Latest news with #Bagula
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Diego Unified to bring foreign educators to fill some teaching vacancies
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education recently announced a partnership with an international group to help fill open positions for the upcoming school year. The board signed an agreement with International Alliance Group (IAG) on Tuesday that is intended to conduct outreach for qualified educators and fill openings that are typically considered hard to staff, including in special education. San Diego City Council approves 2026 fiscal year budget 'Nationwide, we are dealing with the reality that there are not enough certified special educationteachers to meet the needs of our students,' said Dr. Fabi Bagula, the district's interim superintendent. According to the board, recruits will be brought in on a temporary work visa for up to three years to fill openings in the following areas: Mild/Moderate Support Needs, Extensive Support Needs and Bilingual, Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development. They must be current educators in their home countries, undergo a comprehensive screening process and meet state and federal law for employment in California. Additionally, they must get teaching credentials in California. After they are recruited by IAG, San Diego Unified will conduct interviews with the candidates and finalize the hiring process for international educators to teach throughout the K-12 grade levels. According to the board, IAG works mostly with teachers from Latin American countries and Great Britain. The IAG partnership is the latest resource being used by the district in its hiring efforts. Other opportunities to fill teaching positions include the Teacher Academy, Paraeducator/Classified Employee Pathway, Early Childhood Education Teachers, Teacher Preparation programs, Visiting Teacher Pathway, and Teacher Intern program. 'Regardless of the grade or subject being taught, we know from our own teachers and students that unique backgrounds and life experiences provide enrichment opportunities for everyone involved,' Bagula stated. 'We're excited to welcome these passionate and dedicated educators as we continue our efforts to ensure every classroom is led by the most qualified teachers, this coming school year and into the future,' Bagula said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
San Diego Unified School District reaffirms position on immigration enforcement
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Unified School District leaders reaffirmed their commitment Wednesday to keeping immigration enforcement agents off school campuses, promising to protect all students regardless of immigration status. At a press conference held at district headquarters in University Heights, Interim Superintendent Dr. Fabiola Bagula addressed growing community concerns following recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the South Park neighborhood. 'Every student, regardless of how they identify or where they come from, deserves to feel supported, safe and inspired to come to school,' Bagula said. Board trustee Richard Barrera criticized recent immigration raids, which took place near a local school as students were leaving afterschool programs. 'We don't ignore that it is an intentional attempt on the part of politicians in this country to strike fear into the hearts of our families,' Barrera said. District officials highlighted steps they've taken over the past year to safeguard undocumented students and their families. In December, the board passed a resolution prohibiting ICE agents from entering school campuses without a court order, judicial subpoena or parental consent. San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gloria Ciriza emphasized that student safety is a prerequisite for learning. 'We know that our young people have a better chance to learn and grow in school if they feel safe, protected and welcome,' she said. In addition to policy changes, the district launched a website providing legal resources for undocumented and LGBTQIA+ students. Over the past school year, Bagula said more than 650 students and adults received services at the district's five Newcomer Welcome Centers. 'No confirmed reports of ICE on our campuses have been received in the last six months,' she added. Officials also announced the distribution of 10,000 'red cards,' which outline constitutional rights when interacting with immigration authorities. 'School will always be a safe haven for all of our students and all of our families,' Barrera said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How cell phone rules will change at San Diego schools next year
SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI)–The way students use their cell phones at San Diego Unified schools is set to change next school year as a result of the Phone-Free School Act, a new California law. 'It's something that we all carry, so it is a tool. So then how do we become purposeful about using the tool as a tool and not as—I'm going to call it a cell phone addiction,' said Dr. Fabiola Bagula, interim superintendent for SUSD. She said that when the law was passed, she went straight to the students. 'If this is a rule that is going to be for them, then I would like them to have a hand in designing it and what it might mean. One of the things that they said was, if you engage us, we're actually not on our phones. They said, 'Ma'am, we haven't reached for our phones while you're talking to us now,'' said Dr. Bagula. She said students had already reviewed all the policies in place at San Diego Unified schools and helped create the uniform policy on the table, which is based on grade level. Middle schoolers wouldn't be able to use their cell phones during school hours and would have to put them in designated areas. High schoolers will only be able to use phones before or after school, during lunch or during passing periods. They will only be able to use them in class if they have written permission from the school's principal. Every classroom will have a designated phone storage system for students to store their phones during class. Proposed consequences could mean that their teacher can confiscate the student's phone until the end of class or until their parent retrieves it. 'Getting your cell phone taken away is a consequence, but it shouldn't be so drastic that you end up losing privileges or anything like that. So we are still in the process of communicating and designing what an adequate consequence would be,' said Dr. Bagula. Bagula says students also suggested including fourth and fifth graders to prepare for the rules they will eventually have to follow. 'After we reach it and we land on the policy, can we send a letter home to parents with a couple of articles about how cell phones impact our brain, impact our development and actually contribute to bullying in social media and then have some questions so they can actually have family conversations during dinner,'' said Dr. Bagula. Bagula plans to follow through with those suggestions, but before she can do that, she is waiting to hear from parents via an online survey about their thoughts regarding the rules on the table. Leaders will review the responses, bring the rules to the school board and the new rules will go into place next school year. All California school districts have until July 2026 to finalize rules. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SDUSD interim superintendent heads to Sacramento
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Unified School District interim Superintendent Fabi Bagula is scheduled to visit Sacramento Wednesday and meet with lawmakers. She will be joined by other Southern California school leaders and is going ahead of the May revision to Governor Gavin Newsom's budget. Bagula wants to make sure certain elements of education are prioritized. Among her priorities is the Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK), a growing initiative that allows 4-year-olds to begin their education early. Currently, about 5,000 students participate in TK. 'Investment in early learning has a very beautiful and big return on investment. We see increased literacy rates, we see increased engagement, we see students really love school and come to school and really graduate and thrive,' Bagula said. The Los Angeles fires will cost the state a lot of money and she worries it could lead to school cuts in San Diego, the second largest school district in the state. 'I haven't seen any numbers but that was devastating for all of our state and that will be an expense that will have to be mitigated,' she said. Special Education will be another area she advocates for because the number of special education students has increased and makes up about 18% of the student population, roughly 17,000 students. Bagula says the district spends about $400 million a year on Special Education programs and classes and the government provides about $100 million of that. 'Whether it be a speech and pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, whatever disability, we want to make sure we have appropriate resources for our students,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
