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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

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Education Headlines

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Opt-out form not an option

Citing advice from district lawyers, Tehachapi Unified School District's board did not take a vote Tuesday night to make available a form parents could sign to exclude their children from learning parts of a new and controversial anti-harassment curriculum.

Special ed student left alone on Simi school bus for more than 4 hours

A Simi Valley special education elementary student was left alone on a parked bus for more than four hours on the first day of school last week, school board President Janice DiFatta confirmed Tuesday.

Sonora, Summerville seeking bond $$

Sonora Union High School District students have been going to class in decades-old facilities that could be greatly improved if voters approve a $23 million bond measure in November, according to school administrators. Meanwhile, Summerville Union High School District is attempting to pass its own $8 million initiative — one that would extend Measure Q of 1998 and fund renovations to its most outdated classrooms.

SIA Cabinet Report: Lawmakers approve bailout loan for Inglewood Unified

The State Assembly, in a unanimous vote on Tuesday, approved an emergency bailout loan for the Inglewood Unified School District, the ninth California district since 1991 to lose local control to the state.

Twin Rivers police brass to resign after board votes to reinstate police dog

Top brass in the Twin Rivers Unified School District police department will submit their resignations today, making good on an ultimatum given last week regarding changes they say are needed in the once troubled force.

Brown takes softer line in latest plan to rein in pension costs

The governor would raise the retirement age and cap benefits, but he omits key provisions of his earlier proposal. A vote on the plan is expected Friday.

CTA president: Continuing to collectively bargain over teacher evaluation makes sense

CTA supports pending legislation, AB 5 by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes, that has refocused attention on teacher evaluation. Some have expressed criticism that requiring school districts to bargain over this topic is an “expansion” of bargaining rights. This criticism is incorrect, unwarranted, and contrary to making meaningful changes to an evaluation system aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning.

Frey: Report - Truancy is taking its toll

A report based on a nationwide survey of truants — Skipping to Nowhere — released Tuesday by Get Schooled emphasizes the importance of developing new strategies to convince both parents and students that being in school on time each day is important.

Mojave Desert parents go back to court over charter school issue

In a continuing legal battle over the state’s parent-trigger law, Mojave Desert parents asked the courts Tuesday to order the Adelanto school board to stop blocking their efforts to select a charter school to take over their failing campus.

Fensterwald: Pension reform: top-paid administrators to take biggest hit

The retirement age for new teachers will be pushed back two years; they’ll have to fork over about another 1 percent of their pay into the retirement system. And their bosses – principals and administrators – will see a ceiling of $132,120 as the portion of their pay used to calculate retirement pay. Those in the highest-paid jobs, earning $200,000 plus, may see pensions reduced by tens of thousands of dollars.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Aspire appealing decision

Aspire Public Charter Schools will join the State Board of Education in appealing an Oakland judge's decision that would revoke its statewide benefit charter.

Judge halts district's plan to expand adult school

A judge has temporarily barred the Vista Unified School District from expanding an adult education program at the former Crestview Elementary School campus, after residents sued because they think the program will bring too much traffic to their neighborhood.

Novato school officials say clerical error caused drop in grad rate

A sharp decline in Novato High School's graduation rate reported in June turns out to have been the result of clerical errors, and in fact the rate was virtually unchanged from the previous year, administrators said Monday.