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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Report questions how California schools managed lands



Education Headlines

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Kern High School District ready to consider AEDs on its campuses

Three months after a 15-year-old Centennial High School sophomore collapsed at school and later died, the Kern High School District has signaled it plans to move forward with placing automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, on every campus.

Lodi Unified headed for trial

The Lodi Unified School District has opted to go to trial and declined to pay $4.2 million to the family of a special-needs student who was molested on a school bus.

Lucia Mar seeks Pismo funds

A longstanding dispute between Pismo Beach’s now-dissolved redevelopment agency and the Lucia Mar school district over millions of dollars that district officials say is owed to them could come to a head today.

Tam district administrators propose option to keep popular Team program

After thousands of supporters mobilized to defend a popular 11th-grade wilderness program from closure, administrators in the Tamalpais Union High School District have proposed an option for keeping the program alive.

Fensterwald: Bill would allow charging commercial properties a bigger parcel tax

A newly elected assemblymember has introduced a bill that could make parcel taxes more attractive to school districts by allowing them to impose different tax rates on residential and commercial properties.

Salaries for Coachella Valley school leaders jump

Superintendents’ pay among the three Coachella Valley school districts has risen over the past four years — with Desert Sands Unified seeing the largest increase — at the same time educators have been struggling to balance their budgets, according to data from a California Watch investigation.

Modesto schools board approves principal ousters, new boundaries

Despite passionate pleas and a student march to save a principal's job, the Modesto City Schools board voted in closed session to approve removal of six administrators at school year's end. In open session, the board approved high school attendance boundary changes to even out enrollment.

Report questions how California schools managed lands

Researchers are questioning how California's schools have managed the more than 5.5 million acres that the federal government granted to the state when it joined the union, according the San Francisco Chronicle.

Frey: Forbidden fruit roll-ups: USDA plans to restrict school snacks

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing regulations to keep the nation’s students from buying gummy bears, fruit roll-ups and cheese puffs from vending machines and at campus snack bars during the school day. But it would allow high school students to buy 12-ounce sports drinks and 20-ounce diet sodas.

Weintraub: Brown's school plan is smart, with accountability

Gov. Jerry Brown is mostly on the right track. The school finance system needs an overhaul, and the state should recognize that it costs more to teach a poor child or one with language limitations. Sacramento should get out of the way and let school districts, principals and teachers decide how to spend the money.

L.A. Archdiocese says it warned LAUSD not to hire pedophile priest as community liaison

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said Monday that it raised red flags with Los Angeles Unified about a pedophile priest before the district hired him as a community liaison in 2002.

Ex-priest remained in L.A. Unified despite red flags

Joseph Pina remained employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District for more than a decade despite warnings about his sexual history, according to interviews and records.
Monday, February 4, 2013

Fontana Unified School District board to mull rifles, counseling

The school counselor issue and the school police department's recent purchase of 14 military-style rifles were moved to the special meeting to allow more time for deliberations and comments, Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks said.

Charter schools leader filling in at Sac City post

Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond hired a local charter schools leader as his interim chief of staff at a higher pay rate than appears in the position's salary schedule.

Alvord superintendent to retire

Alvord Unified School District Superintendent Nick Ferguson will retire when his contract expires at the end of June, he said Friday, Feb. 1.