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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

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Fensterwald: At an East San Jose high school, students react to new Common Core test



Education Headlines

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

Centinela Valley school board to vote on interim superintendent to fill in for Jose Fernandez

The Centinela Valley school board on Tuesday evening is scheduled to begin the process of hiring an investigative agency to review the controversial contract of Superintendent Jose Fernandez, who was placed on paid leave last week amid a firestorm of criticism for his hefty compensation last year.

Albany names new school chief

The Albany school board named a new superintendent Friday to replace Marla Stephenson who is retiring June 30. Valerie Williams, who currently works as assistant superintendent of human resources at Dublin Unified School District, will take over the top job in Albany July 1. Albany has 3,800 students.

Dublin High reopens gymnasium after mold scare

The old gymnasium at Dublin High School has reopened after environmental consultants declared the building safe for occupancy after tests for mold were performed.

L.A. teachers union chief ends reelection campaign

Los Angeles teachers union President Warren Fletcher said he would no longer actively campaign for reelection, clearing the path for challenger Alex Caputo-Pearl to become the next leader of United Teachers Los Angeles.

Fensterwald: At an East San Jose high school, students react to new Common Core test

The students in John Daniels’ U.S. history class at in East San Jose are a smidgen of the tens of thousands of juniors who are taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium field test this spring. And their views of the new test on the Common Core State Standards are but a snapshot of many that the creators of the test and the state Department of Education will receive over the next two months.
Monday, April 14, 2014

Stockton USD teachers join forces with online Gooru community

Stockton Unified leaders have announced the district's participation in a fledgling website that could help teachers find and share lesson plans, instructional videos and other information, changing the way educators find their classroom materials and ultimately the way they teach.

Solar panels to save Long Beach Unified $2 million over next 25 years

Thanks to the newly installed solar panels at Cabrillo High, Long Beach Unified School District expects to slash its utility bills by $2 million over the next 25 years.

Fresno Unified, teachers take contract dispute into fact-finding phase

 Contract talks between the Fresno Teachers Association and the Fresno Unified School District stalled Friday as state-appointed mediators determined that no settlement in the months-long deadlock was possible.

Santa Ana school police seek witnesses in use-of-force investigation involving teen

Santa Ana Unified School District Police Chief Hector Rodriguez asked for witnesses to come forward as the department investigates video footage apparently showing a school police officer restraining a sobbing 14-year-old boy with a headlock.

Sweetwater's next challenge

The Sweetwater Union High School District may have cleared a hurdle by reaching a three-year tentative contact agreement Thursday with the teachers union, but it’s not out of the woods yet.

SD school workers want raises, no healthcare increases

Cafeteria workers, landscapers, clerks and other nonteaching employees of the San Diego Unified School District are asking for higher wages and fighting to prevent changes to health benefits during labor negotiations. The roughly 6,000 employees have made their case public, distributing fliers and holding rallies to promote their cause.

Report: State agency ill-equipped to spot school district food service fraud

Recent mismanagement issues with the nutrition services departments of two San Bernardino County school districts, Colton Joint Unified and Rialto Unified, are among a series of similar problems in California made worse by “overmatched” state investigators facing what could be a flood of such cases, according to a report prepared last year for the state Senate.

McKinleyville district, teachers each turn in 'final offers'

With offers to end a nearly year-long labor dispute now under review by a mediator, officials from the McKinleyville Union School District and the McKinleyville Teachers Association both sounded notes of optimism Friday over the chance of striking a deal soon.

Schools aim to get truants back into class

Inland educators are working to reverse what a top state official has called a school “crisis” – one of every five elementary students in California were truant.

How Common Core education standards are changing the way LAUSD schools test children

This spring, in California and states across the nation, the usual barrage of standardized tests have been put on hold. California districts are getting used to track the quality of schools and districts over time. Instead, educators are preparing for the next big thing: The new Smarter Balanced English-language arts and mathematics tests that school districts have already begun using in classrooms.

Swett board exploring bond to replace Carquinez Middle School in Crockett

 The John Swett School District took the first step in replacing its aging middle school April 9, when the board commissioned a poll that will test the community's receptiveness to placing a $50 million bond measure on the November ballot.

Teen substance abuse is the new 'normal,' school counselor says

Gone are the days when "stoners" could be picked out of a crowd on high school campuses, a counselor at College Park High warned parents this week. These days, Jason Lechner told the parents and students Thursday night, even star athletes and top-achieving students drink, smoke marijuana, abuse prescription painkillers or have tried heroin.

L.A. teachers union president ready to step aside for challenger

Los Angeles teachers' union president Warren Fletcher said he will no longer actively campaign for reelection, clearing the path for challenger Alex Caputo-Pearl to become the next leader of United Teachers Los Angeles.

'Premium' on school bond issues violates law

Despite warnings that the practice is illegal, schools across California continue to squeeze extra cash out of bond deals to pay banks and lawyers – leaving taxpayers with an unexpected bill.<