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Allowing community colleges to offer K-12 credentials could be a solution to the teacher shortage in rural California counties, according to a report from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. The report highlights nine rural counties that lack teacher preparation programs within 60 miles of their county offices of education, leading to a higher percentage of underprepared teachers. The study suggests expanding early childhood education programs at community colleges to include K-12 licensing programs and developing residency programs in collaboration with county offices of education. The report also recommends comprehensive support for recruiting and retaining teachers in these counties, including financial support, mentorship programs, and professional development. Collaboration among community colleges, universities, and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is needed to implement these changes.

 

EdSource

President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is significantly enhancing K-12 school infrastructures across the U.S., with a focus on sustainability, health, and clean energy. The White House is hosting the inaugural Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds to discuss these improvements. This summit brings together a diverse group of over 90 stakeholders, including students, teachers, and leaders in education and environmental policy, to explore effective use of federal funding for creating greener, healthier educational environments. Concurrently, the Biden-Harris Administration has released the 2024 White House Toolkit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Schools. This toolkit is designed to help schools access and utilize federal resources for energy efficiency, resilience, and cleaner transportation. Notable programs include the Department of Energy’s Renew America’s Schools Prize, offering $500m for clean energy initiatives in schools, and the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, which has allocated $5bn to replace diesel buses with cleaner alternatives. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy is recognizing various school districts that have made significant strides in improving indoor air quality and energy efficiency. This recognition is part of the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program, which now includes 202 school districts, benefiting over 5m students.

 

Whitehouse.gov

Families of America's Finest Charter School in San Diego are expressing frustration and distrust towards the school's leadership over a lack of transparency regarding the potential closure of the high school due to under-enrollment. The sudden news of the closure blindsided staff and families, who were given no prior warning. The board will vote on the closure, and executive director Timothy Bagby has been criticized for hiding financial details and failing to work with others on budget solutions. Parents are concerned about finding a new school for their children, and some students and parents feel safe and supported at the current high school. Amid criticism, the board president has resigned. The charter school needs 100 more students to be financially sound, and only the high school is being considered for closure.

 

Sandie Gunion Tribute

The Chino Valley USD has removed sponsorship banners paid for by Chino Hills Mayor Cynthia Moran and school board candidate Bobby Omari. The banners were deemed "political activity" and violated Education Codes and school board policy. Moran and Omari each donated $500 to have their banners displayed on the chain-link fence near the baseball fields. The district spokesperson stated that district equipment cannot be used to support or oppose any candidate, and that rules and regulations can be established for political activity during working hours. Moran and Omari both received letters explaining the removal of their banners. Moran disagreed with the district's definition of political activity but respected the decision. Omari's banner, which did not mention his candidacy, was approved by the Baseball Boosters and placed on the fence before being removed. The district did not respond to inquiries about returning the banners to the parties.

 

Chino Champion

Members of the Saugus Teachers Association demonstrated at last week’s Saugus USD governing board meeting, demanding salary increases ahead of the union’s contract expiring in June. The teachers are seeking higher pay to address their financial needs. The association is pushing for a fair agreement that reflects the dedication and hard work of the teachers. The teachers are hopeful that the district will recognize their contributions and provide them with the salary increases they believe they deserve. As one teacher stated, "We are committed to providing the best education for our students, and we deserve to be compensated fairly for our efforts."

 

Signalscv.com

The Grossmont UHSD has selected Mike Fowler, the current assistant superintendent of educational services, as the new superintendent of the 16,000-student East County district. Fowler, who has been with the district for 28 years, will take over from Mary Beth Kastan, who retired after serving only a year and a half in the position. Fowler's appointment is expected to be finalized at the board meeting on May 9. He will officially assume the role of superintendent on July 1. Board president Rob Shield praised Fowler's instructional leadership and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the district forward.

 

Sandie Gunion Tribute

This month, Junipero Serra High School in Gardena had a pep rally to celebrate the achievements of its cutting-edge space squad. The team, consisting of seniors Isaiah Dunn, Christopher Holbert, Travis Leonard, Anderson Pecot, Henry Toler, junior Keith Davie, and freshman Jonathan Cruz, showcased their 3D-printing experiment sent into orbit on the International Space Station. The team aims to make Serra High School a top place to study science. The experiment involves comparing the physical and chemical properties of a 3D-printed object created in space with an identical object created on the ground. The goal is to enable the space station to 3D-print replacements for broken items, saving thousands of dollars per part. Serra High School is one of nine national high schools participating in the International Space Station program. The school has received grants to participate in the program and has collaborated with engineers from USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

 

Los Angeles Times

People driving near local schools and certain business areas in Petaluma will have to adhere to new speed limits. The City Council has passed an ordinance to limit speeds to 15 mph in school zones and 20 mph in business districts. The new speed limits will be effective once updated signs are in place. The reduction to 15 mph will impact streets around schools that have no more than two traffic lanes and a maximum posted speed of 30 mph. Streets in the buffer zones around 21 schools, including public and private K-12 schools and the Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma campus, will be affected. In business districts, streets with a maximum of four traffic lanes will face reductions. The ordinance is a response to California Assembly Bill 43, which allows jurisdictions to set lower speed limits.

 

Press Democrat

Local schools in San Joaquin County dominated the 12th Annual Math Tournament for grades 4 through 6. Team 3 from Cordes Elementary School in Mountain House emerged as the top team, followed by Hansen Elementary Team 10 and Bethany Elementary Team 6. The highest-scoring individuals were recognized, with six out of eight coming from Lammersville Unified. The tournament aims to promote excellence in math and develop problem-solving skills in a competitive environment. The tournament for seventh- and eighth-grade students will be held on May 18.

 

TTown Media

The Redlands USD has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to address concerns regarding its handling of sexual misconduct reports. The district allegedly failed to respond properly to reports of sexual misconduct, including by employees. The Office for Civil Rights found that the district did not take required action to address the effects of harassing conduct on targeted students and prevent recurrence of the harassment. Redlands Unified has agreed to revise its Title IX policies and procedures and ensure compliance through its Title IX coordinator.

 

Mercury News

School districts and health systems in the Valley are partnering to ensure K-12 preventive care. Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) has joined forces with Dignity Health and Central California Alliance for Health to promote "Well-Child Checkups" and raise awareness about required immunizations. The partnership aims to prevent delays in student enrollment due to incomplete vaccinations. Other districts in the Valley have also formed partnerships to address mental and physical health-related issues. Tracy Unified School District partnered with Community Medical Centers to open a Student Wellness Center, while Golden Valley Health Centers opened a school-based facility in Modesto. 

 

Westsideconnect.com

Oak Hills High School Principal Michael Capps and Hesperia USD Police Chief Steve Hinojos addressed the recent incident where a student with a loaded firearm was apprehended on campus. The incident occurred when a student noticed a gun in another student's waistband and reported it to a teacher, who then informed the school police. The suspect was identified and a loaded handgun was recovered. The school went into a Code Red Lockdown as a precaution, but there were no shots fired and no injuries. The suspect was arrested and booked on multiple charges. The school officials emphasized that there is no evidence linking this incident to the previous graffiti vandalism threats.

 

Daily Press