Oakland may spare preschools at expense of adult education

By Katy Murphy
Oakland Tribune
Updated: 06/07/2010 09:41:30 PM PDT


OAKLAND — The Oakland school district will consider a proposal next week to salvage what it can of its preschool programs for low-income children — at the expense of immigrants, refugees, high school dropouts and others looking to better their lives through education.

At a special meeting Monday, the district administration will propose taking an additional $5 million from adult education programs. The Edward Shands Adult School would close as a result, as would the Neighborhood Centers on International Boulevard and the Bond Street Annex.

The $9.5 million total reduction for the next school year would wipe out adult English as a Second Language classes, citizenship preparation, and high school diploma and career technical education courses, said Brigitte Marshall, director of the district's adult education programs. The only offerings remaining after the 83 percent program cut would be school-based family literacy programs, high-school equivalency classes and credit recovery for current high school students through independent study.

Lawsuit Press Conference

At Hayward schools, $12 million cut, $6 million to go

By Eric Kurhi
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 04/30/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT


HAYWARD — Trustees slashed more than $12 million from the district budget Wednesday night, increasing class sizes, trimming support staff such as counselors and nurses, and moving most of the adult school's funds to the pot for K-12 education.

West Contra Costa May 12 Board of Education Meeting: Plan to Save Adult Education Services Unveiled (from SaveOurAdultSchool.wordpress.com)

At the May 12 Board of Education meeting, West Contra Costa Adult Education Principal Raul Ramirez presented a plan for the 2010-2011 which would maintain services at about the same level as the current 2009-2010 year.

West Contra Costa likely to spare adult ed from painful cuts

By Shelly Meron
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 05/13/2010 01:19:16 PM PDT
Updated: 05/13/2010 05:45:09 PM PDT

Adult education in West Contra Costa likely will be spared major cuts next year, barring any more bad news from Sacramento.

District staff told the school board and the community Wednesday night that they were able to trim the program's budget without significantly slashing classes.

"It's almost miraculous," board President Madeline Kronenberg said. "This board and (Superintendent Bruce) Harter prioritized adult education."

Nearly 50 school districts statewide are in the midst of axing adult education for the next four years and redirecting state money into the K-12 class

Adult Education teacher Taylor Blakely teaches a student how to use certain aspects of Google in a popular class called "Learning Through Technology." All ESL classes and classes such as this one will be eliminated by next year to help balance the Newport Mesa Unified School District's 2010-11 budget.

Cuts taking toll on West Contra Costa's adult education program

By Shelly Meron
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 02/26/2010 03:34:28 PM PST
Updated: 02/26/2010 03:34:28 PM PST

A trip to the emergency room a few years ago could have ended badly for Maria Huerta.

The 35-year-old Richmond resident who's allergic to penicillin didn't speak much English, relying on a translator to communicate with medical staff.