One person’s determination has led to a local school district pledging to stand up for LGBTQ staff and student rights. The San Jose Unified School District unanimously passed a pride resolution yesterday supporting the freedoms and equality of LGBTQ people due to the persistent efforts of Eli Dinh, a parent and former SJUSD teacher. The...
Silicon Valley community colleges could see enrollment bump
After years of declining enrollment due to the pandemic, community colleges across California are considering a new approach to attract more students—enrolling students before they even graduate high school. California Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian is proposing a three-pronged course of action to encourage enrollment, as reported in the Los Angeles Times last week. It...
Santa Clara County increases funding for foster youth
Three key foster youth programs in the county are receiving more money that will help kids in the classroom and even after they turn their tassels. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors extended the foster youth education services contract today, approving it without discussion. The contract provides funding for programs aimed at helping students...
‘We aren’t waiting to act’: San Jose parents take over school safety
Parents in San Jose’s largest school district are stepping up to take responsibility for school safety, since they said administrators have taken a lackluster approach on the issue. Helmed by Trudi McCanna, San Jose Unified School District parents have formed a school safety group, the Why Wait Project, to ensure research-based, best-practice approaches to school...
San Jose mayor targets homeless living near schools
San Jose may soon enforce banning homeless dwelling near schools if a proposed ordinance is passed. The issue was in plain sight with roughly a dozen RVs and vehicles lined on Educational Park Drive in East San Jose where Mayor Matt Mahan, Councilmember Peter Ortiz and two students spoke today about their plans to ban...
San Jose State University gets millions in federal STEM funding
San Jose State University is getting millions in federal funds to bolster STEM research and education, with more than half the money going toward encouraging low-income students to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. More than $4.4 million is coming to the university through the National Science Foundation, an independent...
East San Jose gets early learning center
East San Jose is primed to help its youngest residents with a new center to shape their academic future. The Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center opened its doors to the community today. The early learning center will focus on providing educational opportunities and services to children up to age 5. Alum Rock Union Elementary School...
San Jose community college district selects new interim chancellor
The San Jose-Evergreen Community College District has selected a new interim chancellor with decades of experience in the education field who starts this month. The board of trustees unanimously appointed Beatriz Chaidez to the position, where she will succeed former interim chancellor and San José Spotlight columnist, Raúl Rodríguez. Chaidez has nearly 25 years of...
Santa Clara County community college faces lawsuit from trustee
A South Bay college district board member is suing the district and his colleagues after they censured him for allegedly making racist remarks to an African American college president. Gilbert Wong, a board member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District and former Cupertino councilmember, filed a complaint in Santa Clara County Superior Court Thursday....
San Jose candidates compete for community college seat
Candidates for a community college school board are throwing their hats in the ring for a special election in November. Three people are vying for an open seat on the board of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District: Diego Barragán, Lisanna Dominguez and Clay Hale. The seat became vacant earlier this year after Omar Torres,...