Friday, September 7, 2012

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, September 7, 2012

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:


Kamala Harris, California Attorney General @ DNC


Education Headlines

Friday, September 7, 2012

Alvord looks at contingency plans

Alvord Unified School District could shorten this school year up to three weeks if voters reject tax initiatives on the November ballot under one contingency plan presented to the school board Thursday night, Sept. 6.

'Drug free' clubs launch at Santa Clarita high schools

Santa Clarita teens who pledge not to use drugs and agree to random tests can join the DFYIT clubs, which offer social events. "We want there to be a culture shift," a school district official says.

Heat wave costs LAUSD more than $400K in AC repairs

Los Angeles Unified maintenance crews racked up more than $400,000 in overtime repairing overloaded air-conditioning units during the heat wave that swamped the region during the opening days of school, officials said.

Pleasanton kids say goodbye to meat -- on Mondays

Starting Monday, children in the Pleasanton school district will be changing out meaty lunches for lunches that include Mediterranean offerings with hummus and grapes as "Meatless Mondays" go into effect.

Oakland Unified cuts off funds for private school, but troubles remain

The Oakland Unified School District is cutting off federal funds benefiting a private school accused of abuse after determining that the church school inflated its enrollment numbers.

SI&A Cabinet Report: Torlakson’s teacher panel finalizes report on improving quality

A blue-ribbon state panel on improving teacher quality in California calls for more rigorous monitoring of preparation programs and more aggressive enforcement of state standards, sources familiar with the report said Thursday.

Fensterwald: Steinberg hoping this time Brown will sign bill changing API

Darrell Steinberg is the epitome of persistence – or a glutton for rejection. Undeterred by a stinging message accompanying a veto a year ago, the president pro tem of the Senate tried again, authoring a bill, heading once more to Gov. Jerry Brown, that would change the metrics of the state’s school accountability system.

Teachers union gives another $6.9 million to Prop. 32 fight

California's largest teachers union is literally doubling down to fight Proposition 32, the November ballot measure that promises to eliminate special-interest money in politics.
Thursday, September 6, 2012

Tehachapi approves Abernathy charter school, with conditions

A petition to establish a charter school named for one of the most powerful Republican political operatives in Kern County has been given the green light by the Tehachapi Unified School District.

District OKs $2.1 million for 15 buses

Lodi Unified School District trustees authorized a $2.1 million purchase of 15 new special-education school buses Tuesday night.

California law requires schools to roll out new grade level, transitional kindergarten

Transitional kindergarten, a steppingstone between preschool and kindergarten, has been rolled out at school districts across the state as the result of a 2010 state law.

Four Monterey County school districts seek some fiscal independence

Monterey Peninsula Unified, Salinas Union High, Salinas City Elementary and Alisal Union school districts have announced to the county their intention to become "fiscally accountable," which basically means they want to perform most of their financial operations — payroll, purchasing and the like — in house.