403(b)Tax Sheltered Annuity Changes Effective January 1
The Internal Revenue Service has made significant changes to 403(b) Tax Sheltered Annuity requirements as of January 1, 2009. The district, along with our third party administrator, has been working with all district-approved 403(b) providers to ensure compliance with the new requirements. The new requirements will most likely result in changes to the SDUSD Tax-Sheltered Annuities Approved Companies. The list, posted in the Benefits section of the Human Resources website, will be updated frequently to reflect these changes. Providers that can comply with the new requirements will remain on the approved list; those that can not comply will be removed. If you have questions or need more information, call Deanne Maier at (619) 725-7670 or Susan Freedman at (619) 725-7672.
Williams Complaints Due January 20
Any Williams Complaints received for the period October through December 2008 should be forwarded to Legal Services by close of business Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Please review Administrative Procedure 1700 for the Uniform Complaint Procedure and to download a copy of a blank complaint form and fax transmittal form. Contact Legal Services at (619) 725-5630 with questions.
Schedule for Spring 2009 Student Reinstatement List Pickup
Students who were previously expelled from the district will be reinstated to their schools for the Spring 2009 semester. Schools can pick up their materials from the Placement and Appeal Office, Annex 8, at the Education Center, on January 21 and 22. Please call (619) 725-5660 prior to coming to the Ed Center to make sure materials are available. Materials that are not picked up will be sent to sites via school mail. All students returning from expulsion must be registered in a timely fashion so they can be in attendance on the first day of school. Schools must notify the Placement and Appeal counselors immediately of any student(s) that should not be reinstated based on specific incidents that cause grave concern. Otherwise, all families should be contacted immediately to register the returning student(s). For information, contact Deidre Walsh at dwalsh1@sandi.net or (619) 725-5659.
District Enrollment Fairs Scheduled for January
Two enrollment fairs to showcase our district and schools will be held this month at the Recital Hall in Balboa Park. A Magnet Schools Fair will take place on Saturday, January 24, and a district-wide Enrollment Options Fair will be held Saturday, January 31. Both fairs will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature school displays, innovative programs and student performances throughout the day. The events are free and open to the public. All district-run schools are encouraged to participate. For information, visit http://sandi.net/enrollmentoptions/enrollmentfairs.html or contact Beth Churchill, enrollment fair coordinator, at echurchill@sandi.net or (619) 725-7154.
New Partnership Agreements Due March 10
On Tuesday, April 28, the Board of Education will ratify new partnerships in education. Schools and district departments/programs with new partners must submit their partnership agreements and partnership contact information to the Community Relations Department by Tuesday, March 10. For information, contact Kathy Gartland at kgartland@sandi.net or (619) 725-5592.
Academic League Needs Paid Moderators
The district Academic League seeks teachers to moderate matches throughout the city during February, March and April. Academic League competition involves teams of high school students answering curriculum-based questions. Moderators will be paid and the hours are flexible. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an activity that honors academic accomplishments, promotes learning for all students and their parents, and increases public awareness of student academic achievement. If interested or for more information, contact Rhonda Zawadzki at rzawadzki@sandi.net or Mark Heinze at mheinze@sandi.net.
Teacher of the Year Nominations
Recognize and honor excellence. Nominations are now being accepted for your school site Teacher of the Year. The deadline to submit a nomination form is Friday, January 23, 2009. All nominated teachers will be recognized at a special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Nominees also have the opportunity to apply for district Teacher of the Year. For information, contact Jennie Breister at jbreister@sandi.net or (619) 725-5598.
Professional Development
CSET Prep Courses Scheduled
Prep courses for the March 14, 2009, California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) will begin Tuesday, February 17. Courses are available in Single Subject English, Single Subject Science (General Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Geoscience), Single Subject Mathematics and Multiple Subjects. Courses are free for district employees; $60 for non-district employees. The registration deadline is Tuesday, February 10. For information, contact Lucy Del Valle at ldelvalle@sandi.net or (619) 725-7142.
January Discover Program Classes
Don’t miss out on the great professional development opportunities from the Discover Program. Registration is still open for the following January course offerings:
CPR-Basic Life Support and First Aid (.5 cr.)
Garden Design/Project Based, Part 1 and 2 (.5 cr.)
Re-directing for a Cooperative Classroom (1 cr.)
GATE - Differentiating Instruction Utilizing Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles and Preferences (.5 cr.)
Register early to avoid class cancellations. Classes are held based on registrations received. To view course descriptions and register online, go to the DISCOVER website. For information, contact Esther Caluza at ecaluza@sandi.net .
Earn National Board Certification, Master's Degree at the Same Time
In partnership with National University, district teachers can pursue National Board Certification in 2009-10 while completing a Master's Degree in Teaching, a Master's with an Administrative Credential, or simply National Board Certification. Classes meet one night per week at a district school and online in a hybrid program. Apply for the February cohort no later than February 2, 2009. Plan to attend an informational meeting to learn more. For information, contact Julia Groff at jgroff@sandi.net .
Technology Workshops
The San Diego County Office of Education 2009 Winter/Spring schedule of technology workshops offered at the San Diego County Regional Technology Centers is now online. Classes are open to teachers, support personnel and students of San Diego County schools. Many classes are free. Register now as space is limited. For information and to register online, go to http://tinyurl.com/EDTECHCAL.
Earn a Master’s in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts Lesley University is currently accepting applications for a new cohort developing in the San Diego Unified School District. Complete the program in less than two years by attending class just one weekend per month. Informational meetings will be held at Taft Middle School on Tuesday, February 3, at 4:30 p.m., and SCPA on Wednesday, February 4, at 4:30 p.m. For information, contact Michael McCarthy at mmccart1@lesley.edu or (866) 531-3167.
Free Class for Parents: Journey to Academic Success
Family Science is the theme of the Ballard Parent Center’s next Journey to Academic Success class being held Thursday, January 22, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Parents and their children will learn fun science projects that can been done at home. The class is free and will be held at the Tubman - Chavez Multicultural Center, 142 N. Euclid Ave. (92114). Childcare and a light dinner are also provided. For information, contact Elneda Shannon at eshannon@sandi.net or Marco Beltran at mbeltran@sandi.net or call (619) 293-4431.
iHigh Virtual Academy Open House
Learn more about the district’s new virtual high school, opening Monday, February 2, at one of their upcoming Open House events:
Mt. Everest Campus: Thursday, January 15, from 7-8 p.m., and Tuesday, January 27, from 1-2 p.m.
Fremont Campus: Tuesday, January 20, from 1-2 p.m.; Thursday, January 22, from 7-8 p.m.; and Thursday, January 29, from 1-2 p.m.
Community Leaders Breakfast
Superintendent Terry Grier will give the “State of the District Address” at the annual Community Leaders Breakfast, sponsored by the Administrators Association of San Diego City Schools (AASD). The event will be held Thursday, February 26, from 7:30-9 a.m., at the Town and Country Convention Center. Tickets are $31 per person. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 12. For information or to register, contact Linda Crout Hamel at linda@aasdcs.org or (619) 295-2118.
Teacher Sneak Preview at Fleet Science Center
The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is hosting a Teacher Sneak Preview on Thursday, January 15, from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Start the evening with a tour of the upgraded Nierman Challenger Learning Center and enjoy dinner in the Challenger Gallery. Sample education outreach programs and workshops; plus, try this month’s experiment in the “Tinkering” Studio. Raffle prizes include a free class field trip and a visit to its store for a 20% discount. Register online. For information, call Mary French at (619) 238-1233, ext. 847.
San Diego Science Festival Expo Day: The Science of You!
Come celebrate "The Science of You" in Balboa Park on Saturday, April 4. Expo Day is the pinnacle event of San Diego Science Festival, the West Coast's largest celebration of science. Science takes over the museums, cultural centers and the central corridor of Balboa Park with more than 300 hands-on activities, demonstrations, experiments, contests and performances. All events are interactive and geared to students of all ages and their families. Many of the major museums will be open for free that day. A limited number of grants are available to teachers who arrange for buses to take their students to Expo Day. For information, visit www.sdsciencefestival.com.
Retiring Types
After 33 years of service to the district, Gary Knowles is retiring. An open house in his honor will be held Friday, January 30, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., in Research and Reporting, Room 3101, at the Ed Center. For information, contact Mara Bernd at mbernd@sandi.net .
San Diego Union-Tribune
January 7, 2009 San Diego School Trustees Plan for State Budget Cuts http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/07/san-diego-school-trustees-plan-state-budget-cuts/
If the state budget crunch forces San Diego school trustees to slash costs in the state's second largest district, trustees are inclined to come up with the first $22 million with al-most no canceling of services.
Voice of San Diego
January 8, 2009 Schools Seek to Fill Bellies -- and Coffers -- with Free Lunches http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/01/08/education/852freelunch010809.prt
Thousands of teenagers pour from classrooms at San Diego High School and flock to the lunch lines, which stretch dozens deep on the paved pathways that stripe the campus.
KPBS-FM
January 5, 2009 Taskforce to Pick San Diego Schools for Possible Closure http://www.kpbs.org/news/local;id=13567
The San Diego Unified School District is grappling with the possibility of closing ten small elementary schools for next year. Supporters of the proposed schools are beginning to rally their troops.
Classified Ads
For Sale:
Custom new construction. 3BR/2˝ BA, 2-car garage. City Heights. High-end appliances, fenced, view. $330,000. Call (619) 729-1205.
1996 Ford Escort, 150K, new clutch. Needs smog and registration. $1200/obo. Call (858) 566-4457.
Foosball Table, Classic Sport brand, good condition, $200. Call (858) 565-2627.
2 complete sets of Megabloks Dragons, multiple Bionicle sets, deluxe RC Car, & JumpingJax Boots. All near new. Sold separately or $75 takes all. Call (619) 741-7452.
For Rent
3 BR/2 BA House in El Cajon. Pool, gazebo, waterfall and pond. Slate Deck. Brick BBQ. $2,000. Call (619) 729-1205.
2 BR/1BA house, large yard, SDSU area. Call (619) 607-2735.
Wanted
Roommate to share lovely canyon home in Golden Hill. Fireplace, separate entrance, cable, laundry. $700/mo. Call (619) 232-5556.
Travek
Staff members at Gage Elementary are organizing a 15-day trip to Ireland, starting July 27, 2009. For information or to join the group, contact Milanne at mtolson@sandi.net .
Classified ads are accepted from district employees only and cannot be used to advertise commercial activities. Submit ads by e-mail to communications@sandi.net. Limit to 15 words (not including phone number). Include work location and phone number (for ID purposes only).
Do you have an announcement for Newsline?Newsline is published every Monday; the deadline to submit items is noon on the preceding Friday. E-mail items to communications@sandi.net and mark “Newsline” in the subject line.
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is Friday, January 23, 2009. All nominated teachers will be recognized at a special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Nominees also have the opportunity to apply for district Teacher of the Year. For information, contact Jennie Breister at 