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Monday, March 25, 2013

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Budget gap at Sacramento City Unified School District down to $5.6 million




Education Headlines

Monday, March 25, 2013

Teacher layoff notices see notable slowdown

Several recent years of March sadness came to a quiet end this month for Stockton Unified and numerous other school districts in California. With the state regaining fiscal health, what had been a deluge of teacher layoffs slowed to a trickle.

Rosenblat: Proposed restrictions on school bonds would harm districts

Often the cure is worse than the disease. Such may be the case regarding the recent legislative proposals on Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs). The lack of critical thinking and thoughtful dialog on this issue has been scary, and we are in serious danger of doing more harm than good to both taxpayers and responsible school districts across the state.

Coachella Valley High School assistant principal Jose Ramirez faces removal

Management shakeups continue at Coachella Valley Unified School District, where one assistant principal has quit in protest of leadership decisions and another may lose his position next week.

Schools' tech motto is 'BYOT'

Educators and policymakers continue to debate whether computers are a good teaching tool. But a growing number of schools are asking students to bring their own smartphones, tablets, laptops and even their video game players to class.

Budget gap at Sacramento City Unified School District down to $5.6 million

The Sacramento City Unified School District faces a $5.6 million budget gap next school year, smaller than in recent years but still leading to cuts such as the closure of seven elementary schools.

Santa Ana tries to tackle out of control students at Spurgeon

Santa Ana Unified has beefed up staffing and hired private investigators to look into safety concerns at Spurgeon Intermediate, where teachers say teens and pre-teens are accosting adults, turning desks over and smoking marijuana in class.

Fontana Unified superintendent may take Yucaipa-Calimesa top job

Cali Olsen-Binks, who has been the superintendent for the 39,000-student district since 2008, is the lone finalist to take over Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.

California voters split on Jerry Brown school plans

Fifty percent agree with the governor's proposal to give more funds to school districts that serve low-income children. A separate Brown plan to give local districts more funding control is favored by 59%.

LAUSD salvages summer school, but classes will be limited

Despite fears that Los Angeles Unified would have to cancel summer school this year, officials say they'll be able to hold a limited number of credit-recovery classes at 16 high school campuses across the sprawling district.

Oakland's American Indian Model Schools to seek new charter after OUSD board revokes charter

More than a year of limbo ended Wednesday night when the American Indian Model Schools lost its license to operate, leaving 1,200 pupils and their parents infuriated by the decision to revoke the charter of a program considered to be one of the district's top performers.

Debt to Newark Unified School District threatens future of nonprofit League of Volunteers

The League of Volunteers, a well-known nonprofit group already on the verge of losing its office, now is in danger of folding because of a sizable debt it owes its landlord -- the Newark Unified School District.

Linked learning study shows narrowing of achievement gap

A new report shows promise for high school programs called Linked Learning. Five San Diego County school districts are among 63 districts across the state slated for state grant money to strengthen programs that follow this model next fall.

Fensterwald: Torlakson, Kirst write letter supporting nine-district NCLB waiver

State Board of Education President Michael Kirst and State Superintendent Tom Torlakson expressed support Friday for nine districts’ application for a waiver from the No Child Left Behind law.

LAUSD teachers set to vote on confidence in district, union policies

Los Angeles Unified's 40,000 teachers will be polled next month on their confidence in Superintendent John Deasy and whether they want their union to ratchet up demands for higher pay, smaller classes and an end to many of the district's reforms.

Frey: Gun safety courses offered to elementary teachers in Galt

In a new twist to professional development in a post-Sandy Hook world, some teachers in the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District will not only be learning Common Core state standards and classroom management, but also how to handle a gun.
Friday, March 22, 2013

Oxnard School District superintendent will retire after less than two years on the job

Chancer submitted his letter of intent Thursday to all the employees of the Oxnard district.

Oakland to close 3 charter schools

Three of the state's highest-performing schools must shut down at the end of this school year after administrators failed to acknowledge and address illegal activity and serious lapses in financial and administrative oversight, the Oakland school board decided Wednesday night.

San Diego Unified, college system expand joint effort

A formal effort to improve coordination and better align curriculum between San Diego city schools and the San Diego Community College District is entering a third year with officials pushing to expand programs that prepare high school students for college and careers.