FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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EdSource: How budget cuts and PTA fundraising undermined equity in San Francisco public schools

Education Headlines

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

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.

EdSource: How budget cuts and PTA fundraising undermined equity in San Francisco public schools

In an era of shrinking public investment in schools, parents have struggled to hold the line one school at a time. Since the pre-recession year 2007, elementary school PTAs in San Francisco collectively managed to more than quadruple their spending on schools. But school district finance data, PTA tax records and demographic profiles reveal an unintended byproduct.

District oversight group discusses bond status

A citizens committee that oversees bond money for the Sweetwater Union High School District said Tuesday during a special meeting that the school board has some improvements to make with regard to funding priorities.

Carlsbad school aids Vista students in service learning project

What started last year with an affluent elementary school in Carlsbad helping a Vista school in a poorer neighborhood has grown into series of projects in which students from both campuses learn from each other and grow.

Solutions sought to reduce food waste at schools

Federal rules require students to take at least three items each day, but a Los Angeles Unified School District manager wants to change the policy to reduce the $100,000 in food thrown away daily.

LAUSD investigates as Sunny Brae Elementary principal Jeff Hum is removed in Winnetka amid misconduct allegation

A principal at a Winnetka elementary school has been removed and an investigation launched, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokesman said Tuesday.

San Jose Unified backs down on placing charter middle school on elementary campus

Despite interest and compromises by San Jose Unified School District, the charter school and residents, the effort fell victim to volatile charter-school politics. The agreement to create Downtown College Prep Middle was cemented in September, but the school remains homeless for 2014-15.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Harold Cebrun’s last day at Rialto Unified School District is quiet

The five-year tenure of Rialto Unified Superintendent Harold Cebrun is officially over, as of Monday.

Teacher-tenure debate ends in court; decision likely months off

Attorneys for a group seeking to eliminate tenure protection for California teachers argued Thursday that such iron-clad job security makes it almost impossible to fire an incompetent instructor. Attorneys for the teachers and the state responded that the real problem lies not with bad teachers but with unqualified school administrators.

Administrators tap into student funds

Student activity funds are supposed to be for student use, but two districts in San Diego County began dipping into the funds for something else during the recession — to pay an administrative fee.

Modesto City Schools board to look at safety, 10-year plan update

Modesto City Schools will update its 1988 10-year plan for its 34 school sites. The board also will address traffic safety for young students, in light of the death of a kindergartener hit by a bus last week while running across the street after school at Tuolumne Elementary.

Newark teachers, administrators get 5.5 percent raise

Newark teachers and administrators will get a 5.5 percent raise under a new contract signed with the Newark Unified School District, officials said.Newark teachers and administrators will get a 5.5 percent raise under a new contract signed with the Newark Unified School District, officials said.

Liberty Union High School District settles teacher's lawsuit for $260,000

Liberty Union High School District recently settled a lawsuit brought by a teacher who said administrators were harassing her and discriminating against her.

Superintendent's pay in South Bay district called 'excessive'

The superintendent of the small Centinela Valley Union High School District, Jose Fernandez, made $674,559 last year, far more than the New York and Los Angeles school district heads. 

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s approach to LAUSD draws mixed reviews

Two weeks after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s top education adviser left City Hall, there are no immediate plans to fill the position, a sign of the mayor’s hands-off approach to the nation’s second-largest school district.