New regulations adopted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) further restricting pesticide use near schools went into effect on Jan. 1. The regulations impact about 4,100 public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities in California, including 50 in Santa Barbara County, and nearly 2,500 growers statewide. The rules ban California farmers […]
School Scene Articles
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Donations to the Hancock Promise push college closer to goal of $10 million in funding
Donations from a small group of community members, foundations, and businesses allowed Allan Hancock College to announce at a press conference on Dec. 13 the start of its five-year, $10 million endowment campaign to support the Hancock Promise program, which will give local high school graduates a free first year of tuition and fees at […]
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Allan Hancock College refinances Bond Measure I as projects move forward
Allan Hancock College recently refinanced Bond Measure I, which was passed by voters in 2006 and used to fund $180 million in facility and technology improvements on the college’s campus. The refinancing process is expected to save taxpayers nearly $10.3 million over the bond’s lifetime. The bond refinancing process is similar to home mortgage refinancing, […]
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Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donates laptops to local schools
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians recently delivered laptop computers and mobile charging carts to two Santa Barbara County schools as part of its Technology in Schools Program. The Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy and Cabrillo High School each received 35 Google Chromebooks and a mobile charging cart, which were wheeled into class by […]
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City officials work to rally community support for recently adopted youth safety plan
Community members and city officials have spent months arguing over ways to best reduce youth violence in Santa Maria, and an end to the battle is not in sight. City officials are taking their first steps toward implementing the city’s newly adopted youth safety plan, which was drafted by the Mayor’s Task Force on Youth […]
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Chumash Education Department recognized by Commission for Women
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Education Department was honored with a service award from the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women during a supervisors meeting on Nov. 7. The Commission for Women works to recognize organizations that help shape Santa Barbara County, particularly those that advocate for women in need, according to a […]
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Allan Hancock College faculty and staff donate Thanksgiving food to single-parent students
Turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie—about 75 single parents who attend Allan Hancock College received everything necessary for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 21 at the ninth annual Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) Turkey Event. The food was paid for through monetary donations given by college faculty and staff, according to Hancock spokesperson Jessica […]
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Solvang Elementary School District fills twice-vacated seat on board of trustees
The Solvang Elementary School District appointed a local health care provider and U.S. Army veteran to its board of trustees at a board meeting on Nov. 14, a seat that has been vacated mid-term twice this year. Benjamin Olmedo, a physician assistant for the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic, lieutenant with the U.S. Public Health […]
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Solvang Elementary students present science and technology research
Some of Solvang’s budding scientists had the opportunity to present research projects involving science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to their classmates and community members at Solvang Elementary School on Nov. 15. Solvang Elementary fourth and fifth graders, also known as the All Are Scholars Academy, have been researching STEM related topics all year through […]
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Santa Maria’s 4-H SNAC clubs provide nutritional education to low-income families
It can be especially difficult for low-income families to find healthy foods and to make time for beneficial physical activity. In a 2016 health assessment of Santa Barbara County, 28 percent of surveyed adults said they were obese, and 24 percent rated their health as being fair to very poor. The 4-H Student Nutrition Advisory […]
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Registration season coming for students at Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College’s winter and spring class schedules are now available for viewing on the school’s website, and open registration for all students begins on Nov. 18. Hancock will offer more than 30 classes running five weeks or less during winter session, which begins the week of Dec. 18. More than 1,200 classes will be […]
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Righetti High School mourns student’s suicide
A 14-year-old Ernest Righetti High School student killed herself on Nov. 1 at about 8 p.m., according to Lt. Kevin Huddle of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Huddle said the student, Kiya McBride, died in her Orcutt home that evening. The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District was informed of McBride’s death the […]
