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ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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School stress explodes as COVID-19 cases soar |
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With winter break over and classes reopened, the current surge of COVID-19 is leading to soaring absenteeism — along with frustration and anxiety — in schools throughout Orange County. While student absences are problematic, schools also are hurt by big numbers of teachers and other staff calling in sick because they’ve got the virus or been exposed to it. The cascading problems have left educators scrambling to fill teaching vacancies and distribute test kits to families — all while trying to keep school as normal as possible. |
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https://www.ocregister.com/2022/01/13/school-stress-explodes-as-covid-19-cases-soar/ |
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Members of O.C. School Board could face bigger, more liberal electorate |
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A proposal to finalize Orange County Board of Education seats in the November general election, not a primary election, soon could be taken up by the California legislature.
If approved, SB-286, backed by state Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, would force the five-member board to face a bigger and more liberal block of voters than they do now in order to keep their seats. In recent years, the board – which doesn’t oversee any school district but does carry the symbolic power of the name “Orange County” – has waged legal fights and held public hearings to promote conservative views on issues such as the pandemic and critical race theory.
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https://www.ocregister.com/2022/01/14/members-of-o-c-school-board-could-face-bigger-more-liberal-electorate/ |
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VOICE OF OC
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Saddleback Valley School District Angers Parents by Ending COVID Dashboard During Surge |
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Saddleback Valley Unified School District nixed its COVID-19 dashboard because officials can’t keep up with the high number of new cases, sparking another flashpoint in Orange County’s debate on how to teach children during the Omicron surge.
“We regret to inform you that we have been unable to maintain accurate up-to-date reporting data,” reads the district website. “With a focus on our students, we have been funneling our District Office personnel resources to our school sites so that in-person student learning is not interrupted as we experience isolation periods of school staff members.”
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https://voiceofoc.org/2022/01/saddleback-valley-school-district-angers-parents-by-ending-covid-dashboard-during-surge/ |
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EDSOURCE
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California schools get off to a shaky start after holiday break |
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The return to California classrooms after the winter holiday break has been rocky, as Covid infection rates continue to climb, schools run out of substitutes to take over classrooms for ill and quarantined teachers, and district officials and staff wrangle over safety protocols. But lessons continue — although some are happening in merged classes held in auditoriums or gymnasiums — and teachers have adapted them with safety in mind. |
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https://edsource.org/2022/california-schools-get-off-to-a-shaky-start-after-holiday-break/666032 |
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Covid vaccination rates in children 5 to 11 lagging badly in California |
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The rate of children between ages 5 to 11 receiving covid vaccinations in California and across the nation is lagging badly, and doctors are concerned, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Only 17% of eligible children in the state were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday, the news service reported. In contrast, Vermont’s rate for the same age group was 48 %. Experts are blaming disinformation as a leading cause of the lag. |
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https://edsource.org/news-updates#covid-vaccination-rates-in-children-5-to-11-lagging-badly-in-california |
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OTHER NEWS OUTLETS
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COVID surge causes rash of teacher, student absences at SLO County schools |
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The surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant is hitting San Luis Obispo County schools hard, forcing teachers and students to stay home sick at high rates and for longer periods of time than normal illnesses. |
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https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/education/article257233102.html |
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Here’s where Oakland Unified could make $50 million in budget cuts |
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The Oakland Unified School District board has just a few weeks to decide how to slash nearly $50 million from its budget for the 2022-2023 school year.
Additional pressure from the Alameda County Office of Education means that if the school board can’t come to a decision, their salaries, and the superintendent’s, could be withheld.
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https://oaklandside.org/2022/01/13/heres-where-oakland-unified-could-make-50-million-in-budget-cuts/ |
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