Santa Cruz County Education Digest

Food service staff from local school districts recently participated in a weeklong training as Santa Cruz County schools begin their academic year, including the preparation of 15,000 daily meals for students as part of California's Universal Meals Program.

Facing a $100 million budget shortfall, UCSC eyes budget cuts and possible layoffs.

In an announcement on July 29, Cabrillo College announced it's seeking nominations for the seat vacated by Martha Victoria Vega who has resigned.

In their July 24 meeting, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a deputy sheriff to be assigned to the Aptos High campus.

An introduction to Pat Sánchez, the new superintendent of the Live Oak School District.

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz won a prestigious award for their paper outlining new techniques to greatly reduce power consumption by AI models.

Public comment is being solicited on mural designs for the Ramsay Park Nature Center in Watsonville.

The Cabrillo Robotics Club won first place in international underwater robotics competition.

A program for low-income, first-generation STEM students at community colleges is receiving millions of dollars to expand across the state.

Small and low-income school officials say the bond measure deal is unfair. The money is allocated through matching grants, so wealthier districts that can raise more local funds will get more money from the state.

In their June 12 meeting, the Live Oak School School District Board of Trustees appointed Patrick Sánchez as the new Superintendent with a 1-year contract.

The two-day CalMatters Ideas Festival wrapped on June 6 with more than a dozen events examining critical policy issues impacting the lives of millions of Californians.

A panel of labor experts at the CalMatters Ideas Festival say California workers should have more access to more apprenticeships that pay more. Barriers still exist, especially for women and low-income Californians.

EdSource reports that police are dispatched thousands of times per school day across California.

Aptos High School building and construction trades program students recently completed construction of a 20-foot by 8-foot tiny home.

In a statement posted to the UCSC website on June 4, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive defended use of police to break up a pro-Palestine encampment in the interest of campus safety.

The state is directly investing money for low-income students and all newborns to attend college. After two years, the program is still not widely known by the students who need the most financial assistance.

After University of California students were arrested or suspended for protests, student workers are striking at three campuses. The Office of President says the strike violates the union contract.

Two major forces are at play: Gov. Gavin Newsom scaled back his promise of increased financial support for Cal State, while university officials agreed to 5% salary increases earlier this year.

A plan is underway and funding sought to convert an unused 1.1 acre sports field at Del Mar Elementary School into a productive on-site farm.

In a decision released on May 23, a state labor board denied a request for an injunction against striking academic workers filed by the University of California.

UC Santa Cruz is developing housing for upper division undergraduate students and staff in the Delaware Addition on the Santa Cruz Westside.

A short shelter in place was declared at Aptos High School on May 21 after sightings of a mountain lion on campus were reported to staff.

UCSC researchers, with teams from the University of Texas and Monterey Bay, studied local sea otter use of tools such as rocks and other items.

On May 20, UCSC academic workers and students walked out of classes in protest of the UC system administration handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The job action starting today at UC Santa Cruz isn’t about pay, but instead is in response to how UC deployed police to clear pro-Palestinian encampments on campuses.

Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the community school initiative with $4.1 billion in grants to connect students and their families to medical care, counseling and other services.

In the May 14 City Council meeting, the economic development department shared updated renderings of the library/housing/parking project at Cedar and Lincoln Streets, with construction to begin in early 2025.

In its May 13 meeting, the Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to approve a controversial medical marijuana dispensary on Mission and Laurel Streets.

An introduction to new Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras.

The Scotts Valley Unified School District is looking into a bond measure on the November ballot to fund upgrades and improvements to classrooms and facilities.

Hundreds of UCSC students and faculty participated in a peaceful march to the Quarry where several dozen protestors set up tents.