EDUCATION NEWS FOR FRIDAY, FEB. 21

Friday's top education stories

compiled by

American School & University:

Feb. 21, 2003

WHAT'S A SNOW DAY? While students in the Washington D.C. area and elsewhere are experiencing their fourth day of classes canceled because of a snowstorm, many school systems across the nation systems get kids to class every day in far worse weather. (Washington Post)

BUDGET WOES: The University of Michigan is bracing for spending cuts next year of as much as $42 million. (Detroit News)....The Denver school district has scaled back its summer classes as part of $11.7 million in spending cuts. (Denver Post)....South Carolina schools chief says budget troubles are forcing districts to lay off teachers, close schools and end after-school tutoring. (The (Columbia, S.C.) State)....Needing to cut an estimated $6 million, the Grossmont Union High School District in El Cajon, Calif., is trying to trim its budget without laying off any permanent teaching staff....And 25 teachers in the Santee (Calif.) district could be out of a job next school year if the board approves a superintendent's recommendation. (San Diego Union Tribune)

PARENTS' PLEA: Parents urge Boulder Valley, Colo., district officials not to close their neighborhood schools. (Rocky Mountain News)

WINDFALL WAITING: If Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan (Minn.) district superintendent John Haro leaves to become superintendent of schools in Fulton County, Ga., he'll get a cash windfall of more than $350,000 in severance, unused vacation time and sick leave. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

CONTRACT APPROVED: The Orleans Parish (La.) school board has approved a four-year contract that will pay new Superintendent Tony Amato $200,000 a year, plus $30,000 a year toward his retirement. (New Orleans Times Picayune)

NO FREE LUNCH? School officials fear a federal proposal to tighten eligibility for free school lunches could force large numbers of low-income students out of the program. (Chicago Tribune)

GROWING PAINS: A culinary school is buying up land in North Miami to expand its campus, and those living in the neighborhood are unhappy. (Miami Herald)

SCHOOL EXPANDS: A Las Vegas charter school named for tennis star Andre Agassi breaks ground on an $11 million expansion. (Las Vegas Sun)

BUREAUCRACY TARGETED: A Texas lawmaker wants state education officials to come up with ways to save $2.8 billion over 2004 and 2005 without adversely affecting classroom instruction. (Houston Chronicle)

FUTURE CLOUDY: Some historically black colleges are struggling to survive. (Detroit Free Press)

SAFETY FIRST: Officials on college campuses are tightening security to ward off potential terrorist attacks. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)