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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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Fensterwald: It’s a deal - Brown, top lawmakers raise base funding in finance formula






Education Headlines

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Some Lucia Mar programs return to students

Trustees of the South County’s school district have taken steps to restore some programs and positions that were curtailed during the past few years of budget cuts.

SUSD assistant near appointment

Kirk Nicholas, a Stockton Unified assistant superintendent, is in final negotiations to become the superintendent of Lammersville Unified in Mountain House, Lammersville announced Monday afternoon.

Hayward school's toy gun trade-in elicits support, including from Newtown

An elementary school principal says he was overwhelmed by the response to his school's toy gun trade-in Saturday, when children lined up to turn in dozens of play weapons.

Mongeau: Majority of California districts offer transitional kindergarten in first year of program

An estimated 39,000 students enrolled in transitional kindergarten this school year, the first year districts were required to offer the program, according to a new report.

Fensterwald: It’s a deal - Brown, top lawmakers raise base funding in finance formula

In a nod to suburban districts that argued they would be shortchanged, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders negotiated a new version of Brown’s plan for school finance reform that will increase the base funding level for all students and lower the extra dollars for some high-needs students.

California state revenues beat estimates by 12 percent

California took in $7.27 billion in revenues during the month of May, exceeding estimates by 12 percent, Controller John Chiang announced today.

Walters: Jerry Brown 2.0 gets his way on state budget

The school plan that emerged Monday does change Gov. Jerry Brown's plan somewhat, providing $3 billion more in "base grants" and less in the "supplemental grants" and "concentration grants" to targeted districts. However, it retains the core of what Brown wanted, avoids the fatal delay that some critics sought and thus provides the wherewithal to prove – or disprove – his theory that such a shift will, indeed, generate a marked improvement in achievement.

Jerry Brown, lawmakers come to terms on key budget issues

Gov. Jerry Brown and top lawmakers have reached agreement on some of the most contentious issues in the state budget, granting the governor significant victories on the redistribution of school money and expectations of revenue.
Monday, June 10, 2013

'Satellite' lunch program to grow

Thirty-one Fresno Unified elementary schools will soon replace their hot-meal programs with pre-packaged breakfasts and lunches, a plan the district says could save costs. Cafeteria workers argue the plan violates employee contracts.

San Juan superintendent seen as bully, reformer

Glynn Thompson's defenders say he is a change agent and that some administrators just didn't like that he was shaking things up, demanding that principals in the 47,000-student district get more involved in shaping classroom instruction. His critics, including former administrators, counter that Thompson is mean-spirited, a bully who unfairly retaliated against people who challenged his authority.

South County grand jury transcripts posted

U-T Watchdog presents here several volumes of grand jury transcripts from secret proceedings in November and December leading up to hundreds of corruption charges against 15 officials and contractors in South County school districts.

A.J. Duffy, still-feisty former teachers union chief, retires

His career in education ends after two years at Phoenix High, working with students who need a second chance. He said he could relate.