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Friday, January 24, 2014

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Education Headlines

Friday, January 24, 2014

Feds to investigate Loleta school; claim alleges discrimination, student abuse

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights is launching a formal investigation into allegations of racism and discriminatory treatment of Native American students made against the Loleta Union Elementary School District.

Salinas charter school board holds off on reduction plan

The governing board at Oasis Charter School in Salinas has postponed action on a plan to eliminate the middle school program. A group of parents said they were stunned by the initial proposal and object to eliminating the middle school grades. About 40 of the school’s 250 pupils are in the seventh and eighth grades.

Brown urges locals to 'shoulder .. the big responsibility'

Gov. Jerry Brown made no promises Thursday, but said some flexibility in funding guidelines could allow more money for public safety and education programs in Monterey County.

Community groups pressure Fresno Unified School District on new spending plan

Concerned civic groups urged Fresno Unified officials Thursday to be more transparent and collaborative when it comes to spending new state education funds.

Brea district sells 18-acre former high school site for $25 million

A $25 million offer was accepted by the Brea Olinda Unified School District board Wednesday to sell the 18-acre site of its former high school to a real-estate company in a move that foregoes a public auction set for Monday and paves the way for the district to invest in technology upgrades.

Sacramento City district trustees vote to tighten bylaws over missed meetings

Sacramento City Unified School District trustees voted unanimously Thursday night to tighten their bylaws after discovering the district was paying thousands of dollars to board members for missed meetings in apparent violation of state law.

Teachers to vote on contract in troubled Denair district

Teachers will cast their votes by Tuesday on a three-year contract with a 7 percent retroactive pay cut for the current school year, in line with a fact-finder’s recommendation for a solution to the district’s dire financial situation.

California low in education spending, high in welfare

California spent a below-average proportion of its state budget on education in 2012, vis-ร -vis other states, but had one of the nation's highest relative levels of welfare spending, according to a new Census Bureau report.

Fensterwald: Lawsuit challenging teacher tenure, seniority protections goes to court next week

The trinity of teachers’ rights in California – tenure, seniority and due process in dismissals – will be under attack next week in a trial in Los Angeles with statewide impact and national interest.
Thursday, January 23, 2014

Report: Fresno Unified health board saved $100m since 2006

Fresno Unified has saved more than $100 million since 2006 in health care costs and kept employee costs nearly flat as statewide costs spiked, members of the district's health management board said Wednesday.

Natomas trustee fined for not reporting free meal

Natomas Unified School District board member Lisa Kaplan has joined a list of California school officials who have been fined for receiving free meals from a bond advisory firm without disclosing them, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Pulling Mountain View School from closure list, Simi Valley district to look at other cost cuts

Mountain View School, the only campus that remained targeted for closure in Simi Valley, will stay open.

Tracy Unified targets April to hire superintendent

Tracy Unified school board members hope to have a new superintendent hired by April to allow time for a smooth transition with retiring Superintendent James Franco, who announced his intentions in November effective at the end of the school year.

Cayucos superintendent announces run for head of county schools

Cayucos Elementary School District Superintendent Jim Brescia officially announced his candidacy for San Luis Obispo County schools superintendent Wednesday, a day after he received an endorsement from the current office holder.

Alpine teachers moving toward strike

The 91 teachers who staff five campuses are officially poised to go on strike. At the same time, a movement is afoot to yank local children from the Grossmont Union High School District in an attempt to add a high school to Alpine’s cash-strapped public education system.

SDUSD budget: big deficit with some good news

Amid the $75 million deficit to next year’s San Diego Unified School District’s $1.1 billion operating budget is good news: lower class sizes in the earliest grades; high school graduation coaches; and new math textbooks for secondary schools.

What should schools spend money on? They’re asking you B

Over the next few months, districts will be seeking your opinion on how schools should spend their money. The extra taxes you pay under Proposition 30 require community input in budgeting.