Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 07/28/2010 06:21:05 PM PDT

A number of area residents have signaled their intent to run for the region’s school boards as the filing period for the Nov. 2 election has just passed its mid-point.

More than 30 school board seats are being contested at the Inland Valley school districts of Central, Alta Loma, Chaffey Joint Union High School, Chino Valley, Cucamonga, Etiwanda, Fontana, Upland, Mount Baldy, Mountain View, Ontario-Montclair, and the San Bernardino County board of education.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:15 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The Inland area’s laid-off teachers are cutting their household budgets and learning to tell their children no.

They have turned off their air conditioners and no longer can buy the things they used to take for granted.

Read the rest of this entry »

Deal includes furlough, cuts
July 27, 2010 5:41 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • The Hesperia Unified School District and Hesperia Teachers Association have apparently resolved their differences and have reached a three-year agreement, officials said Tuesday.

The tentative agreement includes nine furlough days (an effective salary cut of almost 5 percent), 1 percent pay cut and 2 percent savings on other monetary benefits for teachers.

Read the rest of this entry »

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/26/2010 05:56:55 PM PDT

One of the Inland Empire’s most outspoken Democratic activists says he is unhappy with the county Democratic Party and is considering promoting Republican candidates for local office.

Gil Navarro, who earlier this month said his new political action committee – the Latino Caucus of the Inland Empire – would support only Democratic candidates, now says he might have had a change of heart after a meeting with Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills.

Read the rest of this entry »

Schools pact set

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 07/24/2010 07:08:33 AM PDT

CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified School District and the Claremont Faculty Association on Friday reached a contract agreement, according to an union official.

The three-year agreement, which is retroactive to the 2009-10 school year, includes an $800,000 contribution that district officials said they needed from the union.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 07/23/2010 06:08:43 PM PDT

The Claremont Unified School District has approved the placement of a $95 million bond measure on the Nov. 2 election ballot.

School district officials said the bond was necessary to update aging classroom facilities and improve classroom technology.

Read the rest of this entry »

July 22, 2010 5:42 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • Two weeks after a school board meeting that abruptly ended with board members taunting one another and calling each other names, the board will try again on Monday to finish their July agenda.

At the July 12 meeting of the Hesperia Unified School District school board, board members returned from a second period of closed-doors discussions determined to get through the 13 points remaining undone in the first four hours of the meeting.

Read the rest of this entry »

But voters’ anti-Washington mood may be working in her favor against Boxer.

By George Skelton Capitol Journal
July 22, 2010

From Sacramento

Californians normally wouldn’t elect a Carly Fiorina to the U.S. Senate or any high office.

The conservative Republican, most specifically, opposes abortion rights. “I’m a proud pro-life conservative,” she says.

Read the rest of this entry »

By PE News
on July 21, 2010 5:00 AM

The California Fair Political Practices Commission has fined a San Bernardino Community College board member and his campaign treasurer $6,000 for failing to report campaign contributions on time.

The state ethics watchdog agency approved the fine at its May meeting and sent an enforcement letter last month to John Futch, who was elected to the board in 2008, and his treasurer, Fermin Ramirez.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/19/2010 04:28:13 PM PDT

A week after James Ramos, president of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees, announced he will run for re-election in November, his opponents are on the offensive.

Richard Boyle, who failed in his bid for election to the board in 2008, says that Ramos was the main financial supporter of a another board member who was found guilty of not filing financial statements by the Fair Political Practices Commission. He added that Ramos was also illegally elected president with the support of that same board member.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/19/2010 05:14:52 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – With the start of school for many city schools two weeks away, the teachers union and district have yet to ink a deal regarding reforms to be used at 11 campuses.

According to Rebecca Harper, president of the San Bernardino Teachers Association, many items are still being negotiated with the San Bernardino City Unified School District regarding the implications of the two models chosen.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:52 PM PDT on Saturday, July 17, 2010

By ERIN WALDNER
The Press-Enterprise

Due to budget cuts, the Yucaipa-Calimesa school district will not provide transportation to and from school when classes resume in August.

The exception is busing for special education students.

Read the rest of this entry »

Plans changed for 11 failing campuses
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/17/2010 09:31:33 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – School district officials say they are moving ahead with implementing plans to turn around 11 low-achieving elementary, middle and high schools.

But others, ranging from a county board of education member to the mayor’s chief of staff, say they are concerned the reforms, which the district changed in recent weeks, may not be enough.

Read the rest of this entry »

July 16, 2010 6:22 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • Politics can stir passions.

But a recent Hesperia Unified School District school board ended prematurely when board members erupted into shouting, name-calling — and even an invitation to throw down.

HUSD school board meetings are scheduled to end by 10:30 p.m., unless board members vote to extend the session longer. Monday night, they voted to stay until the 13 remaining action items were voted upon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Created: 07/16/2010 01:14:36 PM PDT

POMONA – A decision on whether to place a parcel tax measure before voters in the Pomona Unified School District in November has been postponed for at least two weeks.

The item was pulled off Wednesday’s Board of Education agenda after a district lawyer determined a public hearing on the item had not been properly noticed, Superintendent Richard Martinez said.

Read the rest of this entry »

San Bernardino City Unified

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/11/2010 07:54:25 AM PDT

In 1970, three years after Cajon High School opened, San Bernardino was home to about 104,000 residents.

The city’s population would grow by more than 81,000 – about 78 percent – before the San Bernardino City Unified School District built another high school, opening Arroyo Valley High in 2000.

Read the rest of this entry »

District to use turnaround reform
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/10/2010 10:13:32 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – School district officials have once again revised their plan for turning around 11 low-performing elementary, middle and high schools.

After finding out that several schools on that list had experienced a significant turnover in staff in the last two years, the school board decided last week to go with the turnaround reform instead of making six of the schools district-run charters.

Read the rest of this entry »

July 08, 2010 3:47 PM
From Staff Reports

SAN BERNARDINO • Calling for less politics and more checks and balances in the San Bernardino County schools office, some education officials are considering getting rid of voters’ direct say over who fills the county schools chief post.

On Monday, the county Board of Education is set to discuss the process to change the County Superintendent of Schools position from an elected role to an appointed one.

Read the rest of this entry »

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 07/02/2010 06:13:58 PM PDT

CHINO – School district board members have authorized the superintendent to begin work on substantial future budget cuts to deal with a major deficit expected in two years.

Chino Valley Unified officials project a $30 million deficit in the 2012-2013 school year, as expenditures have begun to outpace revenues and massive reductions to state education coffers continue. The board must determine a fiscal plan to deal with the shortfall by its first interim budget report to the county on Nov. 20.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Created: 07/01/2010 05:51:22 PM PDT

POMONA – More than 100 Pomona Unified teachers and other certificated employees will soon receive a letter informing them that they will have a job in the 2010-11 school year.

The district’s school board on Wednesday voted to rescind 113 layoff notices that were issued in May.

Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/30/2010 05:28:41 PM PDT

Inland Empire residents continue to rate the area as a good place to live, although economic decline and distrust of politicians weigh heavily on their minds, a new survey reports.

“The ratings of the counties’ economies just tanked, as did their personal finances,” said Barbara Sirotnik of the Institute of Applied Research at Cal State San Bernardino.

Read the rest of this entry »

June 29, 2010 5:53 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • The Hesperia Unified School District is one of 174 public school districts statewide to end up on the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s list of schools that are having “trouble meeting their financial obligations.”

Two Victor Valley school districts, the HUSD and Lucerne Valley Unified School District, were among 160 districts to receive a “qualified” certification of their financial status, meaning the districts “may not meet (their) financial obligations for the current or two subsequent fiscal years.”

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 29, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Nearly a month after an agreement between Riverside Unified School District and the Riverside City Teachers Association for furlough days and other cuts, the school board still doesn’t like the way stipends were reduced.

Although top administrators say the negotiating teams at the bargaining table understood the stipend cuts, board members said Monday night they don’t think others did.

Read the rest of this entry »

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
June 29, 2010

A record 174 of California’s school districts have been identified as financially troubled by the state Department of Education, 38 percent more than appeared on a January list.

State schools Supt. Jack O’Connell said today the increasing number of distressed districts, including 14 receiving “negative certification” that could come under state supervision, reflects their declining state and local tax revenues. He termed it “a period of unprecedented fiscal crisis.”

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 28, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The Riverside Unified School District has laid off 117 teachers out of 455 preliminary layoff notices sent before the March 15 deadline, the school board was told Monday night.

Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Sanchez updated the board on the layoffs and rehiring process and Deputy Superintendent Mike Fine presented totals of staff reductions over the past three years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Schools short on reserves for 2012-13
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 06/26/2010 07:07:53 AM PDT

CLAREMONT – The school district has passed its three- year budget, but is below the state threshold for reserves in its third year.

This could cause Los Angeles County to get involved in Claremont Unified School District’s operations, but school officials said they doubt that will happen.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/21/2010 08:16:53 PM PDT

REDLANDS – Board members will likely pass Redlands Unified School District’s budget for the coming fiscal year at tonight’s meeting – even though the state budget remains in limbo.

Board President Neal Waner said creating a budget without knowing the final state numbers is a difficult task.

Read the rest of this entry »

Advocate or agitator?

Navarro accused of having conflicts
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/20/2010 07:02:42 AM PDT

County Board of Education member Gil Navarro has never shied away from controversy, whether on education, immigration or billing taxpayers for conferences he’s attended.

The 67-year-old, who also works as a paid education advocate, says he works toward the greater good, although his critics may view him as an agitator.

Read the rest of this entry »

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 06/18/2010 05:36:20 PM PDT

CHINO – Chino Valley Unified boardmembers on Thursday approved about $2.5 million in spending cuts to athletic directors, librarians, intervention counselors, athletic transportation, and its International Baccalaureate program.

The cuts come a time when the district is facing a projected $17 million deficit next year, and a $30 million shortfall in two years. School officials characterized the cuts as “agonizing” but necessary.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/18/2010 09:30:14 PM PDT

It’s more of the same for California State University students as their fees will increase.

The system’s board of trustees voted Friday to raise fees by 5percent for full-time undergraduates and graduate professional programs as well as increase fees for doctoral education students by 10percent.

Read the rest of this entry »

Six San Bernardino County high schools made Newsweeks’s 2010 list of America’s Best High Schools.

The magazine ranks the country’s top 1,600 high schools. (6% of the total)

San Bernardino County schools making the cut are:

Read the rest of this entry »

Late pymts leave district cash-strapped
June 09, 2010 5:36 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • California’s $19 billion deficit has meant both the governor and legislature have looked toward cutting programs and delaying payments on those that survive. And local governments are left holding the bag, unable to pay their own obligations in a timely fashion while they wait for checks from Sacramento.

Read the rest of this entry »

Schools face ax

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 06/09/2010 05:59:06 PM PDT

CHINO – Dread over new budget cuts hangs over the Chino Valley Unified School District as officials face a potential $30 million deficit in the next two years.

Officials warned the district’s projected shortfall of $17 million next year could grow to more than $30 million in 2013 if a deficit spending trend remains unchecked.

Read the rest of this entry »

Delgado

SBCUSD leader loses to Thomas
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/09/2010 03:37:15 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – He’s not going anywhere.

That’s what Arturo Delgado, superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, said Wednesday in the wake of a decisive loss to Gary Thomas in the race for the San Bernardino County superintendent of schools.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:28 PM PDT on Sunday, June 6, 2010

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino City Unified School District board members have finalized plans to remake five schools, convert six others to charter status and replace nine of the 11 principals at those low-performing schools.

Now the district awaits word from state officials on how soon to submit applications for grants of $50,000 to $2 million at each of the schools to help boost student achievement.

Read the rest of this entry »

Officials OK fiscal status report
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 06/05/2010 07:07:51 AM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Alta Loma School District officials approved a required financial status report showing the district has made the appropriate adjustments to remain fiscally solvent for the next three years.

A status report made earlier this year determined that the district’s reserve fund planned for the 2011-12 school year was $311,470 short of the minimum state standard.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/04/2010 02:58:58 PM PDT

Classrooms will be more crowded, elementary school teachers may lose their jobs and there will be more furlough days ahead for staff in the San Bernardino City Unified School District during the 2010-11 school year.

The sacrifices have been made to ensure the district has a healthy and viable budget in the months ahead.

Read the rest of this entry »

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 06/02/2010 05:07:17 PM PDT

CHINO – A bill to let the Chino Valley Unified School District off the hook for an $8 million state penalty was passed Wednesday in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 1988, authored by Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, still must be passed by the Senate and signed by the governor to take effect. A similar bill by Hagman stalled in the Senate last year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 05/30/2010 09:43:43 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Etiwanda School District board members last week approved laying off 16 certificated employees.

The recommendation to terminate the employees – primarily permanent and probationary teachers – was based on hearings conducted by an administrative law judge earlier this month.

Read the rest of this entry »

President George W. Bush

I figured I would let a photo of someone you know deliver the message.

Stayed tuned this weekend for an analysis of the Republican Primary in California Governor’s race.

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2010 06:17:45 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – Teachers, parents and principals will have a bigger role in running new district charter schools than an executive board comprised of community leaders.

And that’s not sitting well with members of the executive board, who describe the move by district officials as a “lost opportunity.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/26/2010 09:17:53 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified school board on Tuesday night approved issuing 41 layoff notices to ensure the district’s financial security.

More than 30 teachers as well as counselors, nonunion managers and a psychologist will receive the notices.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/25/2010 08:59:05 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – After weeks of meetings downtown and in the community, the school board discussed final plans on what to do about 11 district schools at a special meeting Tuesday evening.

At five of the San Bernardino City Unified schools that recently landed on a list of lowest performing in the state, the principals will be replaced and a new evaluation process will be put in place for teachers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Board to take up issue tonight
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/24/2010 10:17:30 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified school board will recommend laying off 28 full-time certificated employees at a special meeting tonight.

Employees expected to be laid off include teachers, a counselor and a psychologist.

Read the rest of this entry »

By PE News
on May 25, 2010 6:39 AM

A state Senate budget subcommittee Monday approved shifting $15 million in the University of California’s existing budget to help pay for start-up costs at UC Riverside’s medical school.

With millions already raised in federal money and private donations, the school has left the station, said state Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar. “It’s one of those things that’s pretty hard to retreat from,” Huff said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Redlands Unified

Many area districts forced to reduce transportation costs
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/22/2010 07:09:26 AM PDT

Five days a week, bus driver Jacalyn Condley-Jennings picks up 40 students in the East Highland area and transports them to two of Redlands high schools.

It has been a way of life for years for the veteran bus driver. But by the next school year, those students will have to get to class on their own.

Read the rest of this entry »

Teachers, parents: Funds will disappear, but the need won’t

Michelle Mitchell • The Desert Sun • May 23, 2010

Coachella Valley school districts last year received a combined $45.8 million in federal stimulus funds, part of which was used to save or add nearly 240 jobs this school year, including about 180 teaching jobs.

The cash provided a financial lifeline to districts struggling with budget shortfalls of $8 million to $16 million for next school year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/20/2010 04:02:49 PM PDT

Area school districts will have to make do with fewer cafeteria workers, custodians and other classified employees during the next school year.

After announcing hundreds of teacher layoffs in recent days, school districts throughout the San Bernardino area are planning to layoff other employees to save money in these tight fiscal times.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/20/2010 06:57:41 PM PDT

REDLANDS – University of Redlands students took to the streets Thursday evening to show their disagreement with an Arizona law they say legalizes racial profiling.

About 50 students rallied with signs and loudspeakers at the Market Night road block on Orange Street at Redlands Boulevard.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/19/2010 03:43:33 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – Teachers in the city’s school district have agreed to take a pay cut for the 2010-11 school year and beyond.

This week the school board approved teachers taking an almost 2 percent pay cut, following recent negotiations between the district and the San Bernardino Teachers Association.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 05/17/2010 09:31:56 PM PDT

Hundreds of public school teachers in the Inland Valley will receive final layoff notices this week informing them they will not have a job after June 30.

While school boards scrambled to save as many jobs as possible, the current economic climate has forced many districts to lay off teachers and increase class sizes.

Read the rest of this entry »

08:52 AM PDT on Tuesday, May 18, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Students are dropping out of high school and they don’t realize that without an education, they won’t get jobs that pay a decent wage, said Rita Ramirez-Dean, one of three candidates for San Bernardino County superintendent of schools.

Dropout prevention is a central issue in the race on the June 8 ballot. Ramirez-Dean, a retired community college professor and trustee of Copper Mountain Community College, and San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Arturo Delgado are challenging San Bernardino County Superintendent Gary Thomas, the incumbent who was appointed more than two years ago, when he was deputy superintendent.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/16/2010 09:52:21 PM PDT

Hundreds of public school teachers in the San Bernardino area received final layoff notices in the mail this weekend.

While school boards scrambled to save as many jobs as possible, the current economic climate forced some districts to lay off more teachers than they did at this time last year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Berkeley dream dims

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/16/2010 09:44:47 PM PDT

FONTANA – Gladys Castro has all the numbers needed to get into UC Berkeley – except one.

Although the 17-year-old Kaiser High School senior carries a 4.09 grade-point average and has been accepted to the university, she cannot apply for government loans because she’s an illegal immigrant and doesn’t have a Social Security number.

Read the rest of this entry »

REVISION: Schwarzenegger proposes cutting $12.4 billion to help cover a gap that is estimated at more than $19 billion.

11:10 PM PDT on Friday, May 14, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO – California’s welfare-to-work program would disappear under a revised budget plan put forward Friday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said the state is out of easy options to fix its finances.

The governor now wants $12.4 billion in cuts, almost $4 billion more than he proposed in his January package. They would help close an estimated budget gap of $19.1 billion, which includes a $1.2 billion reserve.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:35 PM PDT on Friday, May 14, 2010

By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE and DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Almost 1,000 Inland teachers received final layoff notices this week, though furloughs or other concessions could bring an unknown number of those teachers back to the classroom.

Under California law, today is the deadline for school officials to notify teachers if they will not have jobs in 2010-11. Despite the deadline, several districts are continuing to work on furlough deals that could allow them to bring back some, though not likely all, of the laid-off teachers.

Read the rest of this entry »

31 receive state’s lowest marks
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/13/2010 06:16:43 PM PDT

Online: Find your child’s school’s Academic Performance Index score

Schools in San Bernardino City Unified, Fontana Unified and Colton Joint all saw a ranking of one on their Academic Performance Index for 2009.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 11, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The Riverside school board voted unanimously Tuesday to send 375 final layoff notices to teachers.

Board members voiced their frustration with the number of layoffs, lack of settlement with the teachers union and legal requirements to dismiss least-senior teachers first without regard to their performance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Report hopes to limit cutbacks
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/10/2010 06:18:58 PM PDT

As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger looks at revising his budget, the California State University system released a report on Monday hoping to help it avoid additional cuts to its operations.

The report – titled “Working for California: The Impact of the California State University System” – emphasized the benefits that the system’s campuses provide to communities as well as the state.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rep. Loretta Sanchez

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/10/2010 05:46:18 PM PDT

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove will not deliver the commencement address at UC Riverside’s June 12 graduation in a show of support for struggling workers in the UC system.

Her decision came in the aftermath of a graduation speakers boycott called by service and patient care workers at the University of California.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Monday, May. 10, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Self-evidently, the California Legislature isn’t balancing the state budget, nor is it doing anything noticeably positive about traffic congestion, poor school test scores, high dropout rates, the public pension crisis or any other real-world issues.

So how are the nation’s highest-paid state legislators occupying their – actually our – time in Sacramento these days, when they’re not throwing or attending campaign fundraisers?

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, May 8, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Young said he has the financial expertise to oversee districts’ budgets.

Challenger Dale Kinnear, a high school principal, said the job requires a leader with experience as an educator.

Challenger Arthur Murray said the position requires both. He points to his experience as the interim superintendent of Delano Joint Union High School District in Central California.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Riverside Unified School District board will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday to consider final layoff notices for 200 teachers.

The board will meets in the first floor conference room of the district offices at 3380 14th St., Riverside.

State law sets a May 15 deadline for districts to give teachers final layoff notices, although they have until June 30 to adopt budgets. The district had sent more than 400 preliminary layoff notices before a March 15 deadline as part of an effort to close a $49 million budget gap.

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Created: 05/07/2010 06:09:54 PM PDT

Redevelopment agencies will have to pay $1.7 billion to public schools Monday in a complicated funding scheme aimed at giving the state’s ailing budget a shot in the arm.

A Sacramento judge ruled Tuesday that the funding shift is legal, though redevelopment agencies have appealed that decision. The California Redevelopment Association asked an appellate court to allow agencies to hold on to its money while the appeal is heard, but the court denied that request Friday afternoon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Teachers still on the hook for $8.4 million in cuts
May 07, 2010 1:42 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • It’s a day of mixed blessings for Hesperia teachers.

In a special meeting Friday morning, the Hesperia Unified School District school board voted to rescind pink slips the district had issued to 77 teachers earlier in the spring.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, May. 7, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Friday, May. 7, 2010 – 12:10 am

LOS ANGELES – In their only on-camera debate, the three Republicans seeking to replace U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer did their best to run to the right, as each supported Arizona’s new immigration law and opposed California’s restriction on greenhouse gas emissions.

On major topics, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former Rep. Tom Campbell were often in alignment Thursday. They all, for example, said hedge-fund managers shouldn’t pay higher tax rates.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 05/05/2010 05:34:31 PM PDT

ONTARIO – Chaffey Joint Union High School District board members approved the layoff of 55 certificated employees at Tuesday’s meeting.

The recommendation to terminate the services of certificated employees – primarily teachers and counselors – was proposed based on hearings conducted by an administrative law judge.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 4, 2010

By LORA HINES
The Press-Enterprise

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously agreed to somehow help come up with the $10 million needed to keep the 2012 opening of UC Riverside’s planned medical school on track.

Supervisor Bob Buster said the county has to do something to get the medical school opened on time because state lawmakers have failed to come up with $10 million of their share of startup costs. The Legislature’s lack of action may put at risk another $10 million in funds that Kaiser Permanente may contribute.

Read the rest of this entry »

The State of California Fair Political Practices Commission is schedule to approve the levy of a $6,000 fine against a member of the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees at its next scheduled meeting on May 13, 2010.

In 2008, candidate John Futch and his campaign Treasurer Fermin Ramirez failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements in accordance with State law.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:13 PM PDT on Sunday, May 2, 2010

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

At least five principals will be replaced and six schools will be converted to charter status in the wake of a state report ranking 11 San Bernardino schools among the state’s lowest-performing 5 percent.

Two of the principals — Karen Craig of Arroyo Valley High School and Sandy Robbins of San Gorgonio High — already planned to retire, San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Arturo Delgado said by phone.

Read the rest of this entry »

Issue back on table with school reform
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Created: 05/01/2010 10:03:17 PM PDT

In early March, California missed out on Race to the Top funding because many teachers unions declined to sign an agreement requiring them to accept drastic reforms linked to the funding.

Among the list of changes low-achieving schools were asked to make was linking teachers’ pay to student performance, an issue unions representing teachers have long opposed.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 04/30/2010 07:13:51 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Etiwanda School District parents will soon be responsible for transporting their children to and from school.

Board members on Thursday voted 4-0 to suspend all busing services affecting about 2,800 students beginning the 2010-11 school year except for special education students and students who are receiving busing services through the Individualized Education Program.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/29/2010 02:33:00 PM PDT

San Bernardino City Unified School District officials are considering laying off more than 400 classified employees and teachers by the end of the school year.

The employee cuts, along with reducing the school year by five days and eliminating student programs, have all been proposed by the district to eliminate a $30 million budget shortfall for the 2010-11 school year.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY and DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino schools have been operating under the federal government’s new transformation model for six years, even though they haven’t called it that, Superintendent Art Delgado said.

Federal and state laws require districts to choose one of four painful options by June 1 to fix 11 schools listed as persistently lowest-achieving: closing the school, converting it to a charter school, replacing the principal and at least half the staff, or replacing the principal and increasing instructional time, which the law calls the “transformation model.”

Read the rest of this entry »

I was spending some time over the last few days giving some thought to former County Administrative Officer (CAO) Mark Uffer’s teaching job at California State University, San Bernardino and came up with some more appropriate courses I believe should be instituted at the school.

Uffer is currently assigned to teach PA 664 – Management of Public Organizations, a graduate level course.

Read the rest of this entry »

Former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer is the assigned instructor for a graduate degree public administration course at California State University San Bernardino.

Here is the course listing found on the CSUSB website.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/22/2010 05:54:28 PM PDT

At the beginning of the next school year, teachers at five San Bernardino City Unified schools will face even greater pressure to boost student performance.

Among the rewards for their efforts will be financial incentives, opportunities for advancement and flexible work conditions.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/21/2010 05:18:48 PM PDT

Tension was high among employees of the San Bernardino City Unified School District on Wednesday, a day after trustees voted to overhaul 11 struggling schools and increase scrutiny of teachers.

By dramatically overhauling the schools in time for the coming school year, the San Bernardino City Unified School District becomes eligible for up to $22million in state money to improve the campuses.

Read the rest of this entry »

County attorneys see risk of conflict
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/20/2010 06:14:11 PM PDT

San Bernardino County lawyers are urging county schools trustee Gil Navarro to recuse himself from an upcoming vote because of conflict-of-interest concerns.

On May 3, the county Board of Education is scheduled to hear an appeal of an expulsion case involving a student in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.

Read the rest of this entry »

April 19, 2010 5:12 PM
Natasha Lindstrom

ADELANTO • Strapped for cash as the state delays billions of dollars in payments, the Adelanto School District may give itself a $3 million interfund loan to make payroll and seek help from the county to repay it.

“It’s not desired that you’d have to go seek a loan to pay, but it’s certainly an option,” San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools spokesman Dan Evans said. “The options out there aren’t great right now … and with more expected budget cuts you have to anticipate that these are going to be even tighter times for districts.”

Read the rest of this entry »

By Lisa M. Krieger

lkrieger@mercurynews.com
Posted: 04/18/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT
Updated: 04/18/2010 07:44:16 AM PDT

Fifty years ago this month, California promised a low-cost, high-quality university education for every qualified high school graduate in the state. But that promise — inflated by growing populations and academic aspirations — expanded beyond the state’s willingness to pay for it.

What went wrong? How did the university system that was long the envy of the world suddenly become the focus of angry street protests, overcrowded classrooms, soaring tuition and a monumental debate over whether the state can ever make good again on its groundbreaking mission?

Read the rest of this entry »

Sweeping payroll reduction is part of an attempt to slash $9 million over the next two years
April 16, 2010 8:54 AM
Natasha Lindstrom

APPLE VALLEY • The Apple Valley Unified School District Governing Board unanimously voted Thursday to approve laying off 116 classified employees, from teacher aides to custodians.

The sweeping payroll reduction, which will save $4.3 million, is part of an attempt to slash $9 million over the next two years amid state cuts, declining enrollment and a structural overhaul, which will merge and close some schools next year.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Canan Tasci Staff Writer
Created: 04/16/2010 10:14:55 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Central School District board members have approved the elimination of 18 classified employees due to a lack of funds.

“All these actions are drastic, …” Superintendent Shari Nagel said. “We didn’t create this problem, yet we have have to deal with the problem, and it is not palatable.”

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 15, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The job of the San Bernardino County superintendent of schools is to help local school districts help students, candidates for the job said at a forum Thursday night.

Appointed incumbent Gary Thomas, San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Arturo Delgado and Copper Mountain College trustee Rita Ramirez-Dean expressed different approaches during a forum at Redlands High School sponsored by the Redlands Council of PTAs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Staff and wire reports
Created: 04/15/2010 04:47:59 PM PDT

WASHINGTON – The Senate’s most powerful Democrat on education unveiled a $23 billion bailout for public schools this week, hoping to keep classrooms staffed as cash-strapped states burn through the last of their federal stimulus dollars.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said unless Congress acts, many of the education policy changes currently being weighed by the Obama administration and Congress will be pointless.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

As Riverside Unified School District tries to close the last $3.9 million of a projected $43.6 million shortfall, board members can’t agree on cuts to schools’ clerical staff.

Reduced hours for high school health assistants and a shorter work year for elementary school secretaries will come back at a future meeting, the board requested on a 3-2 vote. Superintendent Rick Miller said he thought he could find $100,000 to keep the secretaries on 11-month schedules and high school health assistants for six hours a day.

Read the rest of this entry »

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/12/2010 06:41:46 PM PDT

Candidates for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools are raising less money overall than candidates for county supervisor or district attorney, but both major candidates have received sizeable donations from those who have done or might want to do business with the county school system.

County Superintendent Gary Thomas, who was appointed to fill the remainder of the term of former superintendent Herbert Fischer, and San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Arturo Delgado, have each received tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from construction companies, architectural firms and consultants that work with schools.

Read the rest of this entry »

‘Too much teaching to the test,’ they complain

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/10/2010 07:11:33 AM PDT

As early as kindergarten, California teachers spend as much as 40 minutes to an hour a day doing assessments of their small charges in preparation for the years of testing to come.

By second grade, much of the school year is devoted to readying students for a whole week of testing in English-language arts and math, and the momentum only builds through 11th grade.

Read the rest of this entry »

Schools worry about coming debts
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/07/2010 09:11:16 PM PDT

In the midst of California’s budget crisis, a number of Inland Valley school districts have hoisted red flags, expressing uncertainty about their financial futures to county and state education officials.

So far this school year, five Inland Valley school districts – Alta Loma, Central, Chino Valley Unified, Etiwanda and Pomona Unified – have submitted interim financial reports that included a “qualified” certification. The notation indicates that the district might not be able to balance its budgets in the current or next two fiscal years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/05/2010 07:09:16 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – Few were surprised when Davidson Elementary School landed on a list of the state’s worst five percent of public campuses last month.

Since being named a California Distinguished School in the late 1990s, Davidson’s test scores have been among the poorest in the San Bernardino city school system, which had more failing schools than every district in the state except Los Angeles.

For more than a decade, district and schools officials have thrown every potential solution they could muster at Davidson, from extra teaching aides and individualized attention, to new technology and data-tracking methods.

Read the rest of this entry »

UCLA is using some student money for Pauley Pavilion; Cal State Sacramento is using such money to cover a bad investment.

By Jack Dolan

April 4, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – While California universities have faced round after round of crippling budget cuts and protests against increased fees have flared on campuses, administrators have tapped funds meant for classrooms and students to cover some extraordinary costs: losses on ill-timed real estate deals, loans to high-ranking officials and an ambitious construction project.

Experts say the moves, made without wide student knowledge or public oversight, show that administrators have put aggressive business plans ahead of the teaching mission. When things go wrong, they’re dipping into student fees, scholarship funds and money meant for classes to pick up the tab.

Read the rest of this entry »

11:22 PM PDT on Saturday, April 3, 2010

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI and DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino City Unified School District officials face tough mandatory fixes at 11 low-performing schools.

The changes are coming in the wake of the state’s first-time listing last month of the 5 percent of schools labeled persistently low-achieving. At the same time, grants of up to $6 million per school are available if the district acts by June 1.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Apr. 3, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A

California’s public universities are using waiting lists this year for the first time, telling some top-notch students to wait two more months before they find out if they’re in.

The practice – long common at selective private colleges – is yet another fallout from the state’s budget crisis, as the University of California and California State University look for ways to trim enrollment in response to last year’s historic funding cuts.

Read the rest of this entry »

Delgado

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/29/2010 08:15:04 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – On the day when a series of meetings, focused on turning around struggling schools, kicked off in the city, a group of activists gathered at the district office to demand the ouster of Superintendent Arturo Delgado.

The Westside Action Group issued a news release Monday saying the superintendent had done little to further the cause of black students and the San Bernardino City Unified School District could benefit most from changing its leadership.

Read the rest of this entry »

More is less for schools
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 03/28/2010 07:39:20 PM PDT

After 14 years and more than $10 billion spent for smaller class sizes, many California classrooms in the fall will move in the opposite direction.

In just a few months, classrooms across the state will increase their student-to-teacher ratios in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms from 20 students to as many as 30, essentially reversing what was advocated more than a decade ago in better economic times.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 03/28/2010 07:02:37 AM PDT

Some good news may arrive for a group of teachers at the Chino Valley Unified School District. The board is expected to approve a recommendation this week to rescind many of the 71 preliminary layoff notices sent to teachers earlier this month. The move is possible after 160 senior teachers agreed to early retirement.

Also in the Daily Bulletin this week, there will be updates concerning Pomona’s Lanterman Developmental Center.

Read the rest of this entry »

By PE Politics
March 24, 2010 1:52 PM

The money race is on between Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit and challenger Gary Jeandron.

The two are vying for the board’s 4th District seat, which was once held by the late Supervisor Roy Wilson. Benoit was appointed to the post late last year after Wilson resigned shortly before his death.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, March 22, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Some Inland teachers unions are pressing their districts to cut more waste and offer more early retirement incentives to avoid laying off hundreds of their colleagues.

Other districts have already cut enough that teachers are ready to consider pay cuts or furlough days to save some jobs.

Their union, California Teachers Association, has sent analysts to go over budgets, looking for dollars to save jobs, local union presidents said.

Read the rest of this entry »

California Watch
A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting

K–12

March 22, 2010 | Louis Freedberg

In response to California’s deepening budget crisis, administrators in nearly half of the state’s 30 largest school districts are considering shortening the school year from its current level of 180 instructional days, according to a survey by California Watch.

Teachers in San Jose have already agreed to cut one week from the school year. In Los Angeles, Superintendent Ramon Cortines is pushing to cut the school year by 5 days. The Long Beach Unified School District wants to reduce it by three days, and the San Francisco Unified by two.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise

University of Redlands Chancellor and former President James Appleton was named interim president Wednesday, a day after the sudden resignation of Stuart Dorsey left the campus and community in shock and confusion.

Some on campus expressed relief that Appleton, who was president for 18 years and became chancellor in 2005, was available to guide the university through its current economic difficulties.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chantel M. Lovell and Jesse B. Gill, Staff Writers
Posted: 03/16/2010 07:14:39 PM PDT

REDLANDS – University of Redlands President Stuart Dorsey announced his sudden and immediate resignation Tuesday, saying he has become the embodiment of the school’s budget problems.

Dorsey informed students and faculty members at an afternoon meeting what he told the Board of Trustees Tuesday morning – that he will resign as university president effective immediately.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/15/2010 06:35:01 PM PDT

Nearly 800 teachers at some of the San Bernardino area’s largest school districts could lost their jobs by the start of the next school year after receiving pink slips in recent weeks.

Hundreds more teachers at smaller districts also were warned.

Read the rest of this entry »

School district cuts

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 03/15/2010 07:34:36 PM PDT

Inland Valley school districts, many teetering on the edge of a financial abyss, have issued more than 1,000 layoff notices to teachers and staff.

The state deadline to notify employees of pending layoffs was Monday, with more than 21,000 throughout California receiving notices they may not be rehired after June 30.

Read the rest of this entry »

Delgado

Kristina Hernandez, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/14/2010 04:51:13 PM PDT

COLTON – Arturo Delgado, superintendent of San Bernardino City School District, kicked off his election campaign for county superintendent of schools on Sunday by hosting a launch party at his new headquarters.

Signs, balloons and food welcomed those who stopped by to support Delgado as he plans to oust Superintendent Gary Thomas.

Read the rest of this entry »

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/14/2010 07:03:05 AM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – Several schools here are likely to see new leadership next year under a state law requiring poor-performing campuses to close down or take one of three paths to improvement.

Superintendent Arturo Delgado of the San Bernardino City Unified School District is scheduled to meet with staff today to explore the ramifications of 11 schools landing on California’s list of the worst 5 percent in the state.

Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/11/2010 06:45:34 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – During his 11 years as superintendent of the biggest school district in the county, Arturo Delgado has dealt with challenges ranging from homeless students to high dropout rates and low test scores.

This week, just days before kicking off his campaign for county superintendent of schools, 11 San Bernardino City Unified schools landed on a list of California’s worst five percent of public campuses.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Thursday, March 11, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Libraries at middle and high schools in Riverside will be staffed differently next year, but school board members said Thursday they don’t know yet exactly how.

To buy district officials time, the board voted unanimously to send preliminary layoff notices to all 12 teacher-librarians in middle and high schools. The board then approved preliminary layoff notices for 18 adult education teachers.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Press-Enterprise

More layoffs are on the agenda for a special school board meeting at 2:30 p.m. today in the first-floor conference room of the Riverside Unified School District offices at 3380 14th St.

The board will consider two resolutions, one to send preliminary layoff notices to 12 teacher-librarians at middle and high schools, and the other to lay off 18 adult school teachers for next year.

To read entire story, click here.

District tries to narrow focus amid $30 million budget deficit

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Created: 03/10/2010 09:40:54 PM PST

FONTANA – The school district, which has been beset with a record $30 million deficit, passed sweeping layoffs and program cuts last week as part of a massive budget overhaul.

“All of the recommendations I would make to the board are painful and difficult, but it has to be done based on the governor’s current proposed budget,” said Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Connie Llanos Staff Writer
Posted: 03/09/2010 08:33:51 PM PST

Los Angeles Unified officials said Tuesday they expect to lay off at least 6,300 workers this summer if employee unions cannot agree to deep concessions, including a 10 percent pay cut and 12 furlough days over the next two years.

The massive layoffs are needed to close LAUSD’s budget gap estimated at $640 million for the 2010-11 school year.

Read the rest of this entry »

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/09/2010 06:31:39 PM PST

A day after seven San Bernardino schools were named as being among the worst in the state, parents and schools officials defended the campuses against withering criticism from critics who say the district needs a shakeup.

Six elementary schools and Pacific High School were named Monday as being among the 188 worst schools in California, based on student achievement. County school board member Gil Navarro said the San Bernardino City Unified School District has for too long settled for incremental improvement.

Read the rest of this entry »

Class sizes to jump from 20 to 30 students
March 08, 2010 5:29 PM
Natasha Lindstrom

ADELANTO • The Adelanto School District Board of Trustees Tuesday night is poised to send pink slips to 18 teachers and trim management pay by 7.5 percent.

The proposed cuts aim to help patch the district’s $8.5 million deficit through 2012-13 as the state rolls back funding for schools amid a $20 billion state-wide budget shortfall.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 03/07/2010 06:02:26 AM PST

ONTARIO – The Ontario-Montclair School District officials will send out 142 preliminary layoff notices to certificated employees.

The cuts include 101 categorical employees, which includes at least 36 administrators.

Read the rest of this entry »

2,500 students must find ways to get to school

Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/07/2010 11:59:08 PM PST

REDLANDS – Riding the bus to school next year will not be an option for many students after a vote by the board of education to eliminate home- to-school transportation for most high school students.

It’s a decision that will leave about 2,500 students, like 16-year-old Keith Johnson, on their own when it comes to getting to and from school.

Keith rides a school bus seven miles from his Loma Linda home to Redlands High School. He said the cut will put a strain on his family.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 03/05/2010 09:07:44 PM PST

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – It was an emotional board meeting for Central School District Superintendent Sharon Nagel.

The superintendent broke into tears at Thursday’s school board meeting after listening to a report that the Rancho Cucamonga-based district may not be able to meet its financial obligations for the current school year and the two subsequent years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 03/05/2010 06:05:44 PM PST

CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified school board unanimously approved sending out about 70 layoff notices.

District officials, in a school board meeting Thursday night, said they project a $6.7million deficit for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rallies and walkouts are largely peaceful, but 150 are arrested in Oakland as a freeway is blocked. The demonstrations are part of a nationwide ‘Day of Action for Public Education.’

By Carla Rivera and Nicole Santa Cruz and Larry Gordon

March 5, 2010

A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to mostly peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation. In Oakland, however, about 150 protesters were arrested after they blocked a freeway, snarling rush-hour traffic.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Ed Mendel

The CalSTRS board may cut its investment earnings forecast, a small move that could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the current $4 billion annual shortfall needed for full funding.

The nation’s second largest public pension fund, with assets valued at $131 billion at the end of January, began to consider the issue last month and may act in September or even sooner.

Read the rest of this entry »

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 03/02/2010 09:14:44 PM PST

CHINO – The Chino Valley Unified school board on Thursday is expected to approve the release of about 87 preliminary layoff notices.

The layoffs will save the district about $7 million.

Another $2.7 million could be saved if the board decides to not renew contracts with temporary teachers.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, March 2, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

School buses won’t take students to and from middle and high schools next year in Riverside Unified School District.

The school board inched closer to solving its $49 million budget gap for 2010-11. The remaining $10 million gap will be addressed March 15.

Read the rest of this entry »

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/02/2010 06:26:46 PM PST

FONTANA – A school district beset with a record $30 million deficit is on the verge of sweeping layoffs and program cuts as school officials prepare to vote Wednesday night on a massive budget overhaul.

“All of the recommendations I would make to the board are painful and difficult, but it has to be done based on the governor’s current proposed budget,” said Cali Olsen-Binks, superintendent of the Fontana Unified School District.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Connie Llanos Staff Writer
Posted: 03/01/2010 07:33:43 PM PST

Los Angeles Unified officials are expected to approve a mass mailing of nearly 4,700 layoff notices for teachers, administrators, counselors and nurses Tuesday as they work to close a crippling $640 million budget deficit.

Recommended by the district’s finance staff in a report to be reviewed today by the school board, the move would virtually eliminate school nurses and librarians, increase all class sizes – including a high of up to 44 students in middle school – and boost counselor loads to 1,000 students each.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Monday, March 1, 2010

By BRIAN ROKOS
The Press-Enterprise

Ten counselors and seven elementary school music teachers could be among the 135 certificated employees laid off in the Hemet Unified School District if the teachers union does not accept a pay cut.

The district, trying to eliminate $19.7 million in spending before the 2010-11 school year, has already cut about $11 million. It has proposed making up the gap with a 6.5 percent pay cut for non-management workers.

Read the rest of this entry »

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/27/2010 06:12:50 AM PST

The federal stimulus package has allocated more than $900 million for local projects, but congressional Republicans and Democrats from the Inland Empire disagree about whether the money spent so far has accomplished its main goal: creating jobs.

Republicans say the money has mostly gone to expanding government programs and has not created jobs as promised. But Democrats say many jobs have been either saved or created and that the bill has worked. In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said the stimulus bill has put to work two million Americans who would otherwise be jobless.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/25/2010 05:44:44 PM PST

REDLANDS – Budget cuts and possibly layoffs loom in the near future for the University of Redlands.

The university is beginning a plan to close a $13 million deficit, said UR president Stuart Dorsey. The amount is equivalent to about 10 percent of the school’s operating budget, and is a “persistent structural” shortfall.

Read the rest of this entry »

February 25, 2010 8:27 AM
Natasha Lindstrom

VICTORVILLE • The Victor Elementary School District Board of Trustees voted Wednesday night to send 126 initial pink slips — a move that axes 76 classroom teachers and eliminates every school-site health clerk and music instructor.

The preliminary layoffs aim to help patch a $10.5 million budget shortfall, or roughly 13 percent of the district’s operating budget, for 2010-11 as officials grapple with state cuts and declining revenue. The reduction in teachers alone saves more than $5 million.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:03 PM PST on Sunday, February 21, 2010

By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
The Press-Enterprise

The Temecula Valley Unified school board will consider eliminating nearly 150 teaching and counseling positions at a special meeting Tuesday.

The board also will consider approving furloughs, pay freezes and other cost-cutting measures during the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. in the district conference facility at 31350 Rancho Vista Road.

Read the rest of this entry »

Job cuts in district

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/20/2010 09:07:46 PM PST

CLAREMONT – The school district is expected to send out at least 30 preliminary layoff notices, a district official said.

They would be distributed equally to all instructional areas and would be mailed March 15, said Devon Freitas, assistant superintendent of human resources for the Claremont Unified School District.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Not only did popular Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein announce that she will not challenge Brown for the party’s nomination, but three independent campaigns – largely backed by organized labor – promised to collectively spend $40 million against Brown’s deep-pocketed Republican opponents.

The first target: Meg Whitman, the billionaire former eBay CEO.

Read the rest of this entry »

Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/18/2010 09:14:59 PM PST

COLTON – The Colton Joint Unified School District Board of Education voted 4-3 to issue preliminary layoff notices to 141 teachers Thursday night.

The move paves the way for a worst case scenario in which many teachers could lose their jobs. District officials say, however, it’s unlikely such a scenario will occur.

Read the rest of this entry »

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 02/17/2010 05:02:32 PM PST

Tears were shed Tuesday at the Chaffey Joint Union school board meeting as its members agreed to consider $10.6 million in cuts.

The board’s preliminary cost-saving proposals for the 2010-11 budget included reductions or eliminations of sports, counselors, a young-mothers program, school days as well as certificated librarians.

Read the rest of this entry »

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 02/17/2010 05:19:52 PM PST

CHINO – As education coffers decline throughout the state, the Chino Valley Unified board tonight is again considering some deep cuts to services and programs.

District officials said the cuts aren’t out of want but rather necessity. The board has already had to cut about $27 million last year because of the state budget crisis.

Read the rest of this entry »

Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/17/2010 06:08:20 PM PST

COLTON – At its meeting tonight, the Colton Joint Unified School District Board of Education will consider issuing preliminary layoff notices to 141 teachers.

Officials say the move will prepare for multi-million dollar financial shortfalls expected over the next two years, but some parents fear teacher layoffs will hurt student performance.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Monday, February 15, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The Riverside school board could vote today to lay off 72 teachers and 48 administrators, and cut management pay.

The 72 instructors would be in addition to 160 teachers from elementary schools the board voted Feb. 1 to lay off.

The district now faces a budget shortfall of $47 million to $49 million for 2010-11 as state funding drops.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Monday, February 15, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The Corona-Norco school board tonight will consider laying off 343 employees, two-thirds of whom teach in elementary schools.

The resolution to cut that many full-time jobs lists 220 elementary teachers, 27 counselors, eight student advisers, 10 assistant principals, three district coordinators, 13 special education teachers, five music teachers and, from the secondary level, 14 English teachers, 12 math teachers, 11 social studies teachers, four PE teachers, three Spanish teachers, three independent-studies teachers, five librarians, two art teachers, two business teachers and a health teacher.

Read the rest of this entry »