Talking About 'Waiting for Superman'
- Talking About 'Waiting for Superman'
Education is hitting the silver screen this weekend, as a new film, Waiting for Superman, opens up in local theaters.
The controversial new documentary looks at the state of public schools through the eyes of five students. As Waiting for Superman has been screened across the country, the film has been feted for putting the shortcomings of the public school system in the spotlight. Critics complain it oversimplifies the issues.
What do you think? I'll be facilitating a discussion among parents at Clairemont High School about the
- Barrera: Tighten Rules on Travel
A newly proposed rule would force San Diego Unified school board members to get approval from the rest of the school board before taking trips or attending conferences that cost the school district.
Currently, school board members ask for school district approval for trips and conferences, and are ultimately approved or denied by the deputy superintendent who oversees academics. She scrutinizes whether the conferences relate to school district business and whether they fit in the budget. Under the new policy, the school board would publicly discuss and decide whether to allow such travel.
"We should be holding ourselves accountable," said school board President Richard Barrera, who proposed the new policy. "When board members just decide to travel on the district's dime, that's not consistent with a spending freeze."
Even small spending is under the microscope now, as the school district faces an estimated