LOOKOUT EXCLUSIVE: The community college is embarking on a housing feasibility study this year to explore building student housing, an effort driven by decreasing enrollment and high rates of housing insecurity among its students.
Nick Ibarra
Follow Nick Ibarra on: Twitter. Ibarra has a track record of reporting that has shone light into almost every corner of Santa Cruz County. Raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains, he came to journalism from an early background in the tech industry — working in systems administration and developing software. Before returning to his roots to report for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, he held an editorial role with Bay Area News Group and contributed reporting to publications such as Scientific American, Sierra Magazine and KQED Radio. His work has earned several statewide awards and appeared in newspapers across California, including the Mercury News, East Bay Times and Orange County Register.He is proficient in Spanish.“Bringing Santa Cruz County the depth and quality of coverage it deserves is personal to me,” he said. “Lookout has the talent, the resources and the vision to do exactly that — and I couldn’t be happier to join this team.”
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘Labor of love’: Scotts Valley kindergarteners return to classrooms, leading off wave of partial reopenings
Kindergarteners in the Scotts Valley Unified School District returned to in-person learning under a hybrid model on Wednesday, a milestone moment for the county that follows a year of remote learning.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
PVUSD targets April to get youngest students back in schools, plans to limit in-person time to 1.5 hours
Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees approved a plan to return its youngest students to classrooms under a hybrid model starting April 5 — but students will spend far less time in person than in other districts.
Posted inLatest News
Maddy Middleton’s accused killer can’t be tried as adult after California high court ruling in separate case
The California Supreme Court’s ruling sets the stage for Adrian Gonzalez to be released within four years, even if convicted. Says the late girl’s family: ‘For us, the worst has already happened. We will now see where this path leads.’
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County school districts — all 10 — announce timelines for returns to some in-person learning
The 10 school districts have mapped out phased returns to at least part-time in-person learning for elementary school students beginning in March. Find out when your district plans to start here.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Joby Aviation goes public with massive merger, setting sights on launch of air taxi service in 2024
Under a deal with Reinvent Technology Partners announced Wednesday, Joby is set to receive $1.6 billion in capital — cash the company plans to use to launch its commercial air taxi service.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County elementary schools begin to map out timelines for return
A number of school districts are targeting the week of March 15 to start phased returns to in-person schooling for their youngest students — though PVUSD is moving more slowly. A town hall on districts’ plans is set for Thursday.
Posted inPandemic Life
Watsonville High counselor Daisy Nuñez on building resilience in the face of grief
Between medicine, religion, education, wellness and comedy, we’re anticipating a lively discussion about the challenges…
Posted inK-12 Education
Were shaky finances behind PVUSD superintendent’s firing? Hastily deleted post reveals tension
LOOKOUT INVESTIGATES: Documents obtained by Lookout and interviews with district and county education officials reveal how a gloomy — but improving — financial forecast for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District came to a head the week Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez was abruptly fired.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘Next week or so’: Vaccination of all teachers, support staff in reach in Santa Cruz County
By Sunday, about half of all K-12 teachers and support staff in Santa Cruz County are set to have received their initial COVID-19 doses. Education officials hope to vaccinate the rest out of the group of roughly 5,000 as soon as next week.