California’s fiscal crisis has already stripped millions of dollars from the Irvine Unified School District, and projections indicate an additional $23.8 million budgetary gap for the 2010-11 fiscal year. While this number could change, and a final spending plan isn’t due until June, a number of statutory deadlines require IUSD to take action by March.

But first we’d like to hear from you.

Members of the public and staff are encouraged to share their thoughts and suggestions through the district’s online Budget Input Form at www.iusd.org/inputform.

Note that the Board of Education will hold its latest Budget Study Session at the District Office on Feb. 9, and a regular meeting will be held at the same location on Feb. 16. For more information on California’s budget and its impact on IUSD, Click Here.

The 23rd Annual Astounding Inventions Contest was last Saturday, January 30th. To view the list of Award Winning students from Irvine Unified, please Click Here

For parents interested in knowing more about IUSD’s APAAS program, please attend the APAAS Orientation Meeting on February 2, 2010, 6-8 P.M., at Oak Creek Elementary School (1 Dove Creek, Irvine). Due to limited space, we are requesting only adults attend this meeting.

The 29th Annual District Science Fair will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Northwood High School.  For finalists selected to enter the fair, information regarding the event schedule will be sent home in February.

The IUSD Board of Education has approved a historic plan to place energy-generating solar panel systems atop 21 district sites. Once the project is completed, it will be the largest solar deployment for a public school system in California, and possibly the United States.

The clean, silent renewable energy systems will save the district $17 million in energy expenses over 20 years based on conservative estimates. In addition, this unique partnership with SunEdison and SPG Solar will make solar energy production part of the district’s curriculum.

To learn more, Click Here

Registration for Winter 2010 is now open for all classes! Irvine Adult School has classes in English as a Second Language, Career Skills, Computer Applications, Classes for Seniors, Floral Design, Test Preparation (GED and SAT), Personal Skills Lab, and Parent University. We’ve added many new classes such as online ESL classes, Book Clubs, Basic Phonics for ESL students, Readers Digest Book Club for Seniors, Brain Fitness, Spanish for the workplace, and more! If you did not register for classes yet, please browse our course catalog. Register today before these popular classes fill! All our registration is online this year.

Visit the Irvine Adult School Website to see the class schedule and to register.

To read a recent article about the Irvine Adult School by Orange County Register columnist Teryl Zarnow, Click Here

The Irvine Unified School District is at the vanguard of the “green schools” movement – and others are taking note. In a recent edition of Green Technology Magazine, writer Racquel Palmese details IUSD’s efforts to conserve, recycle and explore new technologies in the pursuit of sustainability.

To view the story, Click Here

For details regarding the Algebra Placement Test in July 2010, Click Here. Information current as of January 28th, 2010, please check back often as details are subject to change.

Enrollment for new Kindergarten students begins Friday, March 5, 2010.

The City of Irvine and Irvine Unified School District present "Welcome To Kindergarten" (district-wide Kindergarten information nights) on Wednesday, February 10 and Monday, March 8, 2010, at 7:00pm at the City of Irvine located
at 1 Civic Center Plaza.

Kindergarten Round-Up (Orientation) is conducted at each elementary school on Thursday, April 29, 2010.

The IUSD School Readiness Program serves families with children from 0-5 years of age. Did you know that the School Readiness Program offers the following services?

• Classes for preschool age children and toddlers
• Kindergarten readiness classes
• Parent education classes/seminars on health, development & parenting strategies
• Health and Nutrition Counseling
• Physical Exams

For more information, visit our website. Click Here