Dear Editor,

As one of the applicants some months ago to fill the empty seat on the Antioch School Board I want to state that I agree with your Payton Perspective that Julie Young should be appointed for the current vacancy.

I have listened to Julie at the previous selection process and also at other community meetings and she has a great comprehension of what the school system needs. Also, she was one of the most knowledgeable applicants.

It is also my opinion that she would give an excellent point of view concerning the selection of the new superintendent, one that may be different from the other Board Members. And, a different point of view always makes the discussion and decision more interesting.

Julie Young would be an excellent interim selection and would only benefit the Antioch School system.

Mark Jordan

Antioch

Antioch Police Department Canine Unit. photo courtesy of APD

By Chief Allan Cantando

Please allow me to introduce your current, fully staffed Antioch Police Department canine unit. From left to right: Officer Ramirez and his partner Enzo, Officer McDonald and his partner Leroy, Officer Bledsoe and his partner Danto, Officer Harger and his partner Donna, Officer White and his partner Copper, and Officer Fachner and his partner Kane.

These phenomenal teams augment our Community Policing Bureau, with one team assigned to each patrol shift. They are trained in searching, article detection, apprehension, and narcotics. We are proud of our canine unit and hope that you are too!

By Sgt. Rick Martin #3343, Antioch Police Department

On Thursday April 7, 2016, at approx. 2:54 a.m., Antioch Police Officers responded to the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Sterling Hill Drive on a report of a solo vehicle collision. Upon arrival, Officers located a vehicle that had collided into a tree in the center median. The 26-year-old male driver from Richmond and sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates speed to be a factor in the collision. It is unknown at this time if alcohol and/or drugs were involved.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441 or Traffic Officer Eric Johnsen at 925-779-6900 ext. 84265. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

According to a Facebook post on the Antioch Unified School District’s page on Tuesday, April 5, “Deer Valley High School is the recipient of the CAPP Demonstration Partnership Extension Grant which highlights promising practice in the field of mathematics.

The grant totals $80,000.00 and will allow the school to continue sharing best practices related to a pilot mathematics program they wish to expand over the next two years. The grant will also help increase and build upon the secondary partnerships the school is building with local colleges and universities.

Deer Valley teachers Maria McClain, Carrie Hurtado, and Tammy Ely-Kofford – along with counselor Ruth Whittington have been instrumental in designing and implementing this promising program.”

Photo courtesy of AUSD.

According to a post on the Antioch Unified School District’s Facebook page on Tuesday, April 5, “Students at Marsh Elementary once again participated in the Pennies for Patients Fundraising Program organized by teacher, Michelle Reece. The program is designed to help students better understand how they can help others in the fight against Leukemia and other blood cancers.

According to Principal Crystal Berry, ‘By participating, our students have learned the importance of being caring citizens and how much of an impact they can make on others in our world. They’ve also learned the power of leadership, teamwork, philanthropy, and what doing for others truly means.’

This year alone, Marsh students exceeded their goal of raising $1,500.00! Way to go Marsh Tigers!”

By Allen Payton

The Antioch School Board has to fill another vacancy with the recent resignation of Claire Smith.

This is the second time the Board members have had to fill a board  position in less than a year. Last fall, after Barbara Cowan resigned with a little more than a year left in her term, the Board appointed Fernando Navarro to the empty seat.

During the appointment process, the person to receive the second most votes was Julie Young, who attends almost all school board meetings.

She is very knowledgeable about the issues and can hit the ground running, should she be appointed.

The Board is in the midst of searching for a new superintendent. They need a full, five-member board to help in making the decision.

If the Board goes through another appointment process to fill the current vacancy, it could take another month or two to do so, and then the new member wouldn’t be seated until a month after that. The Board is wanting to hire a new superintendent by June.

It makes sense to appoint Young at their next meeting so there will be a complete board for the hiring decision.

Antioch High School Principal Louie Rocha

The Antioch Education Association, the union representing teachers in the Antioch Unified School District, and Antioch High School principal Louie Rocha, today endorsed Antioch Mayor Wade Harper in his campaign for Contra Costa County Supervisor in District 3.

“Nothing is more important to our community than our schools.  Mayor Harper has shown a special dedication to our students, teachers and parents.  His priority is to ensure the safety and success of our students,” said Principal Louie Rocha.  “As a civic leader who has committed his time to serving our youth as a role model and mentor, I believe he is uniquely qualified, and the best candidate – the only choice – to represent us on the Board of Supervisors.  His experience as Mayor, school board member, teacher and police lieutenant makes him uniquely qualified.”

“I think teachers have one of the most important jobs that a person can have, that is, shaping the young minds of our children, ”said Harper. “I am excited and honored to have the support of the Antioch Education Association and Principal Louie Rocha.”

Harper is a former Antioch School Board trustee.  While serving on the board, he started the Healthy Community and School Climate Committee to address safety problems in the schools.

Harper currently serves as a teacher in the Leadership and Public Services Academy teaching law enforcement careers at Antioch High. Having served as a sworn officer, he is able to share his experience and training that led to his career in law enforcement.

“I was excited to have our mayor join our staff,” said Rocha,  “He is making a positive impact on our students.  I have visited his classroom and the students are engaged.”

Harper is the only directly-elected mayor in the race for District 3 Supervisor.  Harper received his MBA in Leadership from John F. Kennedy University and was honored as alumni of the year for the school of management.  Harper received his BA degree in Pastoral Studies from Patten University and was honored as student of the year. For more information about his campaign visit www.facebook.com/HarperSupervisor2016. For more information on the Antioch Education Association, visit http://antiochteachers.org.

For the month of April the Antioch Police Department is encouraging citizens to participate in the citywide, KEEP ANTIOCH BEAUTIFUL DAY clean up event April 23, 2016 from 8:30am-11:00am. This is a collaborative community effort, which involves active participation from the Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program; Volunteers in Police Service; Keep Antioch Beautiful Committee; community volunteers, and the Public Works Department.

Check in sites for the April 23, 2016 citywide cleanup are at the following locations:

Nick Rodriguez Community Center, Turner Elementary, Mission Elementary, Carmen Dragon Elementary, Park Middle School, Antioch High School and Deer Valley High School

The targeted areas are within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

For a list of locations and to sign up visit http://art4antioch.org//Keep-Antioch-Beautiful.asp or call 779-6137.

Sponsored by City of Antioch, Republic Services, Honeywell, NRG, Antioch Unified School District, Walmart, East Bay Regional Park District, Central Self Storage, Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, Pinky’s Klassy Kar Wash, Dick Straub (in Memorium), Police Crime Prevention Commission, Paradise Skate & Paintball Park and Undead Bettys Roller Derby.