Newly-elected Alum Rock School District Trustee Scott Hung Pham has declined to take his oath of office, leaving the district scrambling to fill the seat just weeks after he was elected. According to district documents, Pham submitted an email about his decision to district Superintendent Hilaria Bauer on Dec. 4. But many people, including those...
Santa Clara Unified, San Jose in nearly $5 million dispute over development fees
A project to build a massive school complex in San Jose is at the center of an almost $5 million dispute between the Santa Clara Unified School District and the city. At issue is $4.87 million that the school district paid the city for “traffic impact mitigation fees” related to construction at the Agnews School...
San Jose Unified students to return to school in January
With the spread of COVID-19 slowing in Santa Clara County and schools no longer responsible for testing, San Jose Unified School District officials will allow students to return to class Jan. 5. Nancy Albarrán, SJUSD superintendent, said staff members are preparing classrooms and common areas, and developing training for in-person learning. In September, the school...
East Side school district easing back with on-campus learning next week
East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) students are returning to in-person learning next week. Onsite learning will occur during tutorials, advisory periods, after school and on Saturdays as East Side students continue in their block schedules with distance learning. ESUHSD will continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year or until there...
Alum Rock Union School District candidates face off in new forum
East San Jose parents on Tuesday heard from three candidates vying for two seats on the Alum Rock Union School District. The half-hour long virtual forum, hosted by neighborhood group District 5 United, came three days after another Alum Rock candidate forum hosted by SOMOS Mayfair was canceled because only one candidate — Corina Herrera-Loera...
San Jose Evergreen Community College District explores bringing satellite program to East San Jose
San Jose Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) is looking to expand its presence in East San Jose as it focuses on low-income high school students of color. SJECCD, which runs both San Jose City College and Evergreen Valley College, is exploring plans to bring an early college high school program to the East Side Union...
East San Jose candidates skip on school board forum
Alum Rock Union School District organizers scheduled a virtual forum with five board of trustees candidates Saturday morning – but when around 20 parents tuned in over Zoom, there was no candidate in sight. “Unfortunately we are not hosting the candidate forum today,” said Andrea Portillo of the East San Jose organization SOMOS Mayfair. “We...
Catholic schools gradually reopening in Santa Clara County
While most San Jose public school campuses will remain closed at least until January, Catholic schools are starting to welcome back students with sanitizing stations and wellness checks in place. “It’s been a real boost for faculty to see kids on campus,” said Principal Kristina Luscher of Bellarmine College Preparatory, which opened Sept. 23. “Overall,...
Santa Clara County education leader drops lawsuit against board
Education leader Joseph Di Salvo is dropping his lawsuit against the Santa Clara County Board of Education and fellow trustees who voted in July to censure him, but Di Salvo says the fight is far from over. “I am 100 percent innocent of the alleged charges,” Di Salvo told San Jose Spotlight Sept. 24. “The...
Why San Jose schools aren’t opening for the rest of the year
Saying they are ill equipped to take on the burden of testing students for COVID-19, San Jose officials extended distance learning through the end of December — and may not reopen classes until 2021. San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Nancy Albarrán said there are now more COVID-19 cases than in March when schools first closed, especially...