Congratulating the 2012 Antioch Classified Employee of the Year at the awards ceremony held in the Prospects High Atrium May 22nd are, left to right, Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig, Personnel Commissioner Darice Ingram, Commissioner Diane Ahlborn, Director of Classified Human Resources-Personnel Commission Linda Sifford, Employee of the Year, Fremont Elementary School Head Custodian Jesse Wilkerson, Runner-up Employee of the Year Marilyn Lanfri, Board Trustee Joy Motts, Personnel Commission Chairperson Toy Carli, and A.U.S.D. Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill. (photo courtesy of Tim Forrester).

By Dolly Ogawa-Amsk

The Antioch Unified School District and the Bond Issue C Oversight Committee held a joint Special Meeting at Antioch High School for a tour of the facilities so that board members, interested public and the Committee could see the improvements achieved by the funds from initiative C, which passed four years ago. It was important to show what improvements are still needed to bring the facility up to the current modern standards because of the proposed Bond Issue J on the June ballot.

Antioch High School was built in 1954 and has really needed improvements and repairs to help the students, and faculty as they move the high school programs toward current standards. The newest improvements will improve the link learning that connects students to career pathways. The architectural and engineering department has changed what was almost a print warehouse into a positive learning space. The old industrial building has new life and the plastics shop and the warehouse are history. The improved art department features a ceramic studio and working space that is attractive and practical. The old electronics lab with its outdated equipment is gone. Some of the equipment was so old that it could only be salvaged for the metal.

Problems still remain. The swimming pool built in the 50’s is not suitable for meets or any competitions. It was the community pool for years where citizens learned to swim. It is still used by the school for basic swimming and diving but it is not suitable for any competition. The North Coast Section and CIF (California Inter-Scholastic Federation) will not allow competitions, because the pool is measured in yards, and meets are now measured in meters. Also it is only 3’ deep at the shallow end which makes it impossible for water polo. It is not being used right now because it is being repaired for leaks. The pool needs to be replaced so that Antioch can host other teams.

There is a similar problem with the track and field teams. Once around the track is 440 yards. The standard is 400 meters. The other problem is that it is a dirt track and the standard high school tracks are rubberized. This is because the old dirt track can cause athletes shin splints. Until Antioch has the correct dimensions and a rubberized track, they don’t meet the spesifications, so they can’t host teams and events.

“It’s time for people to step up and support…” Principal Louie Rocha said, “Time to make an investment for our children.” Rocha is an alumnus of Antioch High School, and so are his children. He believes that there are many alumni living in Antioch who will support the move forward to the 21^st Century by supporting Measure J in June.

Young Artist Competition winners - (Top row from left to right) Luigi Galvan, Cole Preciado, Griffin Holt and Ryan Chiang (bottom row) Emily Yen and Natassya Irpan

On Saturday, April 21st, six pianists who participated in the Young Artist Competition performed in recital at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. Four of them are from Antioch and won either first or second place, or honorable mention.

Out of sixteen competitors, these young musicians were chosen as winners in the following categories:

1) Students through grade eight: Cole Preciado, 1st place; Emily Yen from Dallas Ranch Middle School, 2nd place; and Griffin Holt, Honorable Mention.

2) High school students: Luigi Galvan from Antioch High, 1st place; Ryan Chiang from Deer Valley High, 2nd place, and Natassya Irpan also from Deer Valley High, Honorable Mention.

These pianists represent the piano studios of teachers Grace Edwards, Barbara Schnieder, Sara Harris, Maureen Honegger, and Kathleen Flemming. The competition was sponsored by the Delta branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of California.

Congratulations to these fine musicians!

By Lt. John VanderKlugt, Field Services Bureau Commander, Antioch Police Department

On Thursday, March 29, 2012 at approximately 2:40 pm the Antioch Police Department was dispatched to Deer Valley High School, located at 4700 Lone Tree Way, to investigate allegations that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. Preliminary information suggests that the alleged assault took place in one of the restrooms on campus. The investigation and interviews are on-going at this time. No clear suspect information has been developed.

By Walter Ruehlig

A record-breaking crowd of 206 attended the 14th annual Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 6 Delta Charter awards dinner ceremony held March 8th at Lone Tree Golf and Event Center. Represented were Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, Knightsen, Liberty, Oakley and Pittsburg School Districts.

Diablo Vista Principal Melanie Jones emceed the event which was organized by ACSA Region 6 Board of Directors President Essence Phillips, Principal at John Muir Elementary; Secretary Jan Steed and Treasurer Yolanda Mendrek, with assistance from Representatives Laura Albano, Kelly Basmagian, Debra Harrington, Roger MacDonald, Cardenas Shackleford and Jeff Varner.

Guidance was also given by Jon Searles, Region 6 Consultant and Bob Gianni, Region 6 Executive.

Paul Rataczak, teacher from Park Middle School, provided the entertainment and Becky Bloomfield donated wine for all the honorees.

Honored were Anne Allen of Oakley Elementary School District for Curriculum and Instruction; Eileen Alterman of Antioch Unified as a Confidential Employee; Pat Boss of Liberty Union as a Central Office Administrator; Dorothy Epps of Pittsburg Unified for Personnel Human Resources; Amy Farias of Antioch Unified as Continuation and Educational Options; Erik Faulkner of Liberty Union as Secondary Principal; Dr.Merrill Grant of Brentwood Union as Superintendent; Roger Macdonald of Oakley Union as Middle Grades Principal; Bev Nicolaisen of Byron Union as Confidential Employee; Enrique Palacios of Pittsburg Unified for Business Services; Essence Phillips of Antioch Unified as Elementary Principal and Phyllis Thivierge of Brentwood Union as Classified Leader.

The group did extraordinary work in extraordinarily trying times.

By Dolly Ogawa-Amsk

The Antioch Charter Academy II, was renewed after several teachers and parents spoke in favor the petition at the Antioch School Board meeting on March 14. The ACA II drew several teachers to the hearing, including: Amber Hummel, who teaches 4th, 5th & 6th grade, Marianne Dubitsky, Julie Fajean and Michelle Mankewich who teach 1st through 3rd grades, and Matt Hagan who will be teaching 8^th grade beginning next year.

This year they served 188 students but by adding 8^th grade they will be at 198. With a long waiting list, the school received strong support from parents and teachers. The school has addressed the need for other learning options with project based learning, including several grades in one classroom. Their results have enthusiastic support from the teachers and parents.

Other important items on the agenda included the budget. The news regarding the Second Interim Report of the 2011-12 showed developments since the First Interim Report. The State Triggers have been pulled; transportation Funding has been reduced and other reductions that have had an impact. The staff recommendation is that “based on the information included in the Second Interim Report, the staff is able to certify that AUSD can meet its fiduciary responsibility to maintain fiscal solvency for the current and subsequent two fiscal years.”

The district is on a very tight budget and there are variables that could make it even harder. The staff is making tough decisions with the “current truth” while making sure that basic needs and programs are covered. The state itself has made it difficult but things could happen to make a more positive change.

Kay Power, Chairman of the Oversight Committee for Bond Measure C, said that they have met their responsibilities by “Following the bouncing ball…”

The Antioch Unified School District will have a new bond Measure proposed for the June ballot to cover needed improvements to the Antioch High School.

On February 24^th, 254 third graders, teachers and chaperones from the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) enjoyed the one hour Concert For Kids show performed by the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco.  This field trip was organized by AUSD Music Specialist Geneva Payne and sponsored by the Antioch Music Foundation through a grant from the Thomas J. Long Foundation. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Ruehlig