The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 7, No. 11 - March 16, 2017 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................2 Classifieds............................6 Crossword/Sudoku.............6 Legals.................................4,7 Pets........................................5 Police Briefs........................3 Real Estate...........................8 Sports....................................3 TerriAnn in Torrance..........4 Weekend Forecast YPPA Celebrates Mardi Gras with Local Brews Torrance Memorial’s Young Physicians & Professionals Alliance (YPPA) hosted a Fat Tuesday Beer Tasting at Smog City Brewing Company in Torrance. Guests networked while enjoying handcrafted brews, King Cake all the way from New Orleans, and pizza. Proceeds from the event support construction of Torrance Memorial’s new Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For more information visit TorranceMemorial.org/YPPA. Photo by Deidre Davidson. • Drug Maker Doesn’t Have to Explain Price Hikes to Shareholders By Rob McCarthy Call this a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. A federal government lawyer told one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies last month it can remain silent about why it raised prices on life-saving therapies. The irony here is that the people asking for that information are concerned shareholders of the biotech company Amgen whose CEO was called recently to the White House for a meeting with the President. Amgen is based in Thousand Oaks, yet it is a darling with fund managers and South Bay investors because of the company’s sustained growth and annual profits that will return $11 or $12 per share to investors this year. The company earned $6 billion in profit last year, and made $16.6 billion in sales on its 10 topselling therapies. A faith-based shareholder group that includes the Catholic healthcare system Dignity Health filed a proposal last fall asking Amgen’s management to explain to the stockholders why it raised prices on some drugs dating back to 2010. Specifically, the Mercy Investment Services group asked for details about the company’s rates of price increases and the reasoning behind them. The request included any assessment of risks to Amgen from price hikes on its 10 best-selling See Drug Maker, page 3 Friday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 70˚/57˚ Saturday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 65˚/56˚ Sunday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 66˚/55˚ State Recognizes Local High School as Model Campus By Cristian Vasquez Recently, Torrance Unified School District’s (TUSD) Kurt T. Shery High School was recognized by California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson as a Model Continuation High School for 2017. As one of 35 schools in the state to receive this distinction, Shery was chosen because of the school’s innovative academic programs that help prepare and support at-risk students to complete high school credits in order to graduate. “Every day, the team of exceptional educators at Shery High make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of their students,” said TUSD Superintendent Dr. George Mannon. “Together they have created a caring, nurturing and supportive environment in which their students continue to thrive and grow. We are so proud of their accomplishments.” Shery High Principal Jamie Jimenez, who began at the campus as a counselor 12 years ago, has been an integral part of the school’s growth and success. “Last year, 92 percent of our seniors graduated,” she proudly remarked. “Over the years, we have continuously looked at our programs to see what works and what does not.” Principal Jimenez recalls how once upon a time Language Arts instruction was mainly bookwork, with very little interactive instruction. While some students did well, others struggled. They revamped their program to emphasize on single-subject and direct instruction with an increased focus on continuously engaging students with the subject material. Additionally, teachers began assessing students more frequently to ensure the latter understand concepts and topics before moving on to new subject areas. The results speak for themselves, with an increased number of students either returning to their home high school to graduate with their peers, or graduating directly from Shery High. Continuation schools are designed to provide high school students who are at-risk of not graduating with the classes they need in order to complete graduate courses and credit. The student population at continuation schools range between the ages of 16-18 and daily attendance is required. Each one of the model school sites was selected based on a comprehensive and competitive application process that involved effectiveness, assessments and use of data including an onsite visit and peer review panel, according the a statement released by the California Department of Education. The State provides continuation education for any students behind in high school credits. Students in need of a flexible school schedule because of work obligations also benefit from these campuses. Other students choose a continuation education because of family needs or circumstances. Students who attend continuation high schools are required by the State to spend at least 15 hours per week, or three hours per day, at the campus and take courses required for graduation. Students also receive guidance and career counseling. Some programs even offer independent study, jobplacement services, and concurrent enrollment in community college. Last year, Shery High went through an extensive Western Association of Schools (WASC) review process and received a sixyear accreditation. WASC is the State’s way See School Board, page 7
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