Instructional focus

I'd like to review the overarching focus of Moorpark Unified School District, which is to ensure that every one of our students makes progress and learns at high levels. Another way to say it is that our instructional and support staff is dedicated to preparing students with the academic knowledge, work-place skills and career awareness to be "work ready- college ready."

With the successful passage of Measure S in November, the citizens of Moorpark have made it possible to make renovations at Moorpark High and to provide modern technology tools in classrooms throughout the district. Students will have regular opportunities to learn and apply research and problemsolving skills necessary for 21st century jobs.

The first phase of implementation of Measure S bond projects will include installation of interactive digital white boards in 150 classrooms. With this instructional technology, students are able to interact with computerized lessons, consult online resources on the big screen and respond electronically to questions. Teachers have instant feedback about each student's level of understanding while actively involving all students simultaneously in learning activities.

In addition, there will be more student access to computer labs and classroom computers as an integrated part of the instructional program.

We are very grateful to the community for their investment in our schools and our students, the leaders of tomorrow.

Fiscal update

Ironically, at a time when we will be making improvements to facilities and technology programs with bond funds, the district is making plans for severe budget reductions due to California's fiscal crisis.

Some parents and staff may be confused as to how we can afford to spend money on computers and construction when we will be cutting jobs and programs for the coming year. Quite simply, bond funds cannot be used for operational expenses. By law, they are only to be used for the construction, renovation, technology programs and equipping of educational facilities.

The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee is being formed to monitor and report to the public how Measure S dollars are being spent.

You are probably painfully aware, as I am, that California's budget shortfall is of historic proportions. While MUSD has already reduced jobs and services for 2008-09 by $2.4 million, we are being required to make a midyear cut of approximately the same magnitude even after we have committed to contracts, purchased goods/supplies and are halfway through the school year.

As part of our response to this huge shortfall, the employees of MUSD have agreed to take an unpaid furlough day in order to save jobs and keep student services in place for the remainder of the school year. District office upper management employees are taking two unpaid days.

Personally, I am very inspired by the attitude of our employees who have come together in a problem-solving mode in a time of crisis and have taken a stand to be there for each other and for the district.

Further significant budget reductions will be in store for MUSD in 2009-10 which will be a primary focus for the board and all stakeholders in upcoming board of education meetings.

School calendar change

A modification in the school year calendar will be implemented related to the negotiated furlough day agreement. Please note these important changes:

School will be in session on Mon., Jan. 26.

The last day of school will be Thurs., June 11.

We issue sincere apologies to those whose long weekend plans may be impacted by the change. Please contact school administrators to discuss any particular hardship situations related to this situation.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your understanding and support of Moorpark Unified School District as we work together as a community to address the substantial but surmountable challenges facing our schools. film Eastwood's ever made. In his own stubborn, laconic, wonderfully egocentric way, this one is Eastwood's tribute to who we really are . . . or were.

All of which may be lost on an audience sitting down in a darkened theater to watch yet another Eastwood flick about a rugged, rusty lone wolf breaking rules and kicking butt and just possibly getting away with it. But many of us will be surprised at where "Gran Torino" eventually takes us.

Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a retired vet and exFord assembly line employee living in blue-collar Michigan. His wife has recently died, and the local Catholic priest comes calling, having promised Kowalksi's wife to extract a confession (the Catholic type) from her churchaphobic husband.

Most of the neighborhood's WASPs have long moved away, but Kowalski's dug in his heels and watches with muttering distaste as the neighborhood decays and slowly fills up with immigrants from too many other places.

When a Hmong family moves in next door, Kowalski watches from his porch in disgust. But when a local gang terrorizes his new neighbors (and accidently intrudes upon Kowalski's lawn), guntoting Walt steps in and inadvertently begins a relationship with the family that drives the story forward, pedaltothemetal.

"Gran Torino" is Kowalski's coming-of-age tale, as it is for shy young Taoh (Bee Vang) next door, whom Kowalski (calling him "Toad") takes under his wing. But should you be expecting a tender, mendingofcultural-differences story, this is a Clint Eastwood flick after all— and sooner or later this aging Dirty Harry steps out of retirement to do what he does best.

"Gran Torino" is surprisingly also the funniest of Eastwood's films, either as director or actor, and for a good part of the film, Kowalski's indoctrination into the Hmong culture is cleverly, laugh-aloud hilarious.

I will caution that, to those of us offended by terms like "zipperhead" and "Mick" and "Polack," the film offers no apologies. Yet it does attempt an explanation, one scene with Kowalski's barber (John Carroll Lynch) providing an instantly classic cinematic moment, humane and honest, brilliantly comical.

One senses that, in the once proud and vital Kowalski, bad language is perhaps the only weapon left in his arsenal. Walt insults friends and enemies alike, and assumes only his enemies will take offense.

How utterly American.