The following is the Oct. 4 edition of the Abridged by PBS KVIE Homeroom email newsletter, by reporter Savannah Kuchar. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
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A weekly email with news and insights into Sacramento area schools and how it impacts your students.
Welcome to Homeroom!
There are 50-some-odd school districts in our four-county region, and it is my ongoing goal to visit all of them. (Progress is steady.)
One of the ways I interact most often with districts and their leaders is at school board meetings. Those are also great venues to meet educators, parents or other members of the community.
However, if you’re like many folks who don’t have the extra hours to spend in a meeting room, waiting for a certain agenda item, sitting through lengthy, potentially jargon-heavy discussions, no worries.
I’ve got the highlights and need-to-know information coming out of a couple key gatherings this past week.
READY FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?
Education, parenting and other relevant stories from the Sacramento region you may have missed this week.
💲Davis school leaders are anticipating needing roughly $4 million in cuts this year, reductions that will primarily come in the form of layoffs. Trustees said they want to spend the next few months making thoughtful deliberations and gathering community input. Read the latest here.
📱The right time to give your child a cell phone is a common conundrum for parents. Carolyn Becker spoke with Sacramento-area families and heard from local experts. The topline: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some key considerations. Read more in Carolyn’s story here.
🚫 Educators in Twin Rivers Unified are trying — again — to recall school board member Sascha Vogt. The teachers’ union is set on removing her over claims that she was the least responsive trustee leading up to and during their spring strike. Vogt disputed the characterization, saying she has always been accessible. Read more here.
What else is in today’s newsletter?
We’ll check back in for the latest on Sacramento City Unified, where school leaders and county officials continue to debate the district’s financial future.
And check out a list of fun things to do across the area, as we venture into this new month.
HOMEROOM HIGHLIGHT
Sacramento school leaders continue back and forth over funding plan. How does it end?
State intervention or county officials ceding their opposition are among the limited ways the stalemate could end.
BY SAVANNAH KUCHAR | skuchar@kvie.org
In short: For months, leaders from the Sacramento City Unified School District have sparred with their financial overseers, representatives from the Sacramento County Office of Education. School district officials contend they have made substantial headway tackling a more than $150 million deficit. County leaders continue to question the validity of the claimed progress.
A bit more: The local conflict roped in the state’s top education official, who is poised to intervene if the back-and-forth continues.
It’s a routine question on the car ride home or sitting around the dinner table. I want to hear more than “fine” from students across the region: How was school? What did you learn? Did something interesting happen?
Owen Naqica, a senior at West Campus High School in Sacramento, shared his experience growing up in the capital city, where he said young people feel particularly empowered.
| “I’ve heard the words ‘future president’ in referencing many of my peers … Someone actually just called me that in the hall.”
Parents, feel free to share any tidbits from your student about their day by sending me a message at skuchar@kvie.org.
FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Things to do with (or without!) the kids this week.
✏️ Students in kindergarten through sixth grade can find free homework help at the Mary L. Stephens Davis Library Tuesday, Oct. 6. Teen tutors will be there to assist with any school subjects from 4-5 p.m. More information here.
📖 The 4th annual Sacramento Latino Book and Family Festival is 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. The event at Valley High School will feature award-winning Latino authors, live music, lowriders and more. Admission is free. Find additional details here.
🎃 Ready to start fall but not quite ready to let go of summer? Kids 2 to 12 years old can don their swimsuits and hunt for pumpkins at the El Dorado Hills Community Pool Saturday, Oct. 10. Pumpkin Splash Patch runs 1-3 p.m., and there is an $18 registration cost. More details here.
✈️ The California Capital Airshow runs Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11. The family-friendly event will showcase aviation performances from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and others. Tickets start at $60 for Sunday and $76 for Saturday. Find ticket information here.
Want an event to be featured in our next newsletter? Submit it to our community events calendar here.
A STORY TO SHARE
News isn’t just for the adults — each week, I’ll highlight a piece from myself or one of my colleagues that you can share with the student in your life. Hopefully they can find interest or insight in the hyperlocal, community-focused stories. To fuel conversation, check the discussion prompt below.
Throughout September, our team shared a series called, “Meet your neighbors,” where you could — as the name suggests — get to know the people who make up the fabric of our Sacramento region community. The collection of mini profiles includes a precocious high school student (who we heard from above), a baker practicing a “lost art,” an artist who finds creativity in disability, and more. Find the series in its entirety here.
📝 Discussion prompt: Whose story stuck with you the most after reading? Was there anyone you found a commonality or connection with?
There’s good news for fans of high school sports and other local athletics: Abridged — more specifically veteran sportswriter, Joe Davidson — will soon have you covered. Joe is joining our team Oct. 12 and will hit the ground running with a free weekly newsletter, Preps Insider. Sign up here!
Thanks for joining me in Homeroom. Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated. Email me if you want to chat more!
