Watsonville High School senior Chris Delgado has transformed childhood trauma into success, earning a statewide courage award and a scholarship as he prepares to attend college. He’s sharing his story in hopes of encouraging other young people to speak up and persevere through adversity.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley High’s ‘spirit of the school’ graduates after four years of leadership
Pajaro Valley High School senior Jonathan Escobar, once a shy student who faced bullying in middle school, will graduate this week after four years as a prominent campus leader, cheerleader and class president. This fall, he’s going to UC Davis to study biology or political science.
Posted inLatest News
Watsonville police make arrest after online threat to graduation ceremony
Watsonville police arrested a 21-year-old man Wednesday morning after they say he admitted to posting a threat on social media to commit a mass shooting at a Pajaro Valley Unified School District graduation ceremony.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified delays discussion of relocation of schools after community urges board to reject proposal
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board has postponed discussion of a controversial proposal to relocate students from Renaissance High to Duncan Holbert School and disperse Duncan Holbert’s special education program after parents, staff and students urged trustees to reject the plan.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified school board approves layoffs of about 100 full-time staff
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board approved final layoffs equivalent to about 100 full-time positions Wednesday, including special education staff, mental health clinicians, healthcare assistants, teachers and counselors. Staff, parents and union leaders warned the cuts will worsen student support services, increase workloads and create safety risks on campuses.
Posted inEducation
Staff ‘outraged’ that Pajaro Valley Unified school board to consider relocation of Renaissance High to Duncan Holbert School
Teachers and staff at two Pajaro Valley Unified schools are opposing a district proposal to relocate Renaissance High to the Duncan Holbert School campus in Watsonville, a move that would disperse Duncan Holbert’s special education students to other elementary schools. District officials argue that the proposal addresses infrastructure costs, declining enrollment and efforts to better integrate special education students with their peers.
Posted inEducation
A parent and a high school senior are running for Pajaro Valley school board
Parent advocate Mads Realmuto and graduating Pajaro Valley High senior Eriberto Estrada have announced campaigns for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board, challenging incumbents Misty Navarro and Daniel Dodge Jr., respectively, in the November election.
Posted inEducation
Two Santa Cruz County teachers unions at impasse with their districts over contract negotiations
Teachers unions at Pacific Collegiate School and in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have reached an impasse with administrators after months of stalled contract negotiations over pay and benefits, moving them closer to a potential strike. The disagreements center on salary increases and a proposed cap on health benefits.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified settles with family over unmet services for special education student
Pajaro Valley Unified School District reached a settlement with the family of a first grade special education student after acknowledging it failed to meet legal requirements outlined in the child’s education plan. The agreement includes compensatory services such as summer camp, behavioral support and speech therapy.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified officials, teachers face off over district proposal to cap health insurance contributions
Contract negotiations in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have intensified as teachers push back against a district proposal to cap health insurance contributions. The district says the cap is needed to address rising health care costs, while teachers argue it could drive staff out of the district.
