FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, May 28, 2013

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Fensterwald: Assembly adds its version of school finance reform to the mix

Education Headlines

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

San Diego teachers reject buyouts

The latest offer of $25,000 buyouts has been canceled by the district due to a lack of interest among teachers.

Ramona parents try to bridge gap in labor standoff

Six parents were so frustrated by increasing rhetoric and conflicting information in the drawn-out labor dispute between teachers and the Ramona Unified School District that they set out to determine for themselves and other parents what’s fact and fiction.

Newly appointed board member bit of a mystery

The 49-year-old Midura was appointed last week by a 5-1 vote of Stockton Unified's board to serve the remaining 19 months of the late Sara Cazares' term. He is scheduled to be sworn in at the start of tonight's school-board meeting.

Only 1-in-3 kids pass all parts of physical fitness test, says state

More than two-thirds of the state's students are lagging well behind when it comes to being physically fit. For the second year in a row, only one student in three got passing grades in the state physical fitness test.

Desert Sands Unified School District's workers opt out of insurance for cash

As rising health insurance costs have taken a bite out of teacher paychecks, prompting protests in the Desert Sands Unified School District, a growing number of employees are trading their coverage for cash.

Desert Sands Unified school board member's 'cash out' draws fire

Desert Sands Unified school board vice president Michael Duran has collected $22,500 in tax-sheltered deposits over the last three years in lieu of health coverage, according to district documents reviewed by The Desert Sun. Duran’s deposits have drawn criticism from the teacher’s union, who believes the health insurance opt out program was never meant for school board members.

Ramona parents try to bridge gap in labor standoff

Six parents were so frustrated by increasing rhetoric and conflicting information in the drawn-out labor dispute between teachers and the Ramona Unified School District that they set out to determine for themselves and other parents what’s fact and fiction.

SD teachers reject buyouts

San Diego Unified’s most seasoned educators are resisting the district’s efforts to nudge them off the payroll, raising questions about a budget plan that relies on the elimination of jobs left vacant through attrition.

MENIFEE: Santa Rosa Academy preps for big move

The students of Menifee’s Santa Rosa Academy will get an extra few weeks off this summer while construction crews build their new, permanent campus. The first day of school for the 2013-14 school year will be Sept. 9, a few weeks later than past years, to give workers more time, said Laura Badillo, the school’s executive director. The project includes about 63,000 square feet of space, including more than 40 classrooms and a library and technology center.

Fremont teachers and school district reach tentative agreement on new contract

The teachers' union and the school district have reached an agreement on a new contract that will give instructors their first salary raise since 2007.

San Jose teachers, district agree to landmark contract

In a groundbreaking contract, the San Jose Unified School District and its teachers union have agreed to peg pay increases to teaching skill rather than college credits, create a career ladder for outstanding teachers and slow the advancement of ineffective teachers -- or ultimately fire them.

Diabetes in California schools: Legal battle over insulin shots goes before state's high court

In a legal showdown set to be heard Wednesday, the California Supreme Court will consider arguments from the nurses' union and other allies, including the state's teachers' union, who contend that under state law only licensed school employees can give insulin shots to children.

California releases annual school rankings based on API scores

The state on Friday released its annual list of K-12 school rankings based on student performance on standardized tests, revealing little in the way of surprise for the South Bay and Harbor Area, where nearly 60 percent of the schools surpassed the statewide average.

Popular principal's dismissal leaves a South L.A. school divided

Irma Cobian was highly regarded at Weigand Avenue Elementary in Watts. But under California's 2010 trigger law, she was ousted last week. "It devastated our morale," one teacher said.

Fensterwald: Assembly adds its version of school finance reform to the mix

The Assembly has produced its own version of Gov. Jerry Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula, further complicating the governor’s goal of passing school finance reform as part of the new state budget by July 1.

Torrance Unified leads opposition to Gov. Brown's proposed education funding overhaul

Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to fundamentally revamp the way schools are funded isn't pitting Republicans vs. Democrats so much as it is pitting suburban districts against urban ones - and leaders in Torrance are playing a key role in organizing the statewide opposition.

Maitre: School leaders say Oakland’s community school movement will continue, even without Tony Smith

Oakland schools Superintendent Tony, Smith has stunned fellow educators by announcing that he will leave the district in June, raising questions about whether his community school initiative will be sustained after his departure.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Chino Valley Unified approves salary increase for top employees

All assistant superintendents were given a "step" or raise increase of $5,612 except for the facilities planning and operations employee. In addition to board members Andrew Cruz and Irene Hernandez-Blair voting against the increase, a number of certificated employees voiced their disappointment over the agenda item.

Exit interviews a new grad requirement

A new graduation requirement in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District this year calls for all 12th-graders to successfully complete a senior exit interview.

Linden Unified superintendent placed on paid leave

Linden Unified School District Superintendent Michael Gonzales was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday night, roughly two hours after the last Linden High graduate crossed the stage to mark the end of the 2012-13 school year.