State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced Thursday that seven high-performing California middle schools have been newly designated as model middle grades schools in the 2014-15 Schools to Watch. Also, the continued progress of 15 previously designated middle schools “will...

Castaic Union School District board members voted Thursday to use cumulative voting in their next election. “We believe that we’re currently in compliance with the (California Voting Right Act), but because of the past schools’ litigation the best way to move forward is with cumulative voting,”...

Castaic Union School District officials celebrated the work of their Teacher of the Year nominee Kim Baljet, who was recognized as a countywide nominee for top educator. “The Los Angeles County Office of Education announced Friday the 16 County Teachers of the Year, who represent the best among the...

A Castaic Middle School teacher is receiving a lesson in paying it forward while recovering from a kidney transplant, grateful for the support of family members and his “second family.” The latter is how Ro Osano, 54, identifies with his co-workers at the Castaic Union School District. Osano also...

[KHTS] – The Castaic Union School District is looking at a pair of separate legal actions at a special board meeting Monday night. A lawsuit against another school district and the potential for changing the election of the governing board are two items of discussion on the agenda. The meeting...

[KHTS] – Four Santa Clarita Valley school districts were sent letters claiming their at-large election systems disenfranchised Hispanic voters, alleging a violation of the California Voting Rights Act. The letter was sent by the law firm Shenkman & Hughes, which represented two plaintiffs in...

[KHTS] – The special education preschool classroom at Castaic Middle School was vandalized in late January with fire extinguishers and food smeared on the walls. A couple of weeks ago, between Feb. 21 and 24, the same classroom was hit a second time. Lisa Bloom, spokeswoman for the Castaic Union...

[KHTS] – Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s deputies used teamwork for a court victory Friday, only this time there were backboards and middle schoolers involved. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s deputy team notched a nail-biting 41-37 overtime win at Castaic Middle School against...

[KHTS] – The face of standardized testing is changing in California, in an effort help students better prepare for higher education and careers in the 21st Century. Starting in March, the state Department of Education will launch field tests for the Smarter Balanced Assessment, computer-based tests...

Castaic and Val Verde, Zone 2 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Information Snapshot 01/27/2014-02/02/2014 Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Crime Prevention Unit   There were four Part 1 Crimes in Zone 2. There was one reported burglary at Castaic Middle School.  Suspects gained entry...