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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

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Fensterwald: Loss of supermajority in Senate could doom vote on 55 percent parcel tax




Education Headlines

Tuesday, March 4, 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.


Overflow crowd at KHSD meeting protests pay, superintendent choice

Between activists critical of a superintendent search process and a major show of force by unions vying for raises, the Kern High School District board room was packed beyond capacity Monday night with protesters, many waving signs and wearing their school colors.

Kern High School District names Schaefer new superintendent

The Kern High School District chose a popular, veteran administrator as its 21st superintendent Monday, a decision lauded by many but decried by others who had wanted a wider search.

Lawsuit alleges Oxnard Union school district kept quiet on administrator's sexual misconduct

The Oxnard Union High School District is the target of a lawsuit filed by the attorney of two girls who accused a Camarillo High School administrator of inappropriate touching.

Officials get first look at charter proposal

San Joaquin County school superintendents were briefed on the details of a proposed countywide charter school on Monday morning, a meeting that raised questions by some who fear the petitioners value circumventing the oversight of local school districts over detailed student benefits.

Watsonville school launches into the Cloud with Chromebooks

A Pajaro Valley school has distributed 700 Google Chromebooks to its students, the first public school in Santa Cruz County to provide one-to-one, 24-7 access to computers.

School lifts ban on Rainbow Loom bracelets

Fearing she might have snuffed out opportunities for students to express themselves, Ladera Ranch Elementary School Principal Amy Bryant on Monday reversed a ban on popular rubber band bracelets.

School reorganizes traditional classroom

The kindergarten and second grade teachers at Las Palmas Elementary School are learning this year that bigger is not always better. In fact, small can be a good thing.

June Jordan School for Equity gets a break on testing

This year, the Excelsior neighborhood high school will get a welcome reprieve from the predictable cycle of testing. It's a practice year for California schools as the state transitions to a new computerized testing system based on the new Common Core curriculum adopted by most states.

School crossing guard program takes step toward safer streets

San Francisco officials are hoping to make city streets safer with a variety of new policies, including a school crossing guard program at Commodore Sloat Elementary School in the Balboa Terrace neighborhoo

Santa Clara County Office of Education paid $200,000 for missing tax deadlines

The Santa Clara County Office of Education was assessed nearly $200,000 in penalties for failing to pay payroll taxes on time for hundreds of school employees.

Hercules High transgender student reports sexual assault in bathroom

On a campus already beset by claims of bullying and sexual harassment, a Hercules High School transgender student told police he was assaulted by three boys Monday while exercising his right under a controversial new law to use a bathroom that matched his gender identity.

L.A. school board to consider expansion of computer science offerings

An initiative to address the shortage of computer science offerings in the L.A. Unified School District will go before the school board Tuesday. Only one-in-three of the district's high schools are offering a basic course this year, and far fewer are offering the Advanced Placement Computer Science course.

In survey, union leader vows to file complaints over 'teacher jails'

Los Angeles teachers union president Warren Fletcher lashed out at the school district Monday for its handling of teachers accused of misconduct, vowing to file federal and state age-discrimination complaints.

Fensterwald: Loss of supermajority in Senate could doom vote on 55 percent parcel tax

The exit of two Democratic state senators – one as a result of a criminal conviction, the other by indictment – leaves supporters of a proposal to make it easier to pass a school parcel tax back where they’ve been for a decade, needing one Republican vote to put the issue before voters.
Monday, March 3, 2014

Community helps shape profile of ideal schools superintendent

When it comes to the next superintendent for Tracy schools, the community is looking for an experienced leader with the highest integrity, a "people person" who is approachable and accessible, and a visionary who maintains a focus on student achievement. And he or she should have a sense of humor.

Greenfield Union School District names new superintendent

At its regular board meeting on Feb. 20, the meeting Greenfield Union School District Board voted unanimously to employ Harry Ervin as its new superintendent.

Authorities still looking at apparent crop dusting of Stratford school bus

The Kings County Department of Agriculture and California Highway Patrol are continuing their investigation into a Thursday incident where a crop duster may have sprayed a school bus with herbicide.

Retired Ceres educator helps state certify tomorrow’s teachers, administrators

Mary Jones charted the way for student instruction in the Ceres Unified School District, helping lead the district to national attention for its high rates of Latino graduations before retiring as deputy superintendent last year. Now, she is helping raise the bar for training school leaders as a member of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Fremont schools: $157 million school bond spent properly, oversight panel says

The panel overseeing a $157 million bond measure says the school district spent the money properly to upgrade its aging 42 campuses, completing the promised work on time and under budget.

Controversial lease-leaseback contracts have become popular in Mt. Diablo district

The Mt. Diablo school district routinely avoids open bidding and contracts directly with favored companies, a practice critics says is unfair and possibly illegal.

Fight over school's American flag T-shirt ban likely to continue

An attorney is vowing to appeal a federal court ruling that a Northern California high school that asked students to remove American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo acted reasonably to avoid igniting ethnic tensions.