Monthly Archives: April 2012

The Educated Guess: Brown wants financing reform

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

Gov. Jerry Brown hasn’t taken the Education Coalition’s “no” as a final answer on a weighted student funding plan.

In the last two weeks, Brown administration officials have been telling districts and civil rights groups that he remains determined to reform how schools are financed. However, Brown also is open to changing the formula to respond to some of the objections to his initial proposal, Sue Burr, executive director of the State Board of Education and the governor’s key education adviser, said this week.

via Brown wants financing reform – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

Suisun City Patch: Oakbrook Elementary PTA Letter To FSUSD

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By David Ryan

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District is considering the closure of an elementary school and a middle school if enough union concessions aren’t made. The district has said there is no list, but last week announced that it would be presenting the Board of Trustees with closure recommendations on Thursday night if unions don’t make necessary concessions.

via Oakbrook Elementary PTA Letter To School District.

EdSource Extra!: Out-of-state expansion of California charter school companies could affect in-state growth

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By Louis Freedberg ~ EdSource Extra

The decision by two of California’s best known charter management organizations to try to open schools in Memphis and Nashville raises this question: Will the expansion of California-based charter schools outside the state come at the expense of their growth inside the state?

via Out-of-state expansion of California charter school companies could affect in-state growth.

Daily Republic: FSUSD unions to meet with school district negotiation team

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by David DeBolt

FAIRFIELD — The school district’s two largest unions plan to meet Wednesday with the district’s contract negotiation team, a day before the Fairfield-Suisun School Board is scheduled to vote on closing two yet-to-be-named schools.

Officials plan to meet with the California School Employees Association in the morning and the Fairfield-Suisun Unified Teachers Association in the afternoon behind closed doors.

via Unions to meet with school district negotiation team.

Daily Republic: Teacher: Why close 2 Fairfield-Suisun schools, open another?

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by David DeBolt

FAIRFIELD — A teacher has written the school board to question why the Fairfield-Suisun School District is considering closing two schools and opening another this fall.

“I’m certain that the folks who will be losing their elementary and/or middle schools will find this unfairness to be a disappointing choice for the current school board to make,” wrote Crescent Elementary School teacher Judy Engell.

via Teacher: Why close 2 Fairfield-Suisun schools, open another?.

The Educated Guess: Your name on the side of a school bus

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By Kathryn Baron

Now that California school buses will be running for at least another year, why not let districts use them to make a little cash on the side – the side of the buses, that is. State Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff has introduced a bill to do just that. SB 1295 would allow school districts to sell advertising space on the outside of school buses and keep the revenues.

via Your name here – by Kathryn Baron.

Vallejo Times-Herald: Vallejo youth comes together for annual community event

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By Irma Widjojo

About 100 student volunteers came together Saturday to celebrate Vallejo’s young people.

The third Vallejo Together Youth Expo was held at the Solano Community College, Vallejo campus. It is an annual free event organized by the nonprofit organization.

via Vallejo youth comes together for annual community event.

Education Week: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Common Core

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Nearly every state has signed on to use the Common Core State Standards as a framework for teaching English/language arts and mathematics to students. Translating them for the classroom, however, requires schools, teachers, and students to change the way they approach teaching and learning. This report examines the progress some states have made in implementing the standards, what preparations need to be undertaken, and the challenges that policymakers and educators face in achieving the goals of the standards.

via Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Common Core.

Benicia Patch: Grade the Public Official: Benicia High Principal Gary Jensen

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by JB Davis

Benicia High School Principal Gary Jensen has fans and detractors.  Among his fans are the many parents and teachers who have created web sites and gone to school board meetings to support him.  Those supporting Jensen are tired of the seeming revolving door to the principal’s office at Benicia high where there have been seven principals in the past 11 years and they like his decisiveness.

via Grade the Public Official: Benicia High Principal Gary Jensen.

The Educated Guess: Easing the burden of deferrals

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By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

A bill working its way through the state Senate would require the state to share the financial burden it causes the next time it delays money due K-12 districts. Only a portion of the short-term interest charges that many districts face when forced to take out short-term loans would be reimbursed. But SB 1491 at least would recognize that billions of dollars in late payments can create an expensive cash crisis for districts, many of them in low-income areas.

via Easing the burden of deferrals – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

The Reporter: Solano County Leaders Discuss Money for Schools

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By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com

School districts in Solano County are hurting for cash and are looking to the county treasury for temporary relief.

On Tuesday, the Solano County Board of Supervisors will consider doling out available county funds to local school districts to cover any cash deficits they may have to meet operational costs.

via Solano County Leaders Discuss Money for Schools.

Sacramento Bee Editorial: State leaders must meld on K-12 standards

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This year may finally be the time to get a major overhaul in education – simpler, fairer, more flexible and accountable.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/23/4433991/state-leaders-must-meld-on-k-12.html#mi_rss=Editorials#storylink=cpy

via Editorial: State leaders must meld on K-12 standards.