Education

GROSSMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT IGNORES GRAND JURY, VOTES TO OPPOSE UNIFICATION FOR ALPINE FAMILIES

 

 

 

By Nadin Abbott

April 10, 2014 (El Cajon) --Think of it as a contested divorce.

With a vote of four to one, the Grossmont Unified High School District (GUHSD) board made its intent clear. The majority does not wish to allow Alpine parents and students to leave the GUHSD and join forces with the Alpine Union School District. Board Members Robert Shield, Richard Hoy, Jim Kelly and Jim Stieringer voted against unification, while Board Member Priscilla Schreiber cast the lone vote in favor. 

Unification would allow the Alpine district to become a K-12 district, adding high school students so that the AUSD could build the long-promised high school that Grossmont has failed to build.  Not even a scathing Grand Jury report has been able to prod GUHSD members into taking action. The Grand Jury admonished the board to either agree to build the high school by the end of last year, or cooperate with unification efforts. Instead, the board has done neither.


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EPIPENS MAY BE REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS TO PROTECT CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES

 

By Lori Abbott, California News Service

April 7, 2014 (Sacramento) - An EpiPen can be a lifesaver for someone with a severe allergic reaction. That's why a state lawmaker wants them available in all public schools. Senator Bob Huff's bill (SB 1266) passed the Senate Education Committee last week and now heads to the Senate Health Committee. The bill would require school districts to give the epinephrine auto-injectors, known as EpiPens, to trained school personnel to use in emergencies.


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GUHSD BOARD TO WEIGH SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF ALPINE DISTRICT ON APRIL 10

 

April 5, 2014 (Alpine)--Grossmont Union High School District’s board meets on April 10 in the East County Regional Education Center, 924 East Main Street in EL Cajon.  Public session starts at 6 p.m. after a closed-door-session.


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REPORT: CALIFORNIA KIDS FACE TROUBLING RACIAL INEQUALITY

 

California News Service

Lori Abbott

April 1, 2014 (Los Angeles)-- California's African-American, Latino and American Indian children lag far behind white and Asian kids when it comes to access to health and education opportunities. Those are the findings of a new Kids Count policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation that measured data such as birth weights, reading and math levels, and family support.


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SDSU SEEKS DOCUMENTATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING SPEECH AT SDSU IN 1964

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 3, 2014 (San Diego) – Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at San Diego State University. The campus seeks to commemorate the historic anniversary later this month, but cannot locate a transcript or audio tape of the speech. Only one grainy photo is known to exit.

“We’re looking for people who were present when he spoke, with hopes that they can share their memories of the experience,” said Paul Minifee, PhD,Assistant Professor at the Department of Rhetoric andWriting Studies.


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APRIL 5 AT UCSD: "HOW TO PLAN FOR, GET INTO AND PAY FOR COLLEGE"

 

Students in grades 6-11 and their families will learn how to plan for, get into and pay for college

March 29, 2014 (San Diego)--UC San Diego is offering “College Prep For Future Tritons,” a free event on campus for middle and high school students and their families to learn how to plan for, get into and pay for college. Emphasizing that it’s never too early to think about college, the Saturday, April 5 event offers information about the college prep necessary so that qualified students who want to go to college can, regardless of income or ethnicity.


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SANTEE WALKS N ROLLS TO SCHOOL PROGRAM ANNOUNCES WALK TO SCHOOL DAY TUESDAY, APRIL 22ND

 

March 28, 2014 (Santee)--Hundreds of students in the City of Santee will be lacing up their sneakers and securing their bicycle helmets on Tuesday, April 22nd in celebration of the first ever citywide Walk to School Day.


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LA MESA=SPRING VALLEY DISTRICT SAVES PROPERTY OWNERS $650,000

 

Proposition M Bond Refinance a huge success

March 27, 2014 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District was able to refinance a portion of the Proposition M General Obligation Bonds saving $650,000.  Much like a homeowner can refinance a home loan to obtain a better interest rate and lower their monthly mortgage payment a school district can refinance its bonds for a better rate and lower the bond cost to all property tax payers.


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AWARDS $85,000 IN SCHOLARLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR HEALTHCARE STUDIES

 

March 29, 2014 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, recently awarded $85,500 in scholarships to 38 high school students who have expressed interest in a career as a healthcare professional.


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ALPINE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 31

March 30, 2014 (Alpine) – On March 31, the Alpine Union School District will hold a special meeting.  A closed session at 5:15 to conference with labor negotiators will be followed by an open session at 5:30.

The open session ncludes discussion of changes to upcoming board meeting scheduling, as well as a board workshop at which lead petitioners of the unification process and high school committee members will present their understanding of the unification process. The board will also ask questions.


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HOW SAFE OUR OUR SCHOOLS? SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY CALLS FOR STRONGER SCHOOL SECURITY

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 24, 2014 (San Diego)—Mass school shootings have occurred around the nation—including tragedies locally at Santana and Granite Hills High Schools in East County, as well as at Carlsbad Elementary School and at Cleveland Elementary in San Diego. 

Now the San Diego Grand Jury has issued a report finding that not enough has been done to prevent future school shootings locally. The Grand Jury is calling for improving school security and says that low cost options need to be considered.


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ALPINE UNION SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2014 (Alpine) – Alpine Union School District Superintendent Tom Pellegrino has announced in a press release that he is leaving in June to move with his family to Costa Rica. 

“Since before our children were born, my wife and I set a goal to raise our kids in a Spanish speaking country for at least two years to give them the gift of bilingualism, teach them about simplicity, and to expose them to a true global perspective,” Pellegrino stated in the release. “This is the last chance to accomplish these goals before our kids would re-enter the States in middle  high school. We have the opportunity to do it, and we are seizing it.”


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CUYAMACA COLLEGE SEMINAR FOCUSED ON NEEDS, CHALLENGES OF STUDENT VETERANS

 

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) –  A half-day seminar at Cuyamaca College Friday opened many eyes to the experiences facing today’s military veterans as they pack away their service uniforms to join the civilian world, often coming to community colleges to begin a new chapter in their lives.


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GRANITE HILLS HIGH SCHOOL EARNS STATEWIDE AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

 

C.A.S.H., AIA California Council Recognize Projects Funded by Proposition H, Proposition U School Bonds

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) -  Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) announced that one of its schools, Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Calif., has earned an Award of Honor in the new-built category as part of the 2014 C.A.S.H./AIACC Leroy F. Green Design + Planning Awards Program. The award was announced at the 35th Annual C.A.S.H. Conference in Sacramento on Feb. 25.


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RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON MEN OF COLOR AT SAN DIEGO COLLEGES

 

March 14, 2014 (San Diego)-- In the wake of President Barack Obama’s declaration of the challenge of helping young men of color  succeed as a “moral issue for the country,” Cuyamaca College recently held a workshop led by two San Diego State University professors  highlighting the issue’s relevance to community colleges.


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UNIFICATION OF ALPINE SCHOOLS TO K-12 MODEL MOVES TO NEXT STEP

 

Public Hearings to be held on April 29 and May 7

By Sharon Penny

On the evening of March 12, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) board members convened a committee meeting for transmittal of the petition to unify the Alpine Union School (AUS) District. 

Alpine residents successfully submitted a petition meeting all requirements to convert the K-8 Alpine Union School District to a K-12 Alpine Unified School District, which would then include a future high school in Alpine (http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/15043).


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LOCAL SCHOOLS WIN TOP HONOR TO EXHIBIT AT SAN DIEGO FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

 

March 5, 2014 (San Diego)- The San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering announces the winners of the Bright Ideas Society award. Sponsored by the Kimmich Educational Foundation at the San Diego Foundation, the award is presented to one outstanding science and engineering club at the elementary, middle and high school level for their illuminating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) ideas. Under the direction of their advisor, the students will produce an interactive exhibit to share their findings with more than 25,000 EXPO DAY attendees.


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APPLE "PICKING" THIEVES TARGET IPHONES, SDSU POLICE WARN

 

March 3, 2014 (San Diego)--Apple picking is a trend nationwide – no, we’re not talking about plucking fruit. Thieves have been stealing Apple iPhones, which are costly to buy and hold their resale value.

There has been a rash of iPhone thefts at  San Diego State University, prompting numerous alerts recently.


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NFL QUARTERBACK TO SERVE AS PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY AT HIS FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALPINE

NFL QUARTERBACK TO SERVE AS PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY AT HIS FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALPINE

 

March 3, 2014 (Alpine) – On Tuesday, March 4, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Ryan Lindley, Quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, will visit Alpine Elementary School. Lindley will assume mock Principal duties for the day at his former elementary school and spend his time reading to select classes and providing the students with helpful tips on how to excel academically.


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SIGNATURES VALIDATED FOR PETITION TO UNIFY ALPINE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

                                     

 

San Diego Office of Education to act on unification petition at March 12 meeting

February 26, 2014 (Alpine) – The San Diego Office of Education has formally recognized the Alpine Unification petition as complete, according to a press release issued by the Alpine High School Citizens Com


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ALPINE TEACHERS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AFTER APPROVING CONTRACT

 

By Nadin Abbott

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

February 25, 2014 (Alpine)—Alpine teachers approved the new contract this morning after marathon negotiations with the Alpine Union School District, ending a strike that began last  Thursday. There are no details of the agreement to be found on the school district website. The contract is not all that teachers wanted, but according to a post at the Alpine Teacher Association website, the Union received the following:


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ALPINE SCHOOL TEACHERS STRIKE, CLAIM UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES

 

By Nadin Abbott

February 21,2014 (Alpine) At 6:00 on February 20, teachers at the Alpine Union School District walked off the workplace, joining an unfair practices strike called by the Alpine Teachers Association. Children and parents dropped off their kids at schools where striking teachers marched around the campuses.

The schools had a 65% attendance, according to Alpine School Superintendent Tom Pellegrino, in a tweet posted at the District webpage. Yet, from the reaction of parents at the District’s board meeting at Boulder Oaks Elementary on February 21, the school day was far from normal.


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CUYAMACA COLLEGE DEAN RECOUNTS CHALLENGES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

 

February 20, 2014 (El Cajon)– As an African-American college dean, Marsha Gable knew she was taking a risk focusing on the touchy topic of race in her doctoral dissertation in 2011.


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GROSSMONT BOARD RESOLVES TO RESTRICT MEMBERS’ RIGHTS; LEAVES QUESTION OF ALPINE HIGH SCHOOL UNANSWERED

 

By Sharon Penny

February 15, 2014 (El Cajon)--At the February 13 Grossmont Union High School District  (GUHSD) meeting, the Governing Board provided some recent positive outcomes in the district (see side story: Grossmont District Schools Shine Academically), but took a step back for democracy.

By a vote of 4-1, the Board adopted a resolution: “In Recognition of the Citizens’ Board Oversight Committee (CBOC) and Their Service to the Grossmont Union High School District.”  It  praises the District’s bond oversight committee-- but also aims to muzzle school board members from giving testimony to the oversight comittee.


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WEST HILLS HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION 3RD ANNUAL GALA & DANCE

 

February 19, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - West Hills High School Foundation invites community members and friends to its 3rd Annual Gala & Dance, the IDES OF MARCH: Sumptuous hors d'oeuvres with a no-host bar, dancing to the ever-popular RAMSHACKLE, premium auction items, and a new venue at Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center.


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GROSSMONT DISTRICT SCHOOLS SHINE ACADEMICALLY

 

By Sharon Penny

February 17, 2014 (El Cajon)--Ralf Swenson, Superintendent of the Grossmont Unified High School District (GUHSD) proudly discussed recent academic success rates throughout the district’s 11 high schools at last week’s board meeting.


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MT HELIX ACADEMY KIDS SHOW THEIR TALENT IN “LIKE TO HAVE FUN” VIDEO

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2014 (Mt. Helix)—The Mt. Helix Academy in la Mesa, which has students from kindergarten through ninth grade, takes pride in “happy kids who love to learn,” says Tracey Singer, marketing coordinator. So Singer wrote and directed a music video starring kids at the school “to show what a fun place we have,” he said. “To my knowledge we are the only school in San Diego, and probably the nation, that is marketing itself with original music videos.”


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GUHSD RESOLUTION TO MUZZLE MEMBERS FROM ADDRESSING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS “NOT ENFORCEABLE,” LEGAL EXPERT SAYS

 

 

District seeks to muzzle whisteblower Priscilla Schreiber (photo, left)

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Last week, Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) trustee Priscilla Schreiber testified before the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) to urge examination of a Grand Jury report and other evidence, as ECM reported.   In response, the District’s board has proposed a resolution to prohibit its trustees from speaking to the Oversight Committee unless specifically invited to do so by the chair or a majority of committee members.  The items is on the agenda on February 13.

ECM asked general counsel Terry Francke at Californians Aware (a nonprofit that works to protect open government), if this resolution was legal or not.  “It's legally unenforceable," he responded via e-mail. "School trustees have the same First Amendment, Brown Act and Public Records Act rights as anyone else to attend meetings of a bond oversight board and obtain any documents that pertain to or result from its work.”


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NURSING, HEALTH TECH STUDENTS

 

February 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking applicants for two scholarship programs, including up to two scholarships for nursing students and five scholarships for students pursuing careers as medical health technicians.


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REP. SUSAN DAVIS ANNOUNCES HOUSE APP CONTEST" FOR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

 

February 5, 2014 (San Diego)-- To encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among high school students, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) announced she is holding a House App Contest in her congressional district.  Students who are interested in participating can get more information at Rep. Davis’s website.


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