By Jeremy Los

Dec. 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--With a large budgetary gap on the horizon, Governor Brown announced $980 million in mid-year budget cuts on Tuesday. Colleges, libraries, and childcare facilities were hit with the hardest cuts, while K-12 education dodged the worst-case scenario that many districts had feared.

December 3, 2011 (San Diego East County) -- Beginning December 6, the schools in the Grossmont Union High School District will be presenting their winter concerts. Each school has a different program, and has different features highlighted. Many schools will have band, choir, and orchestra performances. While individual schools will have dance, clubs, guitar, or performances unique to the school.

 November 20, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Volunteers at the El Cajon Valley High School Parent, Teachers and Students Association are hosting a school supply drive on Tuesday, November 29 at 7am-9am and again at 6pm-8pm. Community members are asked to add ECVHS to your holiday shopping list.  Below is a sampling of items that classrooms need.

By Vince Wallgren

November 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--As the public education establishment’s quandary over shortfalls in funding reaches critical mass, the time may be ripe for introducing sweeping changes to the entire system. 

During a recent broadcast of the Ladona Harvey Show, a education establishment insider asserted (paraphrasing) that among the more important elements in revamping the education system is a higher degree of parent - teacher communication; and that parents must be more involved in the overall education experience.

Targets of koala “hate tabloid” demand remedy for harassment allowed by university

November 13, 2011 (San Diego) — Students at California State University San Marcos filed a complaint Wednesday, against California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, under Titles IX, VI and II of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The complaint seeks immediate injunctive and remedial action against CSUSM, with regard to its decision to allow the distribution of a publication on campus known as The Koala because of the hostile environment the university has allowed the publication to develop at CSUSM.

October 30, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) -- Young artists in grades K to 12 are invited to free workshops to enter the 20th annual California State Junior Duck Stamp competition. The event is sponsored by Pacific South West Art (PSWA) and Heritage of the Americas Museum. All students who enter will receive a certificate form the State of California Fish and Game Department and be eligible for ribbons and awards.

By Doug Deane

October 29, 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:

 Employee award recognizes John Thomas’ many contributions to department

October 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The always rousing wheelchair basketball game, where tumbles and spills are as much a part of the action as the pivoting and spinning of custom-built wheelchairs across the gym floor, is set for noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Cuyamaca College gym as part of the college’s annual commemoration of National Disability Awareness Month.