November 30, 2010 (La Mesa)--The next time that third grade teachers of the La Mesa Spring Valley School District need students to look something up in a dictionary – they can.  Thanks to the Rotary Club of La Mesa, all third-graders in the District now have dictionaries of their own to keep.

November 24, 2010 (San Diego) -- Californians are becoming increasingly worried about the cost of higher education. A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California found that 74 percent of those polled said the state does not provide enough money to its public colleges and universities.

By Tanya Huang

November 23, 2010 (San Diego) — San Diego State students, faculty and staff were blocked from areas around the trolley station for almost three hours while the San Diego State University (SDSU) Police Department investigated an undisclosed, suspicious package which was later deemed nonthreatening.

By Miriam Raftery
Tanya Huang also contributed to this story

November 15, 2010 (San Diego)--Student reactions ranged from dismay to outrage upon learning that the University of California regents will consider an 8% fee increase for the 2011-2012 school year, while the California State University board of trustees has proposed a 5% increase for spring semester and a whopping 10% increase for 2011-2012.

Following last year’s 32% fee increases at the UC and a 5% increase at CSU campuses, many students fear that their dreams of a college education are fast disappearing.

On Wednesday, November 10, the Mount Miguel High School JROTC held its 21st Annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony. More than 175 JROTC Cadets participated in the ceremony honoring all military personnel who have served our country throughout history.

Former Miramar College administrator will head counseling, enrollment services

November 10, 2010 (El Cajon)-- Outside of her professional career in higher education, Wendy Stewart is a self-taught songwriter and musician who dreams of turning on the radio one day to hear one of her pieces being performed by a famous recording artist.

November 6, 2010 (El Cajon ) – Grossmont Union High School District’s board has announced a special budget workshop on Tuesday, November 9th upstairs in the Cuyamaca College Student Center, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway. The public session will begin at 5 p.m., with discussion of the new Alpine High School at 7:30 p.m.

November 4, 2010 (El Cajon) – Henri Migala, former executive dean at Cuyamaca College, has accepted a new post. Migala has relocated at Grossmont College, where he is working under the chancellor to manage grants for the department.

2 Democrats won “open” primary to square off Nov. 3:  Teacher/legislator vs. retired superintendent

November 1, 2010 (San Diego) – When Republican Abel Maldonado held up the state budget and demanded fellow legislators approve an “open” primary ballot initiative as a condition for his vote, the GOP thought it would result in more Republicans winning high office in California, a heavily Democratic state.

But the new rule, which declared the top two vote-getters in June's primary winners regardless of parties, resulted in two Democrats, Tom Torlakson and Larry Aceves, squaring off in the state superintendent’s race (though Aceves has since changed his party registration to independent).

Former Mountain Empire teacher:  `Misspent or reshuffled' monies should go back to the classroom

"It is a public good, and that’s why to starve it is crazy. We should invest more, not less.” -- Jerry Brown, on higher education funding

By Tanya Huang
Photos by David J. Olender

October 21, 2010 (San Diego) — Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown addressed a crowd of hundreds at San Diego State University on Thursday afternoon—his only stop in San Diego—about the importance of funding higher education while criticizing his opponent, Meg Whitman for excessively spending on her campaign.  See full video of Brown's speech at SDSU or scroll down for details.

Challenger Jay Steiger joins race with incumbents Bob Duff, Penny Halgren, and Rick Winet

By Tanya Huang

October 12, 2010 (El Cajon) – Kerry Kilber has been named dean of learning resources and technology at Grossmont College. Kilber comes to the district from the University of San Diego, where she served as the director of a web-based master’s degree program in supply chain management in the college of business administration.

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

October 12, 2010 (El Cajon) The Grossmont Union High School District will host its seventh annual “Got Plans?” Career & College Fair for 9 - 12th grade students and parents on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cuyamaca College.

October 7, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – Out of work and looking for a way to prepare for a new career? Cuyamaca College is offering free courses in landscape irrigation management and water use efficiency as part of the Rancho San Diego college’s Gateway to Green Water program.