Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Conejo charter school wins Superior Court ruling
A Superior Court judge on Tuesday ruled in favor of a charter school that fought to keep its program at its original campus in Thousand Oaks.Lodi Unified gets $7.7M stimulus
The Lodi Unified School District will receive $7.7 million in federal stimulus money, which will be used to relieve part of the district's $16 million budget shortfall, business chief Doug Barge said Monday.The only thing worse than if measures pass? If they fail, educators say
Jim Thomas of the San Joaquin County Office of Education has a simple, downbeat answer when asked to predict the state of school finance even if five key ballot propositions manage to defy public-opinion polls and gain voter approval in the state's special election Tuesday. "It's going to be ugly," said Thomas, the county office's deputy superintendent of business services. And if the measures fail? "It's going to be double ugly," Thomas said.Eventful night for trustees
One major item remained undecided as Stockton Unified trustees met late into the night Tuesday. The item was a challenge to the leadership of board President Dan Castillo, which was proposed by Trustee Beverly Fitch McCarthy. But even as that item remained undecided, it had been an eventful night.A stunner for Stockton USD: School district slashes its dropout rate
Reveling in a statistically stunning turnaround, Stockton Unified officials on Tuesday announced that the district's high school dropout rate is at 17.7 percent - 36.5 percent lower than it was when the state last released data 10 months ago.Monterey County's high school dropout rate declines
The dropout rate in the Gonzales Unified School District hit 22.4 percent last year, much higher than rates seen in other Monterey County public high school districts, according to statistics released Tuesday.School districts learn how much stimulus money they'll receive
Local school administrators were cautiously optimistic Tuesday after learning how much state and federal stimulus money has been set aside for their school districts. According to the California Department of Education, Lake Elsinore Unified School District will receive $5.78 million, Menifee Union $2.14 million, Murrieta Valley Unified $5.63 million, Perris Union High School District $2.94 million and Temecula Valley Unified $7.53 million.Marin educators fear the worst if ballot measures don't pass
Like most California educators, Ruthanne Bexton isn't sure exactly what will happen to her school if the six budget measures on Tuesday's state ballot fail to pass. But the principal of Novato's Hamilton Elementary School is preparing for the worst.Dropout rates fall slightly; Long Beach USD improves slightly
The Long Beach Unified School District last year saw an estimated 16 percent student dropout rate, according to state data released Tuesday.Claremont USD to cut 20 teaching positions
The Claremont Unified School District has determined it will lay off more than 20 full-time teaching positions beginning in July.Eight Hamilton High School teachers to have their hours cut
There won't be any teacher layoffs next year at Hamilton High School, but eight teachers will get notice their service hours will be reduced.S.F. school board votes to restore JROTC program
A three-year battle over whether Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps belongs in San Francisco schools ended Tuesday night with a 4-3 vote by the school board to restore the military leadership program weeks before its scheduled expiration.Panama-Buena Vista school district OKs dozens of layoffs
Dozens of Panama-Buena Vista teachers and staff packed the district's Tuesday meeting to ask questions before the board approved layoff notices for 77 classroom teachers, five music teachers, and 11 others.Schools snip to make budget
Modesto City Schools trustees dealt with more budget issues, including more job cuts, at the end of a long meeting Monday night.Superintendent stepping down
Larry E. Reider told the Kern County Board of Education Tuesday that he will step down as Superintendent of Schools effective June 30.Dropout rates mixed in Valley
More California high school students are graduating and dropout rates have decreased -- but minorities continue to leave school at a higher rate than white students, according to the latest figures released by the state.KIPP Academy to close at end of school year
Fresno's KIPP Academy will close at the end of this school year after leaders, citing mounting financial, staffing and charter problems, voted unanimously to cease operations at an emergency meeting Tuesday night.Funding for adult education cut despite growing demand
A growing number of unemployed Californians are seeking new skills at adult education schools, just as state legislators have made dramatic cuts to the programs.Judge prohibits L.A. teachers strike
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Tuesday prohibited the city's teachers union from staging a one-day strike this week to protest layoffs and other budget-cutting proposals.School board members acknowledge swifter firings are needed
A majority of Los Angeles school board members said Tuesday that they believe state laws governing teacher discipline need to be revised to allow more swift and effective removal of substandard teachers and other employees, although they acknowledged that changes appear unlikely this year.Column: Pre-election reality check
It appears that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, out of desperation, is getting ready this week to attempt the rarest move in any politician’s playbook: When all else fails, tell the people the truth.Column: California's budget propositions - a no-win vote
The late John Kenneth Galbraith might have had next week's statewide special election in mind when he described politics as "choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable." According to the most reliable California polls, the state's voters already have chosen the former.Column: California's new dropout rate renews old debate
Jack O'Connell, the state superintendent of schools, released the new high school dropout rate Tuesday, declaring it to be "a very slight improvement" over the previous year. The new number, however, merely provides new grist for the never-ending debate over how well – or how poorly – our schools are performing their basic function of getting kids through 12 years of education with a meaningful diploma in their hands.
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