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For many, the pressure to work and attend school remotely during the coronavirus pandemic has amplified Silicon Valley’s digital divide. But a new plan announced Monday by Mayor Sam Liccardo and AT&T will bring 11,000 wireless internet hotspots and 4G LTE data plans to K-12 students and low-income households lacking internet connection. “It is important...
Lawsuit against San Jose college district moves forward
A prominent San Jose developer’s lawsuit against the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District will move forward after the court ruled last week that the district can be held legally liable for an alleged contract breach after pulling out of a lucrative land deal. “Essentially, (the judge) said if you can prove everything that you say,...
Report details how a Santa Clara County trustee discriminated against women
A new report obtained by San José Spotlight through a records request revealed Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee Joseph Di Salvo was “dismissive and disrespectful” toward women and attempted “to undermine or to intimidate a woman into changing her opinion.” Earlier this month, Di Salvo was censured by the board in a split...
Silicon Valley educators worry about data privacy as classes remain online
Local educators say students could be at risk of data breaches as schools continue online classes amid the pandemic. “We need to protect our communities,” said Roxana Marachi, a San Jose State University professor of education. “Especially communities of color, who are the most vulnerable to data exploitations,” Big tech companies in Silicon Valley have eyed the...
Alum Rock community demand answers after DA Jeff Rosen declines to charge contractor
Community leaders on Monday demanded an explanation for why criminal charges won’t be filed against a contractor accused of mismanaging millions of dollars and violating the law while under contract with the Alum Rock Union School District. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced last week he wouldn’t pursue legal action against Del Terra...
San Jose teachers don’t feel safe returning to school, district delays in-person classes
Despite pressure from President Donald Trump to reopen schools, San Jose teachers say they’re not willing to risk their lives amid a global pandemic. One of San Jose’s largest school districts — the San Jose Unified School District — announced late Thursday classes on Aug. 12 will resume online only at least until Oct. 2....
Santa Clara County education leader censured for gender discrimination
In a split vote late Wednesday night, the Santa Clara County Board of Education censured trustee Joseph Di Salvo for alleged gender discrimination, a decision that prompted the embattled educator to abruptly cut off his camera during the virtual meeting. As San José Spotlight first reported Tuesday, Di Salvo became the subject of an independent...
Santa Clara County education trustee faces censure for gender harassment
The Santa Clara County Board of Education will vote Wednesday night on whether to censure trustee Joseph Di Salvo after an investigation substantiated allegations of gender discrimination against him. Two board members and two employees accused Di Salvo of engaging in “gender and racial harassment” in January, according to the resolution summarizing the investigation. The resolution did not...
Cruel and unimaginable: South Bay students, universities react to policy changes for international students
An abrupt change this week to the policies governing international students in the United States has sent students and universities in Silicon Valley scrambling to make sense of the new rules. “It’s almost unimaginable; the cruelty of this decision,” said Susan Popko, the associate provost for international programs at Santa Clara University. “We are outraged...
Parents worry about shootings after police booted from San Jose schools
Fear of another school shooting has rekindled in parents’ minds now that San Jose Police officers will no longer patrol campuses within the East Side Union High School and Alum Rock Union School Districts. The move is part of a nationwide reexamination of law enforcement’s role in society, especially as officer presence has not impacted safety...