I just want to update everyone on the situation. First of all, thank you for your support. I know my mom really appreciates it. I think at this point she is less concerned with her job and more concerned that people speak up, pay attention to what is going on and take action. There are numerous issues in our school that are very troubling. I encourage you to find board members and get them to talk to the staff that will be leaving. They are good people, and I could be wrong, but I don't think they would be leaving if there weren't issues. Our school needs major changes. Mrs. Walters is a lifelong resident of Centralia. She has been a teacher in our district for the last 28 years, Reading Recovery for the last 16. If you're old enough to remember her mom, my grandma, Mrs. Bloom, then you know how important education and this community is to our family. All else aside, this is not how we treat our neighbors. Now let me get back to Reading Recovery. I wrote a letter to the Principal, Superintendent and the board members. Thus far I have received no response. Through the grapevine I have heard that Reading Recovery is not being cut completely, and that the teacher from Frankfort will now be responsible for both schools. I did not hear this from anyone with authority, and my mom did not hear this from anyone with authority. I can tell you with reasonable certainty that this was not the plan a week ago. As to how the needs of the students will be met with one less teacher for Reading Recovery is up to the administration and board to explain, and we should demand that they do. If cutting reading education, which in this case is a very small portion of the budget, is the best plan the administration can come up with, then I question their abilities to lead us forward. As you can tell, communication is an obvious issue with this administration. If you reach out, I'm sure you will discover numerous other causes for concern. Thanks again! If you want to show Mrs. Walters your support, please speak up, reach out and keep pushing to make this the school we all want for our children! Sincerely, Dustin Walters A horrible injustice is about to befall the Centralia School Community. I understand budget cuts need to be made from time to time; however, when a school cuts back on programs that not only are core programs but programs that are majorly successful in the bettering of our children's educations, shouldn't we come together to see if something else could be cut instead? I say No to cutting READING RECOVERY PROGRAM and let's find the money needed elsewhere!! Not only has Mrs. Walters helped my daughter learn her skills in reading, but also in life. Learning how and why reading is important to every child isn't the same and has challenges. Mrs. Walters and the Reading Recovery Program have helped a vast number of children and not only deserve to be still in effect next school year and years to come, but, in my opinion, is the heart and soul of the school! Let's let our opinion get a chance to vote and see where cuts can be made that will not only help the children, our school but also our community.

My Union represents the Teachers and the Support Staff at the School. They are losing all of their rights.

My son attends Cedar Middle School in Hesperia CA. To hear that the school district has eliminated the 8th grade graduation ceremony is saddening. It robs our children of being formally recognized for their achievements. Elementary, middle and high school graduations have always been a long time tradition for all schools in the state of California. No one has the right to change that. Several schools in the district have now chosen to have an awards assembly to satisfy parents concerns. They say that they eliminated 8th grade graduation ceremonies because they want our kids to focus on high school graduation. High School graduation has NOTHING to do with an 8th grade graduation ceremony. ALL children should participate in a formal ceremony, promoting them to the next big stage in their life. Our kids help earn money for these schools and we as tax payers contribute a portion of our earnings as well. Our kids studied hard and EARNED the right to be promoted. There is NO reason why this rule should have ever been implemented. We are a community of families who should formally celebrate our children's accomplishments, no matter how old they are and certainly no matter what grade level they are in.

This week Gov. Brown neglected early learning. In his revised budget, he allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children stuck on wait lists for these programs. The budget must be finalized next month, so we need to show him he's making a huge mistake.

Four years ago our colleagues formed a union to provide a positive and stable learning environment for our students. They came together, just as we stand together now, for teacher voice at AECI. A contract will bring stability to our school community while at the same time enshrining what works at AECI and developing a framework to fix any concerns that may arise. A contract can create transparency and equity. The due process piece represents an important structure to implement all aspects of the contract. It has been a long road but we remain united in our goals to achieve fair pay and benefits, and a due process structure to maintain our rights. Please help support our school and our students. Let us focus on educating free from distraction and with a contract in place. When AECI's faculty has a voice, we can create a better learning environment for everyone. Please help us grow as educators with our students so we can build the best school possible together.

I have advocated for children for the past 20 years and this behavior is NEVER ok. That child or any other should not have to interact with her. The only thing she has taught others with this particular incident is Fear! Children have rights too!

Parents who would be willing to volunteer to serve on a "bulling" watchdog board or a combo student/parent bulling court. If you have a child who has been a victim of bulling and you feel you have no voice or appropriate action has been taken, help us bring this board to fruition.

In his revised budget, Gov. Brown allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children on wait lists for these programs. The budget has to be finalized next month, so we need to show overwhelming support right now to fix this mistake and ensure all children get the strong start they deserve.

This week Gov. Brown neglected early learning again. In his revised budget, he allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children on wait lists for these programs. The budget must be finalized next month, so we need to deliver 1 million petition signatures to Gov. Brown to show him he's making a huge mistake.

Children in P.S. 117 Joyce Keld/Briarwood School need a more active role in their health and nutrition.

Milpitas City staff want to remove Elan Esprit Enrichment Program and replace it with "recreational classes." Our children's education should be our top priority.

During my life of more than six decades, I've seen and experienced many forms of brutality, both obvious and more subtle. I've seen and experienced brutality from parents toward their own children, the rich toward the poor, one skin color against others, and many other forms. I've also seen the reverse of each one of these and violence in each group against others in the same group. This violence is endemic on individual, group, and institutional levels. Humanity has been brave enough to evolve communication tools that today show us, in real time, the extent of our own brutality. We see up close that the human heart is in pain, and we all know it now! In contemplating this terrible condition I find that the seed of humanity's misery is hidden in the heart. A clear vision communicates that the contemplation of one's heart is where humanity finds the peace that forgives, heals and brings compassion. Therefore, the challenge facing all of us, individually and collectively, adults and children, rich and poor, people of all skin colors, and everyone everywhere is to take the first step toward acknowledging that our heart is in pain before we point the finger at one another. Throughout the centuries, we all have allowed dehumanization, and now it must end. Looking deep within our hearts, we must facilitate listening and dialoguing with others and, especially, our children. To be more exact, this must be the heart of the education process. We know it, and we can make it happen! Please support the creation of a national coalition involving all sectors of the community both public and private for the establishment of a Summer National Community Laboratory Initiative as the venue to do this work.