FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, October 11, 2013

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Sleepy school board elections get a wake-up call

Education Headlines

Friday, October 11, 2013

Greenfield takes community approach to literacy

Greenfield represents a microcosm of many small and rural agricultural communities scattered throughout California. Most of the community's parents are first-generation immigrants, and they share the hopes, dreams and optimism that their children will have opportunities never given to them

Residents clash with district over late-night football practice

Two residents living behind Fountain Valley High School filed a lawsuit that has forced the Huntington Beach Union High School District to stop leasing its practice fields to a nonprofit youth football league.

Sleepy school board elections get a wake-up call

School board elections draw more interest in tight times. Parents don’t want programs cut. Employees don’t want their pay cut. Taxpayers want a frugal eye over it all. This year, better times bring a different problem. More money is coming to San Joaquin Valley schools, with extra for poor kids, English learners and foster children – all of which we have in high numbers – and more local control with it.

Pittsburg High School students suspended for inappropriate comments posted on Instagram

Several students were suspended from Pittsburg High School after sharing a photo posted on the Instagram social network site that included derogatory comments about a girl whom the principal wa

Governor vetoes bill aimed at streamlining teacher dismissals

The governor vetoed a bill Thursday aimed at streamlining the teacher dismissal process -- a bill inspired in part by a Brentwood special needs teacher convicted of child abuse yet not fired.

Fensterwald: Most districts say they're equipped and ready for new Common Core tests

A majority of the school districts and charter schools responding to a state survey indicated they’ve got the technology to offer computer-based testing for the new Common Core standards. But the one-third to 40 percent of districts that said they have only some or little confidence they can pull it off could signal trouble complying with a new state law requiring all districts to give the Common Core math or English language arts field test six months from now.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Somis school board decides to build new school instead of renovating

Voting unanimously, the Somis Union School District board agreed to move forward with plans to buy property to build a school. The decision means leaving the 90-year-old Somis School on North Street, which sits on four pipelines.

Simi Valley school board gives superintendent new, longer contract

After heated debate, the Simi Valley school board Tuesday night approved a new superintendent's contract that gives her an additional year on the job. Kathryn Scroggin, superintendent of the Simi Valley Unified School District, has been at the center of a controversy that helped spark a recall effort against two board members.

Fresno Unified hires Florida woman as communications chief

The Fresno Unified School Board voted 6-1 Wednesday to hire a public schools spokeswoman from Palm Beach, Florida, to fill the district's top communications slot recently vacated by Jamilah Fraser.