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Monday, December 9, 2013

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Fensterwald: Some sober words for school boards amid predictions of plenty






Education Headlines

Monday, December 9, 2013
FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

Diabetes part of life for some students in Lodi Unified School District

The rate of students with Type 1 diabetes has remained stable, according to county education officials, but some 90 to 100 students within the district's schools need daily help with their disease.

Long Beach elementary students to receive new progress reports aligned with Common Core

Beginning next week, Long Beach elementary school students will receive new progress reports this trimester instead of the traditional report cards issued by the school district.

Nonprofits help Long Beach USD, others fill arts education void left by budget cuts

The day before directing a professional orchestra in front of thousands at the Long Beach Arena, conductor Matt Catingub was up early standing in front of about two dozen young musicians in a small middle school band room.

Pomona Unified School Board closer to selling surplus properties

Fourteen pieces of real estate in the hands of Pomona Unified School District have moved a step closer to going on sale.

Lead discovered in one in three Chino Valley Unified schools' water

The water in one in three Chino Valley Unified schools is contaminated with unsafe levels of lead, according to the district.

Palm Springs Unified School District considers selling surplus land

The Palm Springs Unified School District plans to sell a vacant, 80-acre property east of Rancho Mirage High School with enough space for more than 200 homes.

Long Beach Unified's finances looking stronger

Additional money from the state for Long Beach Unified made possible by a new funding method could mean the district ends its deficit spending for the first time in decades, school officials told the school board this week.

Twin Rivers employees to get a break on health insurance for 7 months

The Twin Rivers Unified School District gave its entire staff an early Christmas present last week – $100 a month toward their insurance premiums for the next seven months.

Opening school budget to parent input a work in progress at San Joaquin Valley schools

The extra money heading to San Joaquin Valley schools with the state’s new funding formula comes with a catch – parents get a say in how it will be spent.

SD teachers to get schooled in Common Core

As California prepares to roll out its new Common Core academic standards, San Diego city schools have mapped out a massive training effort for its more than 6,000 teachers.

School librarian helps students struggling with reading

Program aims to help young children, most with Spanish-speaking parents, whose reading scores aren't where they should be.

Fensterwald: Some sober words for school boards amid predictions of plenty

For the first time since the Great Recession, school districts are getting more money this year from the state; some – big beneficiaries of the new Local Control Funding Formula – are getting a lot. School finance experts John Gray and Joel Montero, however, injected a cautionary note during a presentation Friday at the California School Boards Association’s annual convention in San Diego.
Friday, December 6, 2013

Sonora Elementary rising from ashes

One fifth-grade class on Wednesday read the story of the phoenix, a mythological bird rising from the ashes to be more beautiful than before - a story akin to the Sonora Elementary School community after a Nov. 23 fire that destroyed most of the contents of 15 classrooms.

Parents want say in school funds

California parents know little about a new law that gives more money to schools that educate poor students. But they're willing to help plan how to spend the money if given a chance.

Recycling success threatens funding for San Jose school

Growth in the conservation fund has tapered off, partly because Californians are recycling so well. California's beverage container recycling rates have increased from 52 percent in 1988 to 82 percent in 2011.

Oakland public schools to go solar wth SunPower

Sixteen public schools in Oakland are about to get solar panels from San Jose-based SunPower. School districts across California are increasingly turning to solar as a way to cut operational costs, maintain funding for academic program and introduce students to solar science and technology.