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Thursday, June 14, 2012

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Education Headlines

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Sonora High to try for bond?

Sonora Union High School District will consider placing a bond issue on the ballot this November to raise funds for renovating school facilities. The general obligation bond issue would place a $25 to $30 tax on every $100,000 of assessed value on homes within Sonora Union High School District boundaries.

Parents say Coast Union just too far from Cayucos

It makes more sense for high school students living in Cayucos to go four miles south to school than 15 miles north, say petitioners who want Cayucos students transferred from Coast Unified School District to San Luis Coastal Unified School District.

Celerity charter school gets approval in Pasadena

A new charter school targeting at-risk children in Northwest Pasadena was approved by the Pasadena Unified School District on Tuesday night, but there are still questions about the school's location and whether it will "skim" students from the public system.

West Covina Unified discusses budget concerns

ncreased class sizes and furlough days for staff could be in the future for the West Covina Unified School District. While the district's budget for the coming 2012-13 fiscal year looks good so far, assuming the governor's proposed November ballot tax initiative passes, the board is looking at ways to close a projected $2.6 million budget gap for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

School trustees want to differentiate new high school from Carlsbad HS

The group envisions a school focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics with computers for each student, and specialized programs centered on engineering biomedical sciences and robotics.

Galt high school district employees agree to pay cuts, early retirement offers

Classified employees who work for the Galt Joint Union High School District have agreed to a work-year reduction based on a sliding scale.

Baron: Leg erases Gov’s ed reforms

The Legislature’s budget package is missing many of Gov. Brown’s controversial education initiatives. A joint Senate and Assembly plan outlined yesterday protects transitional kindergarten, the science mandate, and the AVID program, rejects the weighted student funding formula, and offers districts a choice in how they’re paid for state mandates.

Coachella Valley school board OKs bonds to pay for projects

The Coachella Valley Unified School District's planned sale of $55 million in general obligation bonds to fund new projects was approved this week by Riverside County supervisors, but it was uncertain whether the vote was valid.

Twin Rivers official protests her paid leave

Twin Rivers Unified School District officials announced Tuesday they will speed up the retirement of the superintendent at the same school board meeting where the district's deputy superintendent demanded to know why she is on paid leave.

Twin Rivers police whistle-blower to return to job, with back pay

One of the original whistle-blowers behind alleged wrongdoing inside the school police force at the Twin Rivers Unified School District has been awarded his job back with more than $50,000 in back pay.

Report card time for county superintendent

County superintendent of schools Randy Ward on Wednesday received high marks in his annual evaluation, a contract extension through 2015 and a $25,000 retirement contribution from the county Board of Education, but he was not given a salary bump.

School district approves employment contracts

Corona-Norco school district leaders have approved a contract with the new superintendent. Board members voted Tuesday, June 12, to a contract with former Deputy Superintendent Michael Lin as the new top official for the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

District seeks study of college prep

Only a small fraction of Riverside Unified School District students are ready for college, and educators want to know why. The district’s Instructional Services Subcommittee called Wednesday, June 13, for the full school board to discuss a proposal to let Completion Counts pay for a study students’ college preparation and get recommendations on how to improve.

State to release school rankings

he 2011 School Rankings and Base Academic Performance Index is set to be released after 10 a.m. Thursday, June 14. The latest results will be posted at on the California Department of Education website, www.cde.ca.gov. Local results will be available at PE.com.

New Haven district in Union City tries to ease parcel tax loss

The New Haven Unified School District in Union City has taken steps to ease the sting from last week's parcel tax defeat and cuts forced by the state budget crisis.

West Contra Costa trustees deny charter high school's renewal bid

The West Contra Costa school board voted unanimously Wednesday to deny renewing a local school's charter. West County Community High School, a 123-student charter school based in the Richmond Annex neighborhood since 2007, has the right to appeal the decision, which will leave it without a charter when its current five-year term expires June 30.

Critics decry latest shrinkage of L.A. Unified's school year

A tentative agreement to shorten the school year for Los Angeles students — for the fourth consecutive year — is almost certain to weaken academic gains, and was driven, critics said, by expediency more than the best interests of students.

Move toward 'inclusion' sparks class size debate

An ambitious plan to move San Francisco special education students into mainstream classrooms is getting mixed reviews from teachers and sparking a debate over class size as the school district and teachers union try to reach an agreement on a new labor contract.

Senate budget panel OKs $23 million for military base schools

A key Senate panel on Tuesday made clear its intent to include as part of next year’s budget $23 million to leverage three times that amount in federal funds for upgrading rundown public schools on several California military bases.

State audit finds evidence of fraud, conflicts of interest by Oakland charter school operator

The head of an Oakland charter school organization that has made national headlines for its low-income students' outstanding test scores is now faced with mounting evidence that he used his position to enrich himself and his family.

Oakland schools' officials may face criminal probe

The founder and governing board of three controversial Oakland charter schools could face a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud, misappropriation of funds and other illegal activities outlined in an official audit report released Wednesday.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Norris superintendent to retire

Wallace "Wally" McCormick, 12-year superintendent of Norris School District -- one of the highest achieving districts in Kern County -- will retire at the end of July.

Thieves steal Linden High cherry crop

To the high school students, the 50 or more cherry trees and their bounty represent effort, diligence and hands-on experience. To thieves, it was an easy mark.

Teacher, janitor have relatives in power

The principal of San Ysidro Middle School has a relative on staff — his brother-in-law is a language arts and history teacher. The head of the San Ysidro School District’s maintenance department has a relative on staff — a grandson who’s a janitor. (He’s also the nephew of a school board member.)