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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

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Education Headlines

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Riverside County board OKs school bonds

After a procedural mistake caused their first vote to be invalidated, Riverside County supervisors Tuesday re-approved the Coachella Valley Unified School District's planned sale of $55 million in general obligation bonds to fund new projects.

Educators may owe pension paybacks

Dozens of retired Cajon Valley Union School District educators may have to return some retirement benefits because they were given more than they had coming.

Central Valley valedictorian is criticized for address in Spanish

The valedictorian's choice drew heated comments from locals in Newman -- a town of 10,000 about 20 miles north of Los Banos -- then sparked a national controversy.

Central Valley valedictorian is criticized for address in Spanish

Saul Tello Jr. apologized to the audience before giving his speech -- not for what he was about to say, but because he chose to say it in Spanish. The valedictorian's choice drew heated comments from locals in Newman -- a town of 10,000 about 20 miles north of Los Banos -- then sparked a national controversy.

Cayucos parents push petition to let their teens switch school districts

Cayucos residents made their case Monday in support of a petition that would allow their high school students to attend school in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District instead of traveling to Cambria as they do now.

Mt. Diablo school board approves union contracts, administrator appointments

The Mt. Diablo school board and its employees have agreed to "shared sacrifice" contracts that call for bonuses now, with future increases or furlough days based on how the state budget turns out.

Goldrick: Smart policy decisions can only result from involving teachers

As someone who engages in education policy advocacy and development for a living, it’s good to know opportunities abound for me and fellow policymakers to hear the voices of America’s teachers and to apply their perspective in crafting policy solutions to educational challenges. But is anyone listening?

Print this article National school groups lobbying U.S. Senate on budget plan

National school organizations are urging leaders in the U.S. Senate to move ahead with a budget plan that increases education funding by bolstering several key programs aimed at disadvantaged students.

Budget cuts diminish evaluations of teacher prep programs

Site accreditation visits to 40 of the state’s teacher preparation programs will be put on hold for 2012-13 as the staff at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing takes a closer look at how institutional evaluations are done and what activities are actually needed.

Lodi Unified crafts peaceful budget

It is the first time since 2008 that the district has been able to pass a budget without issuing hundreds of layoff notices to employees.

San Diego teachers reach deal with district to save jobs

San Diego teachers on Tuesday struck a tentative deal with the city school district to forgo negotiated pay raises in exchange for saving at least 1,481 jobs and keeping class sizes manageable come September.

Suspended charter teacher cites student test scores in his defense

A teacher suspended from a Green Dot-run charter high school in Inglewood says his students' scores, and those of a fired colleague, merit consideration.

Jerry Brown’s state budget dream

Governor Jerry Brown struggles to bridge California’s now perennial budget gap. In a rare, and candid, sit-down interview the governor outlines his pragmatic but uphill battle to strengthen the fragile Golden State

Camarillo charter among state's top 10

A Camarillo school that opened in 2007 was named one of the top 10 California charter schools in a USC report released Tuesday.

Tentative Chino Valley teachers contract would trim 5.5 days from school year

The Chino Valley Unified School District and its teachers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that would reduce the 2012-13 school year by five-and-a-half days.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Butte County Board of Education approves 2012-13 budget

The budget was prepared with the assumption that Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed tax increase initiative won't pass at the November general election.

Calif. applies for No Child Left Behind waiver

California has submitted an application seeking a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind act, which has labeled thousands of schools as failing. But the application submitted Friday lacks key reforms outlined by President Barack Obama when he offered states relief from the much-maligned testing requirements.

Former Portola Valley school official spent $100,926 of district's funds to renovate his home, D.A. says

Former Portola Valley schools superintendent Timothy Hanretty embezzled $100,926 from the school district to renovate his home, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Balboa Gifted-High Ability Magnet can't become a charter school

The Balboa Gifted-High Ability Magnet has lost its bid to become an affiliated charter because its merit-based admissions policy violates the open-to-all