"Increasing the cost of attending a CSU or UC translates to more money from the pockets of students already struggling with multiple jobs and heavy class loads.” -- Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove)

By Miriam Raftery

November 10, 2010 (Sacramento) - California State University trustees today approved a two-step tuition increase that will raise fees by 15.5 percent over the next year. Tuition for students at CSU's 23 campuses, including San Diego State University and CSU San Marcos, will rise 5 percent in January and another 10 percent in the fall, a total of $4,884. Average fees at each campus add an additional $950--for a whopping $5,834 total hike that students must pay.

November 9, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – With construction finishing on 14 projects at Grossmont and Cuyamaca College, leaders of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District recently took time to honor the architects, engineers and contractors who led the work to transform the two East County campuses.

November 5, 2010 (Lakeside) – Today San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore announced that Ryan Stevens, who recently worked as a part-time assistant diving coach at El Capitan High School in Lakeside, was arrested last night. He is charged with oral copulation with a minor by means of force or fear.

November 3, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) -- If you’re out of a job and looking to go green in your next career, check out the free classes being offered at Cuyamaca College. The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District received a $1 million grant from the state of California and the California Energy Commission to provide the free classes to 240 students at Cuyamaca College.

Budget cited as key challenge; District faces $15 million deficit
 

By Ray Wong

October 22, 2010 (San Diego)--Last week, a 19-year-old student named Diana Gonzalez was found dead in a men’s bathroom at San Diego City College. Investigators are looking for her estranged husband because there has been a history of domestic violence reported between them. It’s a shocking incident that has made front-page headlines.
 

I work as a counselor at San Diego City College and I don’t want to focus on the horror of the violence. What I want to tell you about is the candlelight vigil organized by the campus Associated Students in front of the school cafeteria Thursday evening in honor of their fellow student.

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District news

October 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Union-Tribune has published Q&As with candidates for eight East County school districts: Alpine Union, Cajon Valley, Grossmont Union High School, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Lakeside Union, Lemon Grove, Mountain Empire Unified, and Santee school districts. Below are links to the questionnaires and replies from those candidates who responded:

October 12, 2010 (San Diego) – Want to learn more about Prop 23, one of the most important environmental battles ever in California’s history? Prop 23 would overturn the landmark AB 32 measure that reduced greenhouse gas emissions and strengthened clean air standards.

Over 7,000 East County Students & Parents Expected to Attend Largest Career/College Fair in San Diego County

October 16, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont College Foundation, a fund-raising organization that supports Grossmont College students and educational programs, will host its 2010 Dinner Gala and Auction fund-raiser starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. The public is invited to attend.

Festivities for this year’s ninth annual Gala will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner starting at 7:30 p.m., live auction and live entertainment. The 2010 theme is “Griffin Gold Rush: 49 Years of Excellence.”

October 2, 2010 (La Mesa) -- To encourage health through physical activity and reduce traffic around schools, eight schools in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District will participate in the International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 6th. Students will be walking or biking to school, along with parents, teachers, principals, and community leaders.

“The failure to sufficiently accommodate student needs is heartbreaking,” – Chancellor Cindy L Miles

September 29, 2010 (Jamul) 12:35 p.m. – An Ultralight glider plane has struck a pole and crashed onto the baseball field at Jamul Primary School on Lyons Valley Road, Incident Page Network reports.

Update 12:40 p.m.  “There were no kids around. The pilot is being evaluated and there is an ambulance. However he didn’t seem to be injured--he got up and walked around.” Erin Bach, administrative assistant to the Superintendent, told East County Magazine.

By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine

September 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- The principals of Campo and Potrero elementary schools in Mountain Empire Unified School District were reassigned by the superintendent without warning on Sept. 9; shocked parents were issued hasty letters of explanation five days later.

Campo Principal Diane Yops was informed that she was being removed. A janitor was dispatched to collect her keys and, in the presence of parents and staff members, moved her office items to Potrero Elementary. There, the non-Spanish speaking educator will supervise a student body that is mostly made up of native Spanish speakers. Witnesses said she was forbidden to speak to anyone at the time of her removal.