Local Educators head to Sacramento

 Local educators traveled to the Sacramento and stood on the steps of the capitol to voice their opposition to the governor’s proposed budget this morning.

The proposed budget would cut $4.8 billion from education.

 

Rob Watanabe, superintendent for Bassett Unified School District, gave me a first hand account of the event.

He said at least 100 people filled the stairs of the state capitol with about 50 of them educators from LA County schools. The mood, he says, was festive with spectators holding signs that read Kids our the future. A feeling of hope was in the air, he added.

Many media outlets surrounded the rally, he said. Many legislators listened to a handful of educators speak but the Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was not in attendance, according to Watanabe.

 

What do you think about local educators taking a stance? Add your comment.

MUSD rehires former employee with four DUI convictions

I am currently working on a story coming out of the Montebello Unified School District.

The district rehired David Miranda – a former employee with four drunken driving convictions – as an employment specialist for the district on Thursday.

Miranda is the nephew of Montebello Councilmember Rosie Vasquez.

The school board approved the re-hire which is a bit unusual for them to vote on a non-certificated position. They typically vote on certified positions such as teachers and administrators. This leaves some to believe that the re-hiring of Miranda might not be welcomed by everyone at the district.

Miranda is currently serving a four year probation which includes having his drivers license suspended for two years, serving 15 days in county jail, and serving 18 months in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Azusa is opposing governor’s budget

This just in from Azusa:

The Board of Education of the Azusa Unified School District has passed a resolution opposing the Governors 2008 budget.  The Board and the Districts four employee associations including the Azusa Educators Association, Azusa Chapter 299 of the California Classified Employees Association, Azusa Management Association and the Azusa Federation of Adult Educators signed the joint resolution.

The resolution points out that under Governor Schwarzeneggers budget Azusa Unified schools would lose $340,000 in the current fiscal year due to mid year cuts and $6.4 million in 2008-09 due to the suspension of Proposition 98.

In recent years, Azusa Unified has cut more than $3.5 million, which has affected the purchase of textbooks, teacher training, and class size.  The Board noted that California spends $1,900 less per student than the national average.

The resolution points out that the budget reductions are inconsistent with the states goal to improve student achievement, at a time when our students are making progress meeting rigorous state and federal education standards.

Possible fee increase at Cal Poly Pomona

The Associated Student Inc. organization at California State Poly Pomona has proposed building a $90 million state-of-the-art campus Recreation Center. The center, if approved, will increase student fees by $149 per quarter in 2012 when the center opens.

After interviewing students on campus I found that there is a core group of students who are in favor of the proposal as well as a group who are opposed. Those in favor are about building a legacy and creating more opportunities for future students on campus.

Students who are opposed see the recreation center as too much money and that students and the university should be addressing other pressing needs such as possible cuts to Cal State schools by the governor’s proposed state budget.

Stay tuned for my article due out later this week and the student vote that will take place March 5 and 6.