Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, May 16, 2013

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, May 16, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

"Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" Sacramento City Unified School District





Education Headlines

Thursday, May 16, 2013

As budget prospects improve, no furloughs expected for Ventura teachers

The Ventura Unified School District's 800 teachers won't get raises, but will have better health insurance coverage and face no furloughs, the School Board decided Tuesday in approving the salary contract for next year.

High school district teachers ratify contract

Teachers in the Salinas Union High School District voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve a new contract with their employer.

Barbs fly at Alisal board meeting

As promised, teachers in the Alisal Union School District turned out by the dozens Wednesday night at a school board meeting to extend their protest over contract negotiations they say are going nowhere.

Muelrath: California needs alternative certification now more than ever

We believe California has a duty to invest in our teachers. Without a well-funded and supported pipeline of skilled educators, California’s students will suffer the consequences.

San Juan names fill-ins during school chief probe

The San Juan Unified School District tapped two top officials to run the district while Superintendent Glynn Thompson is on paid leave pending an investigation of employee complaints.

School finances improving, but districts still face cuts

Orange County school districts could see a an unexpected boost in one-time cash for Common Core preparation this year and a modest $40 per pupil funding increase next year, Gov. Jerry Brown announced on Tuesday – good news for school districts that have faced years of state funding cuts.

Newport-Mesa could get extra state funding

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District could see $3.5 million in state funding to help implement new educational standards under Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget. Brown's revised budget proposal released Tuesday calls for about $1 billion – about $170 per student – to help prepare California's implementation of the Common Core state standards.

SD school board sells Mission Beach campus to developers, passes on mayor's offer

The old Mission Beach Elementary School and its 2.23 acres of prime coastal real estate sold for $18.5 million to developers Tuesday over the objections of the mayor, residents, and community representatives.

Galt high school district trustees vote to eliminate Adult School

The Galt Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees has finalized plans to eliminate the current Adult School program with the layoffs of all eight part-time teachers and reduction of hours for its director.

Solana Beach educator finalist in South Bay superintendent search

South Bay Union School District trustees have identified Katie McNamara as their final candidate for superintendent. The 49-year-old Carlsbad resident has been assistant superintendent of instructional services for the Solana Beach School District since 2004, and an elementary school principal before that for four years in the Del Mar Union School District

District takes first steps in converting bus fleet

The Murrieta Valley Unified School District Board of Directors took action to pump some life into its aging fleet of diesel-powered buses recently when it approved a contract for an alternative-fuel dispensing station that will service the district's first new buses since 2000, buses that will run on compressed natural gas.

Parent trigger group gets thumbs-up from LAUSD

A group of Watts parents have successfully ousted an elementary school principal. On Tuesday, the Weigand Parents Union, representing some of the parents of students attending Weigand Elementary School, became the third group in California to successfully use the state's parent trigger law. 

Chico USD suffers cyber attack

Computers belonging to the Chico Unified School District came under what appears to have been a focused cyber attack that put them out of commission between Friday and Tuesday.

Denair Unified plans quick process for hiring superintendent

Denair Unified School District is moving ahead with its superintendent search, holding a town hall meeting for public input June 4 and setting a fast pace to find and vet candidates. If all goes well, the town will be toasting its new school leader at a reception Sept. 12.

Hayward restores elementary music instruction

Musical instrument instruction will return to elementary schools next year. Hayward Unified trustees restored funding for the program last week, to the tune of $290,000, on a 4-0 vote.

Adams: Social and emotional learning gaining new focus under Common Core

As California teachers begin to strategize about how to meet the Common Core standards, some educators say that explicit instruction in social and emotional competence – teaching students how to regulate their emotions, problem-solve, and disagree respectfully, among other abilities – should be a key part of the equation.

Sacramento area sees fewer school layoffs as budgets improve

May 15 was less scary for teachers this year. Wednesday's deadline for school districts to hand out layoff notices to educators ended this year with 182 teachers losing their jobs in Sacramento County.

In San Jose school district, acrimony leads to talk of teacher strike

In the award-winning Evergreen School District, there has been no districtwide science fair this year. At some open houses, administrators this spring opened classrooms for visiting families when teachers didn't show up. On many campuses, dances, theater productions and after-school sports and tutoring have disappeared.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Panama-Buena Vista mothballs new school boundaries

Urged by parents who said the effort to redraw school boundaries had been rushed through with inadequate public input, the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District Tuesday put off indefinitely a vote on a proposed new attendance map.

Fillmore schools chief expects more money for district next year

The Fillmore Unified School District would benefit from additional funding if legislators pass  Gov. Jerry Brown's revised California budget proposal, which calls for nearly $3 billion more for K-12 schools and community colleges.

San Juan district superintendent to be placed on administrative leave

San Juan Unified Superintendent Glynn Thompson will be placed on administrative leave while an investigation goes forward about whether he created a hostile work environment for some female administrators, trustees announced Tuesday night.