LA MESA MICROSCOPE

Grossmont Baseball Coach Jim Earley Quits Amid Parent Accusations

Father of pitching star Robby Nesovic says Earley handled money in violation of district policy.

Updated at 9:35 p.m. May 18, 2012 Grossmont High School baseball coach Jim Earley, who resigned this week after ending the season with 20 straight losses, is under fire from a parent who accuses him of misusing money from the program and running a booster club that violates district rules. In a Nov. 9, 2011, memo to Principal Dan Barnes, Danilo “Dan” Nesovic made a series of complaints, including: The Grossmont Union High School District on Friday said Earley has retired, and East County Sports quoted Earley as saying: “I want to spend more time with my family, especially my two sons who are 9 and 10.” But documents obtained by Patch indicate four-year head coach Earley, as president of a nonprofit called Blue and Gold Baseball Inc., …

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Poll: Would You Vote for Higher Taxes to Save School, College Funding?

Gov. Jerry Brown again calls for support of November initiatives to ease California budget deficit.

Gov. Jerry Brown says K-12 schools and both state university systems will suffer even more cuts and force tuition increases if California voters don’t approve a quarter-cent bump in the state’s sales tax rate to 7.5 percent and boost the income tax rate for people making more than $250,000 a year. His critics say the projected $16 billion state budget deficit can be erased without voter-approved tax hikes in November. Whose arguments do you buy?

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christine howell

7:25 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

First of all mam, I never mentioned it was a Cush job, I stated the facts, how do I know because I have been very much in the schools, more then you may ever know, so that was a very judgmental statement, 2nd I said most of them don't do it for the money. Which is complimenting teachers. As for what I do for a living, really is none of your business, but here.......I am a mother of 2 adult kids, …   more ›

Helix Speech and Debate Team Garners Success at State Championships

The Helix Speech and Debate Team is composed of approximately 40 students, and the team competes in 15-20 tournaments around the state each school year.

Helix Charter High School made the following announcement on May 9, 2012: The Helix Charter High School Speech and Debate Team members know what they are talking about! Eleven students from Helix, along with 80 students from other San Diego County high schools, participated in the California High School Speech Association State Championships in San Francisco April 27-29, 2012. Almost 350 students in the San Diego/Imperial Valley Speech League competed in February and March at the local level to make it to the State Championships. The 13 San Diego schools that qualified students locally spent the last weekend in April competing against the best California has to offer. There are approximately 250 high school Speech and Debate teams in …

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Nine Teachers Face Layoffs in Lemon Grove School District

With a budget deficit looming, trustees take action to lay off teachers.

Facing an expected $4.3 million budget gap, the governing board of the Lemon Grove School District voted 4-1 to lay off nine teachers. The action comes after voting April 24 to cut 30 classified employees. Glenn Heath, director of human resources, said the cuts were reviewed by an administrative law judge who looks at all of the employees' records to ensure  the district has made appropriate selections. He said the district asked the judge to skip some employees on a seniority list because of their specialized credentials. “The judge agreed with us,” Heath said. “We had to give notice to 23 people because we were not sure if the judge would allow us to skip certain people.” Pierre Finney, president of the Lemon Grove Teachers Association (…

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County Office of Education to Receive $22,500 to Enforce Tobacco-Free Policies

The funds will come from the state government.

The San Diego County Office of Education will receive $22,500 in state funds to enforce tobacco-free school policies and collect data on the prevalence of tobacco use and other behaviors  that put students' health at risk. More than $410,000 in Tobacco Use Prevention Education dollars from the state Department of Education went to 30 districts across California. The winners in TUPE competitive bidding demonstrated the greatest tobacco-use prevention efforts, and proposed programs that will likely be effective, said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. "Schools can help our kids learn to avoid dangerous behaviors -- including tobacco use—early," Torlakson said. TUPE is a three-year, $16.5 million competitive state grant…

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Helix Sweeps West Hills in Season’s Last League Dual Swim Meet

Wolf Pack, Scotties set for league championships next week, followed by CIF competition.

With seniors on both teams receiving long-stem roses, Helix Charter High School beat visiting West Hills High 87-78 and 100-68, respectively, in their last league swim meet of the season. Senior Highlander Rosa Bebi is defending her CIF breaststroke championship next week as league championships begin May 9 followed by CIF competition May 16. Bebi, who says she has been swimming since 7 with the encouragement of her mother, lost only one race this season, a 200-meter freestyle. She has her sights set on swimming for UCSD next year. Other top swimmers for the Scotties are junior Victoria Nauman in the 100 IM and backstoke, and senior Kyle Sharp in the 50 and 100 butterfly. The Scotties head boys varsity coach is Joel Hull and the girls …

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Helix Alums Earn Co-Athlete of the Year Awards at Cal State San Marcos

Softball player Alyssa Dronenburg and soccer player Kaycee Gunion, share the prestigious award.

Two former Helix Charter High School athletic stars have kept the act going in their collegiate career, as the were co-winners of the Female Athlete of the Year Award for Cal State University – San Marcos. Alyssa Dronenburg, a softball player, and Kaycee Gunion, a soccer player, share the award, while the Male Athlete of the Year for the Cougars went to baseball player Austin Coleman. Gunion, who hails from Santee, starred for the Scotties before graduating in 2008. She is a kinesiolgy major at San Marcos. Earlier this year, the goalkeeper and team captain was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to the Women’s College Scholar All-America Third Team. Dronenburg, also a 2008 grad, was the East County Sports Softball …

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Positive Reinforcement: K-9 Demonstration Rewards Kids for Good Behavior

Students at San Miguel Elementary got to see the animal in action.

Children at San Miguel Elementary School were treated to a visit from one of the Sheriff’s top dogs—and learned how he does much more than take a bite out of crime. Deputy Plutarco Vail and his K-9 partner, Hank, delivered a message that reinforced the importance of making good choices during the school’s Red Ribbon Day celebration this month. Students squealed with delight as the 5-year-old German shepherd leapt from his place in the back of the cruiser and joined the deputy on the blacktop for a demonstration of his super-sense for sniffing out drugs. Hank is one of 30 dogs in the department’s K-9 Unit. He and Vail are stationed here in Lemon Grove. They train with the rest of the unit to keep their skills sharp, and make presentations …

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