Schools

Education protests — images from the street

Monica Jensen, SF Public Press — Mar 4 2010 - 5:07pm

Thousands of people, including college, high school and elementary school students, plus parents, teachers and other activists, converged in streams on downtown San Francisco to protest cuts in public education Thursday afternoon. Organizers said that more than 4,000 people marched down Mission and Valencia streets to Market, and then to the Civic Center Plaza.

Lesson in SF grade schools: protest education cuts

Anna Rendall, SF Public Press — Mar 3 2010 - 11:31pm

On Thursday, San Francisco public school students as young as 5 will get a real-life learning experience about civic engagement — through protest. Students from kindergarten through college plan to convene at Market and Powell streets in the late afternoon to protest cuts to public education during a coordinated political action called the Rally for California’s Future. Several schools were planning to have students create picket signs in school. On Wednesday, students sat in the parent room at Sheridan Elementary School making signs and banners. But the school district, citing safety, put a stop to a plans for teachers to take students as a field trip.

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Besides taxes, few solutions at town hall on education

Kristine Magnuson and Tabitha Harmon, SF Public Press — Feb 26 2010 - 5:55pm

The organizers of what was billed as a town hall-style meeting on education funding in the Marina Thursday said their intention was to have a conversation with the community about solutions to money woes for the coming school year. But the evening’s talk, moderated by Michael Krasny, host of KQED-FM’s “Forum,” fell short of those expectations for some parents, educators and others in attendance — as evidenced by booing and hissing that punctuated the meeting.

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Intercept truants in early grades — Q&A with Abraham Simmons

Monica Jensen, SF Public Press — Feb 24 2010 - 5:49pm

Abraham Simmons, the volunteer chairman on the San Francisco civil grand jury report on truancy, says the situation in San Francisco hasn't changed much in the past seven years: around 5,000 students are habitually truant each year.

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Pricey recreation center plan splits San Francisco State students

Justin Allen, The Public Press — Oct 23 2009 - 9:45pm

The student paper headline read, "Debate Already Closed." But elsewhere on the San Francisco State University campus, the debate was just beginning, about a proposed $93 million recreation center whose bottom line seems to loom over the conversation about deep curriculum cutbacks this fall.

Students gathered Thursday in the Cesar Chavez student center for a teach-in organized by the Coalition Against the Rec Center, a group of students opposing the construction of a Recreation and Wellness Center. But the proposal has divided opinion on campus, with the president of the largest student group, which strongly backs the plan, declaring, "The project will never die."

UCSF offers furloughed employees little help via ‘hardship loans’

Christi Morales, The Public Press — Sep 30 2009 - 3:50pm

To help employees suffering "additional financial stress" from pay cuts and furloughs, the University of California-San Francisco is letting workers borrow their lost wages and repay the money -- with interest.

But employees hoping to tap a UCSF emergency loan fund for help paying rent or bills are out of luck. These don't count as "an unplanned emergency situation."

UC employees cast ‘no-confidence’ vote in Yudof

Christi Morales, The Public Press — Sep 3 2009 - 4:59pm

Union employees at the University of California gave an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the leadership of UC President Mark Yudof, election organizers said Thursday.

UC faculty say proposed cuts unfair, show favoritism

Christi Morales, The Public Press — Aug 2 2009 - 11:07am

Now that California has finally passed a budget, public higher education officials are moving forward with the difficult task of implementing cuts that will greatly impact students and educators.

And as University of California officials discuss additional reductions, some faculty members at the UC Berkeley campus say cuts are being distributed unfairly. Certain sciences reportedly are seeing less than a quarter percent cut while the school’s physical education program funding is being cut in half.

UC regents approve furlough plan; standoff foreseen with unions

Christi Morales, The Public Press — Jul 16 2009 - 10:35pm

n a 20-1 vote, the University of California Board of Regents decided Thursday to move forward with a contentious furlough plan that will affect more than 108,000 employees, setting the stage for a standoff between UC officials and labor unions.

Beginning Sept. 1, UC faculty and staff members will have to take 11 to 26 days off a year, depending on their salary level, which amounts to pay cuts ranging from 4 percent to 10 percent. Those making $40,000 or less will have to take 11 furlough days, with the number of days off increasing for those with higher salaries.

The plan is expected to create $184 million in savings for the 10-campus university system, which is saddled with an $813 million deficit.

UC regents back furloughs and pay cuts; staff protest

Christi Morales and Michael Winter, The Public Press — Jul 15 2009 - 9:00pm

More than 108,000 full-time University of California faculty and staff face extended unpaid furloughs and pay cuts under an emergency plan endorsed Wednesday by a Board of Regents' committee. Senior managers would also see their salaries cut an additional 5 percent.

The plan passed, 11-1. The full board will vote Thursday.

If approved, the plan would take effect Sept. 1. UC faculty and staff would be required to take from 11 to 26 unpaid days by Sept. 1, 2010, which works out to a pay cut of 4 to 10 percent. Higher earners would take more furlough days and deeper pay cuts.