Schools

The usually stoic and composed James Dent, leader and co-founder behind the Navigator School brand that won over public officials in Gilroy and Hollister, was visibly shaken Wednesday night as the County Board of Education voted 4-3 to uphold Morgan Hill Unified’s decision to deny his organization’s charter petition.

Navigator Schools will forge ahead with its goal of opening a brand new charter campus in Morgan Hill, despite a recommendation from Santa Clara County Office of Education staff to deny the organization’s second petition on appeal.

The Gilroy Unified School District will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 in district offices, located at 7810 Arroyo Circle. Here are a few items of interest on the agenda.

Schools state-wide are primed to benefit from Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $106.8 billion state budget for 2014-15, which will infuse the public education system with an extra $10 billion in funds.

Haleigh Dalke, a 17-year-old senior at GHS, is this week's "Student of the Week."

Rocketship Education has pulled its charter petition to open an elementary school within the Morgan Hill Unified School District boundaries by fall 2014.

After waives of fee hikes and subsequent protests at California’s public universities, students from middle class families could be getting tuition cuts thanks to a state-sponsored Middle Class Scholarship program that will go into effect next school year.

The Gavilan College Faculty Association and Gavilan College staff, in conjunction with the Gavilan College Educational Foundation, is organizing a gala fundraising event for Spring 2014. Titled "Sowing Seeds, Nurturing Dreams," the event will raise money to provide scholarships, food assistance and transportation assistance for students in need. It will also be an opportunity to spend an evening on the beautiful Gavilan College Gilroy campus with friends, community members and alumni, and enjoy superb local food and wines, all for a great cause.

Madison Diane Wahl, a 17-year-old senior at GECA, is this week's Student of the Week.

This year, Gilroy resident Christine Taylor took an unusual approach to Christmas.