W Yuba River Charter School

 Shoji Sugita       Proposal in Japan
                Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts 
                & Yuba County Career Preparatory Charter School etc.
                            
The following points of this school wil be available for Japanese educators.
 In Nevada City, CA    From kindergarten through eighth grade with 220 students in
   September 1997
 The Arts, drama, painting, music, drawing, modeling, etc., are integrated into the entire
  academic  curriculum, including mathematics and the sciences.

 The Class Teacher takes the same class of children through eight years of elementary
  school ( grade 1-8), teaching all the main subjects, although may teach specialty subjects
  or main lessons.
○ Textbooks are not typiclly used in the elementary grade. Instead, the teacher creates the
   presentation and the children make their individual books for each subject taught.
 Two Foreign Languages are taught beginning in first grade.
   The Sciences are taught experientially.   The Humanities Curriculum, which begins in
  second  and third grade. The Old Testament in grade three, and so forth.
 "A Morning "Main Lesson", a two-hour period in which the main substance of the day is
  presented,  begins each school day.  Special Subjects - The remainder of the day is spent
  in specialty classes,such as foreign languages and music, and artistic and practical activities.
   Both boys and  girls learn handwork, kitting, crocheting, sewing and so forth.
 Governance and Decision Making
   This charter school is operated by the Twin Ridges Elementary School District (TRESD).
   The TRESD Board has final legal responsibility for the operation of the Charter. However, the
   School Boar, in recognizing the spirit and intent of the charter, does not wish to exert day to
  day control or impose its own vision on the details of the YRCS's operation. It had, instead,
  delegated that responsibility to the Charter Council.

 Admission Requirment
   Upon acceptance and prior to admission, parents will be asked to sign a parent contract that
  will request support on the following items, as well as other requirements:
    - Limit of electronic media influences such as TV, video games, etc.
    - Dress code
     - Commitment to providing a home environment that is nurturing and conductive to
     learning.

○ Class Assistants
   Each class has at least one parent who is the class assistant. In general, a class assistant is
   asked to: Convey messages to all parents of the class by starting the phone tree.
         See that parents provide an activity, food or other needs for school festivals,
         and so forth.
【Comment】 We will be able to get a lot of suggestions from their achievements, however have to
         consider more carefully of the situation of the Class Teacher's taking the same class
         through eight years in Japan. Thank you, Larry Kiser-san & Mic McPherson-san.
【Note】 Nevada City School of The Arts
       Wheatland Charter Academy
   These schools are very good schools,too. Thank you.
【Magnet Schools】
    The information about magnet schoos below is taken North Las Vegas School District.
    ○ Magnet schools have some similarities and some differences when compared to charter
       schools.1.They provide a distinctive curriculum or instructional approach:
            2. They attract students from outside an assigned neighborhood attendance
              zone:
             3. They have diversity as an explicit purpose, such as academic achievement
              through application of Gardner's learning styles.

      Thank you, Michael Rossi. Ph.D.,Director of Learning Resources/ Ed Tech, Yuba County
                             of Education
X Educational Summit 2001
May 25, At the Yuba County One-Stop Center in Marysville
Yuba County Superintendent of Schools Ric Teagarden acted as host.

 Purpose   - Identify the characteristics of a world class community
           - Discus the impact that education has on economic development
           - Better understand today's issues in education
 Invited speakers
    Tim Johnson: Executive Director, Yuba-Sutter Economid Development Corporation
    Chrlie Peterson: Executive Director, North Central Counties Consortium
    John "Jack" Padley,Jr: Chief, Northern Job Service Division, California Employment
                    Development Department
    Nelson Chan: Director, Sacramento Regional Office, California Technolody, Trade &
                    Commerce Agency
    Nick Hansen: Studen, Live Oak High School
    Dr. Marc Liebman: Superintendent, Maryville Joint Unified School District
    Dr. Terry McAteer: Superintendent, Nevada County Office of Education
    Robert Marez: Field Representative, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
    Mary Jane Griego: Supervisor, Yuba County
    Carmel Gabriel: Student, Marysville High School
  As Lunch Speakers, Shoji Sugita and Akihiko Watari
    Tall Matsushima: Director & Secretary of HONDA FOOD
    Dr. Willie Wong: Superintendent, Yuba City Unified School District
    Bill Simmons: Supervisor, Yuba County
    Kim Davis: District Coordinator, State Senator K. Maurice Johnnessen
    Leela Rai: President/CEO, Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce
    Nathan Harling: Student, Marysville High School
 Points
   - How can we conquer the change and develop a plan of action?
   - What does a world class community look like? What stands in our way?
   - What are the chances for community-wide change?
   - There should be community report card, as well as one for the schools.
   - We need to have communities to provide jobs.
  And Many of the panel put emphasis on self-esteem, individuals to achieve, and how to
  reach it in the local communities.

  Shoji Sugita reported that in Japan primary and secondary education is in excellent shape,
  but he believes that more can be done in Japan with outstanding students and those who
  are struggling, so he wanted to get some hints from the charter schools here.
【Note】 Appeal-Democrat reported the Summit on May 26.   By Gary Mortenson
Postscript - Education in Yuba County & the Superintendent
I will express my gratitude to the Superintendent: Mr.Richard Teagarden and his wife. They
let me and Mr.W. stay at their home for five days and he had kindly taken us to some charter
schools, Education Summit and some others, and I could get a lot of informations and
suggestions from them.

His Yuba County Office of Education is located in the Northern Sacramento Valley ( 50 miles
North of Sacramento ) in Marysville, CA and serves over 14.000 students and families with in
the 5 districts and yuba College.

I was strongly impressed with their "The Counting on Character Program" and realized that
it allowed parents, teachers, and community members to work together in teaching children
shared value.

Mr. Teagarden was elected as the superintendent by the people in Yuba County ( now, the
second time ) and also he is Club President of Yuba Feather River Sunrise, a Alumna of
Marysville High, a k-12 STC Regional Lead, CA, a Pic & Governing Board Members of The
North Central Counties Consortium, a Regional Coordination of CA. Dept. of Educ. and
some others. Everywhere, he was called, "Ric, Ric" by the people with intimate friendship,
and I think he will be a better leader around there and over there in the future.
Thanks a lot for his and their hospitality, again.
 Described, June 21. 2001  
     At Ric's home