June 25, 2021 (Washington D.C.)-- The Federal Trade Commission is sending checks totaling more than $316,000 to 10,689 people who lost money to a student loan debt relief scheme.
In a complaint first announced in March 2020, the FTC alleged SLAC (which also used the name Aspyre), Navloan, and Student Loan Assistance Center, and their owner, Adam Owens, falsely told consumers that, for an upfront fee of $699 and a monthly fee of $39, the defendants would permanently lower or eliminate student loan debt. In reality, the payments could change every year, and loan forgiveness was not guaranteed for any consumer. The FTC also alleged that the defendants paid consumers for positive reviews on the Better Business Bureau website and failed to disclose those payments.
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Photo: Screenshot via 10 News of rally outside Coronado High School at which activists from multi-racial communities called for action including moving the CIF championship
June 23, 2021 (Coronado) -- Two press conferences were held Tuesday after Coronado High School received backlash for racist remarks and actions against Latinx students from an opposing basketball team.
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Local teachers invited to requestresources that promote anti-racism through the DonorsChoose platform
Source: SDG&E
June 22, 2021 (San Diego) - Over the past year, teachers across our region and the nation have had many teaching moments related to racial and social justice. To support educators’ ongoing efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their classrooms and at their schools, San Diego Gas & Electric has established a new grant program with $250,000 in shareholder funding. Teachers who request anti-racism learning materials through the nonprofit crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose, will have donations to their pro jects matched with $2 for every $1 that they raise. receive two dollars in matching funds for every dollar they raise.
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Outlines Path Forward on Troubled Legacy of Federal Boarding School Policies in Remarks to National Congress of American Indians
East County News Service
June 22, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- In remarks to the National Congress of American Indians 2021 Mid Year Conference today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive review of the troubled legacy of federal boarding school policies.
Today’s announcement is accompanied by a secretarial memo in which Secretary Haaland directs the Department to prepare a report detailing available historical records, with an emphasis on cemeteries or potential burial sites, relating to the federal boarding school program in preparation for a future site work. This work will occur under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
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Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
June 19, 2021 (El Cajon) -- For Caesar Mazahreh, June 9, 2021 was a milestone: celebrating his 60th birthday and ceremonial tassel turn on the same day as Grossmont College’s 60th commencement.
“I informed my daughter of the coincidence and she said, ‘Dad, you are as old as Grossmont College,’” said Mazahreh, who earned associate degrees in Business Administration, Economics and a certificate of achievement in University Studies with a 3.6 grade point average.
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San Diego State University’s sixth president, who steered the institution through a transformative period of growth and expansion, has died.
By SDSU News Team
June 18, 2021 (San Diego) - Thomas B. Day, the sixth president of San Diego State University who began an 18-year-tenure in 1978 and saw the creation of six joint doctoral programs, significantly increased faculty research and led a major expansion of the university.
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June 17, 2021 (La Mesa) - Helix Water District honored local student artists for their winning Water Is Life posters at a virtual awards ceremony during Helix Water District’s board meeting on June 16, 2021.
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Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
June 16, 2021 (El Cajon) - Office Professional Training, the free, one-semester program at Grossmont College that has produced more than 2,600 well-prepared office workers and placed some 85 percent into jobs over the past 35 years, is gearing up for its fall 2021 term.
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June 11, 2021 (Lakeside) - The El Capitan High School Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) awarded $1,000 in scholarships to graduating senior members. The scholarship winners are (left to right) Connor Crist, Samantha Wilson, Abby Burghart, Megan Zink and Hafeez Merali.
“People often ask where their PTSA membership money goes – what is it used for,” said Teresa Leader-Anderson, president, El Capitan High School PTSA. “At El Capitan, part of our membership money is used for senior scholarships so we can help hard-working students pursue their educational goals after high school.”
This year’s winners are:
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Cajon Valley Union School District trustee James Miller is lead plaintiff in controversial case
By Miriam Raftery
June 10, 2021(Sacramento) – Last week, Judge Roger Benetiz of California’s Southern District court issued an opinion in Miller v. Bonta (previously Miller v. Becerra), holding that California’s tyrannical ban on “assault weapons” is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. However the judge issued a stay on his ruling for 30 days to allow time for an appeal.
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One million young children in California may be eligible
Source: California Department of Education
June 5, 2021 (Sacramento) -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved California’s plan to launch a new food assistance program for young children up to age six whose access to healthy meals has been impacted due to the pandemic. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE) will partner to issue Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits to eligible young children.
“The pandemic has placed additional strain on many families that were already struggling to provide healthy meals for their kids,” said Thurmond. “This program provides critical assistance so that our low-income young children can get the nutritious foods at home they need to thrive.”
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May 20, 2021 (San Diego) --This week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Education announced the specific relief totals available to state and local governments and postsecondary institutions as part of the American Rescue Plan, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in March.
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May 19, 2021 (Santee) -- Students at Santee’s West Hills High School, class of 2021, will be holding their senior prom on a football field. The event is titled: “Under the Stars” and is literally under a canopy of starlight this year.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many high schools’ senior prom plans. West Hills High School is also switching up their prom to be held this Saturday, May 22, as well. The dance floor will be at the 50-yard line with the stadium decorated with a light tunnel and more. It is undetermined if the football field lights will be dimmed for slow dances.
The event will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Additionally, the night will be capped off with fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
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Photo: part of a proposed bump in education funding would cover free pre-K education for all 4-year-olds in California. (Briana Jackson/iStockphoto)
May 17, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Education advocates are cheering Gov. Gavin Newsom's May budget revise, which pours almost $122 billion into public schools, the highest level of funding in California's history.
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Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
May 14, 2021 (El Cajon) - An educator with more than two decades of experience in higher education has been selected as the next president of Grossmont College.
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Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
May 13, 2021 (El Cajon) - With the turning of shovels at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning, construction has officially begun at Grossmont College on the second phase of a science, math and career technology complex, which will also house a new Veterans Resource Center.
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May 13, 2021 (Rancho San Diego) -- Jogging down a stretch of sidewalk, edged with vibrant sprouts of grass as a breath of air gently passes by. Soaking in the summer sun floating just above the horizon before settling a match of volleyball. Or perhaps you’re eyeing an empty row of seats in a packed theater, popcorn in one hand with a slushy resting in the other, as you signal to your friends. Admittedly, we have all imagined ourselves in any one of these scenarios. Being in quarantine for over a year, who could blame us?
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Photo: scholarship winner Grace Freeman, Grossmont High School
May 13, 2021 (El Cajon) -- North Island Credit Union has awarded 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to college-bound students in San Diego and Riverside Counties in its annual College Scholarship Program. The winners include three students in El Cajon: Grace Freeman and Mirfit Mohammad at Grossmont College, as well as Sergio Garcia at Granite Hills High School.
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May 6, 2021 (Valley Center) – Kyle Puette, 37, a third and fifth grade teacher at Valley Center Elementary School, has been arrested on charges of sending harmful matter to seduce minors and communicating with minors to commit a sexual offense.
The alleged criminal offenses offered in Bakersfield, where Puette was formerly employed as a fifth grade teacher at Louse Sandrini Elementary School from 2013 to 2017. Two juvenile teenage victims have been identified thus far, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
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May 6, 2021 (El Cajon) - East County Leadership Council’s grant has allowed it to triple the prize money for its COVID-19 essay contest. ECLC has also extended the deadline for entries to May 29 to allow broader participation.
The goal of the essay contest is to better understand how COVID-19 has affected young people academically, in their college plans, and in their career choices. This contest is open to east county high school juniors, seniors, and college freshman.
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April 27, 2021 (La Mesa) - Visionary School for the Performing Arts presents Matilda, Jr summer camp at the Visionary Studio (8674 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942) directed by Spencer John Powell and Lendia Wylie.
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Growing demand in the healthcare field is met with local investment in training and education of frontline workers
April 22, 2021 (La Mesa) – As the demand for frontline workers surges, the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) continues to invest in the future of East County health care students through its annual scholarships.
The health care and social assistance sector is estimated to have the most accelerated growth through 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, with a 3.1 percent growth per year. Several areas are experiencing hiring surges, including nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, and physician assistance.
Since 1999, the district has awarded scholarship grants to East County high school and college students, worth more than $1 million in higher education tuition. This year, a total of $205,400 was awarded to 59 students working or living in East County: 44 high school students and 15 pursuing higher education.
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April 18, 2021 (El Cajon) – Three educators with extensive experience working at community colleges have been chosen as finalists to be the next Grossmont College president.
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April 18, 2021 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont College Literary Arts Festival has special reasons to celebrate its April 26-29 run: its 25th anniversary and its return after a one-year COVID hiatus.
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Paul Fiest, Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing at California Community Colleges, said the pandemic has severely disrupted potential students' lives.
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April 11, 2021 (San Diego) – Things are looking brighter for the San Diego State community now that the county has shifted to the Orange Tier. As of last week, the SDSU Commencement Committee confirmed via email that the Spring 2021 commencement ceremony will be conducted in-person for those that choose to register. The graduation ceremonies will be held on May 25-27 at Petco Park Stadium in downtown. For those that choose not to attend, SDSU will also provide a virtual ceremony. Both options will be available to the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021.
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April 8, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- The East County Leadership Council (ECLC) is sponsoring an essay contest to better understand how COVID-19 has affected young people including academically, in their college plans, and career choices. This contest is open to high school juniors and seniors, and college freshman. Awards are as follows:
Cash Prizes:
$250 1st Place
$100 2nd Place
Three 3rd Place prizes of $50 each
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March 23, 2021 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College students who are awarded a scholarship from an East County tribe get much more than the $500 to help them pay for books and supplies. They also get a connection with the tribe’s casino that can help them land a job.
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Community activists have long underscored the impacts of the gaps of access to high speed, reliable internet to non-White and poorer communities and they’ve critiqued public leaders for not taking quicker action to bridge the divide.
March 23, 2021 (San Diego) - A year after the pandemic made having a reliable internet connection a requisite for countless families, professionals, school children and others, the number of people without it has not changed and cities across the San Diego region have either no plan to address it or no money to fund their plans.
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Photo, left: Rev Shane Harris held a press conference last week at the San Pasqual Academy
March 16, 2021 (Escondido) – In a win for foster youths, San Diego County Supervisors today voted unanimously to approve a motion asking state officials to grant a reprieve to the San Pasqual Academy, a boarding school for foster youths slated to close later this year.
The school has been a safe haven for foster youths, who found a home at the academy when they were unable to be placed with families as they aged out of the system.
Rev. Shane Harris, president of the People's Association of Justice Advocates, has led efforts to keep the school open. After today's vote, he stated, “I thank the Board of Supervisors for their unanimous support of this motion. Today we have taken a step toward reimagining what foster care can look like in San Diego County and beyond, starting with the nation's first residential educational campus for foster youth, San Pasqual Academy. The fight for a carve out to keep San Pasqual in existence in our nation begins now. Let's reimagine foster care together."
Harris is an alumni of San Pasqual Academy, which he credits with helping him develop leadership skills after years in foster care.
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Source: Federal Trade Commission
By Briana Gomez
L
Outlines Path Forward on Troubled Legacy of Federal Boarding School Policies in Remarks to National Congress of American Indians
San Diego State University’s sixth president, who steered the institution through a transformative period of growth and expansion, has died.
Source: Helix Water District
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
By Teresa Leader-Anderson
Cajon Valley Union School District trustee James Miller is lead plaintiff in controversial case
One million young children in California may be eligible
East County News Service
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service (CA)
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
By Branson Bajoua
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
Growing demand in the healthcare field is met with local investment in training and education of frontline workers
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Source: Grossmont College
By Suzanne Potter, California News Service
By Angela Kurysh
Source: Grossmont College
Community activists have long underscored the impacts of the gaps of access to high speed, reliable internet to non-White and poorer communities and they’ve critiqued public leaders for not taking quicker action to bridge the divide.
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