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Tag: district

  • Phoebe Hearst teacher demands $2.3 million from SCUSD over carpet removal, alleging retaliation

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    A Sacramento teacher is demanding $2.3 million from the Sacramento City Unified School District, alleging discrimination and retaliation after being disciplined for removing carpet from her classroom. KCRA 3 obtained a legal letter from Jeanine Rupert’s attorney, which claims the district discriminated against the long-time Phoebe Hearst Elementary School teacher.The letter describes Rupert’s removal from her class as a “cruel punishment.” Rupert said she tore up dirty, frayed carpet last year after years of complaints, similar to actions taken by two male teachers in their classrooms who removed carpet from their classrooms. She said her classroom, Room 7, was known for being in disarray before she took it over and that she and her father had previously painted its walls without objection. Rupert’s students assisted with the carpet removal by using hammers and a crowbar. She argued that the use of similar tools by students at the school was commonplace, with students using power tools, mowing the school lawn and trimming bushes with shears. In a disciplinary letter, the district labeled the carpet removal as vandalism, stating Rupert put students at risk and caused more than $22,000 in damage. A SCUSD spokesperson previously said that district staff assessed the carpet and determined it was not time for replacement. In a notice sent to Rupert, the district said that after Rupert’s actions the bulk of the cost to repair and replace the flooring, $12,600, was for asbestos removal. The notice said the students weren’t exposed to asbestos.Initially, Rupert offered to repay the district if she was reinstated. Now, she is demanding $2.3 million in damages. She also alleges that the district failed to comply with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act by never notifying her or “district employees generally that there were asbestos hazards in the classrooms.” Some students and their parents have staged walkouts in support of Rupert, who was transferred out of the school. Parents have also served the school board’s president with a recall notice. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A Sacramento teacher is demanding $2.3 million from the Sacramento City Unified School District, alleging discrimination and retaliation after being disciplined for removing carpet from her classroom.

    KCRA 3 obtained a legal letter from Jeanine Rupert’s attorney, which claims the district discriminated against the long-time Phoebe Hearst Elementary School teacher.

    The letter describes Rupert’s removal from her class as a “cruel punishment.”

    Rupert said she tore up dirty, frayed carpet last year after years of complaints, similar to actions taken by two male teachers in their classrooms who removed carpet from their classrooms.

    She said her classroom, Room 7, was known for being in disarray before she took it over and that she and her father had previously painted its walls without objection.

    Rupert’s students assisted with the carpet removal by using hammers and a crowbar. She argued that the use of similar tools by students at the school was commonplace, with students using power tools, mowing the school lawn and trimming bushes with shears.

    In a disciplinary letter, the district labeled the carpet removal as vandalism, stating Rupert put students at risk and caused more than $22,000 in damage.

    A SCUSD spokesperson previously said that district staff assessed the carpet and determined it was not time for replacement. In a notice sent to Rupert, the district said that after Rupert’s actions the bulk of the cost to repair and replace the flooring, $12,600, was for asbestos removal.

    The notice said the students weren’t exposed to asbestos.

    Initially, Rupert offered to repay the district if she was reinstated. Now, she is demanding $2.3 million in damages.

    She also alleges that the district failed to comply with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act by never notifying her or “district employees generally that there were asbestos hazards in the classrooms.”

    Some students and their parents have staged walkouts in support of Rupert, who was transferred out of the school. Parents have also served the school board’s president with a recall notice.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • City Council committee advances measure to limit LAPD’s less-lethal weapons at protests

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    The Los Angeles City Council will consider an ordinance that would prevent the LAPD from using crowd control weapons against peaceful protesters and journalists.

    Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who represents District 13, is pushing for regulations that would prohibit the Los Angeles Police Department from using “kinetic energy projectiles” or “chemical agents” unless officers are threatened with physical violence.

    The Public Safety Committee unanimously approved the proposal and forwarded a vote with all council members on Wednesday. The items would be considered by the council in November or December, said Nick Barnes-Batista, a communications director for District 13.

    The ordinance would also require officers to give clear, audible warnings about safe exit routes during “kettling,” when crowds are pushed into designated areas by police.

    After the first iteration of the “No Kings” protest over the summer that saw multiple journalists shot by nonlethal rounds, tear-gassed and detained, news organizations sued the city and Police Department, arguing officers had engaged in “continuing abuse” of members of the media.

    U.S. District Judge Hernan D. Vera granted a temporary restraining order that restricted LAPD officers from using rubber projectiles, chemical irritants and flash bangs against journalists.

    Under the court order, officers are allowed to use those weapons “only when the officer reasonably believes that a suspect is violently resisting arrest or poses an immediate threat of violence or physical harm.”

    LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell called the definition of journalist “ambiguous” in a news release Monday, raising concerns that the preliminary injunction could prevent the LAPD from addressing “people intent on unlawful and violent behavior.”

    “The risk of harm to everyone involved increases substantially,” McDonnell wrote. “LAPD must declare an unlawful assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure the safety of the public and restore order.”

    The L.A. Press Club, plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to the injunction, has alleged journalists were detained and assaulted by officers during an immigration protest in August. The Press Club is also involved in a similar lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

    “This case is about LAPD, but if necessary, we are ready to take similar action to address misconduct toward journalists by other agencies,” the organization wrote in a news release from June.

    Vera ruled in September that “any duly authorized representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network” would be classified as a journalist and therefore protected under the court’s orders. Journalists who are impeding or physically interfering with law enforcement are not subject to the protections.

    Any ordinance passed by the City Council would apply to the LAPD but not other agencies that could be responding to protests that turn chaotic, such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or California Highway Patrol, thereby complicating operational procedure.

    Barnes-Batista, the District 13 spokesman, said the City Council would need to discuss how to craft the rules.

    “There are definitely unanswered questions about [how] the city wouldn’t want the city to be liable for other agencies not following policy,” he said. “So that will have to be worked out.”

    Last month, the City Council, led by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, voted unanimously to deny a request by the city attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, to push for Vera’s injunction to be lifted.

    “Journalism is under attack in this country — from the Trump Administration’s revocation of press access to the Pentagon to corporate consolidation of local newsrooms,” Hernandez said. “The answer cannot be for Los Angeles to join that assault by undermining court-ordered protections for journalists.”

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    Christopher Buchanan

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  • 10 reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP

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    K-12 IT leaders are under pressure from all sides–rising cyberattacks, the end of Windows 10 support, and the need for powerful new learning tools.

    The good news: Windows 11 on Lenovo devices delivers more than an upgrade–it’s a smarter, safer foundation for digital learning in the age of AI.

    Delaying the move means greater risk, higher costs, and missed opportunities. With proven ROI, cutting-edge protection, and tools that empower both teachers and students, the case for Windows 11 is clear.

    There are 10 compelling reasons your district should make the move today.

    1. Harness AI-powered educational innovation with Copilot
    Windows 11 integrates Microsoft Copilot AI capabilities that transform teaching
    and learning. Teachers can leverage AI for lesson planning, content creation, and
    administrative tasks, while students benefit from enhanced collaboration tools
    and accessibility features.

    2. Combat the explosive rise in school cyberattacks
    The statistics are alarming: K-12 ransomware attacks increased 92 percent between 2022 and 2023, with human-operated ransomware attacks surging over 200 percent globally, according to the 2024 State of Ransomware in Education.

    3. Combat the explosive rise in school cyberattacks
    Time is critically short. Windows 10 support ended in October 2025, leaving schools running unsupported systems vulnerable to attacks and compliance violations. Starting migration planning immediately ensures adequate time for device inventory, compatibility testing, and smooth district-wide deployment.

    Find 7 more reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 here.

    Laura Ascione
    Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all)

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    Laura Ascione

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  • How districts can avoid 4 hidden costs of outdated facilities systems

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    Key points:

    School leaders are under constant pressure to stretch every dollar further, yet many districts are losing money in ways they may not even realize. The culprit? Outdated facilities processes that quietly chip away at resources, frustrate staff, and create ripple effects across learning environments. From scheduling mishaps to maintenance backlogs, these hidden costs can add up fast, and too often it’s students who pay the price. 

    The good news is that with a few strategic shifts, districts can effectively manage their facilities and redirect resources to where they are needed most. Here are four of the most common hidden costs–and how forward-thinking school districts are avoiding them. 

    How outdated facilities processes waste staff time in K–12 districts

    It’s a familiar scene: a sticky note on a desk, a hallway conversation, and a string of emails trying to confirm who’s handling what. These outdated processes don’t just frustrate staff; they silently erode hours that could be spent on higher-value work. Facilities teams are already stretched thin, and every minute lost to chasing approvals or digging through piles of emails is time stolen from managing the day-to-day operations that keep schools running.  

    A centralized, intuitive facilities management software platform changes everything. Staff and community members can submit requests in one place, while automated, trackable systems ensure approvals move forward without constant follow-up. Events sync directly with Outlook or Google calendars, reducing conflicts before they happen. Work orders can be submitted, assigned, and tracked digitally, with mobile access that lets staff update tickets on the go. Real-time dashboards offer visibility into labor, inventory, and preventive maintenance, while asset history and performance data enable leaders to plan more effectively for the long term. Reports for leadership, audits, and compliance can be generated instantly, saving hours of manual tracking. 

    The result? Districts have seen a 50-75 percent reduction in scheduling workload, stronger cross-department collaboration, and more time for the work that truly moves schools forward.

    Using preventive maintenance to avoid emergency repairs and extend asset life

    When maintenance is handled reactively, small problems almost always snowball into costly crises. A leaking pipe left unchecked can become a flooded classroom and a ruined ceiling. A skipped HVAC inspection may lead to a midyear system failure, forcing schools to close or scramble for portable units. 

    These emergencies don’t just drain budgets; they disrupt instruction, create safety hazards, and erode trust with families. A more proactive approach changes the narrative. With preventive maintenance embedded into a facilities management software platform, districts can automate recurring schedules, ensure tasks are assigned to the right technicians, and attach critical resources, such as floor plans or safety notes, to each task. Schools can prioritize work orders, monitor labor hours and expenses, and generate reports on upcoming maintenance to plan ahead. 

    Restoring systems before they fail extends asset life and smooths operational continuity. This keeps classrooms open, budgets predictable, and leaders prepared, rather than reactive. 

    Maximizing ROI by streamlining school space rentals

    Gymnasiums, fields, and auditoriums are among a district’s most valuable community resources, yet too often they sit idle simply because scheduling is complicated and chaotic. Paper forms, informal approvals, and scattered communication mean opportunities slip through the cracks.

    When users can submit requests through a single, digital system, scheduling becomes transparent, trackable, and far easier to manage. A unified dashboard prevents conflicts, streamlines approvals, and reduces the back-and-forth that often slows the process. 

    The payoff isn’t just smoother operations; districts can see increased ROI through easier billing, clearer reporting, and more consistent use of unused spaces. 

    Why schools need facilities data to make smarter budget decisions

    Without reliable facilities data, school leaders are forced to make critical budget and operational decisions in the dark. Which schools need additional staffing? Which classrooms, gyms, or labs are underused? Which capital projects should take priority, and which should wait? Operating on guesswork not only risks inefficient spending, but it also limits a district’s ability to demonstrate ROI or justify future investments. 

    A clear, centralized view of facilities usage and costs creates a strong foundation for strategic decision-making. This visibility can provide instant insights into patterns and trends. Districts can allocate resources more strategically, optimize staffing, and prioritize projects based on evidence rather than intuition. This level of insight also strengthens accountability, enabling schools to share transparent reports with boards, staff, and other key stakeholders, thereby building trust while ensuring that every dollar works harder. 

    Facilities may not always be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about student success, but the way schools manage their spaces, systems, and resources has a direct impact on learning. By moving away from outdated, manual processes and embracing smarter, data-driven facilities management, districts can unlock hidden savings, prevent costly breakdowns, and optimize the use of every asset. 

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    Shane Foster, Follett Software

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  • For California delegation and its staffers, here’s what shutdown life looks like

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    WASHINGTON — Twenty-two days into the government shutdown, California Rep. Kevin Kiley spent an hour of his morning in Washington guiding a group of middle school students from Grass Valley through the empty corridors of the U.S. Capitol.

    Normally, one of his staff members would have led the tour. But the Capitol is closed to all tours during the shutdown, unless the elected member is present. So the schoolchildren from Lyman Gilmore Middle School ended up with Kiley, a Republican from Rocklin, as their personal tour guide.

    “I would have visited with these kids anyway,” Kiley said in his office after the event. “But I actually got to go on the whole tour of the Capitol with them as well.”

    Kiley’s impromptu tour is an example of how members of California’s congressional delegation are improvising their routines as the shutdown drags on and most of Washington remains at a standstill.

    Some are in Washington in case negotiations resume, others are back at home in their districts meeting with federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay, giving interviews or visiting community health centers that rely on tax credits central to the budget negotiations. One member attended the groundbreaking of a flood control project in their district. Others are traveling back and forth.

    “I’ve had to fly back to Washington for caucus meetings, while the opposition, the Republicans, don’t even convene and meet,” Rep. Maxine Waters, a longtime Los Angeles Democrat, said in an interview. “We will meet anytime, anyplace, anywhere, with [House Speaker Mike] Johnson, with the president, with the Senate, to do everything that we can to open up the government. We are absolutely unified on that.”

    The shutdown is being felt across California, which has the most federal workers outside the District of Columbia. Food assistance benefits for millions of low-income Californians could soon be delayed. And millions of Californians could see their healthcare premiums rise sharply if Affordable Care Act subsidies are allowed to expire.

    For the California delegation, the fallout at home has become impossible to ignore. Yet the shutdown is in its fourth week with no end in sight.

    In the House, Johnson has refused to call members back into session and prevented them from doing legislative work. Many California lawmakers — including Kiley, one of the few GOP lawmakers to openly criticize him — have been dismayed by the deadlock.

    “I have certainly emphasized the point that the House needs to be in session, and that canceling a month’s worth of session is not a good thing for the House or the country,” Kiley said, noting that he had privately met with Johnson.

    Kiley, who represented parts of the Sacramento suburbs and Lake Tahoe, is facing political uncertainty as California voters weigh whether to approve Proposition 50 on Nov. 4. The measure would redraw the state’s congressional districts to better favor Democrats, leaving Kiley at risk, even though the Republican says he believes he could still win if his right-leaning district is redrawn.

    The Senate has been more active, holding a series of votes on the floor and congressional hearings with Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The chamber, however, has been unable to reach a deal to reopen the government. On Thursday, the 23rd day of the shutdown, the Senate failed to advance competing measures that would have paid federal employees who have been working without compensation.

    The Republicans’ plan would have paid active-duty members of the military and some federal workers during the shutdown. Democrats backed a bill that would have paid all federal workers and barred the Trump administration from laying off any more federal employees.

    “California has one of the largest federal workforces in the country, and no federal worker or service member should miss their paychecks because Donald Trump and Republicans refused to come to the table to protect Americans’ health care,” Sen. Alex Padilla said in a statement.

    Working conditions get harder

    The strain on federal employees — including those who work for California’s 54 delegation members — are starting to become more apparent.

    Dozens of them have been working full time without pay. Their jobs include answering phone calls and requests from constituents, setting the schedules for elected officials, writing policy memos and handling messaging for their offices.

    House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks about the shutdown at a news conference Thursday with other Republican House members.

    (Eric Lee / Getty Images)

    At the end of October, House staffers — who are paid on a monthly basis — are expected to miss their first paycheck.

    Some have been quietly told to consider borrowing money from the U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union, which is offering a “government shutdown relief loan program” that includes a no-interest loan of up to $5,000 to be repaid in full after 90 days.

    The mundane has also been disrupted. Some of the cafeterias and coffee carts that are usually open to staffers are closed. The lines to enter office buildings are long because fewer entrances are open.

    The hallways leading to the offices of California’s elected officials are quiet, except for the faint sound of occasional elevator dings. Many of their doors are adorned with signs that show who they blame for the government shutdown.

    “Trump and Republicans shut down the government,” reads a sign posted on the door that leads into Rep. Norma Torres’ (D-Pomona) office. “Our office is OPEN — WORKING for the American people.”

    Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat from Torrance, posted a similar sign outside his office.

    A sign is posted outside of the office of Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, in Washington.

    A sign is posted outside of the office of Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, in Washington on Wednesday.

    (Ana Ceballos / Los Angeles Times)

    Rep. Vince Fong, a Republican who represents the Central Valley, has been traveling between Washington and his district. Two weeks into the shutdown, he met with veterans from the Central Valley Honor Flight and Kern County Honor Flight to make sure that their planned tour of the Capitol was not disrupted by the shutdown. Like Kiley’s tour with the schoolchildren, an elected member needed to be present for the tour to go on.

    “His presence ensured the tour could continue as planned,” Fong’s office said.

    During the tour, veterans were able to see Johnson as well, his office said.

    Shutdown highlights deep divisions

    California’s congressional delegation mirrors the broader stalemate in Washington, where entrenched positions have kept both parties at a negotiation impasse.

    Democrats are steadfast in their position that they will not agree to a deal unless Republicans extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring at the end of the year, while Republicans are accusing Democrats of failing to reopen the government for political gain.

    Kiley is one of the few Republicans who has called on Johnson to negotiate with Democrats on healthcare. Kiley said he thinks there is a “a lot of room to negotiate” because there is concern on both sides of the aisle if the tax credits expire.

    “If people see a massive increase in their premiums … that’s not a good thing,” he said. “Especially in California, where the cost of living is already so high, and you’re suddenly having to pay a lot more for healthcare.”

    Rep. Robert Garcia, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, in a press event Wednesday with five other California Democrats talked about the need to fight for the healthcare credits.

    Garcia, of Long Beach, said he recently visited a healthcare center in San Bernardino County that serves seniors with disabilities. He said the cuts would be “devastating” and would prompt the center to close.

    “That’s why we are doing everything in our power to negotiate a deal that reopens the federal government and saves healthcare,” he said.

    As the shutdown continues, many Democrats are digging their heels on the issue.

    At an Oct. 3 event outside of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, for instance, Rep. Laura Friedman held a news conference with nurses and hospital staff and said she would not vote for a bill to reopen the government unless there is a deal on healthcare.

    Last week, the Glendale Democrat said her position hasn’t changed.

    “I will not support a shutdown deal that strips healthcare from tens of thousands of my constituents,” she said.

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    Ana Ceballos

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  • How Windows 11 is powering the next generation of K-12 innovation

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    Key points:

    As school districts navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape, IT and academic leaders face a growing list of challenges–from hybrid learning demands and complex device ecosystems to rising cybersecurity threats and accessibility expectations. To stay ahead, districts need more than incremental upgrades–they need a secure, intelligent, and adaptable technology foundation.

    That’s the focus of the new e-book, Smarter, Safer, and Future-Ready: A K-12 Guide to Migrating to Windows 11. This resource takes an in-depth look at how Windows 11 can help school districts modernize their learning environments, streamline device management, and empower students and educators with AI-enhanced tools designed specifically for education.

    Readers will discover how Windows 11:

    • Protects district data with built-in, chip-to-cloud security that guards against ransomware, phishing, and emerging cyberattacks.
    • Simplifies IT management through automated updates, intuitive deployment tools, and centralized control–freeing IT staff to focus on innovation instead of maintenance.
    • Drives inclusivity and engagement with enhanced accessibility features, flexible interfaces, and AI-powered personalization that help every learner succeed.
    • Supports hybrid and remote learning with seamless collaboration tools and compatibility across a diverse range of devices.

    The e-book also outlines practical strategies for planning a smooth Windows 11 migration–whether upgrading existing systems or introducing new devices–so institutions can maximize ROI while minimizing disruption.

    For CIOs, IT directors, and district technology strategists, this guide provides a blueprint for turning technology into a true driver of academic excellence, operational efficiency, and district resilience.

    Download the e-book today to explore how Windows 11 is helping K-12 districts become smarter, safer, and more future-ready than ever before.

    Laura Ascione
    Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all)

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    Laura Ascione

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  • Sac City Unified school board president facing recall amid controversy of removed teachers

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    A Sacramento City Unified School District board meeting on Thursday was marked by tension and heated moments of public comment. At one point, a parent served the board president with a notice of intent to recall him. The tension comes after weeks of controversy and pushback after two teachers were removed from their classrooms at Phoebe Hearst Elementary School. “While this may have started as a personnel matter, that ship sailed weeks ago. Plain and simple, this is a school in crisis, in an absolute leadership failure. President Singh, you are not only board president, you are our representative, and in that capacity, you have failed us,” said Caitlin Beckett, a parent, addressing School Board President Jasjit Singh. “Tonight, we are here to remind you— you work for us.”Another adult then moved forward and placed a notice of intent to recall on the board’s meeting table.”We the parents of Phoebe Hearst, and across the district, are beginning the process of terminating your employment,” the parent said. “We are serving you here tonight with a notice of intent to recall you from office. If you won’t do your job, we will remove you and elect someone .”KCRA 3 spoke with Singh after he was given the notice.“In this situation, it’s justifiable that folks are mad because there’s two teachers: one teacher that has been removed to a different school site, and we have another one who has administrative leave pending an investigation. And I just cannot speak about those investigative matters. And it puts me in a difficult spot for our community,” he said.The controversy began in early September, when the school district moved sixth-grade teacher Jeanine Rupert to another school in the district after she had students help her remove a carpet that could have exposed asbestos in tiles underneath. Rupert had been asking the school district to remove the carpet for several years, an issue brought up by another parent at Thursday’s meeting. “My daughter, when she was a sixth grader two years ago, tripped on that rug. Still there? Then we had the flea infestation, so when they treated it, it got even funkier. So why was her request to have it removed not met?” the parent asked. Testing later found that the carpet’s removal did not cause exposure to asbestos.Rupert’s removal sparked outcry from parents and students, including walkouts and rallies.Tensions were raised even further this month, when another sixth-grade teacher, Mark Henrikson, was placed on administrative leave. The district did not provide any information to KCRA 3 about Henrikson’s removal, calling it a “personnel matter.”However, parents believe the move was retaliation after Henrikson rallied for Rupert’s reinstatement.“Part of the issue is that we have, I won’t say half-truths, but limited information that the community gets. And the district is unable to put out further information on a personnel matter because of the legalities,” Singh said.Singh said he has called for an independent investigation into Henrikson’s case. He also said he plans to meet with the community in the coming weeks to discuss the situation with the families of the 66 students directly affected.Meanwhile, parents are preparing to collect signatures for the recall once the paperwork is certified.Earlier this week, more than a third of students were absent from Phoebe Hearst, as some of them rallied, along with parents, in support of the two removed teachers and protested the denial of a requested meeting between parents and the superintendent, Lisa Allen. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A Sacramento City Unified School District board meeting on Thursday was marked by tension and heated moments of public comment. At one point, a parent served the board president with a notice of intent to recall him.

    The tension comes after weeks of controversy and pushback after two teachers were removed from their classrooms at Phoebe Hearst Elementary School.

    “While this may have started as a personnel matter, that ship sailed weeks ago. Plain and simple, this is a school in crisis, in an absolute leadership failure. President Singh, you are not only board president, you are our representative, and in that capacity, you have failed us,” said Caitlin Beckett, a parent, addressing School Board President Jasjit Singh. “Tonight, we are here to remind you— you work for us.”

    Another adult then moved forward and placed a notice of intent to recall on the board’s meeting table.

    “We the parents of Phoebe Hearst, and across the district, are beginning the process of terminating your employment,” the parent said. “We are serving you here tonight with a notice of intent to recall you from office. If you won’t do your job, we will remove you and elect someone [who will].”

    KCRA 3 spoke with Singh after he was given the notice.

    “In this situation, it’s justifiable that folks are mad because there’s two teachers: one teacher that has been removed to a different school site, and we have another one who has administrative leave pending an investigation. And I just cannot speak about those investigative matters. And it puts me in a difficult spot for our community,” he said.

    The controversy began in early September, when the school district moved sixth-grade teacher Jeanine Rupert to another school in the district after she had students help her remove a carpet that could have exposed asbestos in tiles underneath. Rupert had been asking the school district to remove the carpet for several years, an issue brought up by another parent at Thursday’s meeting.

    “My daughter, when she was a sixth grader two years ago, tripped on that rug. Still there? Then we had the flea infestation, so when they treated it, it got even funkier. So why was her request to have it removed not met?” the parent asked.

    Testing later found that the carpet’s removal did not cause exposure to asbestos.

    Rupert’s removal sparked outcry from parents and students, including walkouts and rallies.

    Tensions were raised even further this month, when another sixth-grade teacher, Mark Henrikson, was placed on administrative leave. The district did not provide any information to KCRA 3 about Henrikson’s removal, calling it a “personnel matter.”

    However, parents believe the move was retaliation after Henrikson rallied for Rupert’s reinstatement.

    “Part of the issue is that we have, I won’t say half-truths, but limited information that the community gets. And the district is unable to put out further information on a personnel matter because of the legalities,” Singh said.

    Singh said he has called for an independent investigation into Henrikson’s case. He also said he plans to meet with the community in the coming weeks to discuss the situation with the families of the 66 students directly affected.

    Meanwhile, parents are preparing to collect signatures for the recall once the paperwork is certified.

    Earlier this week, more than a third of students were absent from Phoebe Hearst, as some of them rallied, along with parents, in support of the two removed teachers and protested the denial of a requested meeting between parents and the superintendent, Lisa Allen.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • The superintendent survival kit: Transparency and truth in communications

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    Key points:

    Dear Superintendent,

    Your job now requires a new level of transparency that you are reluctant to provide. This media crisis will burn for several more days if we sit silent. We are in a true leadership moment and I need you to listen to your communications expert. I can make your job easier and more successful.

    Signed,

    Your Communications Director

    As superintendents come under more political fire and frequent negative news stories about their school districts circulate, it is easy to see where the instinct to not comment and just focus on the work might kick in. However, the path forward requires a new level of transparency and truth-telling in communications. In fact, the work requires you to get out in front so that your teachers and staff can focus on their work.

    I recently spoke with a school district facing multiple PR crises. The superintendent was reluctant to address the issues publicly, preferring one-on-one meetings with parents over engaging with the media or holding town hall-style parent meetings. But when serious allegations of employee misconduct and the resulting community concerns arise, it’s crucial for superintendents to step forward and take control of the narrative.

    While the details of ongoing human resources or police investigations cannot be discussed, it’s vital to inform the community about actions being taken to prevent future incidents, the safeguards being implemented, and your unwavering commitment to student and staff safety. All of that is far more reassuring than the media reporting, “The district was not available for comment,” “The district cannot comment due to an ongoing investigation,” or even worse, the dreaded, “The school district said it has no comment.”

    Building trust with proactive communication

    A district statement or email doesn’t carry the same weight as a media interview or an in-house video message sent directly to community members. True leadership means standing up and accepting the difficult interviews, answering the tough questions, and conveying with authentic emotion that these incidents are unacceptable. What a community needs to hear is the “why” behind a decision so that trust is built, even if that decision is to hold back on key information. A lack of public statement can be perceived as indifference or a leadership void, which can quickly threaten a superintendent’s career.

    Superintendents should always engage with the media during true leadership moments, such as district-wide safety issues, school board meetings, or when the public needs reassurance. “Who Speaks For Your Brand?” looks at a survey of 1,600 school staff who resoundingly stated that the superintendent is the primary person responsible for promoting and defending a school district’s brand. A majority of the superintendents surveyed agreed as well. Promoting and defending the district’s brand includes the negative–but also the positive–opportunities like the first day of school, graduation, school and district grade releases, and district awards.

    However, not every media request requires the superintendent’s direct involvement. If it doesn’t rise to the severity level worthy of the superintendent’s office, an interview with a department head or communications chief is a better option. The superintendent interview is reserved for the stories we decide require it, not just because a reporter asks for it.  Reporters ask for you far more than your communications chief ever tells you.

    It is essential to communicate directly and regularly with parents through video and email using your district’s mass communication tools. You control the message you want to deliver, and you don’t have to rely on the media getting it right.  This is an amazing opportunity to humanize the office.  Infuse your video scripts with more personality and emotion to connect on a personal level with your community. It is far harder to attack the person than the office. Proactive communications help build trust for when you need it later.

    I have had superintendents tell me that they prefer to make their comments at school board meetings. School board meeting comments are often insufficient, as analytics often indicate low viewership for school board meeting live streams or recordings.  In my experience, a message sent to parents through district alert channels far outperforms the YouTube views of school board meetings.

    Humanizing the superintendent’s role

    Superintendents should maintain a consistent communications presence via social media, newsletters, the website, and so on to demonstrate their engagement within schools. Short videos featuring interactions with staff and students create powerful engagement opportunities. Develop content to create touch points that celebrate the contributions of nurses, teachers, and bus drivers, especially on their national days of recognition. These proactive moments of engagement show the community that positive moments happen hourly, daily, and weekly within your schools.

    If you are not comfortable posting your own content, have your communications team ghostwrite posts for you. You never want a community member asking, “What does the superintendent do all day? We never see them.” If you are posting content from all of the school visits and community meetings you attend, that accusation can never be made again. You now have social proof of your engagement efforts and evidence for your annual contract review.

    Effective communication is a superintendent’s superpower. Those who can connect authentically and show their personality can truly shine. Many superintendents mistakenly believe that hard work alone will speak for itself, but in today’s politically charged landscape, a certain amount of “campaigning” is necessary while in office. We all know the job of the superintendent has never been harder, tenure has never been shorter, and the chance of being fired is higher than ever.

    Embrace the opportunity to engage and showcase the great things happening in your district. It’s worth promoting positive and proactive communications so that you’re a seasoned pro when the challenging moments come. There might just be less of them if you get ahead.

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    Greg Turchetta, Apptegy

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  • New California law will guarantee Cal State admission to qualified high school graduates

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    NEW LAW GRANTS AUTOMATIC ADMISSION INTO CAL STATE SCHOOLS FOR QUALIFIED HIGH SCHOOL GRADS. YEAH, A LOT OF STUDENTS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. GOVERNOR NEWSOM SIGNED THE BILL TO STREAMLINE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND BOOST ENROLLMENT. KCRA 3’S DUNCAN CORTEZ SHOWS US WHAT THIS NEW LAW WILL DO. IT’S A NEW DOOR TO HIGHER EDUCATION, QUALIFIED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE MEETS, MINIMUM CAL STATE REQUIREMENTS, COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE. EASY ENOUGH. WHAT’S THE CATCH? SO WE’RE JUST CONNECTING THE TWO. AND SO IT DOESN’T COST ANYTHING BUT A POSTAGE STAMP. GOT IT. SO YEAH, TAXPAYERS DON’T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. CORRECT. YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. IT’S A NEW LAW FROM A PILOT PROGRAM THAT LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING WILL IMPROVE. SOME CAL STATE SCHOOLS SEEING LOW ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AND STREAMLINE THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. WE ALREADY KNOW WHO IS COMPLETED THE COURSES WITH A 2.5 GPA. LIKE, WHERE DO YOU KNOW THAT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES THAT MEET THE MINIMUM CSU REQUIREMENTS OF A 2.5 GPA OR C GRADE AVERAGE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ADMITTED INTO 16 CSU SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE THEM IN, BYPASSING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. YOU’LL GET YOUR LETTER IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH MEANS THAT THEN YOU CAN THEN YOU CAN STILL DECIDE, HEY, I MIGHT. I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS A UNIVERSITY OF MATERIAL. THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SHARING A STATEMENT WITH KCRA 3 SAYING BY FORMALIZING AND EXPANDING THIS PROVEN MODEL STATEWIDE, SB 640 WILL CREATE A MORE STREAMLINED, DATA DRIVEN PATHWAY FROM CALIFORNIA’S PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS TO ITS PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. IT’S SOMETHING FRESHMAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER AHMED DAVIS SAYS COULD BE USEFUL, AS HE JUST WENT THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS MONTHS AGO. A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO TO COLLEGE. SO A STATE UNIVERSITY AND THEY REALLY LIKE HELP WITH THAT FOR THE MOST PART. COULD THIS POTENTIALLY DILUTE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS IF STUDENTS JUST HAVE TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY GET INTO COLLEGE? NO. SO SO I MEAN, WE’RE VERY WE MADE SURE IT’S GOT TO BE RIGOROUS. IT’S THE SAME EXACT ADMISSION STANDARDS THAT APPLY TODAY IN SCHOOLS WILL BE USING TRANSCRIPT DATA FROM THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGES EDU WEBSITE TO DETERMINE STUDENT ELIGIBILITY, ALL FOR A MORE STREAMLINED APPROACH. IN SACRAMENTO STATE, DENNIS CORTEZ KCRA THREE NEWS. THIS NEW LAW WILL START WITH 43 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, AND IT WILL EXPAND

    New California law will guarantee Cal State admission to qualified high school graduates

    Gov. Newsom signs SB 640, expanding statewide admissions program

    Updated: 8:09 PM PDT Oct 10, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    The California State University Direct Admissions Program has been expanded statewide with the signing of Senate Bill 640 by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week, aiming to increase access to higher education amid post-pandemic enrollment declines.Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, District 3, who authored the bill, said it drew broad bipartisan support and emphasized that the new law does not use taxpayer dollars.“The only cost — a postage stamp to students letting them know they are accepted in,” Cabaldon said.Sixteen CSU campuses, including Sacramento State, will participate in the program. Six campuses are currently too full to take part: San Jose State, San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach. Students can still apply to those campuses through the traditional admissions process.Lawmakers hope the new law will make it easier for students to pursue higher education, particularly at campuses such as Sonoma State, which has seen the largest decline, nearly 4,000 students.SB 640 builds on CSU’s first systemwide direct admissions program, launched last year as a pilot with the Riverside County Office of Education. It also expands CSU’s existing Dual Admission Program, known as the Transfer Success Pathway, to ensure more students — especially those who might not have otherwise applied — see a clear and supported route to earning a CSU degree.The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, with full statewide participation beginning for fall 2027 applicants. For students applying now for fall 2026, the priority application period runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 1. CSU’s existing direct admissions program — which includes the Riverside County Office of Education’s 23 districts and 20 additional districts statewide — will remain in effect, and eligible students in those districts have begun receiving notifications.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    , Calif. —

    The California State University Direct Admissions Program has been expanded statewide with the signing of Senate Bill 640 by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week, aiming to increase access to higher education amid post-pandemic enrollment declines.

    Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, District 3, who authored the bill, said it drew broad bipartisan support and emphasized that the new law does not use taxpayer dollars.

    “The only cost — a postage stamp to students letting them know they are accepted in,” Cabaldon said.

    Sixteen CSU campuses, including Sacramento State, will participate in the program. Six campuses are currently too full to take part: San Jose State, San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach. Students can still apply to those campuses through the traditional admissions process.

    Lawmakers hope the new law will make it easier for students to pursue higher education, particularly at campuses such as Sonoma State, which has seen the largest decline, nearly 4,000 students.

    SB 640 builds on CSU’s first systemwide direct admissions program, launched last year as a pilot with the Riverside County Office of Education. It also expands CSU’s existing Dual Admission Program, known as the Transfer Success Pathway, to ensure more students — especially those who might not have otherwise applied — see a clear and supported route to earning a CSU degree.

    The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, with full statewide participation beginning for fall 2027 applicants. For students applying now for fall 2026, the priority application period runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 1.

    CSU’s existing direct admissions program — which includes the Riverside County Office of Education’s 23 districts and 20 additional districts statewide — will remain in effect, and eligible students in those districts have begun receiving notifications.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Billionaire Tom Steyer drops $12 million to support November redistricting ballot measure

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    As California voters receive mail ballots for the November special election, which could upend the state’s congressional boundaries and determine control of the House, billionaire hedge-fund founder Tom Steyer said Thursday he will spend $12 million to back Democrats’ efforts to redraw districts to boost their party’s ranks in the legislative body.

    The ballot measure was proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California Democrats after President Trump urged Texas leaders to redraw their congressional districts before next year’s midterm election. Buttressing GOP numbers in Congress could help Trump continue enacting his agenda during his final two years in office.

    “We must stop Trump’s election-rigging power grab,” Steyer said in a statement. “The defining fight through Nov. 4 is passing Proposition 50. In order to compete and win, Democrats can’t keep playing by the same old rules. This is how we fight back, and stick it to Trump.”

    Steyer’s announcement makes him the biggest funder of pro-Proposition 50 efforts, surpassing billionaire financier George Soros, who has contributed $10 million to the effort.

    Steyer founded a hedge fund whose investments included massive fossil fuel projects, but after he learned of the environmental consequences of these financial decisions, he divested and has worked to fight climate change. Steyer has spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Democratic candidates and causes and more than $300 million on his unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign.

    Steyer plans to launch a scathing ad Thursday night that imagines Trump watching election returns on Nov. 4 and furiously throwing fast food at a television when he sees Proposition 50 succeeding.

    “Why did you do this to Trump?” the president asks. The ad then shows a fictional TV anchor saying that the ballot measure’s success makes it more likely that Trump will be investigated for corruption and that the records of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein will be released. “I hate California,” Trump responds.

    The advertisement is scheduled to start airing Thursday night during “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The late-night show was in the spotlight after it was briefly suspended by Walt Disney Co.-owned ABC last month under pressure from the Trump administration because of a comment Kimmel made about the slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

    The esoteric process of redistricting typically occurs once every decade after the U.S. Census to account for population shifts. The maps, historically drawn in smoke-filled backrooms, protected incumbents and created bizarrely shaped districts, such as the “ribbon of shame” along the California coast.

    In recent decades, good-government advocates have fought to create districts that are logical and geographically compact and do not disenfranchise minority voters. At the forefront of the effort, California voters passed a 2010 ballot measure to create an independent commission to draw the state’s congressional boundaries.

    But this year, Trump and his allies urged leaders of GOP-led states to redraw their congressional districts to boost Republicans’ prospects in next year’s midterm election. The House is closely divided, and retaining Republican control is crucial to Trump’s ability to enact his agenda.

    California Democrats, led by Newson, responded in kind. The state Legislature voted in August to call a special election in November to decide on redrawn districts that could give their party five more seats in the state’s 52-member congressional delegation, the largest in the nation.

    Supporters of Proposition 50 have vastly outraised the committees opposing the measure. Steyer’s announcement came one day after Charles Munger Jr., the largest donor to the opposition, spoke out publicly for the first time about why he had contributed $32 million to the effort.

    “I’m fighting for the ordinary voter to have an effective say in their own government,” Munger told reporters. “I don’t want Californians ignored by the national government because all the districts are fortresses for one party or the other.”

    A longtime opponent of gerrymandering, the bow-tie-wearing Palo Alto physicist bankrolled the 2010 ballot measure that created the independent commission to draw California’s congressional districts.

    Munger, the son of a billionaire who was the right-hand man of investor Warren Buffett, declined to comment about whether he planned to give additional funds.

    “I neither confirm nor deny rumors that involve the tactics of the campaign,” Munger told reporters. “Talk to me after the election is over.”

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    Seema Mehta

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  • Roseville man becomes first in Placer County to die from West Nile virus this year

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    A Roseville man has become the first person to die this season from West Nile virus in Placer County, the Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District said Monday.“We’re saddened to learn of this individual’s passing, and extend our sympathies to their loved ones,” said Dr. Rob Oldham, health officer and director of Health and Human Services, in a news release. “Simple steps can help prevent mosquito bites. Let’s keep up those habits, together.”While the man was not identified, he is the fifth West Nile-related death reported in California this year, the district said. Of the 54 confirmed human cases, five of those cases came from Placer County.How to avoid West NileThe virus is transmitted by a mosquito bite.The district shared the following information to reduce the likelihood of contracting West Nile.Eliminate all sources of standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water, including on flowerpots, old tires, rain gutters and pet bowls. You can call the district at 916-380-5444 to report a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained.Use repellents approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Wear proper clothing and repellent when outside in the early morning and evening.Residents can also call the district for any help controlling mosquitoes around their home.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    ROSEVILLE, Calif. —

    A Roseville man has become the first person to die this season from West Nile virus in Placer County, the Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District said Monday.

    “We’re saddened to learn of this individual’s passing, and extend our sympathies to their loved ones,” said Dr. Rob Oldham, health officer and director of Health and Human Services, in a news release. “Simple steps can help prevent mosquito bites. Let’s keep up those habits, together.”

    While the man was not identified, he is the fifth West Nile-related death reported in California this year, the district said. Of the 54 confirmed human cases, five of those cases came from Placer County.

    How to avoid West Nile

    The virus is transmitted by a mosquito bite.

    The district shared the following information to reduce the likelihood of contracting West Nile.

    Eliminate all sources of standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water, including on flowerpots, old tires, rain gutters and pet bowls. You can call the district at 916-380-5444 to report a swimming pool that is not being properly maintained.

    Use repellents approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Wear proper clothing and repellent when outside in the early morning and evening.

    Residents can also call the district for any help controlling mosquitoes around their home.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Sephora to pay California cities for mishandling makeup mess

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    Sephora, shoppers’ go-to spot for celebrity makeup brands and skincare essentials, is facing a hefty fine from California cities for alleged improper disposal of its leftover products.

    The company, accused of mishandling hazardous waste at its retail locations, will pay nearly $78,000 to Sacramento County and to several California cities and counties. According to a news release from the Sacramento County district attorney’s office, the total settlement amount is $775,000.

    “Our office is committed to protecting both the public and the environment, and we will hold companies accountable to ensure they operate responsibly and within the law,” Dist. Atty. Thien Ho said in the release.

    Following an investigation, 24 city and district attorneys across the state filed a civil enforcement action. It alleged the makeup giant was mishandling damaged, returned and expired merchandise, which is considered hazardous waste according to state law.

    The complaint alleges that the company failed to determine which items that were thrown out were used, expired, recalled or damaged and didn’t keep records of test results and waste management. The materials were also allegedly improperly managed and transported.

    The judgment, settled in Sacramento County Superior Court, includes a $550,000 charge in civil penalties, $200,000 in cost recovery and $25,000 to the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account managed by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

    Sephora started in 1969 as a small perfume shop in France. Over the years, it cemented itself as one of makeup’s main retailers, serving hundreds of millions of customers and becoming a multibillion-dollar company.

    It operates over 2,700 stores in 35 countries worldwide, with over 100 locations in California. The company is still headquartered in France, with its U.S. arm operating out of San Francisco.

    It is not the only business to face an environmental lawsuit.

    In August, United Parcel Service Inc. and its affiliates were required to pay $1.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the district attorneys of 45 California counties.

    That complaint alleged that UPS sent improperly labeled hazardous waste to area landfills. The suit came after a years-long investigation at 140 UPS locations in California.

    The company had to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties, $140,000 in cost reimbursement and $205,000 that will go toward supplemental environmental projects, according to officials.

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    Cerys Davies

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  • Sacramento City Unified School District faces unexpected $43 million deficit

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    The Sacramento City Unified School District is facing a $43 million budget deficit, leading to a spending freeze starting Oct. 1.Administrators said the freeze is necessary to cover payroll and maintain operations. The district received the grim news about the massive budget shortfall at its Thursday meeting from the chief business and operations officer, Janea Marking. She showed a photo of a city about to be consumed by a large tsunami wave. “SCUSD, no one in particular, it’s in our DNA, has a bad, bad habit of uncontrolled, unbudgeted, unexpected expenses,” she said.The district is scrambling to find ways to come up with $43 million after unexpected budget items, including late payroll payments, unexpected invoices, and unauthorized contract payments. Managers say there were $62 million in unauthorized contracts last year, most for special education programs. “A contract that has not been authorized by the school district, but they provided a service ahead of time because they needed to provide services to students immediately,” Assistant Superintendent Cindy Tao explained.The spending freeze will affect non-classroom hiring, new contracts, travel, and non-emergency overtime, but not teachers’ contracts. “Stretched thin already, and we’ve just accomplished a lot of additional supports for our students that have been long needed and long deserved by our students,” said the president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, Nikki Davis Melevsky.The SCTA wants the district to be accountable for why and how this happened.”They need to look into who signed these contracts, who authorized them, and why did they not go through the appropriate procedures so that the Budget Office would have been aware that they were out there and that they were needing to be paid?” asked Davis Melevsky.District spokesperson Alexander Goldberg discussed the spending freeze in a statement: “Those measures alone will not fix our problems. There will be many other budgetary sacrifices to make in the coming months to get the district back on a path to solvency before the end of the fiscal year. In reaching that goal, it is our every intention to avoid major disruption to student opportunities, programs, and the day-to-day educational experience.”School Board President Jasjit Singh said in an email, “The board is committed to ensuring our district is financially sound while maintaining the services crucial to student success. School district budgets are in a constant state of fluctuation. We are confident in our staff’s efforts to help cut costs and implement saving ideas.”The board is expected to get an update in December on where they stand financially after a couple of months of a spending freeze.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    The Sacramento City Unified School District is facing a $43 million budget deficit, leading to a spending freeze starting Oct. 1.

    Administrators said the freeze is necessary to cover payroll and maintain operations.

    The district received the grim news about the massive budget shortfall at its Thursday meeting from the chief business and operations officer, Janea Marking. She showed a photo of a city about to be consumed by a large tsunami wave.

    “SCUSD, no one in particular, it’s in our DNA, has a bad, bad habit of uncontrolled, unbudgeted, unexpected expenses,” she said.

    The district is scrambling to find ways to come up with $43 million after unexpected budget items, including late payroll payments, unexpected invoices, and unauthorized contract payments. Managers say there were $62 million in unauthorized contracts last year, most for special education programs.

    “A contract that has not been authorized by the school district, but they provided a service ahead of time because they needed to provide services to students immediately,” Assistant Superintendent Cindy Tao explained.

    The spending freeze will affect non-classroom hiring, new contracts, travel, and non-emergency overtime, but not teachers’ contracts.

    “Stretched thin already, and we’ve just accomplished a lot of additional supports for our students that have been long needed and long deserved by our students,” said the president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, Nikki Davis Melevsky.

    The SCTA wants the district to be accountable for why and how this happened.

    “They need to look into who signed these contracts, who authorized them, and why did they not go through the appropriate procedures so that the Budget Office would have been aware that they were out there and that they were needing to be paid?” asked Davis Melevsky.

    District spokesperson Alexander Goldberg discussed the spending freeze in a statement: “Those measures alone will not fix our problems. There will be many other budgetary sacrifices to make in the coming months to get the district back on a path to solvency before the end of the fiscal year. In reaching that goal, it is our every intention to avoid major disruption to student opportunities, programs, and the day-to-day educational experience.”

    School Board President Jasjit Singh said in an email, “The board is committed to ensuring our district is financially sound while maintaining the services crucial to student success. School district budgets are in a constant state of fluctuation. We are confident in our staff’s efforts to help cut costs and implement saving ideas.”

    The board is expected to get an update in December on where they stand financially after a couple of months of a spending freeze.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Building a literacy framework that works: A district leader’s journey in Peoria

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    Key points:

    When I stepped into the role of curriculum coordinator for Peoria Public Schools District 150 in 2021, I entered a landscape still reeling from the disruption of COVID-19. Teachers were exhausted. Students had suffered interrupted learning. And the instructional frameworks in place–particularly in literacy–were due for serious reexamination.

    Initially, the directive was to return to our previous Balanced Literacy framework. But as I dove into research, attended conferences, and listened to thought leaders in the field, it became clear: The science was pointing in a different direction. The evidence base for Structured Literacy was too compelling to ignore.

    What followed wasn’t an overnight change. It was a careful, multi-year shift in philosophy, practice, and support. We didn’t have the budget for a full curriculum adoption, so we focused on building a practical, research-aligned framework using targeted resources and strategic professional learning.

    A patchwork quilt with purpose

    In Peoria, where many students were performing one or two grade levels below benchmarks, we needed a literacy framework that could both repair learning gaps and accelerate grade-level achievement. That meant honoring the complexity of literacy instruction by balancing foundational skills, writing, vocabulary, and fluency.

    Our current model includes explicit handwriting instruction, structured phonics and phonemic awareness, and targeted word study, paired with guided small-group instruction informed by student data. We built in an hour each day for foundational work, and another for what we call “guided individual practice,” where students receive support aligned to their needs–not just grade-level expectations.

    We were also honest about staffing realities. We no longer had interventionists or instructional coaches in every building. The burden of differentiation had shifted to classroom teachers, many of whom were navigating outdated practices. Transitioning from “guided reading” to true data-informed small groups required more than new tools. It required a new mindset.

    Supporting educators without overwhelming them

    Change management in literacy instruction is, at its core, about supporting teachers. We’ve been intentional in how we provide professional development. Our work with the Lexia LETRS professional learning course has been especially transformative. Recognizing the intensity of the full cohort model, we supplemented it with a more flexible, self-guided version that teachers could complete during PLC time. Today, every 1st and 2nd grade teacher in Peoria has completed Volume 1 of the professional learning course, and our next cohort is set to begin with kindergarten and third-grade educators.

    That blended approach–respecting teachers’ time while still delivering deep learning–is helping us move forward together. Our educators understand the “why” behind the change and are beginning to feel empowered by the “how.”

    Technology as a partner, not a solution

    Technology plays a meaningful role in our framework, but never in isolation. We initially implemented a digital literacy program for students in grades 5-8 who were below benchmark, but the rollout revealed key challenges. Students were resistant. Teachers lacked the training to connect software data to instruction. And the result felt more punitive than supportive.

    Rather than abandon technology, we shifted our model. We now provide Lexia Core5 Reading to every student in grades 2-4, creating a consistent, equitable implementation that supports differentiated instruction while relieving teachers of the burden of sourcing materials themselves. The program is easy to use, offers actionable reports, and provides a strong starting point for targeted instruction.

    Still, we’ve been clear: Software alone won’t move the needle. Teachers must be part of the equation. We continue to train educators on blended learning practices, helping them use technology as a springboard, not a substitute, for effective instruction.

    From compliance to commitment

    One of our next major shifts is moving from compliance to intentional practice. In a large district with approximately 13,000 students across 29 buildings, it’s easy to focus on usage metrics. Are students meeting their minutes? Are teachers checking boxes?

    But the true measure is learning. Are students making progress? Are teachers using the data to inform instruction?

    We’re investing in professional development that reinforces this mindset and are exploring how to bring more coaching and modeling into classrooms to help operationalize what teachers are learning.

    Advice for fellow district leaders

    If there’s one takeaway from our journey, it’s this: Don’t rush. Take the time to align every piece of your literacy framework with evidence-based practices. That includes everything from phonics and handwriting to the way letters are introduced and small groups are formed.

    Lean on the research, but also listen to your teachers. Usability and educator buy-in matter just as much as alignment. And remember, literacy is a long game. State assessments, early screeners, and benchmark data are just pieces of the puzzle. The real impact takes time.

    What keeps me going is the feedback from our teachers. They’re seeing students blend and segment words with confidence. They’re noticing fewer behavioral issues during literacy blocks. They’re asking deeper questions about how to support readers. That’s the kind of progress that truly matters.

    We’re not finished. But we’re headed in the right direction–and we’re doing it together.

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    Lindsay Bohm, Peoria (Ill.) Public Schools District 150

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  • Districts eye proactive cyber threat protection as risks increase

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    This press release originally appeared online.

    Key points:

    Cybersecurity threats to K-12 schools are growing in frequency, sophistication, and cost, yet many school districts remain under-resourced and underprepared, according to the CoSN 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership report.

    The report highlights state-level actions to strengthen K-12 cybersecurity amid escalating threats and shrinking federal support and details recent legislative activity across five states. It also provides recommendations on governance, funding, workforce development, incident response, and data standards to help state and district leaders across the country secure the future of digital learning.

    Sixty-one percent of school districts rely on general funds rather than dedicated cybersecurity budgets to protect their networks and data, the report notes.

    Recent federal policy shifts, including the elimination of funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), have weakened national support for school districts. In response, states such as Arkansas, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas are taking action. The 2025 legislative actions reviewed in the report provide ideas for developing and adopting policies that will help school districts and their partners address these challenges.

    “While federal support for K-12 cybersecurity is in turmoil, several states are advancing innovative, bipartisan legislation to help safeguard student data, improve incident response, expand insurance access, and build the cybersecurity workforce we urgently need,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN. “These states’ common strategies offer actionable ideas for state and district leaders across the country and underscores the importance of system-wide collaboration and strategic leadership.”

    Key findings

    • Eighteen K-12 cybersecurity bills were introduced in 2025 across the five states studied.
    • Seven bills became law–all in Arkansas and Texas–focused on insurance access, training and infrastructure support, cyberattack response, data practices, and risk assessments.
    • Sixty-one K-12-focused and broader cybersecurity bills were introduced across the five states in 2025 that would indirectly benefit K-12 cybersecurity, covering government systems, postsecondary institutions or crosscutting issues such as insurance, incident response, AI accountability and workforce development.
    • Several common policy strategies emerged across the cybersecurity legislation introduced or enacted in the tracked states:
      • Centralized cybersecurity governance and oversight
      • Cybersecurity insurance and risk management
      • Cybersecurity workforce development and education
      • Integration of cybersecurity into K-12 and higher education policy
      • Incident reporting and crisis response readiness
      • AI, privacy and cybersecurity intersection

    Policy recommendations

    • Establish or Strengthen Statewide K-12 Cybersecurity Governance: Designate a cybersecurity lead within the state education agency and ensure that school districts are included in state-level cybersecurity planning and governance bodies.
    • Fund and Require School District Cybersecurity Risk Assessments: Allocate funding for school districts to conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
    • Align Workforce Policy with K-12 Needs: Support teacher certification in cybersecurity and create K-12 student pathways aligned with current and emerging workforce demand.
    • Mandate Incident Reporting and Create Response Protocols: Require timely reporting of cybersecurity incidents and support districts with coordinated response plans and training exercises.
    • Update Procurement and Data Governance Standards: Require that vendors meet minimum cybersecurity standards and align procurement processes with national frameworks.

    By adopting well-designed strategies–centralized oversight, insurance requirements, workforce investment, integrated planning and responsible innovation oversight–states can help their school districts move from reactive to resilient. Cross-sector collaboration and sustained investment will be critical to protecting students, educators and the integrity of public education systems.

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    ESchool Media Contributors

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  • Commentary: Here’s why the redistricting fight is raging. And why it may be moot

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    A handful of seats are all that keep Republicans in control of the House, giving President Trump untrammeled sway over, well, pretty much everything, from the economy to the jokes on late-night TV to the design of the Cracker Barrel logo.

    It’s a number that’s both tantalizing and fraught, depending on your political perspective.

    For Democrats, that eyelash-thin margin means they’re thisclose to regaining power and a political toehold in next year’s midterm election. All they need is a gain of three House seats. For Trump and fellow Republicans, it means their hegemony over Washington and life as we know it dangles by a perilously thin thread.

    That tension explains the redistricting wars now blazing throughout our great land.

    It started in Texas, where Trump pressured Republicans to redraw congressional lines in hopes of handing the GOP as many as five additional seats. That led California Democrats to ask voters, in a Nov. 4 special election, to approve an eye-for-an-eye gerrymander that could yield their party five new lawmakers.

    Several other states have waded into the fight, assuming control of the House might be decided next year by just a few seats, one way or the other.

    Which could happen.

    Or not.

    Anyone claiming to know for sure is either lying, trying to frighten you into giving money, or both.

    “History is on Democrats’ side, but it’s too early to know what the national political environment is going to be like,” said Nathan Gonzales, one of the country’s top political handicappers and publisher of the nonpartisan campaign guide Inside Elections. “We don’t know the overall mood of the electorate, how satisfied voters [will be] with Republicans in power in Washington or how open to change they’ll be a year from now.”

    A look back offers some clues, though it should be said no two election cycles are alike and the past is only illuminating insofar as it casts light on certain patterns.

    (Take that as a caveat, weasel words or whatever you care to call it.)

    In the last half century, there have been 13 midterm elections. The out party — that is, the one that doesn’t hold the presidency — has won 13 or more House seats in eight of those elections. Going back even further, since World War II the out party has gained an average of more than two dozen House seats.

    In Trump’s last midterm election, in 2018, Democrats won 40 House seats — including seven in California — to seize control. (That was 17 more than they needed.) A Democratic gain of that magnitude seems unlikely next year, barring a complete and utter GOP collapse. That’s because there are fewer Republicans sitting in districts that Democrats carried in the most recent presidential election, which left them highly vulnerable.

    In 2018, 25 Republicans represented districts won by Hillary Clinton. In 2026, there are just three Republicans in districts Kamala Harris carried. (Thirteen Democrats represent districts that Trump won.)

    Let’s pause before diving into more numbers.

    OK. Ready?

    There are 435 House seats on the ballot next year. Most are a lock for one party or the other.

    Based on the current congressional map, Inside Elections rates 64 House seats nationwide as being at least somewhat competitive, with a dozen considered toss-ups. The Cook Political Report, another gold-plated handicapper, rates 72 seats competitive or having the potential to be so, with 18 toss-ups.

    Both agree that two of those coin-flip races are in California, where Democrats Adam Gray and Derek Tran are fighting to hang onto seats they narrowly won in, respectively, the Central Valley and Orange County. (The Democratic gerrymander seeks to shore up those incumbents.)

    You really can’t assess the 2026 odds without knowing how the redistricting fight comes out.

    Republicans could pick up as many as 16 seats through partisan map-making, Inside Elections forecasts, a number that would be reduced if California voters approve Proposition 50. Erin Covey, who analyzes House races for the Cook Report, puts GOP gains as high as 13, again depending on the November outcome in California.

    Obviously, that would boost the GOP’s chances of hanging onto the House, which is precisely why Trump pushed for the extraordinary mid-decade redistricting.

    But there are many other factors at play.

    One huge element is Trump’s approval rating. Simply put, the less popular a president, the more his party tends to suffer at the polls.

    Right now Trump’s approval rating is a dismal 43%, according to the Cook Report’s PollTracker. That could change, but it’s a danger sign for Republicans. Over the past three decades, every time the president’s net job approval was negative a year from the midterm election, his party lost House seats.

    Another thing Democats have going for them is the passion of their voters, who’ve been flocking to the polls in off-year and special elections. The Downballot, which tracks races nationwide, finds Democratic candidates have far surpassed Kamala Harris’ 2024 performance, a potential harbinger of strong turnout in 2026.

    Those advantages are somewhat offset by a GOP edge in two other measures. Republicans have significantly outraised Democrats and have limited the number of House members retiring. Generally speaking, it’s tougher for a party to defend a seat when it comes open.

    In short, for all the partisan passions, the redistricting wars aren’t likely to decide control of the House.

    “Opinions of the economy and Trump’s handling of it, the popularity (or lack thereof) of Republicans’ signature legislation” — the tax-cutting, Medicaid-slashing bill passed in July — as well as “partisan enthusiasm to vote are going to be more determinative to the 2026 outcome than redistricting alone,” Amy Walter, the Cook Report’s editor-in-chief, wrote in a recent analysis.

    In other words, control of the House will most likely rest in the hands of voters, not scheming politicians.

    Which is exactly where it belongs.

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    Mark Z. Barabak

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  • Turning superintendent transitions into strength–not division

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    Key points:

    When a long-serving superintendent departs, districts inherit more than a vacancy. They inherit emotion, legacy, and the uncertainty that comes with change. With superintendent tenure shrinking nationwide, the real question isn’t if transitions will happen; it’s whether districts can navigate them without losing momentum for students.

    I stepped into the superintendency at Mississinewa Community Schools following the retirement of a respected leader. We avoided the common pitfalls, mixed messages, rumor spirals, and initiative drift by treating the transition as a community moment rather than a personnel change.

    Here are practical steps any district can adapt, regardless of size or setting.

    1. Model professionalism, especially when it’s hard

    Leadership changes often mean disappointment for people who’ve given years to the district. Ask outgoing leaders to help “set the table” for what’s next: Attend public meetings, co-host early listening sessions, and make warm handoffs to key staff and partners.

    Why it works: Visible unity lowers anxiety and keeps adults focused on students, not politics.

    Try this: Create a two-page “transition script” with shared talking points, key dates, and who says what, when.

    2. Go first with transparency

    Transitions are prime time for speculation. Beat it with a simple, repeated message: what’s changing, what’s not, and when stakeholders can weigh in.

    Why it works: Predictability builds trust; small, frequent updates outperform lengthy, sporadic memos.

    Try this: A 60-day communications cadence; weekly staff note, biweekly family/community update, and a brief public dashboard tracking immediate priorities (e.g., safety, staffing, instruction, operations).

    3. Build trust through presence, not pronouncements

    Spend full days in each school early on–not for photo ops, but for structured listening. Invite a veteran leader with deep relationships to walk alongside the new leader.
    Why it works: Trust is built in classrooms and hallways. Side-by-side introductions transfer social capital and signal continuity.

    Try this: Use a three-question listening protocol: What’s working students-first? What’s getting in the way? What’s one quick win we can try this month? Close the loop publicly on what you heard and acted on.

    4. Protect instructional continuity

    Transitions can unintentionally pause or reset key initiatives. Identify the 3-5 “do-not-drop” items (e.g., early literacy practices, MTSS, PLC rhythms) and assign explicit owners and check-ins.

    Why it works: Students shouldn’t feel the turbulence of adult change.

    Try this: A one-page “continuity plan” listing each initiative, the non-negotiables, owners, and 30/60/90-day milestones.

    5. Anchor every decision in integrity

    People watch how leaders behave under stress. Humility from those exiting, patience from those staying, and clarity from those arriving are all forms of integrity that audiences read quickly.

    Why it works: Integrity reduces drama and accelerates collaboration.

    Try this: Adopt a simple decision rubric you can publish: Is it student-centered? Is it equitable? Is it feasible this term? Share how recent decisions aligned with the rubric.

    A quick-start checklist (steal this)

    • Day 0–15: Announce the continuity plan; align the cabinet on 3-5 non-negotiables; publish listening tour dates.
    • Day 30: Report “you said/we did” updates; celebrate quick wins; schedule joint appearances with outgoing leaders where appropriate.
    • Day 60: Refresh the dashboard; confirm owners/timelines for longer-horizon work; address one stubborn, high-visibility pain point.
    • Day 90: Publicly close the transition phase; restate the district’s instructional priorities and how they will be measured.

    Watchouts

    • Mixed messages: If leaders aren’t saying the same thing, you’re fueling rumors. Script and rehearse.
    • New-initiative temptation: Resist “rebranding” just to mark the moment. Improve execution first; rename later.
    • Invisible wins: Listening without visible action erodes trust. Close loops quickly–even on small items.

    Bottom line

    Leadership transitions aren’t just about titles; they’re about people and the students we serve. With professionalism, transparency, presence, and integrity, districts can turn a vulnerable moment into a unifying one and keep learning at the center where it belongs.

    Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors (see all)

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    Jeremy Fewell, Mississinewa Community Schools

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  • Sacramento parents, students protest replacement of teacher over carpet removal

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    Nearly 100 parents and students gathered at Thursday’s Sacramento City Unified School District board meeting to protest the removal of Jeanine Rupert, a sixth-grade teacher at Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary School.The removal comes after an incident at the end of last school year, when Rupert and her students removed old carpeting from her classroom, which may have contained asbestos. “She was removed from the classroom without due process, without cause. And secretly!” James Frazee, a parent at the meeting, said. “This was done on a Friday before a three-day weekend, and told she can’t show up. And this is allegedly over pulling up carpet.”Parents and students spoke in support of Rupert, describing her as an incredible teacher and role model.”I think it’s a horrible loss for our school to lose her,” one student said.”Mrs. Rupert has been the leader. She’s been an absolute joy to the school,” a parent added. “She’s been somebody who’s constantly helping our students, not just in the classroom, but outside the classroom.”Another student expressed deep admiration for their teacher.”I personally think that Mrs. Rupert was just one of the most magical teachers, maybe in the history of the world,” they said.The district claims Rupert was removed after the carpet was taken out, but stated: “The District’s fact-gathering and investigation into the matter were just completed earlier this week. The determination was made that none of the asbestos tiles underneath the classroom carpet had been damaged when students were present. The removal of the carpet did not cause a disturbance that would cause exposure to asbestos.Nonetheless, now that the investigation is complete, District staff will begin the process of reaching out to individual families to reassure them of their student’s safety and provide any necessary support.”Rupert’s father attended the meeting, sharing that his daughter has been devastated by her removal. “She tried to get it replaced for five years, and she decided to take it on her own. She’s torn up. She’s given her life to Phoebe Hearst,” said Tim O’Brien, Rupert’s father.Many families are confused by the district’s handling of the situation. “It blows the mind to think that somebody would be removed for something like that. She has a track record of excellence in the classroom,” one parent said.”I can’t believe that she’s getting fired for one carpet. That doesn’t make any sense to me,” a student added.Community members organized quickly after the district changed Thursday night’s meeting time. Organizers were expected to give public comment at 6 p.m.”It was around 4 o’clock when it was supposed to be at 5,” one attendee said.”It was a complete lack of transparency because it was unclear when we were supposed to be able to come and speak,” another person at the meeting added.The district stated that Rupert was not fired and remains employed, but parents reported receiving an email from Principal Brooke Fahey indicating she has been replaced by another teacher set to start on Sept. 8. The district says, “Mrs. Rupert will be teaching at a different school this year.” KCRA posed multiple follow-up questions to the district regarding the situation, including where Rupert will be teaching, and has yet to hear back. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Nearly 100 parents and students gathered at Thursday’s Sacramento City Unified School District board meeting to protest the removal of Jeanine Rupert, a sixth-grade teacher at Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary School.

    The removal comes after an incident at the end of last school year, when Rupert and her students removed old carpeting from her classroom, which may have contained asbestos.

    “She was removed from the classroom without due process, without cause. And secretly!” James Frazee, a parent at the meeting, said. “This was done on a Friday before a three-day weekend, and told she can’t show up. And this is allegedly over pulling up carpet.”

    Parents and students spoke in support of Rupert, describing her as an incredible teacher and role model.

    “I think it’s a horrible loss for our school to lose her,” one student said.

    “Mrs. Rupert has been the leader. She’s been an absolute joy to the school,” a parent added. “She’s been somebody who’s constantly helping our students, not just in the classroom, but outside the classroom.”

    Another student expressed deep admiration for their teacher.

    “I personally think that Mrs. Rupert was just one of the most magical teachers, maybe in the history of the world,” they said.

    The district claims Rupert was removed after the carpet was taken out, but stated:

    “The District’s fact-gathering and investigation into the matter were just completed earlier this week. The determination was made that none of the asbestos tiles underneath the classroom carpet had been damaged when students were present. The removal of the carpet did not cause a disturbance that would cause exposure to asbestos.

    Nonetheless, now that the investigation is complete, District staff will begin the process of reaching out to individual families to reassure them of their student’s safety and provide any necessary support.”

    Rupert’s father attended the meeting, sharing that his daughter has been devastated by her removal.

    “She tried to get it replaced for five years, and she decided to take it on her own. She’s torn up. She’s given her life to Phoebe Hearst,” said Tim O’Brien, Rupert’s father.

    Many families are confused by the district’s handling of the situation.

    “It blows the mind to think that somebody would be removed for something like that. She has a track record of excellence in the classroom,” one parent said.

    “I can’t believe that she’s getting fired for one carpet. That doesn’t make any sense to me,” a student added.

    Community members organized quickly after the district changed Thursday night’s meeting time. Organizers were expected to give public comment at 6 p.m.

    “It was around 4 o’clock when it was supposed to be at 5,” one attendee said.

    “It was a complete lack of transparency because it was unclear when we were supposed to be able to come and speak,” another person at the meeting added.

    The district stated that Rupert was not fired and remains employed, but parents reported receiving an email from Principal Brooke Fahey indicating she has been replaced by another teacher set to start on Sept. 8.

    The district says, “Mrs. Rupert will be teaching at a different school this year.”

    KCRA posed multiple follow-up questions to the district regarding the situation, including where Rupert will be teaching, and has yet to hear back.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • District of Columbia sues over Trump’s deployment of the National Guard

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    The District of Columbia on Thursday sued to stop President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard during his law enforcement intervention in Washington.The city’s attorney general, Brian Schwalb, said the surge of troops essentially amounts to an “involuntary military occupation.” He argued in the federal lawsuit that the deployment, coinciding with an executive order Aug. 11, that now involves more than 1,000 troops is an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement.A federal judge in California recently ruled that Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles after days of protests over immigration raids in June was illegal.The Republican administration is appealing that decision and Trump has said he is ready to order federal intervention in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition in those Democrat-led cities. That court ruling, however, does not directly apply to Washington, where the president has more control over the Guard than in states.The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment to the new lawsuit.Members of the D.C. National Guard have had their orders extended through December, according to a Guard official. While that does not necessarily mean all those troops will serve that long, it is a strong indication that their role will not wind down soon.Several GOP-led states have added National Guard troops to the ranks of those patrolling the streets and neighborhoods of the nation’s capital.Schwalb’s filing contends the deployment also violates the Home Rule Act, signed by President Richard Nixon in 1973, because Trump acted without the mayor’s consent and is wrongly asserting federal control over units from other states.The city’s attorney general, an elected official, is its top legal officer and is separate from Washington’s federal U.S. attorney, who is appointed by the president.The lawsuit is the second from Schwalb against the Trump administration since the president asserted control over the city’s police department and sent in the Guard, actions that have been with protests from some residents.Trump has said the operation is necessary to combat crime in the district, and Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, has pointed to a steep drop in offenses such as carjackings since it began.Violent crime has been an issue in the capital for years, though data showed it was on the decline at the start of Trump’s intervention.

    WASHINGTON —

    The District of Columbia on Thursday sued to stop President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard during his law enforcement intervention in Washington.

    The city’s attorney general, Brian Schwalb, said the surge of troops essentially amounts to an “involuntary military occupation.” He argued in the federal lawsuit that the deployment, coinciding with an executive order Aug. 11, that now involves more than 1,000 troops is an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement.

    A federal judge in California recently ruled that Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles after days of protests over immigration raids in June was illegal.

    The Republican administration is appealing that decision and Trump has said he is ready to order federal intervention in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition in those Democrat-led cities. That court ruling, however, does not directly apply to Washington, where the president has more control over the Guard than in states.

    The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment to the new lawsuit.

    Members of the D.C. National Guard have had their orders extended through December, according to a Guard official. While that does not necessarily mean all those troops will serve that long, it is a strong indication that their role will not wind down soon.

    Several GOP-led states have added National Guard troops to the ranks of those patrolling the streets and neighborhoods of the nation’s capital.

    Schwalb’s filing contends the deployment also violates the Home Rule Act, signed by President Richard Nixon in 1973, because Trump acted without the mayor’s consent and is wrongly asserting federal control over units from other states.

    The city’s attorney general, an elected official, is its top legal officer and is separate from Washington’s federal U.S. attorney, who is appointed by the president.

    The lawsuit is the second from Schwalb against the Trump administration since the president asserted control over the city’s police department and sent in the Guard, actions that have been with protests from some residents.

    Trump has said the operation is necessary to combat crime in the district, and Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, has pointed to a steep drop in offenses such as carjackings since it began.

    Violent crime has been an issue in the capital for years, though data showed it was on the decline at the start of Trump’s intervention.

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  • Powerball jackpot climbs again after no jackpot winners in Wednesday night’s drawing

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    The Powerball jackpot has risen to $1.7 billion (estimated cash value of $770.3 million). That’s because there was no big winner after Wednesday night’s drawing, according to the Powerball website.Here are the numbers for the Wednesday, Sept. 3 drawing:3-16-29-61-69 Powerball 22The Powerplay Multiplier was 2x The estimated $1.4 billion jackpot from Wednesday night’s drawing would have been for a winner who had opted to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the game’s cash option, which would have been an estimated $634.3 million.The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, Powerball officials said Wednesday morning.The Sept. 4 drawing was the 41st drawing since the Powerball jackpot was previously won in California on May 31.Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.__ The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    The Powerball jackpot has risen to $1.7 billion (estimated cash value of $770.3 million). That’s because there was no big winner after Wednesday night’s drawing, according to the Powerball website.

    Here are the numbers for the Wednesday, Sept. 3 drawing:

    3-16-29-61-69 Powerball 22

    The Powerplay Multiplier was 2x

    The estimated $1.4 billion jackpot from Wednesday night’s drawing would have been for a winner who had opted to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the game’s cash option, which would have been an estimated $634.3 million.

    The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, Powerball officials said Wednesday morning.

    The Sept. 4 drawing was the 41st drawing since the Powerball jackpot was previously won in California on May 31.

    Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.

    __

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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