FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, March 27, 2014

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Charter school report was wrong

Education Headlines

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Teachers say Oxnard Union offer not enough

For the second time this month, teachers and staff members of the Oxnard Union High School District pressed the school board for a higher pay increase, something they said they deserve after five consecutive years of frozen wages.

Chapter 2 for charter school group

A charter group looking to start a combined dual immersion and International Baccalaureate program on Fremont Street has submitted a petition to Stockton Unified to open the World Language Academy in fall 2015.

Tracy schools chief named

Brian Stephens, superintendent of the Delhi Unified School District in Merced County, has been named to lead Tracy Unified when longtime Superintendent James Franco retires in June.

Paso Robles superintendent to retire at end of school year

Kathleen McNamara, who led the Paso Robles school district out of near financial collapse while angering teachers who felt she forced them to make too many sacrifices, announced she will retire as superintendent after this school year.

Rowland Unified administrators, teachers remain far apart in salary talks

Rowland teachers have declared an impasse in the stalled contract negotiations with the Rowland Unified School District. The Association of Rowland Educators is asking the state to send in a mediator to handle further negotiations.

Fresno Unified teachers turn up heat over contracts

 Fresno Unified teachers and union leaders locked horns Wednesday with district Superintendent Michael Hanson over ongoing contract talks, following a rally in downtown Fresno where teachers held signs calling for higher pay and smaller class sizes.

Cheating scandal: County urges Newport-Mesa to settle with families

The county’s board of education is pushing the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to either go to court or settle with the families of five Corona del Mar High School students accused in a high-profile cheating scandal who are attempting to appeal the students’ January expulsion.

Meeting postponed again, Sweetwater teachers picket

Members of the Sweetwater Education Association picketed outside the high school district’s administration office Tuesday to call attention to their contract situation, a day when a school board meeting was canceled due to lack of a quorum.

Trustees select Duane Coleman as new head of Oceanside schools

Trustees in the Oceanside Unified School District have selected Duane Coleman, the associate superintendent of educational services, to succeed retiring Superintendent Larry Perondi.

Charter school report was wrong

The growth of charter schools in San Diego was greatly exaggerated in a report issued three months ago by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, according to the organization that issued a corrected study on Wednesday.

S.F. marijuana dispensaries could move closer to schools

Medical marijuana dispensaries would be allowed to move closer to San Francisco schools, child care facilities, parks and recreational areas under a recommendation the City

Riverbank Unified board now at full strength, all-female, majority Latina

Ana Vigil will join the Riverbank Unified School District board, bringing the now all-female panel to full strength after two resignations.

Berkeley teachers pull down 3.5 percent raise

The school district's 800 teachers will get a 3.5 percent raise and a 2 percent one-time bonus, the district and the teachers union announced Wednesday.

School child abuse reporting bill moves out of committee

Legislation aimed at requiring annual child abuse reporting training for school employees passed through a state education committee on Wednesday.

West Contra Costa school board unanimously approves new hiring policies

West Contra Costa school district trustees on Wednesday agreed that there is no foolproof way to prevent a teacher from acting inappropriately with students. However, they expressed hope that hiring policy revisions they approved that will require reference checks for all employees will be a step in the right direction.

Decision tabled on charter renewal for RAAMP Academy

After another series of emotional pleas from scores of parents and students, but not enough data to feel comfortable about a decision, Antioch Unified trustees decided late Wednesday to table RAAMP Charter Academy's renewal bid for two weeks.

Fensterwald: Uniform standards urged for reclassifying English learners

School districts have discretion in determining when English learners can be reclassified as proficient in English, meaning they no longer need help in gaining fluency. But the different criteria that districts use and wide disparities in reclassification rates among districts have prompted Sen. Alex Padilla, D-San Fernando Valley, to call for consistency.