Friday, May 11, 2012

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, May 11, 2012

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FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, May 11, 2012
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Education Headlines

Friday, May 11, 2012

Baron: California seeks to dump Adequate Yearly Progress

Three months ago, California’s proposal for a waiver from parts of the No Child Left Behind law was considered so weak that critics said it wouldn’t pass the federal government’s giggle test. Yesterday, the State Board of Education approved sending a more robust waiver request to Washington, although not through the same channels as most other states.

Amid police shake-up, Twin Rivers Unified board extends contracts for acting leaders

As the massive shake-up of the Twin Rivers Unified School District police force continues, trustees moved Wednesday to keep two interim leaders in place as outside agencies investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the Police Department and by school district leaders.

Judge denies protection to Sweetwater's McCann

A judge denied a request Wednesday by Sweetwater school board member John McCann for an order of protection to keep Stewart Payne, a parent in the school district, from coming within 100 yards of McCann.

SD school trustees dispute budget, insolvency

State budget pressures brought to bear on the San Diego school district have boiled over into a high profile dispute between the governing board’s two leading trustees.

Carlsbad Unified picks new schools chief

An assistant superintendent from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District will replace Carlsbad Unified Superintendent John Roach when he retires at the end of June.

Vista parents protest cuts for magnet school

The Vista Unified board of trustees decided at a meeting April 30 to cut $374,000 used to pay specialists who complement teachers’ work at VAVPA and Casita Center for Technology, Science and Math.

Most Pajaro Valley teacher pink slips get canceled

Of the 80 permanent Pajaro Valley teachers who received layoff warnings in March, only two will get pink slips. Assistant Superintendent Albert Roman said the district was able to cancel the layoffs because more than 70 teachers decided to retire through an incentive plan.

Michael Murphy out as principal at Ivy Academia high school in Chatsworth

Ivy Academia, which operates four campuses in the West San Fernando Valley, said Wednesday that Michael Murphy had left as principal of its high school in Chatsworth.

Fremont school board reluctantly raises class sizes

School trustees voted unanimously but reluctantly Wednesday night to raise class sizes, calling on employee unions to make concessions so the board can reverse the move before the final budget is adopted at the end of June.

Moraga schools parcel tax fails

Voters in the Moraga School District have rejected a parcel tax measure that would have brought in $1.2 million annually to help fund education.

Pleasanton teachers OK new contract, concede over $2 million

For the third time in three years, Pleasanton school district teachers have agreed to a new contract, one that could save the district up to $2.3 million.

Orland school officials make changes to stop fights, other problems

After meeting with police last week, Orland Unified School District officials said new security measures will be taken at all campuses to deal with a rash of recent fights, assaults and other incidents.

Report: Continuation schools often “exit ramp” from school than “on-ramp to success”

California’s continuation schools are failing to provide the academic and critical support services that students need to succeed, a new report from researchers at UC Berkeley and Stanford has concluded.

San Bernardino City Unified sends 224 final layoff notices

Final layoff notices for 224 teachers were approved at an emergency school board meeting Thursday so the notices could be sent before a state-mandated deadline.

State education board wants to avoid new teacher evaluation plan

The state Board of Education voted Thursday to seek relief from federal rules that label more than 6,000 California schools as failures, but in the process, it declined to authorize a new evaluation system for teachers and principals.

Gov. Jerry Brown warns more budget cuts are coming

Gov. Brown, who is expected to unveil his revised budget proposal Monday, said he needed far more than the $4.2 billion in spending reductions he asked for in January. And he continued to raise the specter of even deeper wounds to public schools, colleges and other state services if his bid for tax hikes fails.
Thursday, May 10, 2012

Firm accepting applications for vacant Galt high school district superintendent job

Trustees decided last month to hire the firm to find a replacement by July for retiring Superintendent Daisy Lee.

Changing of the guard -- again

In preparation for retirement two months down the road, Stockton Unified Superintendent Carl Toliver has created what is in essence a four-page road