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Just two weeks after an East San Jose school board member quit, the board has chosen a replacement – and it’s a familiar face. After two hours of deliberation, Andrea Flores Shelton was named the Alum Rock Union School District’s newest trustee at a special board meeting Monday night. Flores Shelton beat out three other...
San Jose State University statue defaced
One of the most iconic statues in San Jose and the racial justice movement was defaced over the weekend. The “Victory Salute” statue at San Jose State University—which depicts alumni and African American Olympic athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos—was found defaced on Saturday, university officials said in a campus-wide email. The statue, which has...
Silicon Valley community college district could offer free tuition
Free community college is the ultimate goal for one newly-introduced state bill. California Senate Bill 629, introduced by state Sen. Dave Cortese, would allow the West Valley-Mission Community College District to stop charging its students tuition and cover other costs such as transportation and books. The bill, if approved, would expand access to higher education and...
East San Jose school board member steps down
Alum Rock Union School District board member Ernesto Bejarano has abruptly stepped down as the East San Jose district deals with a sexual abuse scandal. Bejarano, first elected to the school board in 2018, submitted his letter of resignation last week. He cited personal reasons for his departure. Bejarano won his 2022 election campaign for a two-year term....
San Jose schools prioritize student wellness over cops
Two of Santa Clara County’s largest school districts took police off campuses in the wake of the 2020 killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Three years later, advocates said that decision has allowed schools to focus on student wellness. The districts have expanded mental health programs and other services in lieu of funding contracts...
Sunnyvale charter schools lack funding to stay afloat
An imminent shutdown of a Sunnyvale charter school could be the result of longtime financial issues and lack of transparency. Officials with Summit Public Schools, which runs charter schools in Washington and California, provided information to the Santa Clara County Board of Education on Wednesday about the dire financial state of its Summit Denali middle...
Should Silicon Valley school boards have term limits?
Most Santa Clara County school districts do not impose term limits, which has enabled some board members to remain in office for decades. This lack of term limits means boards that never change can become unresponsive to the communities they serve, experts said. But board members themselves said maintaining historical knowledge can provide decadeslong leadership that makes...
Silicon Valley donations to school board races may be capped
As more eyes turn to local school board seats, one newly-introduced bill takes a closer look at campaign finances for those races. California Senate Bill 328 holds school board races to the same standards as other local and state congressional races, limiting individual campaign contributions to $5,500. School board races currently have no donation caps....
Silicon Valley struggles to hire teachers despite investment in education
Early education is making strides in California, but staffing shortages remain an issue. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his proposal for the state’s 2023-24 budget last month, which allocates $128.5 billion for K-12 education and community colleges. The proposal highlights investment in early education, including expanding universal transitional kindergarten, but support for students should coincide with...
Meet San Jose State University’s new president
Cynthia Teniente-Matson is the first Latina and fourth woman to serve as San Jose State University president since the university was founded in 1857. Teniente-Matson, 58, the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, was born in Texas. Her father was a sheet metal worker and her mother worked in retail. She grew up inspired by her mother’s...