School district hopes to avoid sanctions over food funds
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A Los Angeles-area school district accused of misspending $1.5 million in federal meal money for needy students is planning to meet with state administrators this week in an effort to stave off harsh penalties and a possible lawsuit.
Mark Skvarna, superintendent of the Baldwin Park Unified School District, said yesterday that he will be in Sacramento tomorrow to plead the district's case before a deputy superintendent of the state Department of Education.
The state education department has withheld the district's federal food money and is threatening to permanently
State to clinics: Send back payments for dental care
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California’s health program for the needy is approaching the state’s clinics with a controversial request: Send back those checks for root canals, tooth extractions and other dental services rendered within the last year.
State coverage for Medi-Cal patient dental and podiatry services was cut amid budget shortfalls in mid-2009, but reinstated by court order after clinics sued in October of last year.
Clinics offered the services again until May, when the state met the procedural hurdle to eliminate state coverage
