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Thursday, February 28, 2013

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EdSource: Nine districts submit waiver for relief from NCLB





Education Headlines

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Jury decides liability of district in molestation

The Lodi Unified School District is 90 percent liable for the molestation of an 8-year-old girl on a school bus in November 2010, a San Joaquin County Superior Court jury decided Wednesday.

Layoff notices given at Bret Harte

Bret Harte Union High School District is sending layoff notices to several staffers this spring, a move approved by its Board of Education Monday.

Elementary principal named Unified chief

Barely 24 hours after Bill Kowba announced his resignation as superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, the board of education surprised the community by naming its next leader Wednesday night: a City Heights elementary school principal.

Sequestration would cut $6 million from Monterey County schools

Monterey County schools stand to lose more than $6 million this fall if federal budget cuts go into effect.

Marin teachers see fewer layoff notices this year

In the latest sign that the financial free fall may be ending for Marin County school districts, the number of teachers receiving layoff notices has declined dramatically this year.

Fresno Unified board rejects $35 million plan for Bullard High

A plan to spend $35 million on improving Bullard High School failed to get full support for a second time from Fresno Unified trustees, who raised issues of equity and fairness in the allocation of building funds.

Galt elementary district OKs gun safety course for teachers, staff

Teachers and school staff in the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District will be offered training in how to handle and fire a gun through a partnership with the Galt Police Department.

SD Unified halts pink slips, sells property

For the first time since 2008, the San Diego Unified School District will not issue pink slips to teachers this year, sparing educators, parents and students the cycle of anxiety that comes with threats of mass layoffs.

Del Mar superintendent proposes budget cuts

A budget-cutting plan proposed Wednesday by the superintendent of the Del Mar Union School District would lead to layoffs, reduced hours for some employees and less training next year, as well as keep open the possibility of larger class sizes and a shorter school year.

California schools must set up fee complaint systems

California school districts must have procedures in place by Friday for students and parents to file complaints if they feel their schools are improperly charging fees for educational activities.

School district to pay employees back

Now that Riverside Unified School District has emerged from the budget crisis sooner than planned, the district is offering to pay back employees equivalent to the number of furlough days they took.

Skelton: Voters weren't told about plan to redistribute education money

A revenue redistribution scheme probably was not what Californians had in mind when they passed Gov. Jerry Brown's tax increase to salvage public schools. But as it turns out, the tax hike, Prop. 30, was essential to help pay for the governor's plan to redistribute state education money — sending more to mostly inner-city schools at the expense of suburban districts.

Oakland school report is a joint effort

Business leaders in Oakland joined forces with community activists and education advocates to release a first-of-its-kind report Wednesday designed to break down perplexing data and focus efforts and resources on key areas of need.

Elementary school principal named new San Diego Unified superintendent

Cindy Marten, principal of Central Elementary School in City Heights, will succeed San Diego Unified Superintendent Bill Kowba, the San Diego Unified School District announced Wednesday. While most large city school districts spend months searching for new superintendents, Marten's appointment was announced only the day after Kowba said he would retire.

Brentwood school board votes to fire superintendent

he Brentwood school board fired Superintendent Merrill Grant on Wednesday night, following a 4-1 vote in closed session. Former long-time Brentwood schools superintendent Doug Adams will return as the interim superintendent while the district begins an immediate search for a permanent replacement, Sanabria said.

Court rejects appeal seeking $2B more for schools

An appeals court has rejected a petition from a coalition of school districts and education groups that sought to redirect more than $2 billion in state funding to public schools and community colleges, state officials announced Wednesday.

EdSource: Nine districts submit waiver for relief from NCLB

A collaborative of nine California school districts is submitting today a first-of-its-kind waiver seeking relief from the harshest sanctions of the No Child Left Behind law. The proposal would commit the participating districts to a new accountability system, focusing on student achievement but deemphasizing standardized test scores.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Mt. Diablo school superintendent and two trustees kept charter fiscal report secret to avoid controversy

To protect the Mt. Diablo school district's reputation, Superintendent Steven Lawrence, the former Board President and another trustee kept a financial analysis on charter costs secret, the rest of the board learned Monday.

Stockton USD votes to issue layoff notices

Despite pleas from counselors and from the head of the teachers union, Stockton Unified School District took the first step Tuesday night toward possible layoffs of nearly 100 teachers and counselors.

Desert Sands Unified prepares cuts

The Desert Sands Unified School District will most likely schedule furlough days, layoff employees or increase class sizes if the governor’s plan to redistribute education funding is not approved by the state Legislature.