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OCDE NEWSROOM
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38 Orange County elementary campuses named California Distinguished Schools |
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Thirty-eight elementary schools in Orange County have been recognized by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond as 2023 California Distinguished Schools.
After the COVID-19 pandemic placed the awards on pause last year, the California Distinguished Schools program returned to honor the hard work, resilience and dedication of 356 schools throughout the state. Selected schools were praised for their ability to provide a quality education to students while navigating the effects of the pandemic.
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https://newsroom.ocde.us/38-orange-county-elementary-campuses-named-california-distinguished-schools/ |
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Academic event season has arrived. Here are some important dates in 2023. |
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A new year is upon us, and that means we’ve officially entered academic event season.
Over the next six months, there will be scores of opportunities for students to test their knowledge and sharpen their skills in history, science, math, reading, writing, robotics and other subjects — all while forging lasting memories and friendships.
Here’s our annual rundown of some of the standards-based contests and events that OCDE and Orange County schools will take part in from now through June.
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https://newsroom.ocde.us/academic-event-season-is-upon-us-here-are-some-important-dates-in-2023/ |
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ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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Why did Orange Unified fire its superintendent? |
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A day after the Orange Unified School Board fired its superintendent during a surprise special session, the biggest question was “why.” In announcing its 4-3 behind-closed-door vote, Board President Rick Ledesma offered no public reason for firing Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen and placing a second administrator, Cathleen Corella, on administrative leave. Board members on the losing end of that vote, like the nearly 60 parents and teachers who spoke up during three hours of public comments, expressed outrage about what some dubbed the “Thursday night massacre.” The board’s actions come after the most recent election when the majority flipped and now tilts in favor of conservatives with the reelection of long-time board member Ledesma and a new trustee, Madison Miner, whose campaign pledged to “create a parent-first district.” |
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https://www.ocregister.com/2023/01/07/why-did-orange-unified-fire-its-superintendent/ |
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LOS ANGELES TIMES
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DAILY PILOT |
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Newport-Mesa Unified hires new director of teaching and learning for secondary education |
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Keith Carmona will officially join the district in his new role on Jan. 17, replacing Mike Sciacca, who was promoted. |
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https://bit.ly/3vPWRrZ |
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CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
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Proposed South OC Charter School Seeks Approval from OC Board of Education |
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After not getting approved by the Capistrano Unified School District, a proposed new charter school in South Orange County named California Republic Leadership Academy is instead looking to get the green light from the Orange County Board of Education. The OCBE, which hears appeals for charter school petitions, is expected to give a final vote on whether to approve CRLA in February. Leadership Academy had an appeal hearing before OCBE on Wednesday, Jan. 4. |
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https://www.thecapistranodispatch.com/proposed-south-oc-charter-school-seeks-approval-from-oc-board-of-education/ |
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EDSOURCE
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Orange Unified's conservative majority fires superintendent with a day's notice |
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With one day’s notice during winter recess, a conservative majority on the Orange Unified school board fired respected Supt. Gunn Marie Hansen with no explanation after a closed-door meeting Thursday night. The vote followed impassioned public comments from parents, teachers and community members who pleaded with them to change their minds on what they anticipated was coming. They warned them of the consequences, including expensive litigation and hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance payments. |
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https://edsource.org/2023/orange-unifieds-conservative-majority-fires-superintendent-with-a-days-notice/683766 |
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Staff at Ventura Unified win 10% pay raises |
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Teachers and classified staff at Ventura Unified won 10% raises plus 2% bonuses after the school board approved a contract with its unions last week, the Ventura Star reported. The agreement came after months of negotiations. The unions initially asked for a raise of 12.84% while the district was offering 1%. In all, the raises will cost the 15,000-student district nearly $12 million. |
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https://edsource.org/updates/staff-at-ventura-unified-win-10-pay-raises |
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LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT
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Breakers Basketball Hosts First Ever LBHS Donation Blood Drive |
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In late December, the Laguna Beach High School Boys Basketball Team partnered with the City of Hope Cancer Center to host the first-ever blood donation drive at LBHS. More than 80 people registered to donate blood, maxing out the number of spots available in a single day for blood donations. Almost those who registered, around 70 donated blood, which is believed to be a record high for a single day’s blood drive with City of Hope. |
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https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/breakers-basketball-hosts-first-ever-lbhs-donation-blood-drive/ |
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OTHER NEWS OUTLETS
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Sacramento Unified School District says masks 'strongly recommended' after winter break |
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The Sacramento City Unified School district is telling parents that masks will be "strongly recommended" but not required when students return from winter break next week. The district had warned of a possible return to a mask mandate but said Friday that Sacramento County's COVID-19 community level had moved down to "medium" for the past two weeks. |
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https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-district-schools-no-mask-mandate-after-winter-break/42421176 |
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