Voice of San Diego
August 28, 2009
'I Didn't Come Here to Leave Here'
Superintendent Terry Grier is poised to leave San Diego Unified for Houston after less than two years at its helm. His exit has become a flashpoint for parents, teachers, principals and business leaders to ask: Why does the revolving door keep revolving? Is something wrong with the way the schools operate? Or is this simply a matter of one employee moving on?
Peninsula Beacon via SDNN.com
August 28, 2009
New school year to be met by fresh principals, tech changes
On Sept. 8, school bells across San Diego will signify the unofficial end of summer for kids and young adults. As the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) readies for its 2009-10 school year, a few things will be different.
San Diego Union-Tribune
August 28, 2009
School district's new logo spells out its changing image, outlook
SAN DIEGO — SDUSD, SDSU, USD — who can keep track of the alphabet soup of San Diego education institutions? In an effort to distinguish itself, the San Diego Unified School District will change its official logo. Gone will be the SDUSD moniker that is accompanied by a string of paper-doll-like silhouettes.
KPBS-FM
August 27, 2009
School Chief Grier Expected to Leave S.D.
GLORIA PENNER (Host): All right, the Union-Tribune probably appreciated the full page ad in Thursday's edition and perhaps city school superintendent Terry Grier did as well. It was a call for Grier to stay in San Diego, and listed an impressive coalition of parents, educators, community and business leaders. So, Andrew, what's the point of this plea when Terry Grier has made it clear that he wants a reform-minded school district to work for and not one that is stuck with the ghost of Alan Bersin?
Peninsula Beacon via SDNN.com
August 27, 2009
Contractors sue schools over project pacts
The San Diego Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) filed a lawsuit against the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) board of education in late June over part of an agreement between unions and the school district mandating that only apprentices associated with a union can work on about $2.1 billion worth of voter-approved school construction bond projects over the next several years.
Voice of San Diego
August 27, 2009
Schoobrary Moved Up in Bond Plans
San Diego Unified is planning for the downtown schoobrary to be built as early as the 2010-2011 school year, a shift from earlier plans that slated the school for 2014-2015. Stuart Markey, who oversees the facilities bond for San Diego Unified, said the plans were revised to ensure that if the library school were built as quickly as is possible, the school district would have planned to finance it.
San Diego Union-Tribune
August 26, 2009
Diane Bell: State controller brings more than talk to events
... One of the beneficiaries is political consultant John Dadian, who was unaware of a $115 court settlement. A court judgment for $52 is being held for Mental Health Systems CFO Michael Hawkey. San Diego Unified School District board member Katherine Nakamura has a $52 insurance premium refund waiting. ...
San Diego PLA News blog
August 26, 2009
There are several interesting developments in the fight for open competition in San Diego. San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Superintendent Terry GrierÕs decision to take a new job in Houston, TX is no surprise to the San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board, who blame the local teachers union and their labor allies for pushing Mr. Grier to look for greener pastures after less than two years on the job.
San Diego Union-Tribune
August 26, 2009
Grier says he's ready to take Houston school job
Hello, goodbye. San Diego Superintendent Terry Grier all but bade farewell to principals and administrators yesterday during an event designed to kick off the new school year.
Voice of San Diego
August 26, 2009
Principals got a sneak peek on Tuesday at some more data on the triumphs and stumbles of San Diego Unified schools on all those standardized tests, as well as some other measures of school success. Here are some highlights and low points from the report.
KPBS-FM
August 25, 2009
Grier Signals His Move to Houston
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Terry Grier says he will take the Houston superintendent job once the contract is finalized. He made the announcement to a group of district administrators at a back-to-school event today.
KNSD-TV
August 25, 2009
Local Schools Serving Food for Thought | San Diego Schools win Golden Carrot
A local school systemÕs lunch program has been recognized for excellence by a national organization. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine awarded a Golden Carrot -- and 500 clams -- to San Diego Unified School District nutrition services director Gary Petill this week.
Education Week
August 25, 2009
Recession Woes Cast Pall as Schools Open
As public schools around the country begin opening their doors for a new academic year, the impact of the worst recession in decades is being felt through such measures as larger class sizes, cuts of jobs and textbook budgets, reduced school bus service, and fewer resources for state education departments.
Voice of San Diego
August 25, 2009
Grier Tells Principals to 'Dance in the Rain'
Superintendent Terry Grier welcomed principals back to work today with a rousing speech that doubled as an explanation of his plans to leave for Houston. Hundreds of principals and managers packed into the auditorium at Kearny High School to hear Grier speak, part of a day packed with training and announcements before school begins for San Diego Unified in two weeks.
Voice of San Diego
August 24, 2009
All this talk about whether something is wrong with the way San Diego Unified is run is not new. In fact, the school district has already spent a good chunk of money trying to fix it.
What's So Funny About Grier Leaving?
The San Diego Unified school board took no action today in a closed meeting on the district's future after Terry Grier takes a job in Houston.
I just got a copy of the letter sent by an ad hoc group of parents, politicians and business and community leaders to San Diego Unified school board members pleading for them to find a way to keep Terry Grier as their superintendent. Here's an excerpt (with a few links added by me).
KPBS-FM
August 23, 2009
These Days: Terry Grier Set to Leave SD Unified
MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): I'm Maureen Cavanaugh, and you're listening to These Days on KPBS. After losing millions in state funding this year, you might think San Diego Unified School District has already had its fair share of bad luck for 2009 but apparently not so. Today, school board members will meet with Superintendent Terry Grier for the first time since he was named the first and only choice to head Houston's school district.
San Diego Union-Tribune
August 23, 2009
Freebies a lesson in charity for students
Heading back to school never felt so good. At least that was the case for hundreds of elementary school students who were treated yesterday morning to a shopping spree at a Walmart in San Diego, and for 3,000 children who scored free backpacks stuffed with supplies during a community conference and festival at Lincoln High School. Also covered by Sports Business Daily.
KNSD-TV
August 21, 2009
Can SDUSD's Supt Be Persuaded to Stay?Can he be persuaded to stay in San Diego? That's the question being discussed in San Diego after the announcement that the superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District is the frontrunner for a job in Houston.
Opinion
SDNN.com
Marsha Sutton: ÔSuperintendentÕ Zombro, keeping Bersin ghosts alive
Of three things I am certain. First, Terry Grier, superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, would be nuts not to get out of San Diego and head to Houston.
SDNN.com
August 21, 2009
John de Beck: Why the revolving door for superintendent?
The turmoil in the San Diego Unified School DistrictÕs governance seems endless and the recent (and probably accepted) offer from the Houston school board for our besieged Superintendent Terry Grier is really a symptom of the problems of maintaining a stable school governance system.
