Students asked Capistrano Unified School District leaders why they weren’t making use of solar power to be more energy efficient and fiscally responsible. And when district officials looked at the numbers again – with the students looking over their shoulders – they agreed they should be. This spring, the district switched on the first system…
Monthly Archives: June 2019
The wheels on the bus still go ’round and ’round, but now they softly go “whirr-whirr-whirr,” too. That’s because Chico Unified School District just got a brand-new, fully-electric school bus; the first of its kind for the district. The bus was fully funded by a grant from the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District,…
School districts in the most expensive regions of California, struggling to pay salaries that keep pace with the high cost of living, are increasingly turning to housing incentives to attract new teachers and stanch the flow of teachers from leaving their schools. Affordable housing projects for school employees have been built in Los Angeles, Santa…
Several San Luis Obispo County school districts may have misspent fees paid to them by developers, a civic Grand Jury found, potentially opening the door for legal action. The Grand Jury found special fees paid by developers that are supposed to fund construction or reconstruction at local schools were being spent on things that don’t…
Per-pupil spending in traditional district schools in CA declines when students leave for charter schools, but not as much as in other states, according to a new paper from Paul Bruno of the University of Southern California. The modest declines — about 1.4{310f4324ad65b0a2030a48dd153b38f905c81f5512720fdadc65be8f0797b958} — are seen in day-to-day operational costs, such as salaries for teachers…
By many measures, Stege Elementary School in Richmond demands change. The K-6 school is one of 481 of the 10,000 California schools cited as lowest performing in the state in 2017-18, based on low test scores, high suspensions and chronic absenteeism. Because it is losing so many students, the West Contra Costa Unified School District in the East Bay has designated the school for…
CA Senate approves $215B budget; Newsom expected to sign
June 13, 2019
The California Senate has passed a $214.8 billion budget. That sends it next to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. The budget includes money to give taxpayer-funded health insurance to some low-income adults living in the country illegally. It authorizes $2.4 billion in spending to address the state’s housing and homelessness crisis. And it bolsters the state’s top…
Why architects must rethink restroom design in schools
June 13, 2019
While the transgender movement may be currently illuminating the issue, toilet privacy is a basic human right that educational institutions can provide through thoughtful design. Architecture firm Mahlum’s design solution for Grant HS centered around replacing all existing ‘gang-style’ bathrooms with individual toilet rooms with full doors opening to a shared space for wash basins…
Public schools in CA do not have to participate in federal school meal programs, but under a bill moving through the state Legislature, they will have to ensure low-income children receive at least one meal on campus that meets federal nutrition requirements. Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton and author of AB 354, noted that academic performance…
Survey show CA voters feel a need for facility funding
June 13, 2019
A recent survey of voters reveals a solid majority thinks K-12 schools have a “great” need for facility funding. Student safety, preparing students for jobs, and access to affordable college education resonate strongly with voters as reasons to vote in favor of such a measure. The survey was conducted by FM3 Research, a California-based company…