[June 16, 2011] Lucia Mar school district to hold community meetings about new programs Tweet Jun 16, 2011 (The Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Lucia Mar Unified School District will hold two community meetings Monday to share more information about two programs district administrators plan to start at two schools. In April, the Lucia Mar school board unanimously approved two programs, an international baccalaureate/magnet program at Grover Beach Elementary and a New Tech High on the Nipomo High School campus. The program at Grover Beach Elementary would incorporate more technology, fine arts and a second language -- Spanish -- into students' curriculum. The New Tech High program would create a new school on the Nipomo High campus that could eventually serve 500 students. The focus in that environment is "project-based learning" -- the students each have a computer ,and they work in groups or in teams on projects that require critical thinking and communication. The programs could cost a combined $2 million over the next four years, with funding dependent largely on donations, federal and state grants, and some money that individual school sites can use for specific programs or students. The board in its approval stipulated that staff make every attempt not to use general fund money for the programs. A separate nonprofit corporation, the Lucia Mar Foundation for Innovation, has also been formed to raise money and support programs that further the development of "21st century skills" such as critical thinking, teamwork and collaboration. The meetings is scheduled for the Louise Elliston Conference Room at 602 Orchard St. in Arroyo Grande from 8 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Those planning to attend are requested to RSVP to School and Community Communications Specialist Ryan Foran at 474-3000, ext. 1080, or [email protected]. For more information on the Lucia Mar Foundation for Innovation, go to http://www.lmusd.org, click on "district" and then "Foundation for Innovation." To see more of The Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sanluisobispo.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]