By Walter Ruehlig

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School had a recognition bash December 9th that filled a good part of the gymnasium. State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson, introduced by AUSD School Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, was the keynote speaker.

State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla presented a certificate from the California Legislature honoring the achievement of DLMHS as a California Distinguished School. Dozier-Libbey was also recongnized for being one of a handful of California schools recognized by Connect Ed as a certified Linked Pathways institution.

Principal Nancy Castro and Antioch Superintendent Don Gill beamed at the recognitions and promised that the best was yet to come. They also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Executive Director of Programs and Interventions, Robin Schmitt, in putting together all the pieces of the Linked Pathways programs that has launched Antioch into the innovative forefront state-wide.

Other officials present included representatives from Congressman John Garamendi’s and State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier’s offices; City Council members Gary Agopian and and Mary Rocha; Cynthia Ruehlig, Trustee, County Board of Education; and Antioch School Board members, Diane Gibson-Gray, Vice President Claire Smith, Joy Motts and Walter Ruehlig.

All in attendance seemed wowed at the achievement of a school that is only into its’ fourth year and has held the standard for AUSD marks in attendance, API scores, successful U.C. system entrance requirement completion (A-G) and CAHSEE exit exam marks.

After the festive occasion, which included student speeches and music by the Dozier-Libbey High band, many of the attendees made their way over to Prewett Community Center where Tom Torlakson was honored for his thirty plus years of public service to Antioch. Tom has served as a City Counselor at the ripe age of age 27, a four term County Supervisor, a State Assemblyman and Senator. As the State Superintendent of Schools, Tom is the first Contra Costa official to be elected to a state-wide office.

After a stirring performance by the Antioch Music Masters, conducted by Ron Molina, and remarks by Mayor Jim Davis, City Councilwoman Mary Rocha introduced Tom by commenting on the fact that he sees the worth in, and relates to, everyone, from the Mayor to the blue collar worker.

Tom, from his side, remarked on how Antioch would always be home and that in looking out at old friends he saw his roots, like in the Kiwanis Club members present, Dave Massey, Martha Parsons and Kay Powers, a group that has worked closely with him on his annual Holiday Run that is closing in on four decades in the running.

For the third year, the City of Antioch and the Antioch Unified School District are partnering to present the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and scholarship program.

The scholarship is open to middle and high school students who reside in the Antioch Unified School District boundaries. The application deadline is January 4th, 2012. Submissions may be written or visual. Visual work must be submitted on a DVD or CD to be considered.

Applications and submissions must be received by January 4th, 2012 at 4 PM and must be delivered to Antioch Unified School District office (510 G Street). The school district will be closed for the winter break from 12/17/11 to 1/2/12. Submissions submitted during this time may be placed in the door drop box.

Late submissions will not be reviewed, and all submissions become the property of the MLK Scholarship Committee and will not be returned.

Scholarships will be presented at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Celebration on January 16, 2012, which will be held at Beede Auditorium (Antioch High School, 700 West 18th Street) at 1 PM. For questions regarding the scholarship, please contact Lisa Harper at 437-4240. Information and application can be downloaded at http://art4antioch.org/MLKScholarship.asp.

Board considering June 2012 bond measure to upgrade Antioch High

By Amy Claire

Because of financial difficulties at the state and county levels, the Antioch Unified School District is likely to receive less funding than anticipated this year and in the coming years. An expected $4 billion increase in the state education budget has not materialized, which may lead to significant cuts to public schools.

State schools have only been fully funded five times in the past twenty-one years, and California remains well behind the national average in state educational spending per student, according to Associate Superintendent of Business and Operations Tim Forrester. So far, the AUSD has been able to handle the changes.

“We’ve monitored our expenditures very well,” said Forrester at the November 16 school board meeting.

The district has infused its budget with $23 million in one-time funds, and has followed the county’s suggestion of setting aside money per average daily attendant. But the lack of funds still has the possibility of leaving the district budget with a deficit by the 2013-14 school year. Fortunately, the county will allow for adjustments to ensure that the district does not run out of money, so the general mood was hopeful at the end of Forrester’s presentation.

The board also discussed the increasingly significant need for repairs and renovations at Antioch High School. “The needs are so great,” said Superintendent Donald Gill.

To pay for the repairs, as well as other district projects, the board is considering placing a bond measure on the June 2012 ballot. Forrester said that if the board members wish to proceed, they need to begin taking further steps, such as holding a survey of public voter opinion, preparing for public hearings in February and drafting the actual resolution by March.

School Board Vice-President Claire Smith said that voters deserve to know the details of the project, including when renovations will begin, what they will cover, how long they will last and exactly how much of a tax increase will be required to pay for them. She suggested scaling back the project to encompass only repairs to Antioch High School, concerned that it might not be the appropriate time to ask taxpayers for additional money.

Board Member Walter Ruehlig mentioned that the repairs will be unavoidable eventually, but suggested more evaluation to gauge public opinion before proceeding with the bond election.

Board President Diane Gibson-Gray agreed with Smith that the project should focus on Antioch High School, and said the cost of taking an official voter poll might be better spent on educating residents about the district’s needs. She also asserted that her role as an elected official was to give the constituents a chance to vote. Forrester will continue investigating the bond measure, and the board decided to discuss the resolution after more information had been gathered.

Only one person addressed the board during the designated time for speakers from the community. A man stated that his grandson, a freshman at Deer Valley High School, had been beaten by older students a week ago. He said that the district’s response left him with the impression that the board does not take bullying seriously. A board member said that someone from the district would contact him to address his concerns.

The meeting began with a flag salute led by the boy scouts who had attended the meeting to earn badges. The board also heard updates from student representatives of Bidwell High School and Deer Valley High School, who reported good news in both academics and social activities at their schools.

The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., December 14 at 510 G. Street in Antioch.

Antioch Chamber and the Antioch School District is co-hosting a FREE work study session to discuss the Linked Learning Pathway initiative and involvement of local businesses and community members on Tuesday November 15, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This is a Free Event and Lunch is Provided.

Staff from the District will provide an overview and answer questions regarding the Linked Learning Initiative. We will also participate in an activity that will gather and identify expectations that we have for our students in Antioch. The Linked Learning initiative refers to this expectation as pathway outcomes or a “graduate profile.”

This exciting event will provide a focused opportunity to discuss and develop a set of outcomes for our students in Antioch. This process will provide valuable input into the Districts efforts.

We still have about 8 spots available before we close registration – so if you are interested in attending and having your business represented, please RSVP as registration is first come, first serve.

Event Location will be provided to registered attendees only.

Antioch Chamber of Commerce
antiochchamberchair@gmail.com
925-757-1800

College sophomore Ronimar Jessicacris “Jessica” Panugaling is all too familiar with increasing tuition fees, which are making her dream of becoming a nurse very costly. So when she received a $1,000 scholarship from Sutter Health, Jessica was very thankful for the support to achieve her goal.

“Every year I am faced with having to come up with extra money for tuition or books, so it can be pretty stressful” says Jessica. “The Sutter Health scholarship will help me tremendously, and I am so grateful that Sutter Health is investing in our future.”

A long-time Antioch resident, Jessica is one of 11 students to receive a Sutter scholarship in the Sutter Health East Bay Region. All scholarship recipients have parents or grandparents employed by our Sutter Health affiliates.

“My mother, Teresa-Maria, has worked in the Dietary Department for Sutter Delta Medical Center for the past nine years,” says Jessica. “Through the years, I’ve realized how critical her job is to making sure patients receive a healthy meal, so they can get better and back on their feet.”

Exposed to the health care industry at an early age, Jessica decided she wanted to pursue a nursing career.
“I feel a calling to help people,” adds Jessica. “Over this past summer, I achieved my certified nursing assistant certificate. So I am really excited to keep reaching my goal and grateful to Sutter Health for helping me do so.”

Since its inception in 2003, the Van R. Johnson Sutter Scholars Program has awarded more than 3,700 scholarships totaling over $5.5 million to Northern California students. Named in honor of former Sutter Health CEO Van R. Johnson, the Sutter Scholars Program is a competitive opportunity available to the children and grandchildren of employees within the Sutter Health network.

“We are very proud of Jessica and wish her the best in pursuit of her career,” says CEO Gary Rapaport. “We are also pleased and proud that Sutter Health and Sutter Delta Medical Center are able to offer this support for our employees and their families.”

An inspiring twist on a school fundraiser actually gives back to the community too!

What if you could have your beautiful Christmas Tree and make a local needy family’s holiday more bright too? Well, the Parent Network at Antioch Charter Academy II (ACAII) has morphed their Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Fundraiser into just that idea for a service project.

ACAII is asking Christmas Tree purchasers to pre-order a tree not only for their own homes, but also to donate a Christmas Tree to a needy local family whose holiday budget may not be able to include one this year.

Needy local families are identified through Contra Costa Human Services. Donated trees are personally delivered, (lights, tinsel & decorations included), to these families by ACAII Christmas Tree Volunteers the weekend of December 3rd & 4th – directly from ACAII’s Christmas Tree lot located at 3325 Hacienda Way in Antioch. Christmas Tree pricing starts at just $25 for a 3-4ft Noble Fir and there are 4 types of trees and many sizes to choose from.

“I’ve done a lot of research on Christmas Tree pricing recently,” announced Tamara Mays-ACAII Fundraising Chair, “and our pre-sale prices are definitely less than the local for-profit lots!”

The fundraiser/service project is taking Christmas Tree pre-orders from October 17th-November 17th, with ACAII’s Christmas Tree Volunteers planning to work booths at a local holiday boutique on November 12th, and several area flea markets on the weekends. ACAII Christmas Tree Volunteers are available to give presentations at local churches, businesses and service organizations regarding this project.

Contact Tamara Mays for information, 925.727.7348.

ACAII is a progressive, tuition-free public K-8 charter school designed specifically to produce lifelong learners by nurturing and guiding them in a natural learning environment. We are operated by The Learner-Centered School, Inc., a non-profit, public benefit corporation, so Christmas Tree donations are tax-exempt.

By Amy Claire

At the October 12 meeting of the Antioch School Board, two concerned parents raised separate concerns about their children’s first grade teacher at Jack London Elementary School. The teacher, Mrs. Riley, worries both parents with her “closed-door” policy that prevents parents from visiting and observing the class.

One mother stated that her daughter came home from school one day and asked if she was stupid, because Riley had compared the students to her own son. Another parent was alarmed when her child was allowed to sit outside the room, unattended, for the last thirty minutes of school when he didn’t want to talk to Riley about having an accident. Both parents requested that the board address these issues and look into the policies governing the classroom.

Another attendee at the meeting, Willie Mims, agreed that the parents’ worries should be addressed. He also brought up his own concerns about the district, including the high dropout rate among African-American students and the racial diversity imbalance between student populations and teacher populations. He also commented on the need to let parents know about the existence of 504 plans for their children, and on a board resolution regarding staffing, though the board’s response seemed to address the issue to his satisfaction.

The board also listened to presentations from teachers regarding two new linked learning pathways at Antioch High School. These specialized programs within the larger school allow students to focus their education, and have led to increased graduation rates. Rick Barton presented information about the Environmental Science Academy, which will focus on issues such as climate change and allow students to work on long-term, multi-year projects. He championed applied science as a way to help students see the relevance of what they learn.

Sean O’Neil described the school’s new Media and Technology Academy as another step toward relevance. As the business world becomes increasingly digital, the academy will provide “a place to demonstrate learning through twenty-first century means.” Students will also have the opportunity to earn industry certifications, which can help them find jobs. The academies are expected to give students a sense of purpose and excitement in school, while simultaneously jump-starting them in their fields of interest.

The next school board meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 26 at 510 G Street, Antioch at 7:00 pm.

Pictured from left to right at the Concord Hilton 2011 Teacher of the Year awards dinner are AUSD Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig, Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill, Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, Antioch Teacher of the Year Tom Gravert and his wife Gina Lombardi-Gravert. The dinner was sponsored by the Contra Costa County Board of Education and emceed by County Superintendent Dr. Joe Ovick.
(Photo courtesy of Tim Forrester.)