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Monday, October 28, 2013

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Education Headlines

Monday, October 28, 2013

Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson wants longer day at some schools

Fresno Unified officials are pitching a plan to lengthen the school day next year, an idea that's getting flak from teachers union representatives who say educators could get burned out.

Proposed Orange complex at Peralta voted down

The Orange Unified School Board has ditched a plan to add a 340-unit apartment complex at the former Peralta school campus.

Denair Unified board extends olive branch

A rare flicker of hope came at the very end of the contentious Denair Unified Board meeting last week, when the board and the union seemed on the cusp of agreeing to abide by third-party recommendations for a contract.

Deasy, LAUSD at a critical juncture

Speculation that Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy could resign puts his future — and the district's direction — in doubt.

Lopez: Plan to transform bleak school playground hits a big snag

A popular beautification project planned for Berendo Middle School has one hurdle to clear — the Los Angeles Unified School District's can't-do attitude.

Hayward school board sticks with interim superintendent

School board members who decided to bypass a search for a permanent superintendent, instead giving interim schools chief Stanley Dobbs the job, said they are confident their vote will help the struggling district move forward.

Frey: Migrant education programs make Saturday school a family affair

School on Saturday? Most students would protest such an intrusion on their free time, but for children of migrant workers, Saturday school is a family affair.

Dozens of LA Unified administrators involved in iPad selection

L.A. Unified’s declined to share details on how it chose the iPad for its one-to-one table initiative for months. But as scrutiny has grown inside and outside the nation’s second largest school district, officials are beginning to release some documents.

Rosenblatt: Pending lawsuit, if successful, could precipitate monumental changes

With all of the discussion around the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the Common Core State Standards, and Smarter Balanced Assessments, we may be missing the biggest potential change to sweep California public education since Serrano v. Priest.

Freedburg: Civic leaders mobilizing to support LA schools chief

A University of California regent is gathering support from civic, business and philanthropic leaders to pressure the seven member Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District to “make every effort” to retain the services of John Deasy, its embattled school superintendent.

Fensterwald: Proposed spending regs give districts leeway to choose how to serve high-needs students

Much anticipated draft regulations that the State Board of Education will discuss next week would give school districts lots of latitude – too much so, say some advocates for disadvantaged students – to deal with a contentious issue: how to account for the extra money that districts will receive for low-income kids, English learners and foster children.
Friday, October 25, 2013

Under tight deadline, Oxnard Union looks to hire school contractor

With the Oxnard Union High School District trying to build a Camarillo school in time for the fall 2015 semester, the school board is selecting a contractor without going through the traditional bidding process.

Alisal employee goes public with sexual harassment claims

An Alisal Union School District employee has gone public with her sexual harassment complaint against the principal of Frank Paul School.

Chief: Safeguards not followed in gun discharge at Chino school

A preliminary investigation has revealed police did not properly follow established safeguards and procedures when a rifle accidentally discharged at Newman Elementary School injuring three students Wednesday morning, the department's chief said.

Denair parents, teachers angrily protest spending

At a prickly meeting Thursday night, Denair Unified School District parents and teachers protested large legal expenses while the staff is scraping pennies. They challenged changing budget figures and questioned the need to spend common core curriculum dollars on an outside contractor, Fowler-based DataWORKS Educational Research.