The James Logan Courier

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Director of Parent and Community Relations

The Board of Education on Tuesday night approved a conditional budget that includes a shorter school year, larger class sizes and reduced funding for after-school activities – and that’s a “best-case” scenario. The school year will be even shorter, class sizes even larger and after-school funding even smaller – and schools will be without librarians – if the California legislature and Gov. Brown fail to agree fairly soon on a state budget.

The 2011-12 District budget approved Tuesday night is conditional on the passage and signing of a state budget, but the governor last week vetoed the budget approved by the legislature, and there is no indication that an agreement will be reached any time soon. That leaves New Haven and every other district in California in a state of uncertainty for the 2011-12 school year.

By Jonathan Takiff
Philadelphia Daily News (MCT)

PHILADELPHIA — Jill Scott's former students — creatively awakened to "Macbeth" by her notion of singing Willie the Shake to doo-wop tunes — might not agree.

But the rest of the world owes a big thanks to the grumpy principal at Dobbins High School who so dispirited Scott as an English-teacher trainee, telling her she'd soon "get over" her idealism, that the young woman quit the gig to start working full time at even more creative endeavors.

Clearly, things have turned out well for the singer/poet/actress and community philanthropist from North Philadelphia who's become an artist of international renown with her poignant, proud and conscientious variations on "neo-soul" music. Hers is a sonic art uniquely shaped to be populist and highfalutin', demure yet feisty and sometimes even naughty by nature.

By Jan Norman
The Orange County Register (MCT)

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Most entrepreneurs start with a business idea and then perhaps later become involved in their communities or local charities.

But while Orange County, Calif., teenagers Brian Schroth and Harrison Steed were still in high school, they wanted to create a business that focused on giving back to the community.

In 2010, Steed read an article that World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, had received requests for 140,000 backpacks for needy kids in the United States but could only give 18,000 because of donation shortfalls. That story led the pair to launch GivBag LLC to create and sell a great backpack and give one away for every one that was sold.

From wikipedia:
John Milton Bernhisel (June 23, 1799 – September 28, 1881) was an American physician, politician and early member of the Latter-day Saint movement. He was a close friend and companion to both Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Bernhisel was the original delegate of the Utah Territory in the United States House of Representatives (1851–1859, 1861–1863) and acted as a member of the Council of Fifty of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Learn more about Dr. Berhnisel, the formation of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and the establishment of the state of Utah, free from the University of Utah.