Schools to receive share of API bonuses

Angelique Flores

Area schools will see another portion of money the state has carved

out for improving campuses.

Under the School Site Employee Performance Bonus Act of 2000, the

state will award funds to schools and its staff where Academic

Performance Index scores increased.

The state Legislature allocated $350 million for the one-time program.

Each school’s prize is based on the number of full-time equivalent

employee positions. Each position is funded at $591.32, with an equal

amount going to the school.

“We think it’s nice that the state has recognized that it is an effort

of all the people at the school site,” said Steve McMahon, Fountain

Valley School District superintendent of business administration. “It

takes everyone working together to educate a student.”

Nine of Fountain Valley School District’s campuses will receive

$422,580. Cox and Oka elementary schools did not meet the target growth

required for eligibility of the funds.

The Huntington Beach City School District will receive $411,322 for

seven of its schools. Two schools were not eligible for funding. Perry

Elementary School’s scores improved but not enough to meet the target,

and Smith Elementary School’s scores declined.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District’s share is $774,924

for Edison, Huntington Beach, Ocean View and Westminster high schools.

Although Fountain Valley and Marina high schools’ scores increased, the

targets for the schools’ subgroups didn’t meet the goals.

All but one school in the Ocean View district, Westmont Elementary,

will receive a portion of the funds. The school did not meet its target

score.”These are exciting financial times for the school and the

teachers,” said Karen Colby, assistant superintendent of curriculum and

instruction for the Ocean View School District. “We’re excited for our

teachers and happy that they will be able to see this money shortly.”

The state Department of Education plans to distribute the funds in

April, and each school will decide how the money is spent. Schools have

already discussed spending the funds on books, computers, technology

upgrades and other classroom instructional materials.