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Monday, December 17, 2012

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Schools prepare for shootings, other emergencies



Education Headlines

Monday, December 17, 2012

El Monte Union auditoriums remain closed

Two local high school auditoriums remain closed as district officials work to figure out what went wrong with installation of roughly $2.6 million of heating, air and ventilation systems inside the facilities and how they can go about fixing the issue.

Freedburg: National response needed to protect children from gun violence

Getting a 60-vote majority in the Senate, and majority support in the House of Representatives, for any meaningful reforms will be extraordinarily difficult. Teachers, PTAs and all others who work in our schools will have to come together to push Congress to approve legislation that creates safer environments for our children – and people of all ages.

School yoga classes draw fire from conservatives

A small but vocal group of parents, spurred on by the head of a local conservative advocacy group, has likened 30-minute yoga classes to religious indoctrination. They say the classes – part of a comprehensive program offered to all public school students in this affluent suburb north of San Diego – represent a violation of the First Amendment.

The Public Eye: Error blamed in hiring of substitute instructional aide with felony record

Felony convictions for vandalism and burglary didn't disqualify Ryan Schomberg from being hired earlier this year as an instructional aide to special education students at Albert Einstein Middle School, despite police reports describing the then 21-year-old as being violent with officers during his arrest last year.

School shooting victim came from San Diego

One of the young victims of the Connecticut school shooting is apparently a former San Diego resident, whose new life on the East Coast was chronicled in a colorful blog.

Schools prepare for shootings, other emergencies

Inland school officials say they try to prevent campus violence with strong security, discipline and open lines of communication with students. But they’re also ready if someone walks on campus with a gun.

LAPD ups patrols of LAUSD schools following Sandy Hook massacre

In the wake of a shooting that left 27 people -- including 20 children and the gunman -- dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the Los Angeles Police Department beefed up patrols around city schools today and coordinated security efforts with school police.

LAUSD board seeks control over grant applications

In a move that could stem the flow of tens of millions of dollars to cash-strapped Los Angeles Unified, the school board has empowered itself to endorse -- or veto -- applications for grants topping $1 million.

Bay Area parents, schools discuss how they plan on talking to kids about the Connecticut school massacre

All around the Bay Area, parents and educators fretted over how to broach the horrific subject with children. There are no right or wrong ways to talk trauma with youngsters, but children 7 and younger require special care to make them feel safe, said Barbara McClung, Oakland Unified School District's coordinator of behavioral health initiatives.

Mt. Diablo school board accused of violating Brown Act

A Mt. Diablo school district resident has challenged the school board's handling of contract extensions for the superintendent, general counsel and three other top administrators, saying the board may have violated the Brown Act, the state's open meeting law.

The changing plate of Bay Area school lunches

From West Contra Costa to Oakland Unified to San Jose's Oak Grove school district, cafeterias are filling lunch trays with more produce and vegetarian entrees, along with whole grains, less salt and -- the horror! -- less chocolate milk.

Horizon charter schools get three eviction notices

Eviction notices posted at three Horizon Charter School sites Monday morning have hundreds of families worried about the future of their children's education. Horizon – a public, tuition-free school – is behind on payments that include leases on sites in Elk Grove, Rocklin and Auburn, said William Brockmeyer, the president of Group Access Inc., a San Jose company that subleased the three properties to the charter school system.

LAUSD assures parents of campus safety in light of Sandy Hook shootings

Los Angeles Unified School District officials assured parents today that the safety of students and staff was a top priority, and security was especially visible on campuses in response to the shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.

Schools improve, yet fall behind rising federal standards

California Middle School in Sacramento's Land Park neighborhood has doubled the number of students scoring well on state achievement tests in six years. It has a new curriculum, committed teachers and a waiting list of parents hoping their children can attend. And, according to the federal government, it is failing.
Friday, December 14, 2012

School board scales back new Oxnard high school plans

On Wednesday, the school board voted to eliminate the performing arts center from the design plans, cutting $27.2 million from its original budget. The board voted 4-0 with trustee Steven Hall abstaining.

Lowder seeking peace in Stockton USD

The initial step for Stockton Unified will be to avail itself of the free help offered by the Justice Department's Community Relations Service, which provides guidance in calming community conflicts.

Summerville plans how to spend bond money

Summerville Union High School District will soon start planning construction projects, having gotten the surprising news this week that its $8 million bond measure passed in the Nov. 6 election after all.