MARISSA GARCIA is going from Garden Grove High to Harvard University (GGUSD photo).

Garden Grove High School 2017 graduate Marissa Garcia will move to Cambridge, Massachusetts to attend Harvard University in the fall.  The school’s co-valedictorian plans to major in Integrative Biology and English to chase her two passions, marine biology and writing.  Her dream is to pursue a career as a marine biology professor.

Garcia attended Garden Grove Unified School District schools from kindergarten through high school, including Stanley Elementary School, Peters 4-6 Elementary School for its GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program, Ralston Intermediate School, and Garden Grove High School.

During high school, Garcia earned Summa Cum Laude in the National Latin Exam, interned at the Ocean Institute, was named a Shining Star through Disneyland Resort’s Dreamers and Doers program, and played cello in Garden Grove High School’s chamber orchestra.

New contract for HBUHSD super

A new contract for the superintendent will top Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees.

CLINT HARDWICK

Board members will be asked to enter into a four-year deal with Clint Harwick for the period running from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021, unless terminated before then.

Hardwick was superintendent of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District from 2010 to 2016 before coming to the local district in November 2016.

That will be in the open session starting at 7:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a workshop in which board members will be introduced to Chromebooks, a laptop computer available to HBUHSD students.

The board meets at the district office at 5832 Bolsa Ave. in Huntington Beach. Its next meeting will be on Sept. 12. The HBUHSD serves Huntington Beach and portions of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster.

Nguyen meets with educators

State Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove), who serves on the State Allocation Board, met on Friday morning with local school district officials in need of modernization and new construction funding for their schools.

JANET NGUYEN

In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 51, the Public School Facility Bond, which will provide $7 billion in bond money to K-12 schools across the State of California.Prop 51 funds can be used for buying land, constructing new buildings, and renovating existing buildings. Schools may also be eligible for new construction funding if they do not have enough space for all current and projected students and are eligible for modernization funding for buildings that are at least 25 years old.

“Our public schools offer high quality education but we need to invest more in our infrastructure so that our children can have a better learning environment,” said Senator Janet Nguyen, who represents the 34th state Senate district. “Prop 51 presents an opportunity to bring money to schools in my Senate district.”