Silicon Valley school districts are focusing on recovery this school year, while keeping an eye on lingering COVID-19 infections. Pandemic safety measures, including mask mandates, are being lifted as districts still try to track positive coronavirus infections. Schools are working toward a new normal while also reckoning with the pandemic’s effects on learning. Schools have followed...
Election 2022: Silicon Valley schools seek funds for upgrades, programs
Santa Clara County residents will be asked to approve millions of dollars in education funding come November. A yes vote would mean several local school districts could tackle Silicon Valley’s ongoing digital divide and teacher shortage. But if the measures fail, schools will be challenged to get the necessary funds to attract teachers and upgrade facilities and necessary school...
Santa Clara County schools help stamp out hunger
Any San Jose student could receive a free school meal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now California is making sure that doesn’t stop with the start of this school year. California is the first state in the country to pass the Universal Meals Program, which requires schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to students regardless of...
San Jose councilmember eyes next political move
San Jose Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco looks to be heading down a new political path— vying for a seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Carrasco, who represents District 5 on the city council, terms out of office at the end of the year. She filed papers to run for trustee area 6 on the county education...
School bells ring later for San Jose students
Mornings will start later for San Jose high school and middle school students this year due to a new, first-in-the-nation state law. California has moved back the clocks to an 8:30 a.m. or later start time for high schoolers and an 8 a.m. or later time for middle schoolers. The decision went into effect July 1,...
Stranded Silicon Valley teens head home
After being stuck in another country for five days, more than one hundred Bay Area residents are headed home today — thanks to one lawmaker. For the past two weeks, the Saratoga and Lynbrook high school bands have been performing in concert halls in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. Once their tour ended, the...
UPDATE: San Jose school district to ask voters to fund teacher housing
A plan to provide housing for teachers is moving forward in East San Jose. The Alum Rock Union School District voted 4-1 Thursday in favor of changing the language of an existing bond to use some of its remaining funds to build affordable housing for teachers and staff. Trustee Linda Chavez voted no. Measure J,...
San Jose State loses out on millions in student housing
San Jose State University is missing out on a sizable pot of state money for affordable housing. While 26 California universities received portions of a $1.4 billion affordable housing grant to build needed below-market housing for students, San Jose State University—with a homeless student population of 11.2% according to a spring 2021 SJSU basic needs...
Silicon Valley school district exhales as bond measure passes
Santa Clara County voters approved funding more than $24 million in education in June, but one school district held its breath for days hoping the bond measure would pass. Fremont Union High School District’s Measure G required 55% voter approval and just squeaked by with 55.71% in the June 7 primary. The district asked...
Santa Clara County school funding spurs disparity
In Santa Clara County, not all school districts are created equal. In affluent neighborhoods near Saratoga Union and Los Altos Elementary school districts where the median price of a home is more than $2 million, according to censusreporter.org, property taxes boost student funding and programs remain robust. The situation is not as rosy in other...