ARNOLD TAPS NEW EDUCATION SECRETARY.Byline: KATE FOLMAR Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] on Wednesday tapped Riverside County Superintendent of Schools David Long as his new education secretary. Long, a classroom teacher before he became an administrator, is "a great educator who understands education inside and out," Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol Capitol, seat of the U.S. Congress Capitol, seat of the U.S. government at Washington, D.C. It is the city's dominating monument, built on an elevated site that was chosen by George Washington in consultation with Major Pierre L'Enfant. news conference. Schwarzenegger hopes to make 2008 the year of education, much as he is spotlighting health care this year. In that event, Long, a Republican, could be a key adviser. He will help Schwarzenegger translate into policy proposals the results of a recently released comprehensive education survey that called for overhauling funding and policies. California will spend more than $40 billion on schools next year, but this will still be below the national average per student. Student performance remains lackluster lack·lus·ter adj. Lacking brightness, luster, or vitality; dull. See Synonyms at dull. Adj. 1. lackluster - lacking brilliance or vitality; "a dull lackluster life"; "a lusterless performance" despite various federal and state accountability programs. Long, 67, said he is excited about the job and impressed by Schwarzenegger's passion for education reform. His new post pays $175,000 a year. Jack O'Connell
Jack T. O'Connell (born October 8, 1951) is a California politician. , the state's superintendent of public instruction, lauded the selection of Long. "I know that Dave shares my deep concern about the need to close the achievement gap in California," O'Connell said in a written statement, "and I look forward to working with him on this critical issue." Long has spent 40 years in education, starting as a teacher and coach in Iowa and moving up the ranks to serve as Riverside County's elected schools chief since 1999. As Riverside County superintendent of schools, Long had some oversight over 23 districts serving 400,000 students. He chairs a safe schools committee for U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Long succeeds Alan Bersin Alan Bersin is a former Secretary of Education for California, as well as a former superintendent of San Diego City Schools, past federal assistant district attorney for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and former Attorney General’s , who returned to his home in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. to chair the board of the San Diego Regional Airport Authority. kfolmar(at)mercurynews.com (916) 441-4602 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger introduces his new education secretary, David Long, left, to students from Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, residential city (1990 pop. 60,569), Contra Costa co., W Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area; inc. 1914. It is the trade and shipping center of an extensive agricultural area where walnuts are among the major product. , Calif., in Sacramento on Wednesday. Brian Baer/Sacramento Bee |
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