OCDE Education in the News

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Newport-Mesa district getting back to the books with the opening of a new school year

Lazy summer days are over for Newport-Mesa Unified School District students who reported back to class Tuesday, Sept. 3, for the busy school year ahead. Backpacks filled, ready to learn, the students of Pomona Elementary joined the district’s more than 22,000 students on more than 30 campuses who arrived early to meet their new teachers and get situated before the learning commenced. There were hugs hello, including for the school’s Panther mascot who was greeting the youngsters as they arrived.

https://www.ocregister.com/2019/09/03/newport-mesa-district-getting-back-to-the-books-with-the-opening-of-a-new-school-year/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

California Assembly advances crackdown on vaccine exemptions, but governor wants to change the bill

The California Assembly passed contentious vaccine legislation on Tuesday, a vote immediately met with an announcement from the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom that changes to the legislation would be required before it reaches his desk. Newsom’s office said in a message posted on Twitter that the governor wants a few “technical — but important” revisions to state Senate Bill 276, which would tighten the state’s school immunization law. However, a brief description of the requested changes — which would be added to a separate bill — provided by the governor’s office indicates they would be fairly significant.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-03/california-assembly-passes-vaccine-exemptions-crackdown-bill-sb276

DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES

Teacher Spotlight: Alliance’s Molly Carmody on how a companion dog is bringing emotional support to her students

Early in her career as a special education teacher, Molly Carmody knew her most vulnerable students needed additional support in the classroom. They needed someone capable of meeting their multiple physical and emotional needs to help them break down their learning barriers. Her solution was to bring a golden retriever companion dog to her classroom at Alliance Milt and Debbie Valera Middle Academy.

https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/02/teacher-spotlight-alliances-molly-carmody-on-how-a-companion-dog-is-bringing-emotional-support-to-her-students/

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

San Diego Unified Says it Has Records on Just 10 Sexual Misconduct Cases

San Diego Unified School District officials say just 10 employees were disciplined or found responsible for sexual misconduct over a 10-year period that ended in late 2017. But during much of that same period, the district reported 45 teachers to a statewide agency that handles educator misconduct.

https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/education/san-diego-unified-says-it-has-records-on-just-10-sexual-misconduct-cases/

EDSOURCE

Gov. Newsom, legislative leaders agree on certification for all charter school teachers

As a result of an agreement reached last week between Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders, California charter school teachers will have to get the same background checks and the same credentials, certificates or permits as teachers in regular public schools. If Assembly Bill 1505 is approved by the full Legislature, the changes will happen in phases. By July 1, 2020, all teachers in charter schools, whether credentialed or not, would have to obtain a “Certificate of Clearance” from the state before they would be allowed to teach.

https://edsource.org/2019/newsom-legislative-leaders-agree-on-certification-for-all-charter-school-teachers/617019

DAILY BREEZE

In an era of campus active shooters, LAUSD to require two lockdown drills per year at every school

Los Angeles Unified School District campuses will be required to conduct two lockdown drills per year starting in 2020-21, doubling the number of such mandatory drills in the wake of a particularly grim year of gun violence in U.S. schools.

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2019/09/03/in-an-era-of-campus-active-shooters-lausd-to-require-two-lockdown-drills-per-year-at-every-school/

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE

Pasadena Unified eyes possible bond measure for 2020 to refurbish schools

Pasadena Unified is inching closer to proposing a construction bond measure that could make it to a ballot next year. The board faces a Nov. 21 deadline to prepare the proposed $850 million measure, which appears to have strong support from the community, according to a community survey the district commissioned earlier this month. It was presented to the school board on Thursday.

https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/09/03/pasadena-unified-eyes-possible-bond-measures-for-2020/

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