Education in the News, Across the State

State deficit puts schools in 'precarious' position(San Francisco Chronicle © 02/04/2009)
(02-03) 20:15 PST -- In his grimmest State of Education address yet, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell pointed to a "precarious" school system all but collapsing under the weight of California's fiscal crisis. Schools expect to lose $10 billion this year alone, resulting in teacher layoffs, soaring class sizes and fewer librarians and nurses, O'Connell said in his sixt...
Hayward parents outraged by education cuts(KTVU-TV (Fox) Oakland © 02/04/2009)
Hayward Education Association President Kathleen Crummey, along with Hayward Unified parents and teachers, express outrage over state education cuts and plans by Hayward Unified to eliminate K-3 smaller class sizes....
Teachers protest education cuts(KGO-TV San Francisco © 02/04/2009)
By Lyanne Melendez SAN FRANCISCO (KGO-TV) -- The proposed cuts to education compelled teachers and parents in San Francisco to take to the streets. A major rally was underway around 5 p.m. Tuesday evening at San Francisco's City Hall. The state superintendent of schools says it's a precarious time for education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said if these cuts go...
California's low credit rating: Investors win, taxpayers lose(Los Angeles Times © 02/04/2009)
When the state of Georgia sold 10-year bonds on Monday, it paid an annualized tax-free interest yield of 2.99% to the investors who bought the IOUs. If California tried to sell 10-year bonds now, it probably would have to pay about 4%. That shows the hard-money penalty that taxpayers of the Golden State incur for its low credit rating, which sank even further on Tuesday: Standard & Poor’s do...
O'Connell urges education improvements despite likely funding cuts(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin © 02/04/2009)
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell urged educators and policymakers to continue closing the achievement gap even as their schools prepare for staggering cuts in funding. "These times are turbulent with no clear skies ahead," O'Connell said in his state of education address. "The national economic downturn and the budget shortfall facing our state are creating...
Possible budget cuts draw parents concerns(Riverside Press Enterprise © 02/04/2009)
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 By ERIN WALDNER The Press-Enterprise BEAUMONT - Dozens of parents voiced concerns and asked questions about possible budget cuts at the Beaumont Unified School District during a public forum Tuesday night. The district is facing a $7 million shortfall for the 2009-10 school year. As a result, a budget review committee has proposed the district elimina...
Salinas Union High School District plans no layoffs this year, but still needs to cut its budget(Californian © 02/04/2009)
Salinas Union High School District leaders on the one hand are vowing no layoffs this year but on the other are drawing up an employee seniority list - just in case. The board of trustees met Tuesday night in a special session focused solely on discussing the district's budget for the remainder of this year and the next two years. But with no one knowing what cuts the deficit-ridden state may...
LIVERMORE: OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS STATE BUDGET'S IMPACT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES(KPIX CBS Channel 5 © 02/04/2009)
* Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:55E-mail PrintLIVERMORE: OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS STATE BUDGET'S IMPACT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES LIVERMORE (BCN) Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi and state Chancellor of California Community Colleges Jack Scott will hold a briefing today at Las Positas College in Livermore to discuss the impact of the state budget on community colleges, workforce development in the green tech indu...
Tulare, Tipton school districts brace for more cuts(Visalia Times-Delta © 02/04/2009)
BY VICTOR GARCIA vdgarcia@visalia.gannett.com Tulare-area school districts are preparing for midyear budget reductions by making spending cuts outside the classroom. The Tulare City School District is expecting as much as $3 million in midyear cuts. It plans on cutting summer school altogether this year and curtailing its energy usage. The district has also implemented a hiring freeze, a confe...
Fears of fiscal solvency arise as area school districts work toward positive certifications(Santa Maria Times © 02/04/2009)
Several Central Coast school districts say they might not be able to meet their financial obligations through 2011 if the state Legislature passes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget. State law requires districts to file budgets with their respective county Office of Education that certify they will remain fiscally solvent for at least three years. By filing a “positive cert...
Novato schools plan would cut 60 teachers and all sports(Marin Independent-Journal © 02/04/2009)
The wide-ranging cuts, which the district board will consider at a Feb. 10 meeting, are based on the assumption that the state will eliminate the funding the Novato district receives to reduce the number of students in a classroom. Officials will not know the actual cost of the state's cuts until the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can agree on a solution to California's $42 million bud...
Controller, unions keep California furlough fight alive in 2 courts(Sacramento Bee © 02/04/2009)
With thousands of state workers facing their first unpaid day off on Friday, the fight over whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can legally cut employee hours and pay split into two courts on Tuesday. State Controller John Chiang asked a Sacramento Superior Court judge to clarify an earlier ruling that Schwarzenegger interprets as license to furlough 15,600 employees previously thought outside of ...