Year: 2011

  • San Diego Tackles Prisoner Recidivism

    San Diego is one of a few California counties that plan to avoid building more jails by keeping offenders from ending up back behind bars. That’s a tough assignment when jobs are scarce and many in this population have nowhere to live. By Nicholas McVicker and Alison St John Frederick Recupido, 35, recently arrived in…

  • Video: Food Stamps Explained

    By Dagny Salas The number of people on food stamps has nearly tripled in San Diego County. The county’s hiring more than 60 new workers to help process food stamps applications. After historically doing worse than other counties in enrolling eligible people for food stamps, San Diego County has made changes to make applying easier.  But recent statistics show…

  • School Board Braces for Worst Case: Cutting More Than 700 Positions

    By Emily Alpert The school board got a glimpse last night of just how bad things could get for San Diego Unified schools: More than 700 positions would be eliminated. Class sizes would increase in many disadvantaged schools. Schools would be cleaned less often and have fewer counselors and nurses. California is slated to cut…

  • Crawford Students Unite to Stay Divided

    Crawford High School students and teachers are protesting a district proposal that could reverse school reform they say has improved student achievement and behavior. Many gathered in front of the school board meeting Nov. 29 to voice their concerns through chants and a mobile PA system. | Video Credit: Brian Myers, Media Arts Center San…

  • Math Gap Grows Between Black and White Students in San Diego Unified

    By Emily Alpert The gap between math scores for black and white students in San Diego Unified grew wider on a national exam despite growing attention to math in the school district. It’s a troubling change that school officials are still trying to understand. While 58 percent of white eighth graders scored proficient or above…