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...
Two South Bay community colleges name new presidents
After the previous president was forced to resign last year over an inappropriate sexual relationship, California Community College veteran Tammeil Gilkerson is taking over as president of Evergreen Valley College. Former President Keith Aytch failed to disclose a sexual relationship with another employee as per district policy for fear of jeopardizing a promotion to interim...
South Bay school leader tests positive for COVID-19 after in-person meeting
Nearly 40 school principals with the Santa Clara Unified School District were forced to attend an in-person meeting last month amid the COVID-19 pandemic — and one education leader tested positive for COVID-19. Sources told San José Spotlight this week that Superintendent Stella Kemp required principals to show up in person — despite other leaders...
Will Santa Clara County schools reopen in the fall? The answer is unclear, but county issues guidance
Santa Clara County officials Tuesday painted a picture of what returning to school might look like for kids this fall: desks six feet apart, face coverings for everyone and canceling some activities such as choir. Officials released guidance for local K-12 public and private schools for reopening for the 2020-21 school year. The biggest question...
San Jose libraries face $1 million budget cut
The San Jose Public Library will lose more than $1 million in the upcoming budget year, leading to reduced hours and the elimination of dozens of full and part-time positions. The move came in response to the city’s request to scale back on expenses due to the budget shortfall dealt by the coronavirus pandemic. “We...