By Nadin Abbott

September 11, 2014 (San Diego)--California Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Tani Cantil-Sakauye addressed UCSD alumni at the Symphony Towers in downtown San Diego today. She emphasized the need to teach civics to students. She believes it is critical “to educate so people can better understand what the branch does and why we do it.”

September 8, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)--The power of music. People of different generations working together. Disabilities that go unrecognized. Talking to your kids about diversity. These topics and more will be covered over the fall semester in six workshops at Cuyamaca College’s Diversity Dialogues, a series now in its third year that focuses on a variety of diversity awareness and social justice issues.

Provided by The Times of San Diego and San Diego Jewish World, both members of the San Diego Online News Association (SDONA)

September 6, 2014 (San Diego)--A person who was held by campus police after authorities found a San Diego State building marred by graffiti, including swastikas, was described by an SDSU spokeswoman on Wednesday, Sept. 3,  as a “54-year-old man from Santee who has known mental issues and was off his medication.”

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2014 (Sacramento)--One in five students nationwide is a victim of sexual assault,  Increasingly, campuses across America are facing criticism for not doing enough to protect students from sexual assault.

SAN DIEGO (August 25, 2014) — San Diego State University students are welcomed back this fall with new leadership, changing buildings, accomplished returning and 54 new faculty and a multitude of new majors and classes, which will enhance the student experience.

Report finds 3 East County schools among state’s worst for educating English learners

By Miriam Raftery and Sharon Penny

Updated August 14, 2014 to include a response from the GUHSD

August 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -A quarter of all school districts in California are failing to educate many children who don’t speak English, according to figures obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union on the Department of Education’s website.

August 11, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - A ribbon cutting ceremonyh will be held for the grand opening of El Capitan High School's new physical education building on Friday, August 29 at 1 p.m.

Project amenities for the new 18,405-square-foot building include boys and girls locker rooms, showers, wrestling/aerobics room, fitness/weight room, team rooms, training room and coaches offices. Site upgrades include: demolition of the older locker room building, replacement of new exterior basketball courts, multiple shade structures for outdoor fitness and a new sand volleyball court. See attached invitation.

Hear our interview with GUHSD member Priscilla Schreiber and Nick Marinovich, who says he was pressured to resign off the district's Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, on why they want to see new candidates step forward to run for the board:

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2014 (San Diego's East County) -- Tomorrow, August 8 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to file for running for most local offices in East County--though if an incumbent opts not to file for reelection, that deadline can be extended for several more days. 

Some local districts don't have enough people running to fill the seats--including the Grossmont Union High School District, where at last check only two challengers have filed for three seats, despite controversy including a Grand Jury admonishment.  One of those challengers, Dr. Gary Woods, opposes a high school for Alpine and was previously voted out; his election would solidify the anti-Alpine high school majority on the board.  (Note: incumbent Dick Hoy has said he won't seek reelection, thus this filing deadline will likely be extended.)

Alpine's Community Planning Group has just 5 candidates so for to fill 7 seats.

These are just two examples of a race where the balance of power could shift--or not--depending on which candidates if any step forward to run.

Local seats on the November ballot include school boards, planning groups, water boards, fire boards, mayor and city councils across East County.  Currently a numberof these positions have no candidates filed to run, or only one candidate, leaving voters without a choice.  

East County News Service

August 6, 2014 (San Diego)--San Diego State University is launching  a new program aimed at empowering music studies to run successful businesses.

Grossmont CBOC Member Nick Marinovich Resigns After Pressure From Asking Tough Questions

By Sharon Penny

July 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--The Grossmont Union High School District’s (GUHSD) Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) serves on behalf of  San Diego County taxpayers to  “independently review the planning and execution of the Proposition H and Proposition U bond programs to validate to the public and the Governing Board that bond funds are spent within the intent of the bond measure.” East County Magazine has raised questions over problems with the CBOC’s watchdog role in a radio interview a few months ago.

Since his appointment to CBOC in June 2013, Nick Marinovich has a history of questioning the GUHSD Board about what many view as its inadequate responses for plans for an Alpine High School (funded by Proposition U) and for not properly addressing the Grand Jury’s report criticizing the Boardm as ECM has reported.

Effective June 19, Marinovich “resigned” from the CBOC. GUHSD Board member Priscilla Schreiber has told East County Magazine that she believes Marinovich was ”indirectly forced” to resign due to his probing questions and failure of the board to respond to his follow-up efforts.

June 27, 2014 (El Cajon) - From student body president at Grossmont College during the 1960s to his fundraising efforts on behalf of students over the past 10 years, Ernest Ewin is the gift to East County’s community colleges that keeps on giving.

By Jaden Jimenez

June 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Following last year’s plan that was signed by Governor Brown, districts will have the ability to direct funds to specific areas in their schools rather than being told by the state for direction.

The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) creates concentration grants in place of the existing funding plans giving districts more say in how money should be spent on education in their specific district. This eliminates revenue limits and will cut out three quarters of state categorical programs which are currently deciding what funds are needed for specific expenditures, without any consideration to the needs of each individual district.

By Miriam Raftery

June 11, 2014 (Washington D.C.)-- Students graduating from college today face an increasing burden of debt. The average undergraduate student must borrow $30,000 and for graduate students, the burden is many times worse. The high cost of tuition, even at public colleges and universities, has made college unaffordable for many students.

June 10, 2014 (El Cajon)--More than 2,000 graduates have received a record number of degrees and certificates from Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges in the annual celebrations of academic accomplishment, evenings made memorable by inspirational speeches, congratulatory moments, proud families and joyous graduates.

By Leon Thompson



May 30, 2014 (Lakeside) -- “Heartland Charter School helped me get a job,”  said Andy Casteruita.  “I learned good work habits and leadership skills.” Andy is one of 49 students at the Heartland Coalition’s one year old Youth Build Charter High School with classes and an office on Orange Avenue in City Heights.