larger view

It's not much of a Christmas story, but the coming budget cuts in schools remains the big story of the year... and will be into the new year. 

Every superintendent and school board is preparing to make mid-year cuts.

There are some creative approaches to saving money.

This fall, Rosedale dropped class-size reduction standards for kindergarten in its seven elementary schools; it also considered dropping standards for third grade.

But the district took over running after-school day care from the recreation district and recouped $250,000, allowing it to keep third-grade classes to about 20 kids.

The KHSD board began brainstorming ways to approach tough decisions at its December meeting.

A few of the ideas (by no means the complete list, or ideas that will for sure be implemented): 

*Online courses;
*Streamlining bus service so students could walk to schools within a mile of home;
*Cutting district vehicle use; dropping the junior varsity level in some sports;
*Using a lecture hall format for some courses such as history;
*Capturing more revenue from home-school participants by allowing kids to take part in after-school activities such as sports and music at local schools.

Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still wants to make a deal with the Democrats (The GOP is left out in the cold after their last flop of a budget offer):

"It could easily be that before Christmas Eve or Christmas Day that we have an agreement, that the legislators can be brought back between Christmas and New Year's to vote on it," he said. (Sacramento Bee)

I wouldn't bet your stocking on it.  Schwarzenegger will submit his new budget on
January 9, 2009

Read the complete story: 

http://www.bakersfield.com/...

larger view

Amond Tree Middle School 6th grade teacher Lucia Alvarado won the California League of Middle Schools regional award for educator of the year.

It's a big deal -- she was selected the top teacher in a five-county region, and could be named the state educator of the year in spring at the state awards.

Read story: 
http://www.bakersfield.com/...

larger view

Officials at Bakersfield College are bracing for a big increase in students for spring semester 2009.

This is not a surprise: Historically, B.C.'s enrollment increases when the economy takes a dive. But B.C. is nearing record levels of students, and that means access to classes — that 9 am course will fill up fast — will be challenging.

BC registration info:
Course catalog for spring 2009: 
http://www.bakersfieldcolle...

BC's career and technical programs: 
http://www.bakersfieldcolle...

First time students can register for classes online: 
https://banweb.kccd.edu/prod/kwskadms.P_DispIntro

Here's the question: Are you, or do you know of someone, who's going back to or starting school due to tough economic times? 

Are the people who are going back to school making a career right turn (new career), or are they returning for additional education related to their profession?

Last, how do people manage to pay for additional education  in these tough economic times?