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In recognition of improved test scores, Willow Glen High School (WGHS) will receive $30,574 from the Governor's Performance Awards Program. Schools are permitted to use the award for any purpose designated by a team of teachers, parents, administrators and students at the school. The school plans to hold a meeting in August with school administrators, teachers and parents to determine how the grant will be allocated, Mahood said.
"The students and staff have worked very hard for it," said Patrick Day, former principal of WGHS.
To qualify for a Governor's Performance Award is tough, Day said. Schools must meet or exceed the growth target on the Academic Performance Index (API) by five points.
Originally, the state intended to give qualified schools a total of $144.3 million in January, but the funding was put on hold by the legislature because of the state's $24 billion budget deficit. A portion of the anticipated grant money was freed up through the lobbying efforts of Gov. Gray Davis, but the remaining $77 million is still tied up in the California State Legislature.
WGHS Assistant Principal Carmen Mahood said the school is currently operating on a speculative budget because the Legislature slid past its June 30 deadline to pass the 200203 budget. WGHS was originally to receive $75,000.
"State legislators and the governor were supposed to keep their word and give schools the money on time and in full," Day said. "The first year, the state only gave each student test taker $63 instead of the $150 it promised," Day said. "This is the second year the state didn't come through on its promises." The high school anticipates receiving the grant in a few weeks.
Mahood said the WGHS might also experience additional financial challenges during the upcoming year. The high school was recently informed by the San Jose Unified School District that it should expect additional funding cuts from the state's desegregation fund because of the state budget crisis.
Existing laws mandate that the state reimburse school districts for enforcing voluntary desegregation. The high school received $106,000 from the state's desegregation fund last year.
"We are still watching and waiting for the final figure," Mahood said. "We always have financial challenges. That is the name of public education. But we will be creative with our expenses to provide the best education for our students."
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