Headlines

Nearly 30,000 workers represented by SEIU Local 99 went on strike Monday and were joined by 35,000 teachers from UTLA. The work stoppage, which could last three days, closed hundreds of schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

California’s 11th atmospheric river storm, whose stiff winds and pelting rain downed electric lines, churned mudslides and sent rivers and streams over their banks, also shut down at least 178 schools serving 102,000 students, the California Department of Education reported.

More than a week into his new position as Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustee for Area 6, Adam Scow is feeling energized about his vision for the district.

Scow said he wants to work with the board to review the budget and figure out how to solve the wage issue for teachers as well as classified workers, whom he called “the glue of our district.”

“There’s no school district without our classified workers, so finding out a way to raise wages so we can retain and also hire the next generation so that people want to come and stay at PVUSD (is important),” he said.

The Vallejo City Unified School District is planning to cut $5 million, including $4.1 million in staff and educator positions, from the coming year’s budget in an attempt to alleviate this years’ budget deficit.

While the cuts are expected to be made through attrition and not layoffs, California School Employees Association Chapter 199 second vice president Nikki Arenal expressed concerns about workers who may be vulnerable to additional rounds of cuts.

"Though we recognize, and are relieved, that these proposed reductions do not have an immediate impact on our existing unit members employee status, we are left wondering what this can mean for our site safety supervisors and paraeducators in the future, and most importantly how it can affect our students who rely on them for support and safety in our schools," Arenal said.

Tony Thurmond could be California’s last elected superintendent of public instruction if a constitutional amendment introduced Monday is approved.   

ACA-9, introduced by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, would give the governor the power to appoint the superintendent of public instruction, although it would require confirmation by the Assembly, Senate and the Senate Committee on Rules.

This week, two of the largest unions in California—SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and CSEA (California State Employees Association)—endorsed SB 4, a bill that would allow religious institutions and nonprofit colleges to build 100% affordable housing projects on their property by-right, even if local zoning prevents this housing.