August 25, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Trost) RE: 14,000 EMPLOYEES KICK OFF NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT COX ARENA More than 14,000 City Schools employees will crowd the Cox Arena atSan Diego State University Aug. 29 to hear State Superintendent DelaineEastin and Superintendent Bertha Pendleton outline what's ahead for the1997-98 school year. This is the first time all district employees have gathered under oneroof for an opening of school event. The meeting is scheduled from 8-9:30a.m. at the new arena and is the second major event in the new facility. Eastin will be the keynote speaker at the event, which is billed as"Team City Schools." "I think it is important that all employees have the opportunityto hear what we have planned for this year," Pendleton said. The superintendentusually meets with principals, vice principals and other district managersthe week before school starts. This year, she is replacing that leadershipteam meeting with the all-employee meeting. "Each one of us is a leader in this district," Pendleton said. "I believe it is essential that all employees hear about our plansfor the school year and understand the issues before us." The meeting is cosponsored by the district, the San Diego Teachers Association,California School Employees Association, Peace Officers Association andthe Administrators Association. Issues Pendleton is scheduled to address during the meeting includethe adoption of higher standards for student achievement, the implementationof a new standardized test called Terra Nova, implementation of a new districtaccountability plan that will identify 20 low performing and declining schoolsearly in September for special assistance, the opening of four new schoolsnext month and the need for a bond proposal for additional new schools andfor maintenance of older ones. The district will begin another round of bargaining with the San DiegoTeachers Association this year to negotiate a new contract to replace theone that expires June 30, 1998. Contracts with several other employee groups,including the peace officers, operations support staff and classroom aidesalso expire next June. Pendleton is expected to address this issue duringher remarks. A major issue facing the Board of Education is the selection of a newsuperintendent to succeed Pendleton, who will retire when her contract expiresnext June. The board has already appointed Richard Collato, executive directorof the YMCA of San Diego County, to head two citizens' committees that willbe involved in identifying the criteria to be used to select the next superintendent. Eastin, the state superintendent, is expected to talk to the employeesabout education priorities at the state level, including the developmentof state standards and statewide testing of students.