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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

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Education Headlines

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Schools reexamine safety plans

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut is spurring Mother Lode educators to refresh their memory on safety plans, but it has also left them wondering if they can do more to protect students.

New superintendent named for El Monte City School District

As a former Columbia Elementary School student, Maribel Garcia fondly remembered her principal Jeff Seymour, a man who would later become superintendent of the El Monte City School District. As Seymour enters retirement following 25 years in the position, Garcia is preparing to take the reins.

Novato school officials reject charter school proposal

The Novato Unified School District board voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a petition for a new charter school, paving the way for a possible appeal to the Marin County Office of Education.

LBUSD board to cut summer school, freeze vacant jobs to save $13.8 million

The passage of Proposition 30 may have prevented major cuts to programs, but schools are still struggling to offset years of state funding reductions, officials said.

Oxford Preparatory Academy presents Pomona Unified officials proposal

The leadership of Oxford Preparatory Academy, which operates charter schools in Chino and south Orange County, went before members of the Pomona Unified School District board of education Tuesday proposing to open a campus in Pomona.

Fences? Armed officials? O.C. cities discuss school security

Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police discussed heightening school security with district officials on Tuesday. Officials said they may build more fences around school buildings, reduce the number of entrances to each school, install security cameras and take other measures that may make people feel safer – if not actually safer.

Modesto City Schools to dismiss three principals, other administrators

Modesto City Schools has told three high school principals and a number of other administrators they will lose their jobs June 30. The district would not say how many employees or who was notified Thursday. Although Superintendent Pam Able on Friday characterized the notices as standard practice, Associate Superintendent Ginger Johnson said Tuesday that it was the most administrative dismissals in one year in memory.

Santa Clara Unified superintendent to retire

Bobbie Plough, superintendent of the Santa Clara Unified School District, has announced that she will retire June 28 after what will be only two years on the job.

Frey: San Francisco Unified freshens up its school menu

This week San Francisco Unified chose Revolution Foods as its new school meals vendor, moving away from frozen entrées to fresh breakfasts and lunches made with produce purchased locally.

EdSource: California wins millions in school innovation grants

It was a clean sweep as all seven finalists seeking federal Investing in Innovation (i3) grants for California schools received word that they won. Together, they’ll get nearly $31 million, plus an additional $5.2 million in matching funds to develop or expand innovative programs designed to improve student achievement, reduce the dropout rate, increase high school graduation rates or boost college enrollment and success, especially for English learners and low-income students.

Frey: California 8th graders behind states and world on math, science tests

California 8th graders ranked in the middle of the pack overall but behind seven of eight states in math and science in the latest international tests.

LAUSD must pay $6.9 million in teacher molestation case

A jury awarded $6.9 million Tuesday to a fifth-grader molested by a teacher in a case that could presage the outcome of more than 100 pending molestation and lewd conduct claims against the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012

San Diego police to get extra eye on schools

San Diego police will soon be able to monitor live streaming video from 70 of the city’s roughly 200 campuses, an added measure of security in the wake of Friday’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Sacramento's two Aspire charter schools to stay open with San Juan Unified's blessing

The Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy and Aspire Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy will remain open under a charter approved by San Juan Unified last week.

There's no magic shield as educators struggle to ensure kids are safe

On campuses throughout the Bay Area, it was math and phonics as usual Monday -- although in the back of teachers' minds, the tape of the horrific shootings in Newtown, Conn., ran, over and over. School leaders assured parents that their campuses have in place security devices and protocols -- ranging from visitor sign-in requirements to lockdown practices for students. But even as they expressed confidence in those measures, school officials also were reflecting on how they could improve them.