Belmont Beacon
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 - JANUARY 18, 2015
belmontbeacon.com
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Sworn in for Second Term State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson outlined his ambitious “Agenda for Excellence” for the next four years today in Sacramento as he was sworn in for his second term as chief of California’s public school system and leader of the California Department of Education. “During my first term, we have begun transforming education in California by providing a world-class education for all students from early childhood to adulthood,” said Torlakson. “ But more work needs to be done. For my second term, I want to transform our system to one known far and wide for its excellence.” Torlakson, California’s 27th state schools chief, said that schools have made significant progress during his first term, including achieving a record high school graduation rate of 80 percent. Today, he outlined his plans to work together with teachers, parents, administrators, classified employees, community leaders, and business leaders, to achieve excellence
times as likely to be more engaged in their workplace and the surrounding community upon graduation.” The Center for Community Engagement, housed at CSULB, reports that approximately 12,109 students engaged in some form of Please see page 2
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•Developing an accountability system based on broad measures; •Implementing the Local Control Funding Formula that Please see page 4
CSULB Named to 2014 President’s Community Service Honor Roll California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) has earned a place on the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fourth time. The recognition distinguishes colleges and universities engaged in helping solve social and economic problems, achieving meaningful outcomes on be-
half of the regions they serve. “We are delighted to once again be named to the President’s Community Service Honor Roll. When students engage in service, everyone benefits,” said Jane Close Conoley, president, CSULB. “College students who are taught to apply classroom learning to life off campus are nearly three
2014 Statistics Show Lowest Reported Violent Crimes in 42 Years Based on preliminary crime data, Long Beach ended 2014 poised to achieve the lowest number of reported violent crimes in 42 years. When compared to 2013, the 2014 violent crime statistics reflect a decrease of 3.2%, with a 17.8% decrease as compared to the 5-year average. Property crime statistics also showed a 4.8% decrease, and a 3.8% decrease in the 5-year average. The Total Part 1 Crime reduction was 4.6%, and 6.3% as compared to the 5-year average. “This ongoing reduction in crime reflects the City’s unwavering commitment to public safety,” noted Mayor Robert Garcia. “Reducing crime is a priority for the entire City, especially our Police Department and its dedicated employees.” In the violent crime category, the Police Department anticipates that the final 2014 statistics, which will be available later this month, will reflect a 30.3% decrease from 2013 in the number of murders - 23 as opposed to 33 in 2013.* This is the lowest number of murders on record since statistics were first compiled in 1969. Fourteen of the 23 were investigated as gang related. The Homicide Detail solved 22 murders in 2014 with a clearance rate of 95.7%. The number of reported rapes
-Photo by Terry Miller
in California’s educational system. He seeks to do this by: •Continuing to exert independent and strong leadership; •Supporting teachers to help them become the best educators they can be;
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