My Word: School district needs community's help on master plan - San Jose Mercury News

My Word: School district needs community's help on master plan - San Jose Mercury News:

"Like school districts across California, the Alameda Unified School District is facing a perfect storm of fiscal crises. The nationwide recession that has reduced state revenue has in turn significantly reduced state funding to the Alameda district.

In 2010-2011, we will face a $3 million deficit, and in 2011-2012, a $7 million deficit.

By 2012-2013, when funding from Measures A and H parcel taxes expires, Alameda Unified School District schools will face a devastating $16 million deficit."

Passionate protests, marching and 'teach-ins' on UC campuses all over the state - San Jose Mercury News

Passionate protests, marching and 'teach-ins' on UC campuses all over the state - San Jose Mercury News:

"Against a backdrop of protests and picket lines on UC campuses all over California, some students got lessons not found anywhere in a textbook: Why they're getting less, but paying more, for their education.

Offering an alternative to a UC-wide 'Walk Out,' some faculty members held 'teach ins,' to describe the theories and finance of tuition hikes, enrollment cuts, layoffs, furloughs and increased class sizes that they said harms students.

'The state's contribution to education is plummeting and your family's contribution is rising,' said Economics of Labor professor Lori Kletzer, as students winced and took notes."

Winning the Battle on Majority Rule - California Progress Report

Winning the Battle on Majority Rule - California Progress Report:

"Earlier David Dayen leveled his criticism of the Sacramento Democratic establishment for their apparent failure to produce an initiative to roll back the 2/3rds rule and start fixing California's broken government.

Here I want to offer a slightly different perspective on the issue of what we need to do to win the battle. This isn't a disagreement with David, but instead a discussion of something related - the question of how it is we win this battle."

David Greenwald: Over 1000 Students, Staffers, Employees and Faculty Members Participate in Walk Out Rally at UC ...

Over 1000 Students, Staffers, Employees and Faculty Members Participate in Walk Out Rally at UC ...

Over 1000 students, employees, faculty members, staffers, and others affiliated with the University filled the East Quad at UC Davis on Thursday afternoon advocating against fee increases that many see as the death knell for public education in California. Speakers were concerned about talk that UC President Mark Yudoff is moving toward a hybrid public-private university that will make fees that are set to go up as much as 32% in the next year, unaffordable for many.

Among the speakers on Thursday was Professor Markus Luty, a physics professor who jokingly encouraged students that it was a great day to ditch class.

On a more serious note, he reminded students that the UC system began in 1960 with a Master Plan that included a spot for the top 1/8 of all California school graduates--free of charge.He liken UC to a Superbowl-winning football team:

"The University of California is like a Superbowl-winning football team. If you stop investing in it, it will still be great fora while. But eventually the top players will. start leaving, you won't be able to recruit top talent to replace them, and you will end up with a mediocre team."He continued:

"The UC system is at a tipping point between greatness and mediocrity. Faculty morale is low, and I hear a lot from my colleagues about leaving the UC system. This has been noticed outside California: a recent editorial in the Austin Statesman suggested that the University of Texas should set aside money specifically to recruit top UC faculty. Those Texans know a thing or two about football!"Furthermore, UC is now in serious trouble.

"This great university system is now in serious trouble. The problems did not start this year. Since the 1980s, higher education funding has been cut more than any other major sector of the state budget. It is the only sector that had a reduction in real per capita revenues between 1984 and 2004. Then in 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger made a "compact" with the University of California and California State Universities that fundamentally changed the model for higher education in California. The universities committed to shift financing from state funding to student fees and private donations. In return the compact was supposed to guarantee a minimum level of state support. But the governor and the California state legislature have walked away from this agreement and made further cuts."

On Wednesday evening, the Vanguard discussed the issue of the UC Davis Walkout in protest of furloughs and student tuition hikes. We interviewed five individuals from four different groups for their perspective. Guests: Julia Tachibana a 4th year English major, Sarah Raridon, a 4th year Gender Studies major, Jeff Bergamini from UPTE, Rick Sandoval from AFSCME, and Pat Turner, the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies represented the university.

Click here to listen to the radio show. The Vanguard will have a full story and many more pictures tomorrow morning with speakers who ranged from students, graduate students, lecturers, faculty, representatives from various unions, and many others.---David M. Greenwald reporting

California Progress Report

UC protests loud but peaceful; no major disruptions or problems reported | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

UC protests loud but peaceful; no major disruptions or problems reported L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times:

"About 700 students, faculty and staff attended a noontime rally at UCLA's Bruin Plaza today as part of a systemwide day of protests against UC fee hikes, class reductions and pay cuts.
The enthusiastic but peaceful rally did not seem to disrupt the rest of life on campus on the fall quarter's first day of classes.

Among those in the crowd was third-year psychology major Vico Melgoza of Santa Ana. He said he was skipping two classes today to be there. 'This is more important. That's my personal belief,' said Melgoza, 21, adding that he was worried about how fee increases will affect not only his future but also future generations of low-income students. The fee hikes and cutbacks, he said, 'are beating the people who are already beaten.'"

The Associated Press: U. of California cuts protested at campus rallies

The Associated Press: U. of California cuts protested at campus rallies:

"Agnes Balla, a 21-year-old junior majoring in public health, said she was skipping three classes to join the walkout.

'I think the quality of education has been diminished by these budget cuts,' she said. 'I don't mind paying more for my education, but what I'm paying for is classes being cut, services being cut and a system that's becoming increasingly inaccessible.'"

Nestle Announces Sacramento as Replacement for McCloud - Take Action : Indybay

Nestle Announces Sacramento as Replacement for McCloud - Take Action : Indybay:

"On August 9th, Mayor Kevin Johnson was quoted in the Sacramento Bee as saying, “We’re going to have to learn to use water smarter, which is a new way of thinking in our city where residents have tapped into two major rivers for generations… We need to light a fire under the city’s efforts to save water so we can be a shining example of how to use water more efficiently instead of being a showcase of waste and inefficiency.” This is in stark contrast to statements Johnson made in response to Nestle moving into Sacramento. Johnson trumpeted Nestle’s arrival by saying “During these tough economic times, this company will not only bring jobs to the city, but it is also nice to have a reaffirmation that many firms still see Sacramento as such a desirable location.” Nestle stated in their press release that Sacramento will be a better site for them because their Northern California customers are mostly located in Sacramento and the Bay Area. It’s time to let them know that people in Sacramento and the Bay Area completely oppose this project."

Sacramento Press / Mayor Johnson, Bobby Jackson and VSP Partner for Local Kids in Need

Sacramento Press / Mayor Johnson, Bobby Jackson and VSP Partner for Local Kids in Need:

"VSP® Vision Care partnered with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and former Sacramento Kings player, Bobby Jackson, to provide no cost eye exams, eyewear and school supplies to students at Herman Leimbach Elementary in South Sacramento this past Sunday, September 20th."

EdSource | Local Revenues for Schools: Limits and Options in California

EdSource Local Revenues for Schools: Limits and Options in California:

"With K-12 schools representing the single largest expenditure in the state budget, education funding has been a central issue throughout the chaos that has recently characterized California's budget process.

School districts throughout California have endured deep cuts in state funding, and more cuts are looming. But state law severely limits the revenue-raising authority of school districts and local communities. At the same time, the results of local bond and parcel tax elections indicate that Californians want better funding for their local schools and are willing to tax themselves to achieve that."

Education Week: National Subject-Matter Standards? Be Careful What You Wish For

Education Week: National Subject-Matter Standards? Be Careful What You Wish For:

"What’s the big picture right now? Clashes on the fault lines between religions, societies, and civilizations. Terrorism. A widening gap between rich and poor. The confusing of national power with national greatness. Boardroom dishonesty. Violence promoted as entertainment. Lobbyist-dominated legislatures. Great confidence in the ability of force to improve the world. Tax evasion and other evidences of a lack of a sense of social responsibility. An education system in disarray from policies driven by ideology and simplistic conventional wisdom."

National Briefing - West - California - System Will Grant Degrees to Those Sent to Internment Camps - NYTimes.com

National Briefing - West - California - System Will Grant Degrees to Those Sent to Internment Camps - NYTimes.com:

"California State University is set to begin granting honorary degrees to former Japanese-American students who were sent to internment camps during World War II. The system’s Board of Trustees approved the measure to honor former students whose studies were interrupted more than 60 years ago. The move follows the University of California’s decision in July to confer honorary degrees to its former students who were interned."

Chalk one up to technology - SignOnSanDiego.com

Chalk one up to technology - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"When Baltazar Brova was summoned to the front of the classroom to solve a math problem, the familiar scenario of walking to the chalkboard could have played out as it has for generations. But times have changed. Chalkboards have been old news for years. Nowadays, even dry-erase boards are passe. Baltazar demonstrated his addition skills on a large-screen, computerized “smart board.”"

The Answer Sheet - TRANSCRIPT: Prepared Remarks for Ed Sec Duncan to Deliver Tomorrow on Future of NCLB

The Answer Sheet - TRANSCRIPT: Prepared Remarks for Ed Sec Duncan to Deliver Tomorrow on Future of NCLB:

"I also agree with some NCLB critics: the law was underfunded -- it unfairly labeled many schools as failures even when they were making progress -- it places too much emphasis on raw test scores rather than student growth -- and it is overly prescriptive in some ways while it is too blunt an instrument of reform in others.

But the biggest problem with NCLB is that it doesn’t encourage high learning standards."

SN&R > Columns > Sacreligious! > Southern Baptist sisters > 09.24.09

SN&R > Columns > Sacreligious! > Southern Baptist sisters > 09.24.09:

"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter recently resigned his membership in the Southern Baptist Convention after more than 60 years. He described the decision as “painful and difficult,” but also “unavoidable” after convention leaders declared that women should not be allowed to serve as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military, but should instead be “subservient to their husbands.”"

News: '60s Tactics, New Cause - Inside Higher Ed

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/09/24/california:

"Few think the clock will be turned back to the Berkeley of the 1960s, but the protests planned across the University of California today mark a return to the tactics of another era. This time, however, the cause isn’t free speech or an end to war, but instead a response to the university administration’s budget-cutting proposals.

Today will be the first day of classes for 8 of the 10 campuses in the California system, and protest organizers plan to send an early message that the budget cuts besetting the university have been inappropriately addressed by system leaders. The centerpiece of the planned action is a walkout, which has been supported by systemwide student and technical employee organizations, as well as more than 1,100 faculty who’ve signed an online petition supporting the walkout."

First Lady Maria Shriver Joins Californians Celebrating Family Day

First Lady Maria Shriver Joins Californians Celebrating Family Day:

"As Honorary Chair of California's Family Day for the past four years, First Lady Maria Shriver has hosted Family Day events in cities throughout California, encouraging families to spend time doing activities that strengthen the family unit through eating, playing, serving and preparing together."

Teachers find Obama not the friend they had expected | Related Story Assets | Idaho Statesman

Teachers find Obama not the friend they had expected Related Story Assets Idaho Statesman:

"When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed merit pay for teachers and lifting the cap on charter schools, the head of the California NAACP stood by his side.

And when the Los Angeles school board voted to approve a plan that could turn over a third of its schools to private operators, Latino members and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa led the charge.

The nation's public school teachers are feeling the squeeze from all sides these days, and some of the heat is coming from unlikely sources: minorities and longtime Democratic allies."

City Brights: John Laird : This Fall's Latest Reality Series - Arnie vs. Meg

City Brights: John Laird : This Fall's Latest Reality Series - Arnie vs. Meg:

"In his first minutes in office he did cut the 'car tax'. By the next year, Schwarzenegger cut education by billions of dollars. Budget deficits have plagued the Governor during his entire term. This year he raised taxes, pushed the 'car tax' part way back up, and sharply cut education funding again. Virtually every one of his original budget promises had fallen by the wayside.

As he signed the latest budget this past summer, the Governor completed a process of making some very hard choices. One of the results was to knock 700,000 kids off health insurance. Before it actually happened, he softened his no tax pledge, and yesterday signed a bill to save the health coverage for those kids."

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Announces $2.7 Million for Sacramento Head Start Programs | OBSNews: Breaking Business and Politics News

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Announces $2.7 Million for Sacramento Head Start Programs OBSNews: Breaking Business and Politics News:

"SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that more than $2.7 million in federal funding has been awarded to the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) for its Head Start program. Local Head Start programs improve the lives of low-income children by providing quality comprehensive child development services that are family focused, including education, health, nutrition and mental health. The $2,765,155 awarded today will be used to expand its preschool services and to make health and safety improvements at its Early Learning Centers."

Daily 49er - Protesters lay higher education plan to rest in mock funeral

Daily 49er - Protesters lay higher education plan to rest in mock funeral:

"More than 100 California State University students, faculty, employees and community members held a mock funeral in front of Chancellor Charles Reed’s office Wednesday to protest cuts to higher education.

Demonstrators stood clad in black on the sun-soaked plaza to symbolize the death the California Master Plan for Higher Education."

Protests, strike planned for today at UCSC - San Jose Mercury News

Protests, strike planned for today at UCSC - San Jose Mercury News:

"SANTA CRUZ -- Disgusted with the University of California administration's handling of historic state funding losses, hundreds of UC Santa Cruz students, faculty and staff are expected to participate in a walkout today to coincide with the first day of classes.

Similar demonstrations are planned on UC campuses throughout the state to protest the furloughs, layoffs, class cuts and tuition fee hikes that define UC President Mark Yudof's answer to closing an $800 million deficit created by budget raids from Sacramento."

BeyondChron: San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily News » School Beat: Back to the Budget

BeyondChron: San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily News » School Beat: Back to the Budget:

"The longer-term task of changing these relatively desperate circumstances still looms before us. Revising Proposition 13 has got to happen as well as the prior task of changing the 2/3 majority required to pass budget measures and taxes in the legislature. Check back for future School Beats on these topics."

Troubled Natomas schools get aid from Sacramento County education office - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Troubled Natomas schools get aid from Sacramento County education office - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"In a letter to Natomas Superintendent Steve Farrar dated Monday, County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon states: 'It appears the district will not be able to meet its financial obligations for this year or next.'

He said a review of budget and enrollment projections for Natomas Unified found that the district's financial situation had worsened since it submitted its 2009-10 budget in June. He said enrollment was overstated, savings had not materialized and there were unexpected expenditures."