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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

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Education Headlines

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

School district politicking criticized

The San Diego Unified School District is bound by law to stop using its website to promote political positions, the county grand jury said in a report on Tuesday.

TEMECULA: School district proceeds with teacher layoffs

The Temecula Valley Unified School board authorized the layoff of more than 40 teachers at its meeting Tuesday, May 7. But board members and district administrators said they are hopeful many of the teachers will be brought back as positions open up through attrition.

Monterey Peninsula USD's interim superintendent to stay on next year

Interim Monterey Peninsula Unified School District interim superintendent Leslie Codianne will remain as the district's top administrator through the 2013-14 school year.

San Rafael voters support schools, approve Measures A and B

San Rafael voters showed strong support for local public schools Tuesday, renewing 24-year-old parcel taxes that will help fund San Rafael elementary and high school districts.

Pomona Unified administrator propose turning Yorba Elementary into charter school

Pomona Unified School District administrators presented a proposal to the district's Board of Education Tuesday night calling for converting Yorba Elementary School into a charter school with an emphasis on science and technology.

Fresno Unified administrator Steve Martinez takes Sacramento-area job

A Sacramento-area school district picked Steve Martinez, an assistant superintendent at Fresno Unified School District, as its next superintendent. The Twin Rivers Unified school board voted Monday to approve the hire, pending contract negotiations, at a special board meeting in Fresno, according to district officials contacted by The Sacramento Bee.

Mt. Diablo trustees finalize agreement with interim general counsel

The Mt. Diablo school board approved an agreement with its new interim general counsel Jayne Williams Monday night but made no announcement related to the search for a superintendent.

School district knew of alleged teacher abuse 3 years before arrest

Los Angeles school district officials knew of sexual misconduct allegations in 2009 against a teacher at a Wilmington campus who was arrested more than three years later, the district's top administrator confirmed Tuesday.

Many charter schools to begin offering transitional kindergarten in fall 2013

After a year's delay, many charter schools will begin offering transitional kindergarten classes in the fall.

Alisal teachers in 'shock' over contract plan

Representatives of the Alisal Teachers Association and district negotiators met Friday. The district presented a counterproposal to the initial plan laid out by the union earlier this year. ATA leaders said they were stunned by the counterproposal, which includes elimination of retirement benefits for ATA members.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Peer groups coming to two campuses

Once the programs take effect at the schools in the coming weeks, students rather than adults will be making disciplinary decisions regarding peers who have committed offenses such as repeatedly cursing in class, being defiant toward teachers or tagging school property.

Celebrities join S.F. schools' meditation

The event at Burton High School celebrated the sixth year of the district's Quiet Time program, which uses transcendental meditation techniques to help students focus and stay calm despite the stresses of school or home.

La Costa Canyon students fight for journalism course

The staff of La Costa Canyon High School's newspaper is questioning the motives behind the principal's decision to cut its journalism class as it tries to keep the course alive.
Monday, May 6, 2013

Growing pains hit Panama-Buena Vista district

The Panama-Buena Vista Union School District is redrawing its attendance boundary lines to accommodate growth in the southwest.

Suspensions drop sharply in Stockton USD

The use of suspensions as a form of discipline is under scrutiny in the state Assembly, and Stockton Unified changed some of its conduct codes in 2011, taking suspensions off the table in many nonviolent situations where a student shows "defiance" to staff.

Schools lose $$

Tuolumne and Calaveras county schools lost out this spring on more than $1 million in funding for after-school programs.