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At the ASBO International conference, school finance leaders expressed deep concern over future federal funding, with over 75% expecting cuts. Key programs like Title I, IDEA, and school lunch reimbursements are seen as vital, but the Trump administration has proposed slashing or eliminating Titles II, III, and McKinney-Vento. Some districts, like Parkrose (OR), are budgeting zero for vulnerable programs due to uncertainty. “It’s too risky for a district to budget something and then not get it,” said Parkrose’s Sharie Lewis. Cuts could mean staff layoffs and canceled academic initiatives, forcing districts to rethink how they allocate limited funds.

 

Education Week News

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Seventeen parents, teachers, and organizations representing low-income families in eight districts have filed a lawsuit challenging California's K-12 school funding system. They argue that the state's funding formula, which ties district funding for renovations to local property taxes, perpetuates inequity. "The capacity to raise funds for facility repairs varies widely between low-property-wealth and high-property-wealth districts," the plaintiffs stated. The lawsuit, filed by the public interest law firm Public Advocates and pro bono counsel Morrison and Foerster, seeks to affirm that children's constitutional rights to equal educational opportunities have been violated and calls for legislative reform.

 

EdSource

Pajaro Valley USD's proposed update to Board Policy 6144, which governs how teachers handle controversial material, has sparked significant public disagreement during a recent Board of Trustees meeting. Originally intended for the consent agenda, the item was moved to discussion after community feedback highlighted concerns over vague language regarding what constitutes "controversial." Superintendent Heather Contreras emphasized that the update aims for "transparency in our classrooms" and aligns with policies from nearby districts. However, many speakers, including social studies teacher Emily Halbig, argued that "controversy is not something that we can sanitize out of education," stressing the importance of teaching critical thinking. The board decided to take more time to consider public input before making any decisions on the policy.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

The Atascadero USD board of trustees met this week to discuss the recently released CAASPP test scores, which showed "flat" results over the past decade. Assistant Superintendent E.J. Rossi presented the scores, revealing that AUSD's proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) was 52.0%, above the state average but below that of San Luis Obispo County. Rossi noted that the district's averages have not significantly changed, prompting questions about improvement strategies. Board President Denise McGrew-Kane expressed frustration over slow progress and suggested learning from higher-scoring districts. Bennett concluded that while AUSD has capable teachers and principals, a better assessment structure is essential for effective data use and improvement.

 

Atascadero News

More than 20 teachers and paraprofessionals attended a recent Modesto City Schools Board of Education meeting to address rising disruptive behavior among students in transitional kindergarten through second grade. Lisbeth Perez, a paraprofessional, shared her experience with a student who leaves the classroom unsupervised for hours and has physically assaulted her. "Our students don't feel safe," she said, highlighting the fear among students due to violent incidents. The district's Senior Director of Child Welfare and Attendance, David Houck, noted that elopement cannot legally result in suspension, complicating disciplinary measures. Teachers reported increased aggression and classroom disruptions, exacerbated by the return to in-person learning post-pandemic.

 

The Modesto Bee

The Paso Robles school board has rejected trustee Kenney Enney's proposal to discuss a resolution concerning trans students and athletes at a future meeting. The decision reflects ongoing debates about inclusivity and representation in schools. Enney's proposal aimed to address the needs of trans students, but the board opted not to move forward with the discussion, emphasizing the complexities surrounding the issue. "The board's decision highlights the challenges we face in addressing these important topics," Enney said.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

Gustine USD and the Gustine-Romero Teachers Association (GRTA) have initiated negotiations for the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 school years. GRTA's proposals focus on critical areas such as leave, class size, teacher safety, salary, fringe benefits, and extra duties. The district countered with a stipend for K–5 teachers with class sizes over 25 students after a two-week grace period, while seeking to eliminate guaranteed instructional aide support. Additionally, the district proposed salary and benefit increases for the 2025–2026 through 2027–2028 school years, contingent on a multi-year agreement.

 

Westsideconnect.com

The proposed $129-a-year parcel tax, known as Measure I, aims to enhance teacher salaries and address a budget shortfall in the Petaluma City Schools district. Superintendent Matthew Harris emphasized the importance of this measure during a rally with high school students, stating that it would provide essential support for educators. The tax is set to last for eight years, reflecting the district's commitment to improving educational resources and retaining quality teaching staff.

 

Press Democrat

The Newman-Crows Landing USD board has postponed a decision on three proposed salary schedules after public concerns were raised during a recent meeting. The proposed schedules include salary increases for the superintendent, certificated management, and classified management, with Justin Pruett, the district's superintendent, potentially earning $208,021 in the first year of the new schedule. 

 

Westsideconnect.com

Talmage Allen has begun his tenth year with Oakdale Joint USD as the new principal of Fair Oaks Elementary. Previously serving as the vice principal at Oakdale Junior High, Allen expressed his excitement, saying: “It’s a lot of fun to have people trust in you in that way.”

 

Oakdale Leader

The recent outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) caused significant disruptions in schools across the country, affecting various educational technologies. The outage impacted learning management systems, student information databases, and safety software, forcing educators to adapt quickly. Eva Rodriguez, chief information technology officer for San Antonio ISD in Texas, emphasized the need for schools to prepare for such disruptions, noting: "We rely so heavily on technology." To mitigate future risks, districts are encouraged to develop continuity plans and train staff on alternative instructional methods when technology fails.

 

Education Week News

The Sierra Sands USD board of education has approved a memorandum of understanding with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools for a school social work program during its meeting on October 16. Elementary Education Director Lisa Decker emphasized the need for additional staff, stating: “Based on Mesquite’s comprehensive needs assessment and educational partner input, it is recommended that the site consider hiring additional staff, such as a social worker, to address the barriers preventing students from graduating.” The program aims to support students in overcoming challenges to their educational success.

 

The Daily Independent

The Sacramento Police Department will discontinue assigning school resource officers (SROs) to the Natomas USD starting in January 2026, ending a $2.1m contract that began just five months prior. Due to staffing shortages, police officials stated, "we will be reassigning our school resource officers back to patrol to make sure we can meet emergency response needs citywide." In response, Natomas Superintendent Robyn Castillo announced the creation of new high-level safety positions to maintain campus security. These roles will focus on safety, intervention, and prevention duties across the district's 16 campuses.

 

The Sacramento Bee

California has launched the CSU Direct Admission Program, allowing high school students to be informed of their eligibility for admission to California State University (CSU) before applying. California state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, who authored the bill, said: “Direct admission removes the applications hurdle that stops some students from going to college.” The program aims to ease the college application process, which many students find daunting, as highlighted by a 2023 survey where 76% of respondents felt that completing their application was a decisive moment in their lives. The initiative also seeks to address declining enrollment at CSU campuses.

 

The Californian

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday that the province's government will table back-to-work legislation on Monday that seeks to end the teachers’ strike that began on October 6. “We know that this strike is causing harm to kids. We know it’s causing harm to teachers, since there isn’t a strike fund, and we want to be able to end it for the sake of both frontline teachers as well as students and their families,” she said at a news conference. The government has served formal notice of the introduction of Bill 2, the Back to School Act; an order paper outlines potential options for the government to accelerate the legislative process, including a one-hour time limit at each reading as well as the addition of evening sittings. “All I  can say is we’ll look to expedite the process. But as for an actual date the bill could potentially be passed, you’ll have to wait," said Finance Minister Nate Horner. In response, the Alberta Teachers' Association said: “We remain prepared to negotiate solutions that include a student-teacher ratio. Now it’s the government’s turn to take up the challenge of solving these serious issues in co-operation with teachers who want to support their students as best as they can." 

 

Edmonton Journal

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