February 2012

Teachers struggle with rising health coverage costs

Michele Ellson
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - 10:25pm

Carolyn Cover-Griffith leafs through a pile of old paycheck stubs to offer a sense of how her health care costs have increased over the past few years. In 2009, she was paying $790 a month for healthcare coverage for her family. This year, her payment for her family’s Blue Shield plan is nearly $1,200 a month. Read more >> about Teachers struggle with rising health coverage costs

School officials outline next steps on magnet, innovative school programs

Michele Ellson
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 10:58pm

Alameda school district leaders are preparing to request a fresh round of magnet and innovative school proposals – in the spring of 2013.

Proposals that are turned in that October and later okayed by the Board of Education would be implemented in the 2015-2016 school year, district officials told the board on Tuesday. They said the proposals will be on a three-year cycle until the Measure A parcel tax expires, in 2018. Read more >> about School officials outline next steps on magnet, innovative school programs

Editor's Note: Introducing the Alameda Community News Project

Michele Ellson
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 5:39am

About a month ago I ran into a friend while covering a school board meeting. When I told her I was getting ready to launch a new local news website, she laughed.

“Didn’t you learn anything from the last time?” she asked.

The question was of course intended to be humorous. But my answer is an emphatic “yes.” Over these last several months I’ve come to realize that people really do want news – and that there’s a lot of it that you’re not getting right now. Read more >> about Editor's Note: Introducing the Alameda Community News Project

The end of redevelopment

Michele Ellson
Monday, February 27, 2012 - 10:14pm
Building 500 at Alameda Point.

October 5, 2011 was to be a watershed moment in the city’s long struggle to revitalize the defunct Naval Air Station Alameda. That night city leaders signed a new deal with the Navy that would put most of the former base into the city’s hands by the end of 2012, free of the $108.5 million price tag the Navy had demanded in prior years. Read more >> about The end of redevelopment

Council to consider sales tax bump

Dave Boitano
Friday, February 24, 2012 - 3:54pm

Should the city support a half-cent sales tax increase for public safety buildings and equipment while it makes cuts in libraries, recreation and other departments?

That’s the question the Alameda City Council must answer before March 7.

City Manager John Russo on Wednesday night outlined a comprehensive plan to replace aging police cars and fire trucks and remodel an earthquake-damaged fire station with funds from a half-cent sales tax increase voters would consider at a special June election. Read more >> about Council to consider sales tax bump

School district may offer athletes pass on gym class

Michele Ellson
Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 9:56am

Mike Robles-Wong’s eldest daughter, Maya, has been a competitive rower since her days at Lincoln Middle School. While a student at Alameda High, she trained five or more days per week for most of the year.

Robles-Wong said she tried to add as many Advanced Placement classes to her schedule as possible to be competitive for college, but she couldn’t make them all fit. He’s in favor of a proposal from school district officials to allow student athletes to skip out on a year of physical education. Read more >> about School district may offer athletes pass on gym class

Mif swap deal appears less likely

Michele Ellson
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 12:52am

A proposal to swap the Mif Albright golf course to developer Ron Cowan for cash and land he owns on North Loop Road would need to earn four votes from the City Council to pass, according to a legal opinion released by the council Tuesday night. But a second of the council’s five members is now saying it’s “not likely” she will vote for the swap plan. Read more >> about Mif swap deal appears less likely