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Thursday, October 10, 2013

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Education Headlines

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Somis school board decides to build new school instead of renovating

Voting unanimously, the Somis Union School District board agreed to move forward with plans to buy property to build a school. The decision means leaving the 90-year-old Somis School on North Street, which sits on four pipelines.

Simi Valley school board gives superintendent new, longer contract

After heated debate, the Simi Valley school board Tuesday night approved a new superintendent's contract that gives her an additional year on the job. Kathryn Scroggin, superintendent of the Simi Valley Unified School District, has been at the center of a controversy that helped spark a recall effort against two board members.

Fresno Unified hires Florida woman as communications chief

The Fresno Unified School Board voted 6-1 Wednesday to hire a public schools spokeswoman from Palm Beach, Florida, to fill the district's top communications slot recently vacated by Jamilah Fraser.

Poor travel routes, emphasis on cars mean fewer students walk to school

Only a few generations ago, walking to school or a bus stop was a regular part of daily life for millions of students in California. These days, more than half of students in California and close to 60 percent in the Sacramento region are shuttled to and from campuses in private vehicles, according to a 2013 report, “Travel to School in California.”

San Diego schools seek diverse workforce, tolerance

Race has been pushed to the forefront of the agenda in San Diego schools, as the district takes measures to diversify its workforce and promote tolerance in the classroom.

L.A. teacher's angry classroom rant goes public amid interschool tension

An audio clip of a high school English teacher repeatedly dropping the F-bomb during a classroom outburst has gone viral amid tensions between two schools sharing the same Los Angeles campus.

Riverside school board names interim superintendent

Deputy Superintendent Mike Fine will be Riverside Unified School District’s interim superintendent beginning Nov. 4.

Morgan Hill turns down charter petition; Santa Clara County Board of Education approves another charter on appeal

After weighing passionate arguments on both sides of the issue, the Morgan Hill Unified School District board on Tuesday denied a petition by Navigator Schools to open an elementary charter school in August.

LAUSD official fighting to keep sexual-harassment suit alive

Attorneys for a Los Angeles Unified facilities executive filed a motion Wednesday to keep alive his lawsuit claiming the district defamed him and invaded his privacy while trying to settle sexual-harassment allegations involving retired Superintendent Ramon Cortines.

Investigator: How Judith Oakes stole $1.8M in lunch money from Rialto Unified

Three out of four days at work, Judith Oakes stole money from the Rialto Unified School District, according to an independent audit commissioned by the district.

School board president Vladovic denies harassment claims

Los Angeles school board President Richard Vladovic apologized Wednesday for abrasive behavior over his career, but again denied accusations released this week of sexual harassment, verbal harassment and retaliation against two unidentified employees.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013

State funding questions continue to worry Fillmore schools' chief

The local control funding formula is expected to funnel more money to poor and English-learning students, which could benefit the Fillmore Unified School District because of its demographics. However, interim Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino said during his bi-weekly report that the district is in a state of uncertainty as it remains unclear how much funding Fillmore schools will receive under the new formula.

Fensterwald: Amid heavy lobbying, Brown must decide teacher dismissal bill

Gov. Jerry Brown has saved a much-disputed bill on teacher dismissals for the last batch of bills facing him before Sunday’s deadline for deciding legislation.

Settlement in lawsuit that torpedoed Monterey Peninsula USD candidate

Lake Elsinore Unified School District officials settled the sexual harassment lawsuit that became a flashpoint when a district administrator was about to get the top job at Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.

Riverside school board doesn’t fund adult program

Riverside Unified School District won’t fund or reopen the Life School special education class for adults, despite requests to reconsider the decision.