Live Oak School District Superintendent Daisy Morales announced her resignation on March 15 after months of turmoil. Interviews with district staff and teachers describe a breakdown of trust between staff and leadership over the past year.
Live Oak School District
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County ballot measures: M defeated, K, L, N and all school bonds pass
Lookout’s ongoing coverage of 2024 ballot measures before voters in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak School District superintendent Daisy Morales resigns amid ‘errors’ in budget-cut process
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.
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
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 inEducation
Live Oak School District approves layoffs in bid to avoid state takeover amid budget crisis
The Live Oak School District governing board unanimously approved layoffs totaling the equivalent of 42.32 full-time positions during its special meeting Tuesday night. And teachers announced a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Daisy Morales.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak School District to attempt another vote on layoffs Tuesday, with new cuts to admin jobs
The Live Oak School District governing board will attempt to vote, for a second time, on layoffs during a special meeting Tuesday night. Many teachers and parents say the district needs to find other ways to get out of its budget crisis. The district is proposing to add more potential layoffs focused on administrative jobs.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak School District parents seek answers as assistant superintendent resigns amid budget crisis
With a March 15 deadline looming, Live Oak School District teachers and parents say they hope the school district will reduce layoffs of teachers and staff members who work directly with students.
Posted inEducation
Furious parents, teachers confront Live Oak School District as board fails to vote on layoffs
Live Oak School District is facing a tight deadline to approve its budget-stabilization plan because of a state law requiring that layoff notices be issued by March 15. Parents and teachers urged the board to avoid all cuts at its Wednesday board meeting.
