El Dorado County Education Digest

The Pollock Pines Elementary School District is switching over to new solar photovoltaic systems. According to Rob Reading of Climatec, the district’s partner in the endeavor, “the district is looking at nearly $4 million in savings on maintenance and operations costs.”

The University of California system this fall will begin to pay the tuition for California residents who are Native American. The decision could affect more than 600 students. UC President Michael Drake said the move would “advance critical efforts to expand student diversity and make the University of California more affordable.”

The El Dorado County Office of Education applied for and got a grant that made it possible to bring on a director of mental health and wellness. Matt Smith will step into the role at the end of this school year.

California is delaying a coronavirus vaccine mandate for schoolchildren until at least the summer of 2023. The state was the first to announce a mandate, but it will not take effect until federal regulators give final approval to the vaccine for children.

There are approximately 6 million items in the inventory of the California State Library. Four million of those are books, and nearly 2,000 of those are law books.

Jolene Koester will become the second woman in California State University history to lead the 23-campus system as interim chancellor. Koester, who served as president of CSU Northridge from 2000 to 2011, is replacing Joseph Castro, who resigned under fire.

After community college enrollment collapsed in late 2020, California lawmakers came up with $120 million to help stem the tide of departing students. So far, progress has been uneven.

State legislation taking effect in the fall requires all school districts to add free programs for children who turn 5 between Sept. 2, 2022, and Feb. 2, 2023. Known as transitional kindergarten, this pre-K year teaches students important life skills.

Alameda Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman capped UC Berkeley enrollment at 2020-21 levels, after Berkeley citizens sued over the toll that enrollment growth would take on the city. A Court of Appeals rejected UC Berkeley’s request Feb. 10 to undo that cap. Now UCB is looking to the state’s highest court.

El Dorado Union High School District issued a statement to parents saying the district will change its mask protocol, saying enforcement will involve educating students “but no further action of exclusion from class will be taken.”

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System provides retirement benefits to 975,000 members and beneficiaries. So it’s not an exaggeration to say nearly 1 million people depend upon CEO Cassandra Lichnock.

Some parents of students enrolled at Buckeye Elementary School have been demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates in front of the campus. A smaller group took things further and protested in front of an administrator’s house.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District closed all eight of its campuses Jan. 13-14 due to widespread COVID-19 infections among students and staff.

Kevin W. Brown, a member of the El Dorado Union High School District Board of Trustees, recently resigned. The EDUHSD Board of Trustees will fill the vacancy through a provisional appointment, and eligible residents are invited to apply.

California schools currently only receive money for students who are present in class. A new bill might change this policy.

More than 40,000 California child care providers will get at least a 15 percent pay raise starting in 2022 through their first-ever collective bargaining agreement.