Focus on Education: Special education council to meet

SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNCIL TO MEET:

The Stanislaus SELPA Superintendents Council will meet at 9 a.m. Friday at the Ceres Unified boardroom, 2503 Lawrence Ave. The Stanislaus Special Education Local Plan Area serves special education students in Stanislaus County outside of Modesto City Schools. The council will vote on a change to busing fees charged to districts to take special education students to school. It will consider district proposals to provide their own programs rather than use regional classes. Superintendents will hear a report on the Stanislaus County Office of Education's progress in reducing costs.

SYLVAN SEEKS INPUT:

Those unable to attend the Sylvan Union School District Superintendent Search Input Meetings may provide input to the district consultants by completing a survey by Monday. To participate in the survey, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/JHTQKY6. A report of comments received from the survey and the community input sessions will be compiled for the board and used to guide the development of the recruitment brochure and the recruitment process.

McHENRY MUSEUM:

The traditional golden acorn tree is decorated, garlands are hung and in the gift store are local history books, including a reprinting of the L.C. Branch 1881 History of Stanislaus County, a replica of the 19th century original, for $120. The first reprinting sold out earlier this year after a column by Jeff Jardine in The Bee. The McHenry Museum & Historical Society had 100 copies of the large, illustrated volume republished.

EMPIRE BOOKS:

Friends of the Empire Library is giving 300 books to preschool through third-grade students of Empire Elementary School in time to read during the winter break. Children received a bookmark to take to the library to get a gift-wrapped book selected to match the age of the child. Association volunteers said the goals were to help kids explore the library and to become lifelong readers, as well as to strengthen bonds with the school. The Stanislaus Division of the California Retired Teachers Association contributed to the project.

OPEN PLAN TOURS:

Fremont Open Plan, Modesto City Schools' public alternative school for kindergarten through sixth grade, will offer school tours. Kindergarten enrollment is lottery-based. Parents and guardians interested in participating in the 2013-14 school year lottery must visit the school office in January to register for a tour and sign up to attend two mandatory parent meetings. Tours and sign-ups are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 9-31 at the Fremont Elementary School office, 1220 W. Orangeburg Ave. For more information, call (209) 576-4679.