Parents grappling with distance learning and homeschooling across Silicon Valley have waited weeks to hear whether local classrooms will reopen before summer. On Wednesday they got an answer: no. Superintendents across Santa Clara County sent out an email to parents around the region to formally announce that school districts would not reconvene physically this school...
San Jose parks, light rail routes close as agencies respond to fast-spreading coronavirus
Two of San Jose’s city parks will be temporarily closed starting Friday as local officials try to thin the record crowds parks saw last weekend following a statewide “stay at home” order. Alum Rock Park on the city’s east side and the staircase and trail on Communications Hill will close, according to a news release...
Bay Area transit measure delayed as business sector focuses on COVID-19
The novel coronavirus has set back a transit measure that local leaders were pushing to get on the November ballot. A measure, known as FASTER Bay Area, to raise an estimated $100 billion for transit investment over the next 40 years, was expected to appear on the ballot near the end of the year, but...
San Jose teachers’ union calls for resignation of Evergreen trustee Jim Zito
A local teachers’ union stormed a school board meeting Thursday calling for Evergreen School Board trustee Jim Zito’s resignation on claims he’s been “controlling and inappropriate” toward female colleagues and community members. More than a dozen teachers and supporters from the Evergreen Teachers Association (ETA) held a news conference before the meeting, where several women...
VTA adopts enhanced cleaning practices in response to coronavirus concerns
The Valley Transportation Authority is taking new steps to disinfect buses, light rail cars and stations to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Santa Clara County. The agency’s response to concerns about surface transmission of coronavirus drew praise from regular riders and advocates alike. “They are doing everything they can,” said transit activist...
Evergreen Valley College president ousted due to sexual relationship, records reveal
Former Evergreen Valley College President Keith Aytch was abruptly placed on leave last summer and forced to resign after details about an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship emerged, San José Spotlight has learned. College trustees accepted Aytch’s resignation on Nov. 12, 2019, three months after placing him on administrative leave and hiring an investigator. A public...
Silicon Valley leaders react to coronavirus threat as Congress reaches $8.3B funding agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency, as the number of coronavirus cases in the state continues to rise, including in Santa Clara County — where health officials confirmed there are three new cases of the virus within county limits, bringing the total cases to 14. While the state of...
East San Jose school district OKs $23 million budget cut, staff layoffs
Citing a severe lack of funding, the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously in a meeting last week to cut $23 million from its budget and eliminate 125 full-time equivalent positions across the district’s 16 schools. The board also vowed to hire a third party auditor to study the numbers again...
SJSU students look to Sacramento to help low-income students
With San Jose State having one of the largest homeless student populations in California, a group of students hope to address the problem by pushing for a bill that’s stalled in the state capitol. The Student Homeless Alliance (SHA) is backing Assembly Bill 1314, which would expand Cal Grant student aid to cover more college...
San Jose mayor leads municipal opposition of FCC mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — San Jose is among nearly two dozen cities that have opposed the Federal Communications Commission for orders it issued under the premise of facilitating the launch of 5G communication technology. In a call with reporters last week, officials from around the country said the FCC’s orders on small-cell deployment amount to federal...