School districts generate returns for San Diego County’s health and economy

December 19, 2014 (San Diego)--Farm to school practices are on the rise in San Diego County school districts, according to the 2014 State of Farm to School in San Diego County (State of F2S) released today by Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP). All 42 San Diego County school districts participated in this year’s survey providing a comprehensive assessment of school food procurement and F2S activities in San Diego County and perhaps the most comprehensive assessment of a county’s school food procurement in the United States. Among the 24 districts that participated in last year's survey, 20 reported engagement in farm to school compared to 15 in 2013. Overall, 31 San Diego County districts are engaged in at least one of 18 farm to school activities measured for in the report.

All fraternity and sorority members will undergo training and then organize and participate in sexual violence education events and activities

December 16, 2014 (San Diego)--The leaders of the San Diego State University Greek community today announced proactive steps their organizations will be taking to address the issue of sexual assault on the SDSU campus. With support from the division of Student Affairs, all members of the Greek community will undergo a series of trainings, participate in a number of educational events and continue to take part in campus dialogues about this important issue, says Beth Chu, community relations director for SDSU.

East County News Service

December 11, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – La Mesa-Spring Valley School District is accepting applications now through January 12^th to fill the vacancy left by former trustee Bill Baber. Baber won election to La Mesa’s City Council.

By Miriam Raftery

December 7, 2014 (Alpine)—The Alpine Tavern & Grill hosts an “Injunction Function” last week, donating 20% of the evening’s proceeds to help fund a lawsuit against the Grossmont Union High School District over its failure to build an Alpine High School despite two bond measures approved by voters.

Source: Institute for Women's Policy Research

December 3, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – While the number of college students with dependent children has been growing, and more than one in four college students (4.8 million undergraduate students) in the United States are raising children, campus-based child care has been declining, according to new analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). Campus child care has decreased most dramatically at community colleges—where nearly half (45 percent) of all students with children are enrolled. Less than half of all 2-year institutions offer campus child care services. The proportion of community colleges with child care on campus declined from a high of 53 percent in 2003-2004, to 46 percent in 2013. IWPR’s analysis is based on 2013 data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2014 (San Diego) -- Today, San Diego State University has issued a statement indicating that fraternities  on campus are suspending all activities indefinitely due to recent sexual assaults on campus, including a rape at a frat house over the weekend--the seventh sexual assault on campus since the fall semester began.  Leaders of the Greek groups on campus pledged that they will “immediately take proactive steps toward addressing this extremely serious issue and the Greek community's role in it."

East County News Service

November 22, 2014 Alpine) – Alpine Union School District (AUSD) and the Alpine Taxpayers for Bond Accountability are seeking an injunction to stop the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) from spending money that plaintiffs contend should be set aside to build a high school in Alpine.  The case will be heard on December 5 at 1:30 p.m. in San Diego Superior Court, Dept. C-66 by Judge Joel Pressman.   View the lawsuit here.

The suit contends that the Grossmont district is “unlawfully wasting school bond revenues approved by the voters for an Alpine high school” by spending the money from Prop H or U on other unauthorized projects.  However the Alpine plaintiffs seek only to block bond fund use on any new or future construction projects – not interrupt any pending or contracted for construction projects.

By Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2014 (San Francisco)—Ignoring protests from students, opposition from the Governor and legislative leaders, University of California’s Board of Regents voted Thursday to approve Tuition hikes.  The increase will be 5 percent a year over the next five years – 25 percent total—at all UC campuses .  For the 2015-2016 school year, tuition will be $12,804 and by 2019, students will be forced to pay $15,000 a year in tuition.

Some Regents indicated that if that state increases funding, they would vote to reduce tuitions. 

Assembly  Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)  has pledged to introduce a measure to boost funding for the UC system.  She had urged the Regents to reject any tuition or fee hikes. Atkins, an ex-officio Regent with voting rights, called the fee hikes “unacceptable” adding, “California students and their families have faced too many fee increases already.”

East County News Service

November 18, 2014 (San Diego)--First Lady Michelle Obama gave a video welcoming message at a White House-sponsored conference designed to help high school counselors motivate more students to get college degrees.  A similar event was recently held at Harvard University.

The First Lady told those present, “I know that if we truly want to help our young people reach their college dreams, we need to support our school counselors. Our young people have so much potential, and they need someone in their lives who (believe) in them, and who can show them the steps they need to take to get to college.”

By Janis Russell and Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A week after the election with 28,000 absentee and provisional ballots remaining to be counted countywide, two East County race remain too close to call.

November 4, 2014 (Spring Valley)--Veterans were remembered with honor on the morning of Monday, November 3, as the JROTC Program at Mount Miguel High School held its 25th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Principal Steve Coover and retired JROTC Instructor Major John Bachmann were joined by parents and staff who witnessed the ceremony as more than 200 JROTC Cadets honored military personnel who have served our country throughout history.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Left, Glenn Dickie.  Lou Russo did not respond to our request for a candidate photo.

October 25, 2014 (Alpine) – Six candidates are running for the Alpine Union School District: Michael Beraud, Glenn Dickie, Nina Gould, Al Guerra, Lou Russo, and Eric Wray.  We sent a questionnaire to all six of them over a week ago. Only two responded by deadline: Lou Russo and incumebent Glenn Dickie. (If others respond later, we will post their replies at the end of this story, so check back.)

Dickie says he strongly backs building an Alpine High School and wants to help the AUSD through unification with the Grossmont District to build the Alpine High School. Russo says he would only support unification if it is the only way for Alpine to meet its goals.

Both candidates have had children ho attended district schools.  Both platforms include financial accountability.  Both candidates are conservatives though Dickie has the County Republican Party endorsement.  Dickie has a degree in finance and career experience that includes accounting and information technology. Russo, a former Marine and ex-teacher, has made school safety the number one plank in his platform and called for armed guards on campuses. Dickie also supports safe schools but has other approaches in mind. Dickie wants to start a summer learning program and sees declining enrollment, implementing Common Core standards and increasing technology in the classroom as important issues.

Below are their responses in full.

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2014 (San Diego)--One of the more colorful election contests locally this year is a race for a seat on the San Diego Community College Board of Trustees between Donna Woodrum, a religious conservative, and  Maria Neito Senour, a professor with a commitment to social justice and diversity.

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2014 (Sacramento)—Governor Jerry Brown earlier pledged to sign a $100 million funding bill for the University of California and California State University systems ($50 mlilion each)—but only if property tax revenues met or exceeded projections.

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --Girls will be girls, and boys will be boys. That seems to be the finding of a new study that’s found dramatic differences between the genders when it comes to how kids learn.