Teacher who sued CUSD resigns

Stephen J. Williams, the teacher who sparked national outrage against the Cupertino Union School District when he filed suit in federal court in November claiming his principal curtailed his First Amendment rights, resigned his position Aug. 15. Williams was not available for comment. A district spokesman declined to say more than the resignation was a confidential personnel issue.

Williams sued Patricia Vidmar, principal of Stevens Creek Elementary School, where he taught fifth grade, and other district officials two days before Thanksgiving break, alleging infringement of his freedoms of speech and religion. Vidmar had begun reviewing the teacher’s lesson plans after receiving complaints from parents that he presented history lessons in light of his own religious beliefs. By May, Judge James Ware had struck all but one claim. Both sides agreed to drop the case Aug. 11.

Two more classrooms for charter school

The Los Altos School District plans to lease two more portable classrooms to Bullis Charter School for this school year. Terms have yet to be determined.

LA Robotics seeks young robot builders

Teams of students in grades four through eight are forming for the FIRST Lego League’s fall contest, Ocean Odyssey. The league introduces boys and girls to engineering, science and math as they design and build a Lego Mindstorms robot to complete a set of tasks.

Cost is $125-$160 per student. Register online at www.LosAltosRobotics.org by Sept. 3. A parent orientation meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Covington Elementary School multipurpose room.

For more information, e-mail registrar@LosAltosRobotics.org.