Encompass Community Services is scrambling to reopen Head Start, a federally funded low-income child care program, after the government shutdown and cuts to its annual budget caused the nonprofit to temporarily stop its services late last month.
K-12 Education
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz County schools hope new sports facilities will draw more students
Schools across Santa Cruz County are unveiling major athletic facility upgrades — from New Brighton Middle School’s new turf field to Watsonville High’s renovated bleachers and planned new turf at Scotts Valley High — aimed at improving student safety and boosting sports participation.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified school board to discuss plan to cut more than 160 positions at Wednesday meeting
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board will discuss a proposal Wednesday to eliminate more than 160 positions — including counselors, teachers, mental health clinicians and special education staff — in an effort to address a $15.3 million budget shortfall tied to declining enrollment and the loss of pandemic-era funding.
Posted inEducation
His students suddenly started getting A’s. Did a Google AI tool go too far?
Some teachers say that artificial intelligence tools, particularly Google Lens, have made it impossible to enforce academic integrity in the classroom — with potentially harmful long-term effects on students’ learning.
Posted inEducation
PVUSD approves $2.12 million settlement to former student who was sexually abused by teacher in 1990s
Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s board recently approved a $2.12 million settlement with a student who was sexually abused by a teacher at Rio Del Mar Elementary in the 1990s.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville film screening Wednesday explores masculinity and mental health in youth
CineLux Green Valley Cinema in Watsonville is screening a documentary film about youth and masculinity directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “The Mask You Live In” will be the main focus of a community screening and panel discussion on Wednesday
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Head Start child care program for low-income families closes temporarily due to government shutdown
A federally funded Head Start child care program run by Encompass Community Services has temporarily closed due to the ongoing government shutdown, leaving 250 children without care and 91 staff members out of work. Encompass partnered with Pajaro Valley Unified School District to offer limited temporary placements while awaiting the program’s reopening.
Posted inLatest News
Headstone of one of Santa Cruz County’s first teachers, missing for years, found near storage facility
The tombstone of Mary Amney Case, Santa Cruz County’s first English-speaking schoolteacher, disappeared years ago and was believed to be stolen. Now, it has made its way to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History after being found under a pile of leaves near a storage facility.
Posted inEducation
Watsonville High student was suspended previously for fighting, aggressive behavior before Oct. 23 attacks
A Watsonville High School student arrested in last week’s assault had previously been suspended for fighting and was already facing possible expulsion for aggressive behavior, according to district and union officials.
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Tutus, swim caps and accountability: Inside Shoreline Middle School’s beloved principal duo
At Shoreline Middle School, Principal Colleen Martin and Assistant Principal Melissa Nix have built a rare, enduring partnership that blends accountability, empathy and humor — earning them a reputation as the school’s “dream team.”