Schools Roundup
The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School Board of Trustees named Patricia Montalbano principal of Los Altos High School at the regular board meeting June 28.
Montalbano will replace David Brazer, who announced his resignation in April to take an assistant teaching position in Virginia.
Board member Sue Graham said she believes Montalbano is a good match for Los Altos High.
She has extensive curriculum experience and has worked with diverse school communities, Graham said.
"She brings a very rich background with her. She's worked at several schools and has had several different responsibilities," Graham said. "She has a lot of experience with curriculum, which is important at this time with the state imposing higher standards."
Montalbano is currently working in the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, where she is in charge of curriculum and projects.
Her experience includes work as a curriculum specialist in the Pleasanton Unified School District, and science teacher and peer coach at San Jose High Academy and Willow Glen High School.
She also served as assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Modesto High School, where she implemented an advanced placement program and an international baccalaureate program.
Montalbano earned a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry and medical technology from Aurora University. She holds a master's degree in vocational/technical education from the University of Illinois and a master's in educational administration from the University of San Francisco.
A welcome reception for her is planned for August.
De Anza - Foothill board OKs November bond
The De Anza - Foothill Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution to place a $248 million bond on the Nov. 2 ballot during the regular meeting June 28.
If approved, the bond would be used to repair and upgrade campus buildings at both Foothill and De Anza campuses, which have not been renovated since they were built between 30 and 40 years ago, according to school officials.
Chancellor Leo Chavez said much of the work would focus on upgrading the schools' science and chemistry labs and electrical wiring, bathrooms, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
The proposed construction would take about 11 years to complete, Chavez said.
He said the bond would cost property owners about $14 per $100,000 of assessed valuation per year over the next 25 years.
The district has worked for two years identifying projects, Chavez said.
A consultant group and a community group called the Citizens of Foothill and De Anza are scheduled to begin a bond campaign.
For more information about the campaign, call the chancellor's office at 949-6100.
Higher number of grads plan to go on to college
The number of Los Altos High School graduates planning to attend college jumped up 2 percent from last year.
According to a survey issued through the school's career center, 94 percent - or 281 - of this year's 299 graduates said they planned to go on to college after graduating from high school last month.
School counselor Pat Osborne said the percentage of college-bound graduates typically varies by two to three percent every year.
"It's nice to see it come back up again," she said.
Osborne said she believes the school's relationship with Foothill College has been instrumental in raising the number.
Students reported the following plans: 61 plan to go to the University of California; 38 to the California State University; 22 to private schools in California, 55 to schools outside of California; and 105 to community colleges.
Six percent of the graduates were undecided or did not respond to the survey.
IN BRIEF: More than 500 students graduated from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills June 25. The De Anza Auto Tech team at De Anza College recently won the statewide auto competition and was scheduled to compete for the national title.