School Relations and Outreach assists in providing a smooth enrollment process for the student and provides assistance in monitoring the program. Another pilot program Citrus launched last year in Duarte is Early Decision Day. If Duarte students enroll, fill out their application, take their assessment test, Citrus will put them at the front of the line and let them get their classes before returning students. The program is now being offered to all five school districts in the Citrus service area, offering the opportunity to 100 students from each district.
Citrus was recently awarded $8 million in federal grants. One of the largest grants is for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Passage of the Citrus College Measure G school bond has resulted in many new facilities and upgrades. Latest addition is a 55,000 square foot Student Services Building that includes offices for Admissions, Records, Financial Aid, International Students, and Health Services.
A Summer Page Program opens the college to Duarte students to take workshops in pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry. Working to introduce young women to the fields of Stem, Citrus is bringing Duarte students to the college for Stem Days.
Dr. Perri noted that there will be a closer linkage between student goals and demands for degrees and curriculum that is in place. Citrus is also expanding its online services.
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