Claire Smith

By Nick Goodrich

A surprising announcement came during the Antioch Unified School District’s Board meeting on Wednesday night, March 23^rd. Longtime board member Claire Smith announced at the beginning of the meeting that this would be her last, as a member of the Board.

Smith informed those in attendance that she would be moving to join family in Southern California, and therefore would resign as a member of the Board, effective after the meeting. She stated that, as the Board is currently experiencing a time of transition due to a Superintendent vacancy and the recent appointment of new member Fernando Navarro, she had kept her intentions under wraps in order to avoid shaking things up even more.

Smith has served a total of 21 years on the School Board, making her the longest continuous office holder in the history of Antioch, according to fellow board member Walter Ruehlig. She has been known for making tough decisions and presenting a strong face throughout her tenure, all while keeping the well-being of the School District’s children foremost in her decision-making, he shared.

An outpouring of support for Smith came from her fellow Board Members, Board staff, and those in attendance following her announcement, capped by a standing ovation. Ruehlig summed up her service on the board, by stating “She didn’t always make the easy choice, but she always made the right one.”

The Board will now begin the process of searching for Smith’s replacement, electing later in the meeting to go through the appointment process rather than a vote, which would cost the District several thousand extra dollars.

Smith is the second Antioch School Board member to resign in the past year. Barbara Cowan resigned 0n September 23rd, stating she would be moving to Oregon. Navarro is her replacement. In addition, Don Gill announced his resignation as Superintendent, effective this June, the same night. He was later placed on what has amounted to as paid, administrative leave. The Board hired a search firm, earlier this month, to help with his replacement.

Smith’s seat is up for election in November. So anyone appointed would serve about six or seven months on the board.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

SALT LAKE CITY, March 21, 2016 – Edgar Deguzman of Antioch has received the Financial Support Fund Scholarship from Western Governors University (WGU). As a nonprofit, online university that is committed to making higher education more affordable and accessible for everyone, WGU typically awards scholarships based on the applicant’s academic record, readiness for online study, financial need, and other considerations.

In 2015, WGU awarded:

* More than 2,300 scholarships.

* More than $3 million in need-based scholarships.

* 73 different scholarships for current and aspiring nurses, teachers, information technology, and business professionals.

These scholarships help further offset the already-low tuition of about $3,000 per six-month term for most WGU programs, a flat rate that covers all the courses a student is able to complete. Tuition has not increased since 2008.

About WGU

Now with more than 67,000 students nationwide, WGU was established in 1997 by a bipartisan group of U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education. The nation’s first competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House as what works in post-secondary education. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times.

WGU has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

Follow WGU:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wgu.edu

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wgu

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/WesternGovernorsUniv

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University announced that Mikah Erin Nunley of Antioch has made the President’s Honor Roll for the 2015 Fall semester.

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes students who stand above the rest with excellent academic performance. To be eligible for the honor roll, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

The data displayed in the President’s Honor Roll may be affected by students who restrict the release of some or all information about themselves.

For more information on WSU, visit https://wsu.edu.

Sutter Elementary School student art on display at Antioch’s Lynn House Gallery through this Saturday, March 19, 2016.

Students from Antioch’s Sutter Elementary are showcasing their original artwork at the Lynn House Gallery through this Saturday, March 19th, on Wednesday and Saturday, from 1-4 PM. The showcase is open to the public at no cost.

Lone Tree Elementary and Mno Grant Elementary will showcase their art from April 6-23 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 1-4 PM.

The Arts4Schools Program is sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, the City of Antioch and a Cal Pine and Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund Grant from Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover. In addition to sponsoring the gallery exhibit, the grant  provides $500 to each participating school to be used for art and cultural supplies and educational endeavors.

For more information about each exhibit call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org. The Lynn House Gallery is located in the Rivertown District at 809 W. 1st Street, Antioch (across from the AMTRAK Train Station) and is open from 1 – 4 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays during exhibits and admission is free.

Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch will host a National Agriculture Day event on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 with the theme, “Stewards of a Healthy Planet.”. This will mark the 43rd anniversary of National Ag Day, which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country.

The event, to take place at the school’s Edible Garden located on campus, will include:

·      The Garden Club – Lucas Chilcote, Founder of the Garden Club and Senior at Dozier-Libbey will provide information about the club, their Edible Garden and the future of the club for 2017.

·      Bounty from the Box: The CSA Cookbook is your guide to enjoying more than 90 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs commonly grown by community-supported agriculture (CSA) farms across America. With more than 350 delicious, healthful recipes, you’ll never wonder what to do with your weekly subscription box again. Whether you’re a CSA subscriber, a farmers market shopper, a gardener, or simply a home cook, you’ll truly enjoy—and constantly use—this remarkable book. Eating is truly a social act. Far more than just a cookbook, Bounty also showcases CSA farms across America and the incredible ways they are feeding—literally and figuratively—their communities with exciting outreach programs, informative classes, dining events, food donation, land conservation efforts, and diverse employment opportunities.

The launch of a fundraising campaign selling Bounty from the Box with 35% proceeds of sales going towards the Garden Club. www.bountyfromthebox.com

·      Farmigo re-launch of Dozier-Libbey Farm to School Marketplace – Sample locally grown fruits, vegetables, cheeses, breads, etc..

Farmigo is on a mission to create a food system that’s better for everyone, from farmers to eaters. We believe that many of us are ready for an alternative way to shop, cook, and break bread with our families and friends. We’ve created a movement, founded on groups of neighbors ordering individually and picking up together, as a community. It’s made farm-to-neighborhood a viable option, where fresh food is more accessible than ever before, nothing goes to waste, and we support small farmers and foodmakers. www.farmigo.com

The Dozier-Libbey event marks a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate. National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society. Visit www.agday.org for more information on National Ag Day in 2016.