Concord Historical Society Luncheon, Aug 23, to discuss early schools in Contra Costa
July 24, 2008
Bernard Freedman will give a presentation on “Early Schools in Contra Costa County, during the Concord Historical Society Luncheon, August 23, beginning at 11:30 a.m., at Pasta Primavera, located at 4425-F Treat Blvd., in Concord. Lunchin’ & Learnin’ admission is $20 for a Salad Lunch (Greek, Gorgonzola, or Chicken) and presentation. Send check to Judy Trette at 3881 Palmwood Dr, 94521, or call 682-7271 for RSVP and more details.
Lite Summer reading on language skills in schools
July 10, 2008
The English language is suffering but is making a comeback. State and local school boards across the country are realizing that students’ language skills have deteriorated to a near-catastrophic condition, and are taking corrective action. In addition to the links in my Summer 08 newsletter, you might also enjoy, The Fate of The Sentence: Is the Writing On the Wall?, an article that appeared in the Washington Post; and Students unready for community college, by Matt Krupnick, which appeared recently in the Contra Costa Times. Read more
Wellness Center wins HEDCO grant to expand cancer support services in Walnut Creek
June 11, 2008
The Wellness Community of the San Francisco East Bay announced it has been awarded a major challenge grant in support of its campaign to improve their current facility and expand and enhance services. The Wellness Community is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive support services for cancer patients and their families from throughout the Bay Area. The grant was made by the HEDCO Foundation, which will match donations of up to $80,000 in support of the project. Read more
CBO Center offers seminars on fundraising, organization and board development seminars
June 9, 2008
See information from the CBO Center for upcoming seminars designed help non-profits build fundraising prowess, build accountable organizations, and build muscular boards. Read more
Torlakson Education Town Hall meeting, May 8
April 29, 2008
Senator and Assembly candidate, Tom Torlakson, will host an Education Town Hall meeting at Las Lomas High School Theatre on Thursday, May 8, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Las Lomas High School is located at 1460 South Main Street in Walnut Creek.
Senator Torlakson will discuss the state budget crisis and the proposed education budget cuts. The public is encouraged you to attend and share ideas and and perspective on the proposed budget cuts and how they may be impact children, schools, and our community.
If you have any questions, or to RSVP for this education town hall, please contact Craig Cheslog in the Concord District Office at (925) 602-6593 or by e-mail at Craig.Cheslog@sen.ca.gov.
Money not the issue when it comes to K-12 performance in California
April 2, 2008
A recent column by the SacBee’s Dan Walters analyzes education spending data in California’s public schools with some surprising results. The data comes from a Census Bureau report released this week called “Public Education Finance 2006.” It turns out that California is not at the bottom of per-student education spending as is often claimed - there are 22 states below California. The full Census Bureau report can be found at: http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/06f33pub.pdf
Here are some excerpts from the article:
The Census Bureau report strongly refutes the oft-cited “fact” that California is near the bottom in per-pupil school spending. The national average was $9,138 in 2005-06. California was at $8,486, with New York the highest at $14,884 and Utah the lowest at $5,437 – one of 22 states, in fact, that fell below California’s level.
In terms of school revenues, California was 25th among the states at $10,264 per pupil, just under the national average. It was above average in per-pupil income from federal and state sources and about $1,700 per pupil below average in local revenues, thanks to Proposition 13, the 1978 property tax limit measure.
Overall, therefore, California isn’t nearly as deficient in school financing as the education establishment would have us believe. But neither is it wasting money on administrative overkill, as critics on the right contend. Its per-pupil spending on non-instructional “support services” was in fact, slightly below the national average at $3,050, although the sub-categories of overall and school site administration were a bit above average.
Hospice offers Understanding Grief class, Apr 22
March 27, 2008
Hospice of the East Bay will offer an Understanding Grief Education Class, on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.
The “Understanding Grief” education class, is about grief experienced during bereavement. It will help participants understand the broad range of common grief reactions, the factors that create individual differences in grief, the best ways to foster a healthy grief process, and the time to seek help. It will be helpful to people who are recently bereaved, those experiencing grief years after a death, as well as people who want to support a friend.
The class is offered for a fee and requires pre-registration. The fee will be waived for those who cannot afford it. For further information and/or to register, or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Perata’s bizarre comments muddy school funding debate
March 18, 2008
This guy is nuts. Termed-out Democratic Senate leader, Dom Perata, laid out some insane claims yesterday in his whistle stop tour of the Bay Area to drum up support against education cuts during California’s budget crisis. Perata was flanked by local democrat soldiers, Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, who will be unopposed in the Democrat Primary for Torlakson’s seat, along with termed out Senator Tom Torlakson, who will be running for DeSaulnier’s seat; kind of a Contra Costa County two-fer.
When informed businesses are importing foreign workers that can actually read English while the government run schools fail to teach American kids how to spell, Perata lambasted business instead of poor school performance, “What the hell kind of sense does that make,” he railed while pounding the podium with a shoe.
Here’s a good one: “Can we afford to pay more taxes,” Perata asked? “No. But do we have to pay more? Yes, and we will.” If this guy keeps answering his own questions like this, California will be bankrupt before the guys in the white coats come with the meds.
Perata and his thralls in the Assembly have built the structural budget mess California is currently in by spending $400 million to $600 million a month more than it takes in.
Crystal Ranch HOA to hold school redistricting meeting, March 20
March 14, 2008
The Mayor of Claycord.com has decried an invitation from the Crystal Ranch Home Owners Association (HOA) inviting residents to attend a meeting March 20 to discuss possible changes of school district realignment. Hizzoner doesn’t like the attitude of the HOA that worries residents may be forced to send children to inferior schools. Here’s my response:
what if it’s true?People are trying to run away as fast as they can from MDUSD. Don’t you get it?
why not fund each child equally and let parents choose the school of their choice instead of propping up a broken down Stalinist Ant Farm no one likes and does not produce results.
That way no one has to move any where and communities won’t be held hostage by bureacracies more inclined to protect their own turf then serve the public.
Good teachers will always find work.
The only thing holding up education reform are the people who are invested in controlling how people educate their kids so they get the money and power.
The so-called “free thinkers” in our community are supporting one of the most corrupt and incompetent institutions in our country.
Now get on over there and make your mark!
