Morales’ resignation comes as the district has been mired in a budget crisis that has forced it to issue dozens of layoff notices to teachers, school workers and administrators and prompted the resignation and firing of two senior budget administrators. District officials now say some of those budget cuts may have been unnecessary.
Education
Posted inEducation
School district ballot measures: Live Oak, Happy Valley, Pacific Elementary all pass
As of Tuesday afternoon’s election update, all three Santa Cruz County school districts had scored victories in a handful of bonds and parcel tax measures.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified School District announces new superintendent
Heather Contreras, currently the assistant superintendent of school leadership for Modesto City Schools, will replace Michelle Rodriguez as superintendent of Pajaro Valley Unified School District. The district did not provide a start date for Contreras but said current interim superintendent Murry Schekman’s last day will be May 7.
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Tensions reemerge on UCSC campus as dozens of pro-Israel, pro-Palestine students stage dueling rallies
Dozens of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters met on the UC Santa Cruz campus Thursday afternoon in a tense but largely peaceful confrontation that illustrates how university campuses continue to be roiled by violence in the Middle East.
Posted inEducation
Fired Live Oak School District budget chief urges board to review superintendent for termination
A former Live Oak School District senior administrator who helped lead the district’s efforts to stabilize its finances urged board members Wednesday to investigate Superintendent Daisy Morales, saying he had been fired without warning amid the district’s deepening budget crisis.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak School District governing board approves stabilization plan
Live Oak School District’s governing board unanimously approved a plan Wednesday to cut positions and reorganize others to resolve its ongoing budget crisis during a contentious and emotional meeting at which board member Jeremy Ray briefly walked out and threatened to resign.
Posted inLatest News
Fired UC Santa Cruz prof Gopal Balakrishnan settles sexual assault lawsuit by former student
Gopal Balakrishnan, a former professor at UC Santa Cruz, agreed to pay $45,000 to Anneliese Harlander, a UCSC alumna who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Balakrishnan, according to the terms of Wednesday’s settlement.
Posted inEducation
UCSC officials tell Camper Park students they can stay through the end of the academic year
UC Santa Cruz officials say residents at an on-campus trailer park can now stay through the end of the spring. Students say they’re relieved.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Cannabis dispensaries don’t belong near schools: We are Santa Cruz’s educational leaders and we are worried for our kids
Kris Munro, Santa Cruz City Schools superintendent, and Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County superintendent of schools, believe a proposal to put a cannabis dispensary close to local schools is a mistake and could be detrimental to students’ health and safety. They urge city planning commissioners to reject the proposal Thursday and they urge city leaders to “reevaluate current zoning regulations and expand designated areas where dispensaries are prohibited near schools.”
Posted inEducation
Jury awards $7.2 million to ex-UCSC police lieutenant in racial discrimination suit
Former UC Santa Cruz police officer Glenn Harper was awarded $7.2 million after a jury ruled in his favor in a racial discrimination lawsuit against the University of California. His attorney says Harper has another action pending to get his job back at UCSC.
