This Saturday, the Sacramento Police Department is holding “Operation ID” which will provide engravers to put identifying numbers on your bicycle. This operation is in response to a rise in garage burglaries in which bicycles are being stolen.

The Police Department is attempting to curb a string of thirty-five garage burglaries in the downtown and east Sacramento area that have occurred since January 2010. The burglar(s) have been forcing their way into detached garages in the late evening to early morning hours. It is unknown at this time if the burglaries are connected or are individual acts.

On March 20, 2010, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., officers will be at Mckinley Park providing engravers to the community to place identifying numbers on their bicycles. Police will also write down your serial number for you to keep. The purpose of the program is to enhance the chances of locating stolen property (such as bicycles), by providing police an identifying number to run when we come across suspected stolen items.

We would like to remind the community to lock your doors, have proper lighting around your residence, purchase an alarm if you can, write down the serial number from your valuables (tv, iPods, bicycles etc…), or engrave identifying numbers on your property.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime or this person to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
 

Hartford Colonials head coach Chris Palmer has assembled the majority of his coaching staff for the 2010 United Football League season.

A staff of NFL-seasoned and emerging coaches will lead the Colonials when they kick off the second UFL campaign this fall. The coaches are meeting as offensive and defensive groups in the Connecticut state capital this week to formulate the team’s game plan and prepare for a 10-game season that includes five home games at the Colonials’ Rentschler Field home stadium in East Hartford.

“We are excited to announce our staff and begin developing our football program,” said Coach Palmer. “We have coaches that have a passion for football and enjoy helping young players develop. It was good to get together and discuss football.”

Hartford Colonials Coaching Staff:

Chris Palmer- Head Coach and General Manager
Ted Daisher- Defensive Line
Oji Fagan- Running Backs
Frank Hauser- Linebackers
Jerry Holmes- Secondary
Osia Lewis- Defensive Coordinator
Dave Ragone- Wide Receivers/ Quarterback
Tony Sparano- Assistant Defensive Line
Shane Waldron- Tight Ends
Todd Washington- Offensive Line

Chris Palmer, Head Coach and General Manager: Played football at Immaculate High School in Danbury, CT, and was a quarterback at Southern Connecticut State University before a successful spell coaching at the University of New Haven from 1986-87, posting consecutive 8-2 records. Most recently, Palmer tutored Eli Manning with the New York Giants from 2007 to 2009 and ultimately won a Super Bowl XLII ring.

Ted Daisher, Defensive Line: Was the Special Teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and before that from 2004 to 2005. He has also coached with the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.

Oji Fagan, Running Backs: Spent the last five seasons coaching the Hudson Valley Vikings. He was a four-year letter winner at the University of Albany and since has coached with Stonehill College in Massachusetts and worked with the New York Giants as a coaching intern.

Frank Hauser, Linebackers: A well-known local figure who coached in Connecticut with Wesleyan University for 24 years and was the head coach of the Cardinals for the last 18 seasons. He is also a physical education professor at Wesleyan.

Jerry Holmes, Secondary: Was the head coach at Hampton University in 2008 having spent five years coaching in the NFL with San Diego, Washington and Cleveland and played ten seasons in the NFL, mainly with the New York Jets.

Osia Lewis, Defensive Coordinator: Was the defensive coordinator at UTEP having coached previously at New Mexico and the University of Illinois. Following a standout college career at Oregon State, he played in the CFL and AFL.

Dave Ragone, Wide Receivers / Quarterbacks: Finished his college career as the second-leading passer in Louisville school history and was selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Won NFL Europe MVP honors in 2005.

Tony Sparano, Assistant Defensive Line coach: Was a three-year letterman at the University of Albany. His father is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Shane Waldron, Tight Ends: Was the tight ends coach of the New England Patriots in 2009 having previously served as an offensive assistant with the Patriots and as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame. He played football at Tufts University.

Todd Washington, Offensive Line: Was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the University of San Diego. During an eight-year NFL career played with the Houston Texans and won a Super Bowl XXXVII ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Group and season tickets to Hartford Colonials games will go on sale in April and the team’s new logo and uniforms will also be unveiled in the coming months. Sports fans can call 860-718-0141 for more information about the Colonials.

Social networking Colonials fans eager to interact with fellow fans can do so at:
http://www.facebook.com/UnitedFootballLeague
http://www.facebook.com/HartfordColonials
http://www.twitter.com/theUFL
http://www.twitter.com/theColonials

The Sacramento Press is a hybrid site of professional and community-contributed journalism. One recent event that we could not cover in-house is a perfect example of how citizen journalism works best:

One of our reporters, Kathleen Haley, was unable to attend a debate scheduled for Thursday night.

Our editorial department e-mailed a resident Haley had met at another event who had shown interest in the debate. This resident suggested that a friend of hers, Chris Shannon, who had already planned to go to the debate, write about it for The Sacramento Press.

We asked our interns to see who was available, but none of them were to attend either.

Chris Shannon e-mailed us and called to confirm that he could cover the District 7 debate.

He took pictures and wrote a great story.

We are very lucky to have community members who are willing to write about events and issues that affect all of us. Our staff is very small and it's impossible to cover everything in our area.

Thank you, Chris Shannon, for the great coverage and we hope this example will encourage more writers to share stories on The Sacramento Press.

Here are some of the concerts and music events happening this weekend and next week in the Sacramento area. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to the www.eMusiConnect.com homepage. Get out and enjoy!!

Concerts, Music Events, and The Sacramento Music Scene This Week:

Broadway Sacramento presents Chicago through Sunday, March 21st at Sacramento Community Center Theatre. Tickets are $20.00 -$57.00.

Saturday, March 20th - Sunday, March 21st: The Sacramento Master Singers will perform "The Sacred Music of  Duke Ellington" at The Crest Theatre on 1013 K Street in Sacramento. SAT show at 8:00 PM. SUN Show at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $20.00.

Third Saturday at The Downtwon Plaza on 4th and K Street in Sacramento. Includes local arts & crafts vendors, live music with One Eyed Rhyno, and a fashion show from local retailers. Events take place from Noon - 5PM.

Saturday, March 20th: Pablo Cruise at Power House Pub on Historic Sutter Street in Folsom. Show starts at 9PM. Tickets are $20.00.

Wednesday, March 24th: Snatam Kaur Live in concert at The Crest Theatre on 1013 K Street in Sacramento. Concerts begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $$30.00 - $45.00.

The Local Music Scene:

Friday, March 19th:

Jerry Perry presents The Phantom Jets - Ron Silva & The Monarchs - The Schruggs at Old Ironsides 9PM/$7

Kill The Precedent - Knife Thru head - Black Maceral at Blue Lamp 9PM

Izabella and Andrew Heringer at Marilyns 9PM/$10

Shane Dwight at Torch Club 9PM/$10

F*ck Fridays Alphabet City & Ape Machine with Shaun Slaughter – Jon Droll – Roger Carpio at Townhouse 9PM/$3-$5

Tainted Love at Harlows 10PM/$15

Bottom Dwellers - Pleasant Valley Boys at Naked Lounge Downtown 8:30PM/$7

CrookOne TGIF at Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Jackson Griffith - Trista Stanley - Richie Lawrence at Lunas 8PM/$6

107.9 The End with DJ Billy Lane at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

Black & Pink Party with DJ Katz at Social Nightclub 10PM

Get Down To The Champion Sound with DJ Esef & Selektor KDK at Capitol Garage 10PM/$5

Saturday, March 20th:

French Hertiage Festival during the day and Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole at Beatnik Studios 7PM/$15-$25

No Bozoz and Planet Zero at Marilyn’s 9PM/$8

Life in 24 Frames - Build Us Airplanes - Loaded for Beer at Old Ironsides 9PM/$7

BLVD Park  - Trainwrek Revival at Fox & Goose 9PM/$3

Tainted Love at Harlows 10PM/$15

Poor of Tribe of Levi CD Release at Capitol Garage 9:30PM/$10

Sting Blue Silver Duran Duran Tribute & Japanese Baby Cure Tribute at Blue Lamp 9PM

Mofo Party Band at The Torch Club 9PM/$7

DJ Whores at The Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Mix Saturdays with DJ Michael Moss at Mix Downtown 9PM

DJ Jus James at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

Sunday, March 21st:

Brunch Beats with DJ Katz at Aura 11AM

Thin Air Quartet at Naked Coffee Lounge 8PM/$5

Blues Jam at 4PM & F.L.O. at Torch Club 8PM/$6

Salsa Sunday at MoMo Lounge 7PM

Prevail - Vanchessa - Fifth Month - Raymond Schau - Oxford Cranium at Marilyns 7PM/$12

Alex Jenkins Trio at The Shady Lady Saloon 9PM/No Cover

They walked out onto the stage at the gym at Genevieve Didion Elementary, each wearing suits and ties. They weren’t clammed up, having talked to various people in the crowd prior to taking the stage. Each of them was familiar with the neighborhood, and had a desire to represent it.

Current City Councilmember Robbie Watters, retired Sacramento Police Captain Darrell Fong, and Sacramento State professor Ryan Chin all participated in Thursday night’s Sacramento City Council 7th District Candidate Forum, organized by the Didion-Lewis Park Recreation Center Committee. And once they took their seats, none of them could escape responding to questions about the Strong Mayor Initiative, acrimony amongst city leaders, and the arena project.

“I did not endorse or support a strong mayor in the city” said Waters, who voted in favor of placing the Strong Mayor Initiative on the June 2010 ballot. “I did vote to put it on 2010, but I did not endorse it.”

Chin opposed the initiative, saying a strong mayor doesn’t need a “strong mayor’s initiative”, but an ability to bring people together to get issues done. Fong also opposed the initiative, calling it Chicago style politics.

Responding to how he could foster cooperation as potentially one of eight members on the city council, Chin emphasized his experience in business and community service.

“You don’t focus on the person, you focus on the problem,” said Chin. “It’s about the issue and solving it.

Fong answered by saying he understands the dynamics of City Hall, and has developed relationships at the city, county, and state levels.

Waters elaborated on the loss of Ray Kerridge, but then discussed his feelings regarding relationships on the City Council.

“This is the worst City Council I’ve ever worked with,” said Waters, pointing out that he and former Mayor Heather Fargo, who was in attendance, may not have always agreed but would usually talk and settle their issues.

“Now when the Mayor says something, two or three people disagree with him no matter what it is,” said Waters, “I’ve learned over 15 years how to get along with other councilmembers.”

When asked if he felt it was the right time to build an arena given the current economic times of the City, Waters felt this plan is the closest we’ve been and that it would create needed jobs.

Chin felt this is not the time to spend public funds, but did feel it was likely that city land would be used.

Fong said the arena should be an entertainment center and more than just an arena, but was concerned about the involvement of public subsidies.

“Public subsidy is the land,” said Fong, “We have land that’s swapped between Natomas or Downtown that’s worth money. So I think the people should have a choice whether they want to use that land for the arena or entertainment center.”

At the end of the arena discussion, Waters took a moment to emphasize that the City’s loan to the Sacramento Kings is set in stone and must be paid back. He estimated the loan currently stands at $69 million.

WELL KNOWN ROCKLIN COSMETIC DENTIST GIVES BACK A SMILE FOR MOTHER'S DAY

PURE Dentistry, the family cosmetic dental practice of Darce Slate DDS, is the hub of great activity as it accepts nominations for a smile makeover that will change the life of one Sacramento area mother forever.

“Project Smile Again Sacramento-Mother’s Day is another piece of the pro bono work I have been doing quietly for years,” said Dr. Slate. “A healthy smile radiates openness, confidence and joy. Without that ability, people tend to feel shame and have lower self esteem. At PURE Dentistry, we have chosen to celebrate Mother’s Day in our way by allowing the community to be involved in selecting one great mom for the makeover of a lifetime.”

“A smile is the shortest distance between two people,” as the proverb goes and Dr. Slate has seen how a healthy smile can transform relationships that can transforms lives. Once smile restorations are complete, folks who lives were broken due to drugs, poverty and other circumstances are more able to live normal lives. There is actual psychological research that supports the benefits of a healthy smile.

Frontier Dental Laboratories of El Dorado Hills, a recognized leader in cosmetic dentistry, has joined Dr. Slate in this project by offering to donate veneers. The laboratory contribution will run into the thousands of dollars. “We are committed as a company to supporting the second chances of people in our community,” said Brent West, Frontier’s Vice President and General Manager.

The makeover will be completed on May 7th andl conclude on Mother’s Day May 9th at a celebratory brunch for the lucky recipient and her family at a local restaurant.

Everyone is welcome to nominate themselves or their deserving mom by submitting an essay of 200 words or less. The entry form and complete rules and regulations are on the nomination page of the PURE Dentistry website. Go to http://www.puredentistry.net/dental-promotions/mothers-day-dental-contest.asp

PURE Dentistry stands for professional, uncompromising, restorative excellence-the hallmark values of Dr. Slate's practice which servies the communities of Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Loomis and Granite Bay.

These are before and after pictures of a mom who is being restored by Dr. Slate. This beautiful woman and her son can smile with confidence and joy now. Doesn't that mom you know deserve such a transformation?

Tim Castleman had a big response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

He felt so sad, disappointed and angry that he changed his life.

He started developing a hemp-based biofuel system and fought for legalization of hemp in Arizona to help end U.S. dependence on fossil fuels. He began a national "Drive 55" campaign to lower Americans' gas consumption and reduce carbon emissions — an effort turned into a documentary. And he organized two "Peace Trains" to Washington, D.C., to promote rail travel.

"My interest in biofuels led me to understand the real problem isn't that we need another source of fuel. We need another source of energy," said Castleman, 51. "The real problem is we don't use what we have appropriately. This led to this whole conservation-minded approach to living."

That approach led him to get into bicycles in a really big way. Two years later, he bought a derelict old Worksman trike for $5 from a neighbor. The trike had been through a fire. Two wheels were missing. Castleman saw only a really useful tool that could get him around. Something he could use to bring home groceries, garden supplies and other cargo.

He found Worksman Cycles still in business, ordered a mess of parts and fixed the trike. He painted it black and slapped on a sticker reading, "One less SUV." He was even happier to discover that Worksman has been making bikes and trikes in this country since 1898.

The former HVAC contractor and his 23-year-old son, Cassidy, are now turning a longtime dream into a reality. They're opening a bike shop that's destined to fill a niche by renting and selling Worksman and electric bikes. They'll also offer repair service and retrofitting to make any bike electric.

Tim Castleman wanted to offer bikes for people who can't or simply don't want to pedal all the time. Once he found Irvine-based Pedego electric bikes, the quality and design were the catalyst that pushed him to open the store.

The bruised and bleeding economy allowed them to take over the well-trafficked Old Sacramento storefront vacated by Discover California, a gift shop open for 17 years.

With a little help from his son, Tim Castleman has brought new life to 114 J St., which is close to the bike trail. The 3,400-square-foot space contains exposed brick walls, 9-foot French windows, 14-foot ceilings, back rooms and a basement on the original city level. They cleaned, painted and repaired light fixtures. They prepared wall space for local art that will debut on Second Saturday Art Walks.

He spent more than five days refinishing the showroom's beat-up, old wooden floor measuring about 2,500 square feet.

The tall black, tan and purple front doors are now open, although the targeted opening isn't until April 1. People wandered into the shop Thursday to ask about the Pedego electric bikes. A shipment of 10 bikes painted apricot, maroon or midnight blue had just arrived that day.

Father and son worked together to pull Pedego cruisers out of shipping boxes and stack them out on the floor. They expect 37 Worksman bikes next week.

Cassidy Castleman is a business student at California State University, Sacramento. He also sells solar electricity for a Rocklin company full-time. His dad got him into solar and other environmentally friendly lifestyle habits, including riding bikes.

"I've gotten a lot of grief for wanting to drive a car instead of ride a bike if it was less than 20 miles," Cassidy said. "It's part of who we are as a family."

Tim Castleman likes his old trike so much that he wanted to sell Worksman products. He loves the sturdy, heavy-duty bikes — which are often used for pizza and ice cream deliveries and other business or "industrial" uses — because they're useful, comfortable and strong, and it doesn't take an athlete to ride them. He also likes the price: Base-model cruisers sell for $299.

"For a made-in-the-U.S.A. bike, that's a bargain," he said. "There ain't nothin' out there that can touch that."

Their store will differ from other bike shops in town because their bikes are geared toward regular folks.

"If you go to a traditional bike store, it tends to be geared toward the racers. Most people aren't racers," Cassidy Castleman said, adding many bike stores have cruisers sitting out in front because that's what's selling.

"There's a definite bike culture here in Sacramento," he said. "Most of the people I see riding around have cool old bikes."

Both will staff the shop. Tim Castleman will service bikes and Cassidy will handle marketing, including building a website. The shop will rent and sell Pedego cruisers, heavy-duty Worksman cruisers called Newsboys and Newsgirls, and Worksman side-by-side trikes, both standard and electric. Single-speed cruisers rent for $5 per hour or $28 per day, and Pedegos for $15 per hour or $80 per day.

"People who come down here — they're looking for fun. They're looking for entertainment. And in this economy, people are hurting," Tim Castleman said. "They can rent a bike for an hour or two for five or 10 bucks — that's affordable."

The shop will also sell Pedego's electric folding bikes and from Worksman, sturdy, industrial-grade standard tandems and trikes, recumbants, folding trikes, hand cycles and two-wheel cargo bikes. Dutch-style Worksman Roadsters will sell for $249, and foldable trikes for $429. An electric foldable trike will sell for $969.

Pedego cruisers will start at $1,595, or $1,775 for an upgrade featuring balloon tires. Those bikes have eight-pound lithium ion batteries and 500-watt motors and weigh about 60 pounds. They can be ridden at speeds up to 20 miles per hour and can go for 15 to 30 miles on a single charge. A 16-inch foldable will go for $1,395. The Castlemans plan to hold an event showing people how to use solar power to charge the batteries.

The store even carries one high-wheeler antique replica that will sell for $1,295 because Castleman is also a dealer for Rideable Bicycle Replicas in Alameda.

"This is the original fixie," he said.

Cassidy Castleman happily admits his dad is the driving passion behind the store. The pair has searched for a store location for four years. But Tim Castleman took the leap to open the shop after surviving radiation therapy for prostate cancer in January.

Ironically, it was a bicycle accident that helped make the store possible. A few years ago, he was riding a bicycle downtown on 15th Street when a restaurant valet suddenly opened a car door in front of him. Castleman flew over the bike and suffered a broken arm. He's using money from the settlement to open the bike shop.

The shop may seem like a small thing to some. But the Castlemans think it can really make a difference. Tim Castleman believes Worksman and Pedego's electric bikes can be "game changers."

"I don't own a car anymore," he said.

Practical Cycle will be open seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours in the summer. For more information, call 706-0077 or check out PracticalCycle.com.

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter covering business and development for The Sacramento Press.

Sacramento Press, in support of the RekeRoy campaign, has organized an exciting pre-game party at Arco Arena tomorrow, March 19th with a special appearance from Tyreke Evans!

Join us to cheer on Tyreke Evans and your Sacramento Kings as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks and their Rookie of the Year candidate Brandon Jennings. The party will include making signs supporting Tyreke Evans for Rookie of the Year AND a visit from Tyreke prior to the game to thank his RekeROY supporters.

Come meet your Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans! The party starts at 5:30 p.m.

If interested in joining us, visit http://www.groupshavemorefun.com/SacramentoPress to purchase your tickets.

Purchase includes a special lower level ticket for $39.50 (normally $79.50) and entrance to the pre-game sign party. Come meet Tyreke, support the RekeROY campaign and see the Kings take on the Bucks! There are a limited amount of tickets so act fast- We would love for you to join us.

Sacramento seniors facing economic hardship will have one less place to relax and meet friends.

Catholic Charities of Sacramento, Inc., has closed down its Cathedral Neighborhood Senior Center downtown because of a funding shortage, said Beth White, associate director of the nonprofit organization.

The center, which is located at 711 J St., had provided a social atmosphere for seniors since 1975, according to White. It shut down March 1.

Elderly residents of single-resident-occupancy motels as well as homeless seniors would gather at the center, White said. They would watch television or enjoy a coffee, she said.

For example, a group of seniors would come to the center in the morning because “that’s where they got their morning coffee,” White noted. 

The closure means that seniors downtown no longer have a meeting place, White said. “We were the last downtown provider.”

For years, the center’s operations were paid for by Sacramento’s county government, the city of Sacramento and Catholic Charities, according to White.

Then, in 2004, the county halted its share of the funding for the center, White said, adding that the center is no longer receiving funding from the city government either.

Without the help from the city and county, Catholic Charities could not pay for the rent on the building, personnel or operational costs, White noted.

“If you live in a SRO, it really is your meet-and-greet place and your social place,” Sacramento City Councilman Ray Tretheway told residents at a Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting Monday in Midtown. “It just breaks my heart to see that go under.”

While the center has closed its doors, Catholic Charities continues to run an outreach program to help downtown seniors gain access to medical, dental and mental health services, among other services, White said. The outreach program is covered by federal funds, monies from foundations and private donations, she said. Catholic Charities operates the outreach program together with the Transitional Living and Community Support organization.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

 SCUSD to create ‘Superintendent’s Priority Schools’ for six most academically troubled schools

Bold leadership, effective teachers, additional resources for more than 4,600 students

By Gabe Ross

March 16, 2010 – Sacramento’s six most academically troubled schools will be put into a special grouping of schools—the Superintendent’s Priority Schools—with innovative principals, additional assistance and resources Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond announced today.

In a first-of-its-kind effort in Sacramento to intensely focus on improving underperforming schools, the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) will create the Priority Schools to help more than 4,600 students in six schools—Oak Ridge Elementary, Father Keith B. Kenny Elementary, Jedediah Smith Elementary, Fern Bacon Basic Middle, Will C. Wood Middle and Hiram W. Johnson High. Oak Ridge was identified by the California Department of Education last Monday as among the state’s “persistently low-achieving” schools, but Superintendent Raymond said the five other SCUSD schools also have not served children adequately.

“We must take strong, decisive action and include our school communities to help these schools vastly improve how they educate our children,” Raymond said. “Tinkering around the edges of the problems at these schools won’t work. We need bold leadership, more effective teaching and a plan to provide the support our teachers and principals desperately need. We also need more resources to help students learn. We cannot afford to wait another few years and let another generation of students be lost because we didn’t do something to improve their educational opportunity.”

Raymond said the first steps will include meeting with staff, parents and partners involved with each of the six campuses. “We want to move with deliberate speed in this process. That means taking time to meet with staff, parents, students and partners. It means making sure we avoid unintended consequences. It means moving quickly but also taking the necessary steps to learn what is working at each school and what needs to be improved for the students,” Raymond said.

“We have already met with staff at each school and will begin scheduling meetings with parents, students and partners immediately.”

The school district will recruit principals and teachers for the Priority Schools who have a proven record of successful leadership and teaching. Raymond said the six schools will go to “the front of the line” for new computers and other resources, and squads of new volunteers, tutors and mentors will be recruited to help bring additional support to the schools.

Raymond said the six schools will report to one director who will report directly to the superintendent. “That director’s main job will be to support those six schools,” Raymond said. “The days of business as usual are gone. We’re going to take big, bold, dramatic steps to help these schools.”

Academic performance data for these six schools show they have consistently failed to adequately educate children for as long as seven years. Four of the six schools have failed to meet federal proficiency standards in English Language Arts and math for seven years, two have failed to meet the standards for four years. Any gains have been minimal and, in some cases, performance has declined.

All six schools serve primarily economically disadvantaged, minority populations. At all but Johnson, more than 90 percent of the students live at or near poverty.

“We are failing the students we most need to help – those who live in poverty and don’t have the same advantages at home that other students have to help them be prepared to succeed in school,” Raymond said. “We have let failure be acceptable at these schools for too long. But next school year, that culture of failure stops, and a new culture of success and achievement must begin.”

The Oak Ridge school will receive up to $2 million in additional support as a result of the state’s designation of it as a persistently underachieving school. SCUSD will use federal Title 1 money and leverage other private and public resources to pump up the funding for the other five schools, Raymond said.

At Johnson, which has nearly 2,100 students, the district will provide additional resources to support the existing 9th Grade Academy Program to give extra, focused attention to freshmen as part of the Priority Schools initiative. Johnson also will have a special arts school within the main high school.

“The waiting is over,” Raymond said. “Urgent action to improve these six schools begins now. We don’t have a child or a moment to lose.”

Go to the Sacramento City Unified District Web Site

Board of Education Meeting Tonight March 18, 2010

4:30 p.m. Closed Session
6:30 p.m. Open Session

Serna Center
5735 47th Avenue
Sacramento, Ca 95824
Community Room