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RandySF's JournalL.A. schools superintendent shaking up district
Faced with a shocking case of a teacher accused of playing classroom sex games with children for years, Los Angeles schools Superintendent John Deasy delivered a jolt: He removed the school's entire staff - from custodians to the principal - to smash what he called a "culture of silence."
"It was a quick, responsible, responsive action to a heinous situation," he said. "We're not going to spend a long time debating student safety."
The controversial decision underscores the 51-year-old superintendent's shake-up of the lethargic bureaucracy at the nation's second-largest school district. His moves have rankled some and won praise from others during his first year of leadership.
Hired with a mandate to boost achievement in the 660,000-pupil Los Angeles Unified School District, Deasy has become known for long days that involve everything from surprise classroom visits and picking up playground litter to lobbying city elite for donations and blasting Sacramento politicians over funding cuts.
http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/L-A-schools-superintendent-shaking-up-district-3690790.php
Vatican posts $19 million deficit, worst in years
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The Vatican has registered one of its worst budget deficits in years, plunging back into the red with a €15 million ($19 million) deficit in 2011 after a brief respite of profit.
The Vatican on Thursday blamed the poor outcome on high personnel and communications costs and adverse market conditions, particularly for its real estate holdings.
Not even a €50 million gift to the pope from the Vatican bank and increased donations from dioceses and religious orders could offset the expenses and poor investment returns, the Vatican said in its annual financial report.
The Vatican said it ran a €14.9 million deficit in 2011 after posting a surplus of €9.85 million in 2010. The 2010 surplus, however, was something of an anomaly. In 2009 the Vatican ran a deficit of €4.01 million, in 2008 the deficit was €0.9 million and in 2007 it was nearly €9.1 million.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/vatican-posts-19-million-deficit-121959659.html
Texas School principal accused of locker room spying.
A Texas middle school principal is accused of encouraging her daughter to hide a cell phone camera inside a high school girls’ locker room to spy on a coach accused of being too stern with basketball players.
Wendee Long, principal of Wayside Middle School in Fort Worth, surrendered to authorities on Monday in Denton County. She was charged with improper photography or visual recording and unlawful interception, use or disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communications, also referred to as wiretapping, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
If convicted, Long faces up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Long was released after posting $25,000 bail, the Star-Telegram reported.
Investigators said Long's two daughters played on the Argyle High School girls' basketball team and complained that the coach was too stern with players, according to television station WFAA of Dallas-Fort Worth.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/05/12582387-texas-principal-charged-in-case-involving-cell-phone-recording-in-locker-room?lite
Lynch found not guilty of assaulting priest
SAN JOSE, Calif. — After more than three days of deliberations, a jury has found a man charged with beating a priest he claimed molested him as a youth not guilty of two of three counts against him.
The Santa Clara County Superior Court jury found William Lynch not guilty of one count of assault and one count of elder abuse. The jurors deadlocked 8-4 on a lesser assault charge and the judge declared a mistrial on that count.
Lynch testified last Friday that he punched Rev. Jerold Lindner after memories of the alleged sexual abuse came flooding back across the decades and were so vivid that he felt threatened.
While he is the defendant in Santa Clara County court, his lawyers have attempted to put the retired priest on trial in the court of public opinion. The attorneys are using the alleged abuse in 1975 as a defense for the pummeling of Lindner on May 10, 2010. Lynch testified Friday that memories of the alleged abuse triggered a violent reaction when he confronted the retired priest on that afternoon.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/jury-reaches-verdict-lynch-priest-assault-case/nPnD8/
Teacher compares student to 'orangutan' on Facebook, could lose license
A teacher who got on Facebook and likened one of her students to an orangutan could wind up losing her teaching license for the derogatory comments she made on the social network.
An elementary school teacher in Manatee County, FL, posted the remarks, as shared by the mother of the student with a local TV station, Bay News 9:
"I'm fairly convinced that one of my students may be the evolutionary link between orangutans and humans."
The comment got seven "likes" and some responses, including some from other teachers. Said one: "Please tell me who you are talking about. This made me laugh out loud."
http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/05/12581309-teacher-compares-student-to-orangutan-on-facebook-could-lose-license?lite
USA Olympic gymnastics teams finalized
On Sunday, a selection committee rounded out the group, selecting Jake Dalton, Jonathan Horton and Sam Mikulak to represent the Unites States in London.
Chris Brooks, Steven Legendre and Alexander Naddour were chosen as replacement athletes.
Gabby Douglas, of Virginia Beach, earned the sole guaranteed spot on the women's team with a victory in the two-day all-around at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, which concluded on Sunday.
It did not take long for the women's selection committee to choose her teammates.
Californians McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross, as well as Aly Raisman, of Massachusetts, and Jordyn Wieber, of Michigan, completed the squad.
Three replacement athletes were also chosen. Sarah Finnegan, of Missouri, Anna Li, of Illinois, and Pennsylvanian Elizabeth Price made up the reserve unit.
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/07/02/usa-olympic-gymnastics-teams-finalized/?test=olymp#ixzz1zRQT3ONC
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