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Houston ISD state-appointed board, with 5-4 vote, approves $2.1 billion budget for 2024-25 – Houston Public Media

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Mike Miles Budget Meeting

Adam Zuvanich/Houston Public Media

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles interacts with staff members during a school board meeting on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Houston ISD’s state-appointed board of directors, after hearing from more than 100 students, parents, teachers and community members who spoke out against a proposed $2.1 billion operating budget that doubles down on reforms implemented by the Superintendent Mike Miles narrowly voted to approve it late Thursday night.

In a 5-4 vote, the managers’ closest since they and Miles were appointed a year ago by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, the board signed a budget for the 2024-25 academic year that includes an expanded of the New Educational System (NES). The model includes pre-designed lesson plans, a greater emphasis on discipline and test-based performance assessments, and increased teacher pay.

Eighty-five of HISD’s 274 campuses operated under the NES model in 2023-24, and 45 more schools will come under that umbrella in the fall. Miles said there is “sufficient evidence” that his NES model improves student proficiency, citing recently released standardized test results which showed that higher percentages of HISD students met grade-level standards in his first year as superintendent. Middle, high school and elementary school students on NES campuses demonstrated greater rates of improvement, according to Miles, although lower percentages of these students met STAAR standards compared to other schools in the district.

“I think you will find that our system is the best way, the most effective way to get the results we want,” Miles said before the vote.

RELATED: Houston ISD’s STAAR scores for high school students, while improving, remain below state scores

Michelle Cruz Arnold, Cassandra Auzenne Bandy, Rolando Martinez and Adam Rivon were the councilors who voted against approving the budget, which according to state law could have been amended and resubmitted to managers at the end of this month. None expressed opposition before the vote, although Rivon said he wondered how the NES reforms would be phased out after these schools — most of which are historically low-performing campuses in low-income communities of color — improved their ratings.

Board members Janette Garza Lindner and Angela Lemond Flowers, while voting in favor of the budget, questioned Miles about whether non-NES schools would have adequate supports and whether the two groups of schools and the HISD community at large were being pitted against each other. other.

Earlier, during the sometimes contentious meeting, in which the board of trustees called two brief recesses because the public made comments while Miles spoke and division superintendent Orlando Riddick repeatedly said “scoreboard” in reference to the district’s STAAR scores, a stream of Community members criticized Miles’ leadership and urged managers to reject the budget proposal.

RELATED: Houston ISD community members express skepticism about $4.4 billion bond proposal

Duncan Klussmann, a former Houston-area superintendent who is now an assistant clinical professor at the University of Houston’s College of Education, told Houston Public Media before the meeting that the NES model was designed to improve standardized test scores. He also said it is not determined whether the system will help students achieve greater success after they graduate.

Houston ISD Budget Board MeetingRuth Hoffman-Lach speaks with Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles and the district’s board of trustees during a school board meeting on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

“I know that a large amount of money has been transferred from non-NES schools, like where my children go to NES schools,” said HISD parent Carlos Goenaga. “I’m not sure why they want to spend so much money on an unproven system like the NES. If you were there today, you would hear many parents, former teachers, and current teachers talk about all of the shortcomings of the NES. I don’t know why he would want to spend even more money on this when schools with proven track records are getting less money.”

Although NES schools in HISD are projected to have 23,000 fewer students next year than non-NES campuses, according to data released by the district, is allocating an additional $27 million to these campuses, or an additional $2,500 per student. The district administration attributed the discrepancy to higher teacher salaries and greater special education needs on NES campuses, where there are about 1,000 more special education students.

Miles said average teacher salaries districtwide will increase from $68,250 this year to $77,300 next year, with the average teacher salary on NES campuses increasing to $84,400.

Although teacher salaries will increase and HISD has budgeted more than $1.2 billion for teacher compensation, eliminated teaching positions and other staff roles in an attempt to close a $528 million funding gap. Teachers and principals were also forced to resign or terminated because of performance, triggering community protests.

RELATED: Spring Branch ISD to cut 215 positions amid $35 million budget deficit

The budget deficit is the result of declining enrollment in recent years, the end of federal pandemic relief funds and the fact that Texas lawmakers have not increased per-pupil allocation for public schools since 2019, all of which have contributed to budget deficits. in other states of Houston. districts in the area.

Among the HISD jobs that were cut are engaging campus-level experts, dedicated professionals who helped students with unmet needs such as food, clothing and health care. Instead of having comprehensive specialists in every school next year, HISD plans to save $14 million by having 48 specialists at the district level while utilizing its eight Sunrise Centers, which provide many of the same services.

Kenneth Williams, a member of the Kashmere Gardens community and founding director of the Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council, said he does not believe HISD will be able to adequately meet the needs of its most vulnerable students without campus professionals. Therefore, he urged the board of directors to keep them on staff and at the same time asked them to vote against the budget proposal, which they almost did.

“Now you’re taking some people and trying to help them solve problems across, what, 270 school campuses?” Williams said. “It’s ridiculous. It won’t work.”

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Modiv Industrial to release Q2 2024 financial results on August 6

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Business Wire

RENO, Nev., August 1, 2024–(BUSINESS THREAD)–Modiv Industrial, Inc. (“Modiv” or the “Company”) (NYSE:MDV), the only public REIT focused exclusively on the acquisition of industrial real estate properties, today announced that it will release second quarter 2024 financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 before the market opens on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Management will host a conference call the same day at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time (10:30 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the results.

Live conference call: 1-877-407-0789 or 1-201-689-8562 at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time Tuesday, August 6.

Internet broadcast: To listen to the webcast, live or archived, use this link https://callme.viavid.com/viavid/?callme=true&passcode=13740174&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6 or visit the investor relations page of the Modiv website at www.modiv.com.

About Modiv Industrial

Modiv Industrial, Inc. is an internally managed REIT focused on single-tenant net-leased industrial manufacturing real estate. The company actively acquires critical industrial manufacturing properties with long-term leases to tenants that fuel the national economy and strengthen the nation’s supply chains. For more information, visit: www.modiv.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240731628803/en/

Contacts

Investor Inquiries:
management@modiv.com

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Volta Finance Limited – Director/PDMR Shareholding

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Volta Finance Limited - Director/PDMR Shareholding

Volta Finance Limited

Volta Finance Limited

Volta Finance Limited (VTA/VTAS)

Notification of transactions by directors, persons exercising managerial functions
responsibilities and people closely associated with them

NOT FOR DISCLOSURE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN THE UNITED STATES

*****
Guernsey, 1 August 2024

Pursuant to announcements made on 5 April 2019 and 26 June 2020 relating to changes to the payment of directors’ fees, Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta”) purchased 3,380 no par value ordinary shares of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at an average price of €5.2 per share.

Each director receives 30% of his or her director’s fee for any year in the form of shares, which he or she is required to hold for a period of not less than one year from the respective date of issue.

The shares will be issued to the Directors, who for the purposes of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse (“March“) are “people who exercise managerial responsibilities” (a “PDMR“).

  • Dagmar Kershaw, Chairman and MDMR for purposes of MAR, has acquired an additional 1,040 Common Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms. Kershaw will have an interest in 12,838 Common Shares, representing 0.03% of the Company’s issued shares;

  • Stephen Le Page, a Director and a PDMR for MAR purposes, has acquired an additional 728 Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr. Le Page will have an interest in 50,562 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.14% of the issued shares of the Company;

  • Yedau Ogoundele, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR has acquired an additional 728 Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms. Ogoundele will have an interest in 6,862 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.02% of the issued shares of the Company; and

  • Joanne Peacegood, Director and PDMR for MAR purposes has acquired an additional 884 Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Ms. Peacegood will have an interest in 3,505 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.01% of the issued shares of the Company;

The notifications below, made in accordance with the requirements of the MAR, provide further details in relation to the above transactions:

a) Dagmar Kershaw
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR

b) Stephen LePage
DIRECTOR

c) Yedau Ogoundele
DIRECTOR

e) Joanne Pazgood
DIRECTOR

a. Position/status

Director

b. Initial Notification/Amendment

Initial notification

  • Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor

a name

Volta Finance Limited

b. LAW

2138004N6QDNAZ2V3W80

a. Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

Ordinary actions

b. Identification code

GG00B1GHHH78

c. Nature of the transaction

Acquisition and Allocation of Common Shares in Relation to Partial Payment of Directors’ Fees for the Quarter Ended July 31, 2024

d. Price(s)

€5.2 per share

e. Volume(s)

Total: 3380

f. Transaction date

August 1, 2024

g. Location of transaction

At the Market – London

The)
Dagmar Kershaw
President and Director

B)
Steve LePage
Director

w)
Yedau Ogoundele Director

It is)
Joanne Pazgood
Director

Aggregate Volume:
1,040

Price:
€5.2 per share

Aggregate Volume:
728

Price:
€5.2 per share

Aggregate Volume:
728

Price:
€5.2 per share

Aggregate Volume:
884

Price:
€5.2 per share

CONTACTS

For the investment manager
AXA Investment Managers Paris
Francois Touati
francois.touati@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 80 22

Olivier Pons
Olivier.pons@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30

Company Secretary and Administrator
BNP Paribas SA, Guernsey branch
guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com
+44 (0) 1481 750 853

Corporate Broker
Cavendish Securities plc
Andre Worn Out
Daniel Balabanoff
+44 (0) 20 7397 8900

*****
ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange for listed securities. Volta’s home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to the regulation and supervision of the AFM, which is the regulator of the financial markets in the Netherlands.

Volta’s investment objectives are to preserve its capital throughout the credit cycle and to provide a stable income stream to its shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute quarterly. The company currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by seeking exposure predominantly to CLOs and similar asset classes. A more diversified investment strategy in structured finance assets may be pursued opportunistically. The company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris, an investment management firm with a division specializing in structured credit, to manage the investment portfolio of all of its assets.

*****

ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-specialist asset management firm within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,700 professionals and €844 billion in assets under management at the end of December 2023.

*****

This press release is issued by AXA Investment Managers Paris (“AXA IM”) in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of Volta Finance Limited (“Volta Finance”), the portfolio of which is managed by AXA IM.

This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to purchase shares of Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in violation of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer to sell the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such an offering would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any part of the offering of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

*****

This communication is being distributed to, and is directed only at, (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be made only to, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act on or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

*****
This press release contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “is/are expected”, “may”, “will” or “should”. They include statements about the level of the dividend, the current market environment and its impact on the long-term return on Volta Finance’s investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results, portfolio composition and performance of Volta Finance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.

Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events that may not materialize. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, targets are not intended to be and should not be considered to be profits or earnings or any other type of forecast. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

Figures provided which relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be considered as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of Volta Finance’s investment methodologies and philosophies as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM’s belief in the future success of any such trade or strategy is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.

The valuation of financial assets may vary significantly from the prices that AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on Volta Finance’s behalf due to market conditions and the general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be relied upon as such.

Publisher: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, with registered office at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide – 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by Autorité des Marchés Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.

*****

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Apple to report third-quarter earnings as Wall Street eyes China sales

Digital Finance News Staff

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Apple to report third-quarter earnings as Wall Street eyes China sales

Litter (AAPL) is set to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday, and unlike the rest of its tech peers, the main story won’t be about the rise of AI.

Instead, analysts and investors will be keeping a close eye on iPhone sales in China and whether Apple has managed to stem the tide of users switching to domestic rivals including Huawei.

For the quarter, analysts expect Apple to report earnings per share (EPS) of $1.35 on revenue of $84.4 billion, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Apple saw EPS of $1.26 on revenue of $81.7 billion in the same period last year.

Apple shares are up about 18.6% year to date despite a rocky start to the year, thanks in part to the impact of the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in May, where showed off its Apple Intelligence software.

But the big question on investors’ minds is whether iPhone sales have risen or fallen in China. Apple has struggled with slowing phone sales in the region, with the company noting an 8% decline in sales in the second quarter as local rivals including Huawei and Xiaomi gain market share.

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks at the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2024 in Cupertino, California. Apple will announce plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into Apple software and hardware. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks at the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)

And while some analysts, such as JPMorgan’s Samik Chatterjee, believe sales in Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, rose in the third quarter, others, including David Vogt of UBS Global Research, say sales likely fell about 6%.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg say Apple will report revenue of $15.2 billion in Greater China, down 3.1% from the same quarter last year, when Apple reported revenue of $15.7 billion in China. Overall iPhone sales are expected to reach $38.9 billion, down 1.8% year over year from the $39.6 billion Apple saw in the third quarter of 2023.

But Apple is expected to make up for those declines in other areas, including Services and iPad sales. Services revenue is expected to reach $23.9 billion in the quarter, up from $21.2 billion in the third quarter of 2023, while iPad sales are expected to reach $6.6 billion, up from the $5.7 billion the segment brought in in the same period last year. Those iPad sales projections come after Apple launched its latest iPad models this year, including a new iPad Pro lineup powered by the company’s M4 chip.

Mac revenue is also expected to grow modestly in the quarter, versus a 7.3% decline last year. Sales of wearables, which include the Apple Watch and AirPods, however, are expected to decline 5.9% year over year.

In addition to Apple’s revenue numbers, analysts and investors will be listening closely for any commentary on the company’s software launches. Apple Intelligence beta for developers earlier this week.

The story continues

The software, which is powered by Apple’s generative AI technology, is expected to arrive on iPhones, iPads and Macs later this fall, though according to Bloomberg’s Marc GurmanIt won’t arrive alongside the new iPhone in September. Instead, it’s expected to arrive on Apple devices sometime in October.

Analysts are divided on the potential impact of Apple Intelligence on iPhone sales next year, with some saying the software will kick off a new iPhone sales supercycle and others offering more pessimistic expectations about the technology’s effect on Apple’s profits.

It’s important to note that Apple Intelligence is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and newer phones, ensuring that all users desperate to get their hands on the tech will have to upgrade to a newer, more powerful phone as soon as it is available.

Either way, if Apple wants to make Apple Intelligence a success, it will need to ensure it has the features that will make customers excited to take advantage of the offering.

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Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.

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Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hits highest level in a year

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Number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hits highest level in a year

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hit its highest level in a year last week, even as the job market remains surprisingly healthy in an era of high interest rates.

Jobless claims for the week ending July 27 rose 14,000 to 249,000 from 235,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. It’s the highest number since the first week of August last year and the 10th straight week that claims have been above 220,000. Before that period, claims had remained below that level in all but three weeks this year.

Weekly jobless claims are widely considered representative of layoffs, and while they have been slightly higher in recent months, they remain at historically healthy levels.

Strong consumer demand and a resilient labor market helped avert a recession that many economists predicted during the Federal Reserve’s prolonged wave of rate hikes that began in March 2022.

As inflation continues to declinethe Fed’s goal of a soft landing — reducing inflation without causing a recession and mass layoffs — appears to be within reach.

On Wednesday, the Fed left your reference rate aloneBut officials have strongly suggested a cut could come in September if the data stays on its recent trajectory. And recent labor market data suggests some weakening.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in June, despite the fact that American employers added 206,000 jobs. U.S. job openings also fell slightly last month. Add that to the rise in layoffs, and the Fed could be poised to cut interest rates next month, as most analysts expect.

The four-week average of claims, which smooths out some of the weekly ups and downs, rose by 2,500 to 238,000.

The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits in the week of July 20 jumped by 33,000 to 1.88 million. The four-week average for continuing claims rose to 1,857,000, the highest since December 2021.

Continuing claims have been rising in recent months, suggesting that some Americans receiving unemployment benefits are finding it harder to get jobs.

There have been job cuts across a range of sectors this year, from agricultural manufacturing Deerefor media such as CNNIt is in another place.

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