By John Crowder

A self-described, “African-American Promotion Ceremony” for students moving from 8th to 9th grade who reside within the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) boundaries, held on May 29, 2015, generated tremendous controversy on local social media, both during and following the event. Many expressed surprise that such an event took place, with some calling it, “segregation.” Now, other school district programs, interventions focused on African American students, are also being questioned.

Antioch Herald staff have been researching these practices, though, and have found that events and programs targeting African American students are common throughout the state of California, they have been for some time, and are supported at all levels of public education, from the California State Board of Education (SBE) to local school boards and school districts.

Throughout the state, since the identification of a substantial gap between the learning outcomes of African American students and their peers several years ago, California’s local school districts have implemented numerous programs designed to close that gap. These programs have included: African American promotion ceremonies, school/parent organizations focused on African American students, reviews and modifications of policies related to the suspension and expulsion of African American students, training of teachers in “cultural awareness,” honor rolls for African American students, and special summer program classes for African American students.

In addition, and related to the achievement gap, the data regarding suspensions and expulsion rates indicate a vastly disproportionate number of African American students being subject to these two disciplinary measures which remove students from the classroom. Locally, this has been acknowledged repeatedly by District staff at AUSD board meetings in recent months.

In this article, we detail some of the history behind the initiatives that have been undertaken to address these matters, and relate current practices, typical of California school districts, focused on African American students.

SBE Creates African American Advisory Committee

As early as 2009, the SBE had become “alarmed” at the “achievement gap that exists between African American students and their counterparts.” On January 8 of that year, the SBE released a press statement regarding the creation of an “African American Advisory Committee.” The committee was to be composed of people, “from throughout the state who are knowledgeable about best practices and research related to improving the academic achievement of African American students.”

The need for an African American Advisory Committee was based on the results of two tests, the 2008 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program and the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), and on other statistics regarding such things as high school graduation rates. On the 2008 STAR test, only 33% of African American students in California scored at proficient or above on the English portion of the exam, and only 28% scored proficient or above on the math portion.

Other statistics showed that, in the 2006-2007 academic year, only 57.6% of African American students graduated high school. On the 2008 CAHSEE, African American students scored, “substantially lower” than other ethnic groups in both the English and math sections of the test. (Data was taken from a report provided to the California SBE by the African American Advisory Committee, and reflect statistics for the entire state.)

African American Advisory Committee Makes Recommendations

From January 12-14, 2011, the African American Advisory Committee presented their recommendations to the SBE. These recommendations included such things as:

• Revise school accountability reports to more prominently display subgroup data

• Take corrective action with, or sanction, local school districts that, “have compliance issues” relative to “disproportional rates of suspension and expulsion of African American students

• Create, “culturally responsive systems”

Local Control Funding Formula requires Local Control Accountability Plans

Programs at the local school district level that focus on specific subgroups, such as African Americans (other subgroups that are delineated include Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, English Learners, Students with Disabilities, and Foster Youth), took a major step forward when, a little over two years after the recommendations were provided by the African American Advisory Committee, the state legislature created a new methodology to pay for California schools.

In July, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), significantly changing the way California funds its schools. In an effort to obtain more transparency from local school boards while at the same time ensuring greater accountability, schools were now required to create a Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). School districts were required to create these plans with input from “parents and the community.”

LCAP plans must show how a local school district will spend funds and its goals for improving student outcomes according to priorities set by the legislature.

On the Local Control Accountability Plan Template, it states, “the LCAP must describe, for each school district and each school within the district, goals and specific actions to achieve those goals for all pupils and each subgroup of pupils identified in Education Code section 52052…for each of the state priorities and any locally identified priorities.”

According to CA Education Code 52052, “a school or school district shall demonstrate comparable improvement in academic achievement as measured by the API by all numerically significant subgroups at the school or school district, including: (A) Ethnic subgroups.”

State priorities include, “score on API,” “efforts to seek parent input in decision making,” and “promotion of parent participation in programs.”

Antioch Unified LCAP

Like many school districts in the state, AUSD has recognized an education gap with its African American students. A specific subgroup identified in AUSD’s LCAP is the African American subgroup. Additionally, one of the groups specifically identified as a “stakeholder group” in AUSD is the membership of the district-created African American Male Achievement Initiative (AAMAI).

Within the AUSD LCAP, and in accordance with state mandates, are stated “goals and specific actions” which then lead to various initiatives designed to address the identified learning gap with African American students.

Cultural celebrations, which is how many supporters of the African American Promotion Ceremony characterized it, are identified specifically in the AUSD LCAP (6/08/2015 Draft) as something the District intends to support.

Goal 2 of the AUSD LCAP says, “Antioch Unified School District will build inclusive school communities where all students, families, and members of the community feel welcome and valued.” Section 2.5d of the LCAP states, “Allocated school site funding will be used to provide activities that focus on connectedness, which includes, but is not limited to, cultural celebrations.”

Willie Mims, Education Chair for the East County NAACP, referenced this section of the LCAP document at the AUSD School Board meeting this last Wednesday, June 10, when he spoke in support of the African American Promotion Ceremony that had been the subject of the recent controversy. In a follow-up statement, Mims said, “Allocation of school site funds, cultural celebrations, promotions, holding and funding events beyond the school day to engage parents are all contained in Goal 2 of Antioch’s LCAP plan.”

African American focused programs in AUSD

Beyond the African American promotion ceremony, within its LCAP, AUSD includes several other actions/services that, according to the document, are specifically targeted toward African American males. For example, Section 3.2 of the document states, “The District will continue to support and strengthen the African American Male Achievement Initiative (AAMAI).”

Actions to be taken in order to accomplish this goal include such things as continuing to support AAMAI, expanding a “preschool program for African American males entering kindergarten,” expanding the African American Male Preparatory Academy (a program for students making the transition from middle school to high school), providing college tours and a college fair related to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, parent training and the creation of parent resource centers.

Section 3.12 lists several strategies to be implemented in order to, “reduce the number of days and occurrences of suspension especially for African American students who are disproportionately suspended and expelled.” The strategies include increasing, “the number of schools participating in Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS),” and strengthening, “restorative justice practices.”

Section 4.5 says the District will “Provide eight week summer program for students entering kindergarten,” specifically noting the African American subgroup as a target demographic. (The District emphasizes, in promotional literature for the program, that it is open to all, but also states that the curriculum is designed with the African American student in mind.)

Other School Districts Have Similar Programs

As noted above, Antioch is far from unique in the steps it is taking to see African American students achieve greater success in school. An examination of school district websites for districts in the Bay Area alone reveals that programs and strategies, similar to what AUSD has instituted, have proliferated.

For example, while Antioch has the AAMAI, in the Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) the Parental African American Achievement Collaborative Team (PAAACT) works toward similar goals. According to a brochure produced by the group, “PAAACT is an organization formed to advocate for parents and families of African American students in all grades and in every school of the district.”

Just as in Antioch, an African American Promotion Ceremony was held in Pittsburg, for students moving from 8^th to 9^th grade. While the Antioch promotion ceremony was held in a local church, and the resources used came primarily from private funds, the event in Pittsburg was clearly and visibly supported by PUSD. Their Superintendent, Dr. Janet Schulze, spoke at the event. PUSD school board member, Da’Shawn Woolridge, attended.

When asked about PUSD support for the Promotion Ceremony, Schulze said, “I was happy to attend, support and participate in the event. I thought it was a beautiful celebration and the PAACT did a great job in organizing it and the students and families were terrific.”

PUSD provided the use of the gymnasium at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, and the use of the school’s cafeteria to serve refreshments afterward. PUSD used LCAP funds in support of the event. According to Schulze, “We have funds in Goal 3 of our LCAP for supporting parent and family engagement as well as student celebrations.” Other supporters of the event included the East County NAACP and the City of Pittsburg. All students attending the event received certificates of accomplishment. Students obtaining a 3.0 or above were awarded medals, and three students who had obtained a 4.0 or better were awarded laptop computers.

PUSD, in its LCAP (approved by the PUSD Board on January 14, 2015), has language very similar to that found in the AUSD LCAP. PUSD recognizes both an achievement gap and a disproportionate number of disciplinary actions taken with African American students. The African American subgroup is specifically addressed throughout the document. Goals for this subgroup include reducing the percentage of suspensions and increasing the percentage of students meeting the UC/CSU graduation requirements. Actions include such things as providing workshops and training in “cultural competency” to staff, creation of an “equity task force,” restorative justice training, and strengthening community partnerships.

Community Groups Remain Engaged

With the implementation of LCFF and the requirement that local school districts create an LCAP with community involvement, there now exists an unprecedented opportunity for members of a community to band together and, ultimately, direct school resources toward the education of those students they represent. In Antioch, such groups regularly participate in LCAP development meetings, and lobby for funding of programs that they believe will help the students they represent succeed.

Community groups advocating for African American students are not the only ones attending these meetings, but they have been particularly effective in seeing programs, targeted toward their youth, funded and implemented. Certainly, as long as an achievement gap with African American students remains, or disciplinary measures remove African American students from classrooms at a disproportionate rate, the advocacy efforts being undertaken by these groups will continue, as will the targeted intervention programs they promote.

For more information about the AUSD LCAP and the AAMAI, visit the AUSD website, www.antioch.k12.ca.us. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the AUSD School Board is Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Meetings typically begin at 7:00 p.m., and are held at the School Services Building, 510 G Street, in Antioch.

On Friday, June 19, 2015 the Antioch Water Park will remain closed to allow for continued testing of all operations and further review by Contra Costa County Environmental Health Department. Facility safety is the primary concern for all parties.

The Antioch Water Park closed at approximately 2:30 on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in response to a chemical malfunction in one of the five pools. All guests were escorted safely from the facility and individuals needing medical attention were treated.

“Parks & Recreation Director Nancy Kaiser and her staff did a great job handling this incident,” said City Manager Steve Duran. “They were the first responders. They made decisions quickly.They removed the kids from potential danger and got the help they needed from CC Fire. When I got there, I saw no chaos or confusion. Contra Costa Fire had incident command and they, along with EMTs, CHP and Antioch PD were terrific.”

“When Chief Cantando and I arrived and were briefed by Nancy, CC Fire, etc., it was clear that everyone was communicating, working as one team and had the situation in hand,” he added.

If anyone has any questions about the Antioch Water Park they should call the Parks and Recreation Director at (925) 779-7078.

By Patrick McCarran

With the recent upswing in homes values we have realized a growth in equity as well. This leaves many owners thinking that they may be stuck in an investment property? Whether you bought it as an investment or it was an owner occupied that went past you 3 year deferment period you have options. Maybe you would prefer an investment in a different city, region or even another state? Possibly you would like to combine many properties into few or few into many? The answer is a 1031 Tax Exchanges otherwise known as a Starker Exchange. This process allows real estate owners to defer taxes on capital gains resulting from the sale of investment real estate, often a sizable sum since combined Federal and State taxes can run as high as 38 percent.

In general terms to roll their profit into another property and defer the tax and preserve equity and cash flow.

To accomplish this, sellers need to engage a Qualified 1031 Intermediary to document the sale as an exchange and to receive the funds from the sale. I cannot stress the importance of a third party for the exchange. This does not mean a title or escrow company. By definition you can not have any direct control over the funds, which is not just in your pocket but anywhere within your reach

Central to a 1031 Exchange is the interpretation of like-kind property. While the common assumption is that like-kind implies land for land or a condominium for a condominium swap, the definition of like kind has become far less literal. Today it defines like kind as meaning that both the replacement and the original property must be used as an investment. So land, condominiums, single-family homes and motels can all be exchanged for one another as long as they are used in the exchanger’s business or held as an investment.

1031 Exchanges do have specific IRS requirements and a set time frame for performing. This is why it is very important that you contact an experience agent such as myself and engage the Intermediary BEFORE you close and ideally before you place the property for sale.

There are other options for example you can opt for a Reverse Exchange where you buy the replacement property first then sell the current property. An Improvement Exchange, allows you to build investment properties from the ground up or improve existing properties.

If you want more information on 1031 Exchange or have any questions feel free to contact myself or a real estate professional you know. Make sure that he or she is familiar not only with the process but also with the specific documentation and time frame mandated by the IRS.

This article is intended to inform readers, but does not constitute any financial or legal advice.

Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor/Broker and can be reached at (925) 899-5536 or www.CallPatrick.com. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties an independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Download the PDF, here. Rivertown Block Party flyer 6-17-15 Print out or email to your family and friends! Everyone is welcome.

By Felicia D. Purcell, Bay Area Sports Reporter

Antioch Herald

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

That’s the scripture from Philippians 4:13 that Steph Curry has written on his shoes and one that’s on his Twitter page which also, in part reads: “Father, Son, Brother, Warrior and Wildcat” for all of his 2.4 million followers to see.

Curry, the 6-foot-3, 185 pound point guard for the Golden State Warriors, isn’t afraid to share his faith and he’s a young man who stayed the course in his life. He sends a signal up and giving credit to God, with his index finger in the air, after each basket he makes. When he knew he wanted to marry his wife, he prayed about it in his closet. Now he’s a World Champion and when asked during a TV interview following Tuesday night’s championship-winning game to what he gave the credit, Curry replied, “I give glory to God.”

After a dream record of 67-15 and only two losses at home during the regular season Curry is filled with his Faith along with other teammates like James McAdoo, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli.

Curry’s faith was challenged when he wasn’t heavily courted out of high school, when people said mean things to him for being the son of former NBA All-Star, Dell Curry and when his first two years were riddled with ankle injuries.

He was a lightweight, scrawny and had a horrible shot when he was younger but his faith got him through. He had supportive parents and a cool grandma who even served as his game announcer when he was a toddler playing with his Fisher-Price basketball set.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, faith is a noun that means: (1) Belief and trust in and loyalty to God or (2) Something that is believed especially with a strong conviction.

His Under Armour slogan is ‘Charged by Belief’ which isn’t surprising. Curry was raised in North Carolina part of what’s known as the Bible Belt of the south, where a church is on every corner and worship music is played on the radio, daily.

I thought of how proud I was of this young, black man as I saw him lift the Larry O’Brien trophy Tuesday night, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by the Warriors in 40-years.

As I watched him raise his MVP trophy in May, I thought about how far Curry, now 27, had come. I thought about how he kept his composure when everyone counted him out, when Monta Ellis was traded away, and how he apologized for calling me ma’am when I corrected him.

At a time when so many black men are being gunned down in the streets, Curry is a breath of fresh air. He has a beautiful wife, named Ayesha, who has her own YouTube cooking show, Little Lights Of Mine (www.ayeshacurry.com), where she whips up delicious meals, as her husband willingly awaits to taste his wife’s savory creations. They laugh, rap and dance in the clips, live in Orinda, have a beautiful daughter named Riley, who has become a star in her own right, at post-game press conferences and another baby girl on the way in July. Life couldn’t be sweeter for Steph Curry or his season more ordered or ordained.

I thought about how he’s one of the many black men who have done things in an order that the media does not portray: education, career, marriage, family.

During All-Star weekend in New York, this past February, Curry stopped a group of African-American teens and bought them all a pair of his Curry Ones. Just because.

Over the past six-years I’ve watched him patiently deal with questions meant to get under his skin and he’s kept his poise. While he didn’t come from the streets, Curry isn’t blind to the world around him and makes it his job to give back.

“That’s just the type of person he is,” said Davidson teammate Bryant Barr who was with Curry when he visited the White House, earlier this year to speak on Malaria in Africa, and who is also the godfather to Riley.

As part of its support of the Kia NBA MVP Award, Kia Motors America donated a 2016 Kia Sorento LX CUV to the East Oakland Youth Development Center, on behalf of Curry when he received MVP honors in early May.

“It’s very important to give back,” said Curry at the time who said it’s important for athletes to explore outside of their bubble and impact the life of others. “Four wheels can do a lot of good.”

As he got into the meat of his MVP speech, Curry broke down what he applies in his life and on the court: faith, passion, drive, and will.

“I wanted to use this opportunity to shed light on who I am and what drives me to play the way that I do,” he said. “I do a little sign on the court every time I make a shot or good pass, and I pound my chest and point to the sky, and that symbolizes that I have a heart for God. Something my mom and I came up with in college, and I do it every time I step on the floor as a reminder of who I’m playing for.”

Curry also took the time to thank each and every one of his 14 teammates, as well as the equipment manager and security.

He is the first player to win the MVP honor in the team’s history since they moved west. The last time was in 1960 while the Warriors were in Philadelphia and the player was someone named Wilt Chamberlain. Not bad company at all.

“People should know who I represent and why I am who I am, and that is because of my Lord and Savior,” Curry shared. “So, I can’t say that enough.”

According to a 2014 article in Decision magazine,

“In a column in 2013 for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes website, Steph wrote that he loves to point people toward ‘the Man who died for our sins on the cross. I know I have a place in Heaven waiting for me because of Him, and that’s something no earthly prize or trophy could ever top.’

Steph grew up a church kid, but points to a youth service when he was 13 as the time when he accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.

‘It was a big decision that my parents couldn’t make for me,’ he said. ‘It’s been a great walk since then. He means everything to me.’”

Another way he lives out his faith and gives back is through his Stephen Curry Foundation. His website, www.stephcurry30.com lists the charities Curry supports, including Nothing But Nets, which fights Malaria throughout the world, as well as the charity golf tournaments his foundation holds and he supports.

For all of the Charles Barkley-types who said a jump shooting team could never win a World Championship, in the words of Oscar winner Jamie Foxx in the Curry One TV commercial, “fall back.”

 By Allen Payton

A joint meeting of the Antioch City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission will be held, tonight, for public input on the Antioch General Plan, Land Use Element and Zoning Update.

The study session will include the following:

– Review the General Plan Land Use Element & Zoning Update preliminary work products

– Review and discuss the Focus Areas of the General Plan along with associated Zoning Designations and provide input on any changes that should be made

– Provide input on the General Plan and Zoning Update prior to formal consideration by the City Council on July 14, 2015.

The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, located at 213 F Street in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown.

To view the agenda, please click here.

Increased spending on education, social programs, pays down debt

Calls for two special sessions on transportation and health care financing

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., on Tuesday, announced a budget agreement with Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, consistent with prudent May Revision revenue estimates, that saves billions of dollars and pays down debt, while directing more resources to schools and low-income Californians.

Governor Brown also announced that he is calling two special sessions to fix how California funds roads, highways and other infrastructure and the state’s core health program – Medi-Cal.

“This is a sound, well thought-out budget,” said Governor Brown. “Yet, the work never ends and in the coming months we’ll have to manage our resources with the utmost prudence and find more adequate funding for our roads and health care programs.”

Budget Agreement

Highlights of the budget agreement include:

More Money for Schools: The agreement makes significant investments in schools – $14.3 billion for the K-12 system and community colleges, including $6 billion to continue to implement the Local Control Funding Formula which targets increased resources to students who face the greatest challenges.

Counteracting the Effects of Poverty: The agreement implements the first-ever California Earned Income Tax Credit ($380 million) to help the state’s poorest working families.

Paying Down Debt: The agreement pays down billions in debts, including completely paying off school deferrals ($1 billion) and debts owed to local governments since 2004 ($765 million). The agreement also completely retires $15 billion in Economic Recovery Bonds used to cover budget deficits as far back as 2002, as well as $3.8 billion in mandate debt owed to K-14 schools.

Saving for a Rainy Day: The agreement saves $1.9 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund as required by Proposition 2, bringing the balance to $3.5 billion.

The budget agreement maintains the fiscal framework of the May Revision, including the General Fund revenue forecast, overall spending levels, a $1.1 billion operating reserve, Proposition 2 debt payments and Rainy Day Fund deposits. By redirecting spending and using identified savings, including a reform of the Middle Class Scholarship program and correcting an error in the estimate for Medi-Cal, the budget agreement can afford additional spending, including:

• $40 million to expand Medi-Cal to cover all low-income undocumented children effective May 1, 2016 ($132 million when fully implemented).

• $265 million to fund 7,000 additional preschool slots and 6,800 child care slots, plus a rate increase for all providers.

• $97 million over the January budget for the California State University to expand enrollment and focus on increased success.

• $226 million on a one-time basis to restore the 7 percent reduction in service hours for In-Home Supportive Services.

• $500 million (Proposition 98) for a one-time teacher effectiveness block grant.

Special Sessions

Fixing California Roads, Highways and Other Infrastructure

Caltrans, the state’s Transportation Department, maintains 50,000 lane-miles of highway and nearly 13,000 state-owned bridges. While the repair, maintenance and efficient operation of the state’s highway system are vital to the state’s continued economic growth, current funding fails to adequately fund this necessary work. The state’s current fuel excise tax is sufficient to fund only $2.3 billion of work—leaving $5.7 billion in unfunded repairs each year.

The Governor proposes that the Legislature enact permanent and sustainable funding to maintain and repair the state’s transportation and critical infrastructure, improve the state’s key trade corridors and complement local infrastructure efforts.

Shoring Up Health Care Financing

The Governor also called a special session to address the financing of the state’s core health program – Medi-Cal. The state’s recent expansion of health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act has resulted in more than four million additional Californians receiving coverage through Medi-Cal.

Since 2005, the state has levied a tax on Medi-Cal managed care plans. The revenues are matched by the federal government and used to both increase payments to Medi-Cal providers and offset health care costs that would otherwise be paid from the General Fund. This funding mechanism has helped the state pay for the increased number of Californians receiving coverage under federal health care reform.

The state’s current managed care organization (MCO) tax structure fails to comply with new federal requirements that such a tax be broad-based and not limited narrowly to Medi-Cal plans. The current structure, which expires at the end of fiscal year 2015-16, generates $1.1 billion. The Governor’s January budget proposed a modified MCO tax that would be levied on a per-enrollee basis and cover most health care plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care.

In the special session, the Governor proposes that the Legislature enact permanent and sustainable funding to provide at least $1.1 billion annually to stabilize the state’s General Fund costs for Medi-Cal, sufficient funding to continue the restoration of the 7 percent of In-Home Supportive Services hours and funding for additional rate increases for providers of Medi-Cal and developmental disability services. The funding could come from the proposed MCO tax and/or alternative sources and is necessary to prevent over $1 billion in program cuts next year.

Full text of the special session proclamations on infrastructure and health care financing are available here and here.

On Monday, June 15, 2015, Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) made the following statement regarding the Legislature’s approval of the 2015-16 Budget:

“After months of hard work and collaboration between the Legislature and the Governor, I am pleased to see the 2015-16 Budget reflect California’s commitment to fiscal prudence and responsibility.

As Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I will continue to work diligently towards an innovative and comprehensive plan to address our state’s most critical transportation needs. Looking into the 2015-16 year, my top legislative priority will focus on building a rational, long-term transportation funding solution that will invest in California and put our state back in business.”

To contact Assemblymember Jim Frazier please visit his website or call his District Offices at 707-399-3011 or 925-513-0411.

Follow Assemblyman Jim Frazier on Facebook and “Like” him for updates on events and happenings in the 11th AD.