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Monday, July 1, 2013

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Education Headlines

Monday, July 1, 2013

S.F. City College's finances in disarray

Money management at City College of San Francisco is rife with problems - from payroll headaches to infighting to poorly trained staff - even after a year of transformation, concludes a new analysis of how the troubled school manages its $343 million budget.

The face of Stockton USD's finances

Wayne Martin, whose demeanor is the very embodiment of the cautious and serious budgeting wonk, is retiring from Stockton Unified this week, and those who know him may find his first after-career destination to be both ironic and counterintuitive.

Grand jury: Marin schools safe, but could be better prepared for emergencies

The grand jury, in a report released last week, found there is a lack of solid and consistent training when it comes to preparing school employees for emergencies. It said schools in the county's 18 districts struggle with evaluating their safety plans, keeping safety teams intact when there are staff turnovers and maintaining adequate emergency supplies.

Elk Grove school district tables proposed administrator raises

A planned reorganization of Elk Grove Unified School District's administration that would have raised salaries of top employees was postponed Wednesday night after most of the school board and audience spoke out against it.

Walters: Does latest school 'reform' benefit students -- or teachers?

By erasing California's current testing program, the measure appears to throw a monkey wrench into the accountability movement, which is rooted in test score results. Thereby, it serves the interests of the California Teachers Association, which detests "parent trigger" laws, charter schools and teacher evaluation proposals.

The Public Eye: Folsom Cordova special education violations trigger review

The Folsom Cordova Unified School District has violated special education rules 63 times in the past four years, according to state records. The violations ranged from placing a child in a restraint chair without informing the child's parents to failing to provide families with progress reports in a timely fashion.

Assistant Laguna schools chief resigns

A Laguna Beach Unified School District administrator submitted her resignation Friday, hours after a public hearing at the district office where parents accused the superintendent of cronyism.

Pomona schools, Fairplex partner to open a satellite campus in Pomona

Pomona Unified School District and the Learning Centers at Fairplex are working together to open a satellite campus of the School of Extended Educational Options on the Fairplex grounds in time for the start of the new school year in the August.

Capo passes budget without union deals

Still in labor negotiations with employees, Capistrano Unified School District trustees Wednesday passed a conservative but provisional 2013-14 budget; the lion's share – $306.8 million – allotted to payroll costs.

South County group looks to revise rules with board

A group of South County citizens is circulating petitions in hopes of getting measures on a 2014 ballot that would restrict school board members to two four-year terms and require that they be elected by voters from specific geographic areas within the school district, rather than from the entire district.

Alvord says goodbye to retiring superintendent

Alvord Unified School District is still looking for a new superintendent as Superintendent Nick Ferguson retires again. Ferguson came out of retirement in 2011 to accept a two-year contract, which officially expires Sunday, June 30.

Jurupa Valley schools wonder where students have gone

The Jurupa school board is set to hear a report on expected residential growth in Jurupa Valley – growth that officials hope will reverse an eight-year period in which the district lost more than 1,500 students.

Denair school district cuts nonunion wages

Denair Unified School District's nonunion workers will take a pay cut starting Monday, but top managers will lose far more than their administrative helpers will, trustees ruled.

San Leandro schools budget includes some disputed parcel tax funds

School board members are keeping their fingers crossed and the district's pocketbook open for parcel tax revenue in the coming school year despite a court battle still underway over the legality of the tax.

Two LAUSD officials demoted, principal leaves over handling of sex-abuse complaints

Two senior Los Angeles Unified administrators have been demoted and a principal has left the district following a two-month investigation into the handling of sex-abuse allegations against an elementary school teacher in Wilmington, Superintendent John Deasy said Saturday.

Judge to rule on whether yoga tied to religion

A judge is expected to issue a ruling on whether yoga is a religious practice that shouldn't be allowed to be taught in public schools.

Adams: Student discipline must move beyond ‘willful defiance,’ educators say

California schools urgently need strategies for discipline that help children learn from mistakes, make reparations for harm and go on to succeed, a group of educators said last week in support of a bill that would dramatically change school discipline practices by banning the use of “willful defiance” in meting out expulsion and restricting its use in mandating suspension.
Friday, June 28, 2013

CVUSD adopts 'placeholder' budget, $14.7 million deficit could decrease

The Coachella Valley Unified school board on Thursday adopted a budget with a $14.7 million deficit, which would nearly exhaust the district’s cash reserves.

Oxnard School District introduces new superintendent

Cesar Morales will be the new Oxnard School District superintendent effective July 1, succeeding Jeff Chancer, who is retiring after leading the elementary district for two years.

Linden, Gonzales make deal

Linden Unified and former Superintendent Michael Gonzales have reached a separation agreement that will pay the administrator up to $84,400 as he leaves the district.