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Thursday, November 21, 2019

OCDE NEWSROOM

Santa Ana Unified names new superintendent
The Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education has appointed Jerry Almendarez as the 47,000-student district’s new superintendent. During the three-month selection and interview process, the board took into consideration input gathered from parents, staff, students and community members via an online survey, community listening sessions and one-on-one discussions. Almendarez has served as superintendent since 2010 at the Colton Joint Unified School District, an economically and ethnically diverse district of 23,000 students.
https://newsroom.ocde.us/santa-ana-unified-names-new-superintendent/

SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE

State sides with county officials in Sweetwater schools budget dispute
The California Department of Education has sided with county officials in their latest budget dispute with the Sweetwater Union High School District.  
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2019-11-20/state-sides-with-county-officials-in-sweetwater-schools-budget-dispute

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

What’s Driving the Teacher Experience Gap in San Diego
Poorer schools in San Diego tend to have less experienced teachers, a trend driven in part by labor laws that allow more senior teachers to bid out of those schools. Some places have experimented with pay increases at high-poverty schools to reverse the trend, and experts say other changes could move the needle as well.
https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/education/whats-driving-the-teacher-experience-gap-in-san-diego/

USA TODAY

How to keep schools safe? We're focusing our time, energy and money on 'all the wrong things,' experts say
Last week’s deadly shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, prompted calls for the increased installation of metal detectors at schools. Safety experts say that’s precisely the wrong response. There’s a cheaper, more effective approach, but it’s a tough sell.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/21/school-shootings-metal-detectors-solution-experts/4255318002/

FRESNO BEE

Fresno Unified board votes to add $325 million bond measure to primary ballot
The Fresno Unified School District board voted unanimously Wednesday night to place a $325 million bond measure on the March 2020 ballot. The board chose the more conservative dollar amount after discussing two other amounts — $390 million and $500 million.
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/eye-on-education/article237606474.html#storylink=mainstage

EDSOURCE

‘Moderate’ funding increase predicted for California schools, community colleges in 2020-21
K-12 schools and community colleges can anticipate a “moderate” 4.2 percent increase in funding in the 2020-21 state budget, instead of a long-anticipated recession, the Legislative Analyst’s Office predicted Wednesday in its annual fiscal forecast. But school and college districts won’t be feeling flush, the LAO said; mandated retirement contributions and a small cost-of-living increase will eat up most of the additional $3.4 billion they can expect in revenue from Proposition 98.
https://edsource.org/2019/moderate-funding-increase-predicted-for-california-schools-community-colleges-in-2020-21/620331

CSU leaders appear ready to move forward with requiring extra year of high school math despite concerns
California State University leaders signaled Wednesday they will move forward with a controversial plan to require a fourth year of high school math for freshman admissions — despite opposition from civil rights organizations, education groups and state leaders.
https://edsource.org/2019/csu-leaders-appear-ready-to-move-forward-with-requiring-extra-year-of-high-school-math-despite-concerns/620322

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

California agency predicts $7 billion state budget surplus
California is expected to have a $7 billion budget surplus next year, but lawmakers were urged Wednesday not to spend all of it because a sizable chunk depends on an upcoming decision by the Trump administration as it feuds with state Democratic leaders. A report from the bipartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office says California’s savings account could grow to more than $18 billion by the end of 2021. That’s enough to make it through a typical recession, although the state would likely have to slash public education spending in the event of a downturn, the report said.
https://apnews.com/49a32678fe454ab083b2929c449a07c2


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