Author: Elizabeth Barcelos (Elizabeth Barcelos)

Burnett Middle School to be renamed Ohlone Middle School

After a process that brought together students, teachers and the local community, Burnett Middle School will have a new name: Ohlone Middle School. The school’s outgoing namesake is California’s first governor, Peter Burnett, whose racist policies included the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and attempts to keep black Americans out of California. He also believed...

San Jose: Hundreds rally for charter schools amid scrutiny from Sacramento

With charter schools increasingly under scrutiny in Sacramento, hundreds of charter school families, dressed in purple, orange and green, rallied in downtown San Jose Friday to stand up for their rights. The state Legislature is considering two bills, AB 1505 and AB 1507, which would further regulate charter schools. AB 1505 would repeal provisions allowing the state...

San Jose Unified employees protest staff changes

Clutching signs proclaiming a lack of respect, dozens of San Jose Unified employees chanted, marched and protested the district’s decision to eliminate or reclassify 37 positions. Their chants echoed down Lenzen Avenue, drawing supportive honks from cars passing by as a helicopter whirled overhead. The protest was spurred by upcoming staff cuts and reassignments that...

Here are the finalists for Burnett Middle School’s new name

The list is finally in: A committee narrowed down the finalists for Burnett Middle School’s new name. School administrators received more than five hundred submissions and a committee of students, school staff and community members narrowed it down to these finalists. Voting will open on May 6. In addition to the names, the ballot will...

Chelsea Clinton swings through San Jose on book tour

Chelsea Clinton made two stops in San Jose on Wednesday as part of a book tour — but the topic for the outspoken former first daughter wasn’t politics. It was all about animals. Clinton on Wednesday met with elementary school students before headlining a sold-out book signing at the San Jose Woman’s Club in downtown...

San Jose Unified prepares to rename Burnett Middle School

Burnett Middle School is one step closer to getting a new name following backlash over the racist actions of the school’s namesake. The school is named after California’s first governor, Peter Burnett. His policies included the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. He also attempted to keep black Americans out of California and also believed that...