Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras was hired to lead San Luis Coastal Unified School District on Tuesday night; Contreras will remain with PVUSD through the end of this school year.
K-12 Education
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area I race: Meet Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata
Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata are running for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area I seat after incumbent Joy Flynn decided not to seek reelection. All newcomers, the candidates are diverse, with two coming from education backgrounds and one having business experience.
Posted inEducation
Incumbent Misty Navarro faces Mads Realmuto in PVUSD Trustee Area VII race
Incumbent Misty Navarro and district parent Mads Realmuto are competing for the Trustee Area VII seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. Navarro was appointed to the seat in October 2024, after Jennifer Holm resigned from the board.
Posted inEducation
PVUSD school board candidate Curt Wilcox charged with felonies related to candidacy filing
Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate Curt Wilcox was arrested Sept. 18 and faces felony charges related to his candidacy filing, including allegations involving his residency and voter registration.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area V race: Alicia Jimenez, Curt Wilcox vie for open seat
Retired administrator Alicia Jimenez and Watsonville craftsman Curt Wilcox are competing for the open Trustee Area V seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. A third candidate, Jennifer Schacher, remains on the ballot despite saying she will not actively campaign.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has harsh criticisms, sweeping fixes for California schools
As governor, Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host, would turn to voters, if necessary, for school vouchers, end teacher tenure and institute a cellphone ban for kids under age 14.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak’s new superintendent has a plan — and it starts with 15 minutes with every teacher
Newly appointed Live Oak School District Superintendent Jennifer Baldwin is launching a major community outreach effort to rebuild stability and craft a five-year strategic plan following years of financial turmoil and leadership turnover.
Posted inEducation
‘I felt like I reset my life’: More Santa Cruz County adults returning to school for a second chance
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s free Career Advancement Charter has seen enrollment grow 332% since 2021 as more adults return to school to earn high school diplomas and pursue new career goals. For graduates like Yumi Mondragon and Rebeca Reyes, the program’s flexibility and support have helped them overcome past barriers and continue their education.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County’s heat wave, one job at a time
As a heat wave gripped the region, Lookout journalists spoke with workers from Santa Cruz to Capitola to Watsonville about how they were getting through it, shift by shift.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
What California’s new antisemitism law means for Santa Cruz County schools
A new California law this year brings stronger protections against antisemitism – and new standards for what is taught – in Santa Cruz County classrooms, writes Aptos resident Gil Stein. Teachers unions and other opponents warned that AB 715 would silence teachers and interfere with discussion of Israel and the Middle East, but courts have so far rejected that argument. Here, Stein raises the question: Is demanding accuracy and freedom from discriminatory bias really an attack on free speech?
