By Miriam Raftery

March 19, 2012 (Alpine)—A spinal tumor and life-threatening infection have left Bill Weaver, a dedicated education leader and advocate for East County’s  children, in need of community help.  I ask our readers to join in efforts to help Bill, who requires continuing in-home care while recovering from a long hospital stay. There are two ways you can help.

On Monday, April 2 from 3-10 p.m., the Alpine Tavern & Grill at 2502 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine will host “Beers for Bill,” donating 20% of proceeds to help pay for Bill’s medical expenses. 

By Doug Deane
Education Committee Chair, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce

April 28, 2011 – Latest local and national education news headlines include:

• Worst-case budget could shorten school year
• Community colleges prepare for bigger hit
• Four school districts warn of financial distress
• GUHSD Superintendent Swenson’s newsletter
• Curriculum must assess student tech skills
• Music really does boost your IQ!
• Save great teachers
• School could lose majority of teachers
• Hard cap on charter schools isn’t ‘reform’
• Our vision of schools must change
• More pupils are learning online, fueling debate on quality
• STEM to STREAM: Why the arts and writing should be added to science education
• Obama official cites poor quality of education, effect on military
• Community service touted at Clinton event
• Library addition at Cuyamaca College marks end of Proposition R
• Mark Miguel students shine at competition—congratulations Jeff Wood!
• Spring Valley 4th graders dance their way to fitness
• Bloggers challenge President on standardized testing
• Risks: focus on heart deaths in student athletes
• For some, getting into college is the challenge

By Doug Deane

March 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- The following local, state and national education news items are excerpted from a very informative e-newsletter published by Doug Deane, chair of the Business Education Committee at the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.

 Our picks for Deane’s top education stories from the latest issue include:

State's schools, once top in nation, now rank at bottom as budget cuts ravage K-12 and higher education

By Miriam Raftery

December 23, 2009 (Sacramento) – The Obama administration has challenged states to compete for federal “Race to the Top” (RTT) education funds aimed at improving under-performing K-12 schools. California is eligible for $300-$700 million of those funds—provided the Legislature and Governor can agree on changing state laws by January 19, 2010 to qualify for the funding.