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Unhappy O.C. parents going after school trustees
School's out for summer, but parents and community members are hard at work trying to oust trustees in three of Orange County's largest school districts.
» Read More'Enemies' file claims vs. Capistrano district
About two dozen residents who were identified by Capistrano Unified as recall proponents, or family members of recall proponents, have filed claims of as much as $5 million against the district.
» Read MoreToday's editorial: Let Anaheim school voters fill the slot
Sometimes it's hard to believe the poor judgment of elected officials.
» Read MoreCommunity leaders call for trustee's removal
ANAHEIM – Community leaders who blasted the recent appointment of Harald Martin – the trustee who gained national notoriety for his effort to bill Mexico for the cost of educating illegal immigrants – have launched a petition drive to unseat him from the Anaheim Union High School District board.
» Read MoreCUSD testimony goes past 'enemies lists'
Grand jury testimony indicated former Superintendent James Fleming may have repeatedly misled trustees – including using inaccurate figures to show the cost of the recall of Capistrano Unified trustees.
» Read MoreState clears Santa Ana special ed program
SANTA ANA The state Department of Education has thrown out a complaint filed by two teachers at Valley High alleging that special education students at their school were improperly moved into regular classes because of limited classroom space.
» Read MoreFleming asks district to cover legal fees
The former superintendent of Capistrano Unified will ask trustees to pay his legal fees in his criminal case over two "enemies" lists of political opponents.
» Read MoreDistrict proposes plan for $195 million bond
PLACENTIA — Yorba Linda Unified School District officials Tuesday presented the school board with a plan to spend a proposed $195 million bond measure on specific facility and curriculum improvements.
» Read MoreCivil charges planned against Capistrano Unified officials
Orange County prosecutors plan to file a civil case against Capistrano Unified School District officials alleging that trustees illegally conducted public business in secret, including approving millions of dollars in construction cost overruns at the new district headquarters, according to grand jury transcripts unsealed Friday.
» Read MoreCapistrano schools again embroiled in a recall
Critics of a southern Orange County school district launched an effort Monday to recall four longtime trustees, the latest salvo in a revolt that has besieged Capistrano Unified School District in recent years.
» Read MoreCUSD faces recall campaign
Parents and residents today announced they will again try to recall four Capistrano Unified trustees, saying they have allowed a "culture of corruption" and "grossly mismanaged district finances."
» Read MorePlacentia board may vote on levy in August
PLACENTIA – A $190 million levy proposed for the February 2008 ballot could build a performing arts center, athletic facilities and wire campuses for broader access to technology at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
» Read MoreSchool board criticized for morning meeting
LOS ALAMITOS – The Los Alamitos Unified school board responded Monday to criticism from teachers and parents that an early morning meeting held on graduation day for Los Alamitos High School appeared to have been intentionally set to prevent the public from attending.
» Read MoreLayoffs looming in Irvine Unified
IRVINE – The School Board here will decide tonight whether to lay off an equivalent of about 18 full-time classified employees because of a lack of work and lack of funds.
» Read MoreState schools chief shuns local debate
VISTA ---- State Superintendent Jack O'Connell doesn't plan to debate Vista Unified school board President Jim Gibson, a spokeswoman said Friday, two weeks after an Orange County-based education reform group sent an invitation to both officials.
» Read MoreSchool system fails English Learners
REMEMBER when California voters tossed out the traditional bilingual education program in 1998? Proposition 227, which won with 61 percent of the vote, ended the old "separate but equal" bilingual education programs by requiring the state's public schools to instruct children in English. After Prop. 227's passage, children who are not proficient in English moved from the old segregated programs into mainstream classrooms. Accounting for 1 in 4 students in the public schools, English Learner students now learn alongside their peers.
» Read MoreO.C. students outperform peers in English test
A third of Orange County's students still learning English passed a test measuring their fluency, according to figures released Thursday.
» Read MoreOne Irvine school closes, another opens
IRVINE – El Camino Real Elementary School has closed its doors after 35 years to transfer the school's "heart and soul" to a new home in Woodbury.
» Read MoreIrvine seeks 'quality' school funds
The Irvine Unified school board is concerned about the funding for schools that will be built around the future Great Park, and members want to study whether to turn that portion of the district over to neighboring Saddleback Valley Unified.
» Read MoreOrange Unified board member answers petition to recall him
SANTA ANA – Orange Unified School District trustee Steve Rocco has filed a response to the recall effort against him with the Registrar of Voters Office.
» Read MoreA fist look at San Juan Hills High School
Final preparations have begun at the new San Juan Hills High School campus, as school staff move into their new offices and begin final preparations for the school's inaugural class.
» Read MoreState aid sought for school hall project
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is seeking state funds to help cover the cost of replacing Robins Hall, the landmark building at Newport Harbor High School that is set to be demolished this summer.
» Read MoreSaddleback schools to keep health aides
Saddleback Valley Unified trustees will not cut health aides when they approve a final 2007-08 budget this month, but the rest of the budget changes approved in April are likely to remain, school officials said.
» Read MoreSanta Ana special-ed program under review
SANTA ANA – Two Santa Ana Unified teachers have filed a complaint with the state Office of Education alleging that special-education students at their school were improperly moved into regular classes because of limited classroom space.
» Read MoreBoard member target of recall
ORANGE - A group of community members served Orange Unified School District trustee Steve Rocco on Thursday with a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition.
» Read MoreSanta Ana Unified looks into building bond
SANTA ANA – The Santa Ana Unified School District recently kicked off a plan to study construction and renovation needs at its 60 campuses – the first step in deciding whether officials will pursue a new school construction bond.
» Read MoreMove forward, Capo leader urges
The president of the Capistrano Unified School District board on Monday urged the community to move past recent controversies — including the indictment of a former superintendent — and work with current leaders to restore the system's credibility.
» Read MoreTeachers approve salary-increase terms
Newport-Mesa Unified School District teachers approved a salary increase over the next three years, ending several tense months in which instructors protested for higher pay.
» Read MoreSuperintendent's about-face shocks CUSD
Trustees and critics in Capistrano Unified on Thursday presented competing narratives of why a newly hired superintendent backed out of a $300,000 job in one of the state's most high-profile districts.
» Read MoreAnaheim Union on the rebound after fiscal trouble
Anaheim The Anaheim Union High School District mismanaged in several ways a multi-million-dollar construction project to rebuild schools – but since late 2005, the district has had proper oversight of the money, says a report released Wednesday by the Orange County Grand Jury.
» Read MoreCapistrano Unified loses designated superintendent
The man selected to become superintendent of the troubled San Juan Capistrano Unified School District has backed out of the deal, officials said Wednesday.
» Read MoreNew CUSD superintendent quits
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO - The new superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District announced late Wednesday that because of "uncertainty and instability" in the district, he had changed his mind, leaving the district's top position vacant.
» Read MoreFleming denies charges
The former superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District said in an e-mail to supporters that he did not misuse public funds or confidential student records for political purposes, defended his tenure at the district and blamed political opposition for the controversy surrounding him.
» Read MoreFlemings foes are just getting started
You bet they feel vindicated. What they aren't feeling is charitable. You could say, in fact, they're just getting warmed up.
» Read MoreCapistrano ex-schools chief indicted over use of school funds
The Capistrano Unified School District's former superintendent has been charged with three felony counts related to his creation of an enemies list during a failed attempt to recall the district's trustees, according to an Orange County Grand Jury indictment unsealed this morning.
» Read MoreCUSD ex-chief Fleming indicted
Former Capistrano Unified School District superintendent James Fleming was indicted on charges of misappropriating public funds in creating “enemies lists” of political foes, making him the highest-ranking school official ever indicted in Orange County, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said.
» Read MoreMore unrest at Capo Unified
Discord continued to brew in the beleaguered Capistrano Unified School District, with critics questioning two trustees' motives and behavior during the most recent board meeting.
» Read More12 O.C. students win Gates scholarships
For a while, Nancy Nguyen thought that going to Harvard University, her dream school, this fall meant taking out costly loans and finding a part-time job.
» Read MoreMore unrest at Capo Unified
Discord continued to brew in the beleaguered Capistrano Unified School District, with critics questioning two trustees' motives and behavior during the most recent board meeting.
» Read MoreBrea Olinda district's superintendent retiring
Supt. Tim Harvey, who has led the Brea Olinda Unified School District for six years, announced Tuesday that he would retire in December.
» Read MoreO.C. high school graduation rate at 92%
Orange County's high school graduation rate reached 92 percent last year, a slight decrease from the previous year but still well above the state average, according to new state figures.
» Read MoreCounty names top 5 teachers
Leaders from the Orange County Department of Education crisscrossed the county in a yellow school bus Thursday, announcing to five teachers that they were named Orange County's 2007 teachers of the year.
» Read MoreTeacher union, school district settle
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has signed a tentative agreement with its teachers union, following six months of negotiations during which the union sought higher pay.
» Read MoreHuntington school district drops 'Bible lit' talk
Huntington Beach Union High School District board members failed to schedule a discussion of the course at their meeting Tuesday night. Trustee Matthew Harper mentioned the item, as did community members and proponent Walter Schulte, during the public comment portion of the meeting, but no other district officials showed any interest.
» Read MoreRocco, others must pay for school district lawsuit
Orange Unified trustee Steve Rocco and others who unsuccessfully sued the school district will have to pay $37,000 in legal fees, a judge ruled Friday.
» Read MoreFor lease: part of Capo Unified complex
Capistrano Unified School District officials announced Tuesday that they would lease out one-third of their $36-million administration center. Construction of the three-building complex, which district critics called an unnecessary and extravagant "Taj Mahal," prompted turmoil in the South County school district.
» Read MoreCapistrano school district plans staff cuts
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The Capistrano Unified School District will make staff cuts, either through attrition or layoffs, of about $4.2 million to balance its budget in 2007-08, as the district tries to rebuild reserves that have dipped to the minimum required by law.
» Read MoreTough questions for new CUSD chief
Nine months ago, Dennis Smith watched from afar as Capistrano Unified's superintendent faced investigations by law enforcement, chastisement from city leaders and accusations that district officials used student databases to create lists of political opponents.
» Read MoreSome Orange Unified parents want drug testing
ORANGE – Some parents are trying to push for the Orange Unified School District to adopt a policy that would allow them to elect their kids for randomly scheduled drug tests.
» Read MoreRaises would break CUSD deadlock
Capistrano Unified teachers will get a 7 percent raise over two years, and CUSD will finally know for certain how much it must cut from next year's budget, if teachers and trustees vote to ratify a contract settlement reached Monday and approved by union representatives Tuesday.
» Read MoreValley students help Romer get education on politicians' radar
VALLEY GLEN - Marking his first visit to Los Angeles since retiring as schools chief last fall, Roy Romer met with students at Grant High School on Wednesday as part of a national bid to make education a priority in the upcoming presidential campaign.
» Read MoreSchool enrollments fall for 3rd year
In just three years, the enrollment in 19 Orange County school districts has dropped by a combined 17,725 students. That's enough students to fill about 10 high schools, or 30 elementary schools.
» Read MoreTustin school receive state achievement award
TUSTIN – Jeane Thorman Elementary School in Tustin is one of 461 schools in the state and the sole Tustin Unified School District school to receive this year's state Title I Academic Achievement Award.
» Read MoreWestminster School District nears filling top job
WESTMINSTER A tumultuous two-year search for a Westminster School District superintendent will likely end tonight as the School Board prepares to name a new chief.
» Read MoreFor school, 2+2=4 honors
MISSION VIEJO – Allan Mucerino never used the word "reform." You don't go into a good school and start throwing that word around. La Paz Intermediate had twice won California Distinguished School status, the state's top honor, when Mucerino took over as principal in 2000. It was a good school.
» Read MoreTeachers upset with administrators' raises
HUNTINGTON BEACH – Teachers and parents say they will voice their concerns at Tuesday's Huntington Beach City School District board meeting about what they call unfair pay raises for administrators at a time when classrooms are hit by cutbacks.
» Read MoreBoard affirms school attendance inquiry
Santa Ana Unified School District trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to spend as much as $25,000 to audit their class-size-reduction program, an investigation prompted by reports that teachers were asked to sign falsified class rosters and that the district misused substitute teachers in an attempt to qualify for $16 million in state funds.
» Read MoreMore classes added to audit
SANTA ANA- The audit of Santa Ana Unified's beleaguered class-size-reduction program will expand into ninth-grade English and math classes.
» Read MoreBoard unsure about Bible in class
HUNTINGTON BEACH - A retired mechanical engineer and some of his supporters made their best pitch for teaching the Bible in the classroom Tuesday at a Huntington Beach Union High School District meeting.
» Read MoreDistrict teachers picket at open house
» Read More
Two O.C. schools dropped from achievement list
SACRAMENTO State education officials on Thursday issued a revised list of high-poverty schools receiving achievement awards after an inquiry by the Associated Press revealed errors in calculations.
» Read MoreL.A. Unified rejects charter expansion
A split Los Angeles Board of Education on Thursday rejected the expansion plans of one of the city's leading charter school operators — a move that almost certainly violates state law and firmly sets back future collaboration between the charter group and the school district.
» Read MoreSchool board to consider 'Bible as Literature' course
Huntington Beach high school students could soon be bringing a Bible to school – not for a Bible study but for class credit. The district's school board on Tuesday will consider a proposal for a Bible as Literature course that would be offered as an elective in its public high schools.
» Read MoreSAUSD denies fraud in letter
SANTA ANA – Santa Ana Unified Superintendent Jane Russo issued an open letter today to the Register and other media to address the recent controversy over the district's class-size reduction program.
» Read MoreSchool district reviews programs
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District may undergo a streamlining in the near future, as administrators are evaluating dozens of programs to determine whether they justify their costs and provide enough benefits to students
» Read MoreClass sizes at Santa Ana schools to be audited
SANTA ANA- Santa Ana Unified has chosen an auditor to determine whether the district followed state law when dozens of class sizes were increased even though the district receives funding to keep classes small, officials said today.
» Read MoreOfficial apologizes over class-size furor
A Santa Ana Unified School District administrator has apologized to grade school teachers for a district policy that called for falsifying class rosters in order to retain state funding for small classes, and pledged that rosters would be corrected to accurately reflect the number of students in each classroom, according to teachers and a union official.
» Read MoreUnion holds off on offer
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District offered its teachers a 3% salary increase for the current school year but has yet to reach an agreement with the teachers union, district officials confirmed Monday.
» Read MoreSchool board: No term limits
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board doesn't appear to have term limits in its near future, as the trustees turned back a proposal by school board member Karen Yelsey to hold officials to 12 years of service or less.
» Read MorePlans approved for schools facing sanctions
Facing federal sanctions, three schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District are set to add several hours to the school year, change curriculum for students learning English and make other changes over the coming months.
» Read MoreSchool sites get technology windfall
A one-time grant that state lawmakers gave directly to schools has let south-county schools spend millions of dollars on computers and other technology this year.
» Read MoreState to review Santa Ana Unified enrollment data
SANTA ANA – The state Department of Education will review the Santa Ana Unified School District's enrollment figures to see whether the district followed state law after some class sizes increased even though the district was receiving funding to keep classes small, state officials said Wednesday
» Read MoreSanta Ana accused of phantom classes
Santa Ana Unified School District administrators created false class rosters and misused substitute teachers to qualify for state funding earmarked for small classes for elementary students, according to eight teachers, school documents and state officials.
» Read MoreTeachers want better pay
COSTA MESA — Hundreds of Newport-Mesa teachers protested outside and inside district headquarters Tuesday to demand higher salaries.
» Read MoreState scores O.C. schools
About 17 percent of all Orange County public schools earned the highest possible ranking on state test scores when they were compared to all California schools.
The state Department of Education released two sets of rankings Tuesday so parents and educators can measure their campuses against others
» Read MoreThe state Department of Education released two sets of rankings Tuesday so parents and educators can measure their campuses against others
Board term limits urged
Karen Yelsey pulled off an upset victory four months ago in the Newport-Mesa school board race, toppling a longtime incumbent with an aggressive grass-roots campaign.
» Read MoreCalifornia Focus: A system that defies reform
The state Capitol was abuzz last week over "Getting Down to Facts," the massive series of privately funded education reports coordinated through Stanford University. The responses to these reports missed some key realities.
» Read MoreOn a fact-finding mission
EDITOR'S NOTE: In response to readers' assertions that TeWinkle Middle School is chaotic and gang-infested, we sent reporter Michael Miller to spend a day on the campus. He wrote the following account of his day there.
» Read MoreReport says public schools in California are 'broken'
SAN FRANCISCO, March 15 — A scathing 18-month evaluation of California’s public schools has concluded that the state’s educational system is “broken,” crippled by a complex bureaucracy, flawed teacher policies and misspent school money, leaving it in need of sweeping reforms that could cost billions of dollars.
» Read MorePlacentia official finalist for Capo Unified post
The Capistrano Unified Board of Trustees on Monday named Dennis M. Smith as its finalist to become superintendent.
» Read MoreSanta Ana to close two schools
Grappling with a budget shortfall caused by declining enrollment, trustees of Orange County's largest school district voted Tuesday to close two schools in June as part of a plan to cut $15.6 million in spending for the next school year.
» Read MoreSanta Ana trustees vote to close Grant
SANTA ANA – For much of the past year, a handful of parents like Rocio Villalobos have heard all the reasons why Grant Elementary should close.
» Read MoreDistrict leader offers new idea
Chuck Hinman, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District's assistant superintendent of secondary education, pitched a new program to the school board on Monday — and he was quick to stress that it wouldn't be abandoned next year
» Read MoreSchool district trustees look for ways to cut
Santa Ana Unified School District board members discussed how to cut $21 million in spending for the upcoming school year but hadn't completed their work during a meeting that continued late into the evening Tuesday.
» Read MoreSanta Ana school to close
SANTA ANA - The Santa Ana Unified School Board voted late Tuesday to close Grant Elementary, a small campus of portable buildings, in an effort to balance the district budget.
» Read MoreEducators ponder who gets left behind
Like a strict teacher demanding precision from her students, No Child Left Behind has inspired reactions ranging from anger to admiration during the five years it has re-shaped public education in every city and hamlet in America.
» Read MoreDispute leads to suite against district
SANTA ANA – A Garden Grove school board member has filed a lawsuit against the Westminster school district after trustees there voted to hire her as superintendent and later rescinded the offer.
» Read MoreCalifornia's Education Report Card: Lots of F's and D's
What is the real state of education in California? Although many people may have a feeling that the public education system is not operating well, the reality is that things are much worse than they can imagine. Pacific Research Institute’s recently released California Education Report Card examines 17 different education categories and the results are dismal, with six Fs, five Ds, four Cs, one B, and one A. This is a report card that no one would want to bring home to mom and dad, let alone the California public which is paying for this mostly non-performing system.
» Read MoreSchools to cut $8.8 million
SANTA ANA – The Santa Ana Unified School Board voted late Tuesday to trim nearly $8.8 million, mostly in administrative and facilities costs, in an effort to balance the district's budget.
» Read MoreMore students taking Chinese
FULLERTON – Mandarin Chinese classes are rising in popularity among the six foreign languages taught at Sunny Hills High School.
» Read MoreDistrict to review final reports
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District plans to hold a meeting Tuesday to present the final reports on three schools facing federal sanctions under the No Child Left Behind Act.
» Read MoreFunding system in local district affects salaries
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is busy negotiating salaries for its teachers after a report showed that they were the lowest-paid in any unified district in the county. Whatever the district ends up paying, however, one thing is certain: Taxpayers will foot most of the bill.
» Read More3 Capo Unified trustees want 'Christmas' put back in the vacation
Three newly elected school board members in southern Orange County want to rename the two-week winter vacation the "Christmas" recess.
» Read MoreReport on CUSD allegations presented tonight
An investigation paid for by Capistrano Unified into allegations against ex-Superintendent James Fleming and the Board of Trustees will be submitted to the board tonight.
» Read MoreSanta Ana Unified to cut 60 teachers, $15 million from budget
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A New Year for School Reform
The No Child Left Behind Act broke new ground when it required the states to educate impoverished children up to the same standards as their affluent counterparts, in exchange for federal aid.
» Read MoreSanta Ana Unified opens new school
SANTA ANA – Santa Ana Unified has completed Lorin Griset Academy, the district's fourth new campus paid for with the Measure C construction bond.
» Read MoreInterim Ocean View schools superintendent upbeat
HUNTINGTON BEACH – Resignations, teacher contract negotiations, a sexual harassment lawsuit and school construction woes didn't stop Ed Sussman from accepting the challenge.
» Read MorePeter Schrag: No Child Left Behind: Fix it, but don't nix it
Like many federal laws, the No Child Left Behind Act operates mostly on states and local agencies. Few ordinary citizens notice it in their private lives.
» Read MoreCalifornia: Judge strikes down Los Angeles school Plan
A judge struck down a law granting Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles partial control of the nation’s second-largest school district.
» Read MoreExpert panel proposes far-reaching redesign of the American Education System
Warning that Americans face a grave risk of losing their prosperity and high quality of life to better educated workers overseas, a panel of education, labor and other public policy experts yesterday proposed a far-reaching redesign of the United States education system that would include having schools operated by independent contractors and giving states, rather than local districts, control over school financing.
» Read MoreNegotiations are signaled on phone ban in city schools
In an indication that parents and the school system may be trying to negotiate a compromise on the city’s ban on cellphones in the schools, a court hearing on a suit challenging the ban was postponed yesterday.
» Read MoreWestminster School District claim appears headed for court
WESTMINSTER – Westminster School District trustees have unanimously rejected a claim from KimOanh Nguyen-Lam, whom the district hired and days later fired as superintendent.
» Read MoreEvolution warnings don't stick
ATLANTA — A suburban school board has abandoned its four-year legal fight to place stickers in high school biology textbooks that say "evolution is a theory, not a fact."
» Read MoreSanta Ana Unified adds third week to schools' winter break
SANTA ANA – For the Pineda family, a two-week winter break is just too short.
Miguel and Anabeth, and their two children from Washington Elementary, use that time off from school each year to visit grandparents and other family spread across three states in Mexico.
» Read MoreMiguel and Anabeth, and their two children from Washington Elementary, use that time off from school each year to visit grandparents and other family spread across three states in Mexico.
Expert Panel Proposes Far-Reaching Redesign of the American Education System
Warning that Americans face a grave risk of losing their prosperity and high quality of life to better educated workers overseas, a panel of education, labor and other public policy experts yesterday proposed a far-reaching redesign of the United States education system that would include having schools operated by independent contractors and giving states, rather than local districts, control over school financing.
» Read MoreSchools may get harder to leave
FULLERTON – Two new initiatives in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District mean students will likely take more math and science classes that are focused on real-world skills.
» Read MoreHow to build a student for the 21st century
American schools aren't exactly frozen in time, but considering the pace of change in other areas of life, our public schools tend to feel like throwbacks.
» Read MoreAnaheim campus in search of a name
ANAHEIM – Tomorrow Land Elementary? Anaheim Angels Elementary?
The Anaheim City School District board tonight will discuss some 15 name suggestions they've received for the campus on Harbor Boulevard and Ball Road.
» Read MoreThe Anaheim City School District board tonight will discuss some 15 name suggestions they've received for the campus on Harbor Boulevard and Ball Road.
Why the acheivement gap persists
The No Child Left Behind education act, which requires the states to close the achievement gap between rich and poor students in exchange for federal aid, has been under heavy fire since it was passed five years ago.
» Read MoreFewer police in Anaheim schools
ANAHEIM – For the past four years, officer Kyle Bernard has had a focused task: keeping city schools safe.
» Read MoreHigh school in Irvine drops plan to scan fingerprints
A plan to scan the fingerprints of 2,200 Irvine high school students to ease lunch lines was scrapped this week after angry parents argued it would violate teens' privacy rights.
» Read MoreCases retread Brown vs. Board of Education steps
WASHINGTON — For the first time in a decade, the Supreme Court will revisit the legacy of a landmark: the Brown vs. Board of Education decision of 1954 that declared unconstitutional the racial segregation of public schools.
» Read MoreO.C. high school writes rules to take 'freak' out of dancing
The principal of a south Orange County high school has lifted a nearly three-month-long dancing ban he instituted after seeing teenagers' sexually suggestive moves at school dances that were "one step from events that should be occurring on wedding nights."
» Read MoreFullerton School District superintendent to retire
FULLERTON – In a surprise announcement at Tuesday night's board meeting, Fullerton School District Superintendent Cameron McCune said he is retiring effective summer 2007.
» Read MoreAttitudes sour on sex between boys, teachers
It got started on the Fourth of July, authorities allege.
That's when a 31-year-old English teacher at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo started having sex with one of her male students, according to criminal charges filed Tuesday by Orange County prosecutors.
» Read MoreThat's when a 31-year-old English teacher at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo started having sex with one of her male students, according to criminal charges filed Tuesday by Orange County prosecutors.
Irvine Valley College to build business center
IRVINE – Irvine Valley College has broken ground on its state-of-the-art Business Sciences and Technology Innovation Center – a building officials say will open business opportunities to students and the community, and help the college grow.
» Read MoreExit exam eludes some
The first time Alfredo Guzman took the California High School Exit Exam two years ago, he wasn't too worried when he failed.
» Read MoreCapistrano Unified to open its books to public
Capistrano Unified officials will provide a full accounting of facilities projects and spending over the past 15 years, a response to parents who say the district misled the public.
» Read MoreRocco, activist group sue Orange Unified over censure
ORANGE – Orange Unified School District board member Steve Rocco and an activist group have filed a lawsuit claiming the district violated the Brown Act and the California Constitution
» Read MoreCUSD settles suit
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Capistrano Unified on Monday scrapped a policy that made racial balance a factor in drawing school boundaries.
» Read MoreSchool district alters policty to settle suit
The Capistrano Unified School District has agreed to settle a lawsuit by eliminating references to race and ethnicity in its attendance boundary policy and delaying indefinitely a decision on who will attend a new high school.
» Read MoreOrange Coast student board goes for optional oath
COSTA MESA – The Pledge of Allegiance is back on the agenda for the Orange Coast College student board of trustees – but only as an "opportunity."
» Read MoreLeader resigns over pledge
Christine Zoldos, a second-year political science major, cited irreconcilable differences with her colleagues. In a statement to student leaders and college administrators, she criticized student body President Lynne Riddle and accused four of the five elected trustees of being arrogant and failing to represent students' views.
» Read MoreAnaheim: Turner sues school district
Turner Construction Co. has filed a lawsuit against Anaheim Union High School District and its consultant, Construction Controls Group, alleging the district breached its contract and owes Turner more than $1 million in damages.
» Read MoreArt funds for schools return for encore
California's public schools are poised to receive the biggest infusion of state cash for arts education in decades, and educators are trying to figure out how to spend it.
» Read MoreOrange Coast College tops in 4-year transfers
COSTA MESA –Orange Coast College transferred more students to California State University campuses last year than any other two-year college in California, according to state figures.
» Read MoreCUSD to consider settlements in disputes with residents
Capistrano Unified trustees will meet in closed session tonight to discuss two lawsuits brought by local residents against district policies.
» Read MoreInterim school district chief is on the move
In his first three weeks, Interim Superintendent Charles McCully has made himself known in Capistrano Unified.
He has met with – and drawn raves from – many of the district's loudest critics.
He has visited about 10 schools and intends to visit all of them before long.
» Read MoreHe has met with – and drawn raves from – many of the district's loudest critics.
He has visited about 10 schools and intends to visit all of them before long.
Editorial: School bond burden shouldn't be increased
Measure O on the November ballot would raise $393 million in construction bonds for Rancho Santiago Community College District. It's a 25-year bond that follows on the heels of Measure E, a $337 million bond passed in 2002.
» Read MoreIrvine CO. to give school district $2.5M
Newport-Mesa elementary school officials had enough money for new science classrooms, thanks to voters who recently approved a bond to pay for them, but they couldn't afford to put teachers in them.
Now they do. The Irvine Co. is giving the district $2.5 million over the next decade to hire full-time science teachers.
» Read MoreNow they do. The Irvine Co. is giving the district $2.5 million over the next decade to hire full-time science teachers.
Capo leak efforts described
The former superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District instructed staff to leak private documents, including student records in a high-profile expulsion case, according to a deposition by former district spokesman David Smollar.
» Read MoreWhen Bond Money Runs Out, Ask For More
Voters gave the Rancho Santiago district $337 million four years ago. Now they're being hit up for $393 million
» Read MoreEstancia asks for federal grant
Estancia High School has applied for a federal grant to help implement smaller learning communities on its campus, becoming the third school in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to embark on such a project.
» Read MoreAnaheim City School District considers name change
Trustees at the Anaheim City School District, an elementary district, today will discuss changing the district's name to avoid confusion with the Anaheim Union High School District.
» Read MoreMore trustees to step down
The Newport-Mesa education community is set to have at least three new leaders this year, as another pair of trustees have announced that they will not seek re-election in November.
» Read MoreGays-in-textbooks bill scaled back
SACRAMENTO - A proposal to require California textbooks to reflect the historical contributions of gay people was scaled back Monday to prohibit schools from negatively portraying homosexuals.
» Read MoreCapo Unified Trustee Won't Seek Reelection
Crystal Kochendorfer, an 18-year member of the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, announced Monday that she would not run for reelection in November.
» Read MoreIndependent probe of Registrar is OKd
County officials will investigate whether Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley inappropriately helped Capistrano Unified School District officials avoid a recall last year.
» Read MoreCapistrano Unified is Sued for Alleged Violoation of Open-Meetings Law
An outspoken retired teacher sued the Capistrano Unified School District on Monday, accusing its trustees and superintendent of conspiring to curtail his ability to speak at public school board meetings.
Ron Lackey, who lives in Monarch Beach, attends every board meeting and regularly speaks on agenda items related to district spending.
» Read MoreRon Lackey, who lives in Monarch Beach, attends every board meeting and regularly speaks on agenda items related to district spending.
Guggenheim Study Suggests Arts Education Benefits Literacy Skills
In an era of widespread cuts in public-school art programs, the question has become increasingly relevant: does learning about paintings and sculpture help children become better students in other areas?
» Read MorePassing Down the Legacy of Conservatism
Headed for what she called “conservative boot camp,” Christina Pajak grabbed the essentials: dress sandals, her Bible and “The Politics of Prudence” by Russell Kirk, the celebrated writer who a half-century ago gave the conservative movement its name.
Christina Pajak, 18, left, says her conservatism springs from her background, but she likes to defend it by using works by noted thinkers.
» Read MoreChristina Pajak, 18, left, says her conservatism springs from her background, but she likes to defend it by using works by noted thinkers.
Fleming's son hired by district contractor
The son of Capistrano Unified schools chief James Fleming was aided by a district official in landing a job with a contractor who had done more than $7.3 million in work for the district.
Sean Fleming, 23, was hired as a temporary employee in 2003 and again in 2005 by Montano Plumbing Company. Neither Sean Fleming nor Montano Plumbing would say how much he was paid, other than he received the “prevailing wage” for his job title.
» Read MoreSean Fleming, 23, was hired as a temporary employee in 2003 and again in 2005 by Montano Plumbing Company. Neither Sean Fleming nor Montano Plumbing would say how much he was paid, other than he received the “prevailing wage” for his job title.
In Kindergarten Playtime, a New Meaning for ‘Play’
THE word “kindergarten” means “children’s garden,” and for years has conjured up an image of children playing with blocks, splashing at water tables, dressing up in costumes or playing house. Now, with an increased emphasis on academic achievement even in the earliest grades, playtime in kindergarten is giving way to worksheets, math drills and fill-in-the-bubble standardized tests.
» Read MoreCapo issues discussed secretly
Capistrano school trustees over the years secretly discussed muzzling board critics, increasing taxes and other business that open-meeting experts say should have been done in public.
» Read MoreO.C. Registrar Gave Petition Data to Some, Not Others
Embattled Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley provided information to Capistrano Unified School District officials about the progress of an effort to recall its seven trustees, data he did not share with recall proponents or the public, according to correspondence and the district's former spokesman.
» Read MoreDistrict delays hiring new superintendent
The Westminster school board will likely wait and watch the November election before selecting a new superintendent.
Trustees James Reed and Judy Ahrens – who reversed their votes and fired superintendent KimOanh Nguyen-Lam on May 30, a week after she was hired – are up for re-election.
» Read MoreTrustees James Reed and Judy Ahrens – who reversed their votes and fired superintendent KimOanh Nguyen-Lam on May 30, a week after she was hired – are up for re-election.
School districts look for leaders
It's described as one of the toughest jobs in education.
District superintendents often log 60 or more hours a week directing thousands of employees, managing budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and ensuring exam scores and graduation rates steadily increase in today's high-stakes age of testing.
» Read MoreDistrict superintendents often log 60 or more hours a week directing thousands of employees, managing budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and ensuring exam scores and graduation rates steadily increase in today's high-stakes age of testing.
Fleming understated pay package
Capistrano Schools Superintendent James Fleming understated his pay package by more than $64,000 in response to inquiries by The Orange County Register, documents and interviews show.
Fleming's pay, perks and benefits in 2004-05 amounted to $348,307 – much more than any other district superintendent or city manager in Orange County.
» Read MoreFleming's pay, perks and benefits in 2004-05 amounted to $348,307 – much more than any other district superintendent or city manager in Orange County.
Recent Articles
Editorial: Lesson in hubris at Capo Unified
The indictment last week of two former top officials at Capistrano Unified capped a long and bitter battle at that south county school district over efforts to reform leadership that had grown arrogant and out of touch with the public.
» Read MoreToday's editorial: Did Santa Ana schools cook books?
Confidence in public schools already is shaky, considering low test scores, high drop-out rates and ever-higher taxes. Now the Santa Ana Unified School District is accused of falsifying documents to receive extra tax funding from Sacramento.
» Read MoreCalifornia Education Report Card
Read article here: http://www.education-alliance.org/files/Report_Card_07.pdf
» Read MorePress Releases
CUSD Recall Committee Unveils New Website and Blog
Visit www.cusdrecall.com. This content-rich website will be a principal information resource where concerned parents, teachers, taxpayers and elected officials can regularly check in for news, updates and provocative discussion relating to the ongoing campaign to reform the Capistrano Unified School District.
» Read More5 New California Texts, 427 Factual Errors
September 25, 2006, Longview, TX The California State Board of Education, with input from two advisory panels, has approved new 8th grade U.S. History texts for 2006-07 local piloting and adoption in public schools statewide. And why is that a problem? Because, says Educational Research Analysts of Longview, Texas, these are defective products, screened by a flawed
process. Publishers and the state overlooked 427 clear factual errors in five of those books, which have become the "final" California editions sent to local districts.
» Read Moreprocess. Publishers and the state overlooked 427 clear factual errors in five of those books, which have become the "final" California editions sent to local districts.
CUSD Leadership Under Investigation
An investigation into allegations of illegal activities at the Capistrano Unified School District has been commenced. The Orange County District Attorney’s office is leading the investigation.
» Read MoreInvestigators Raid CUSD Headquarters
San Juan Capistrano. The CUSD Recall Committee announces that investigators armed with search warrants are raiding the headquarters of the Capistrano Unified School District.
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