Family members of teen who died from gunshot at Deer Valley High following Jan. 31 basketball game speak, blame lack of security, police; school site security staff, principal respond; board members call for president to resign position

By Allen Payton

Accusations were lodged by members of the public against the board, district officials and the school principal of not caring, a lack of security and police at Deer Valley High School the night of the shooting that resulted in the death of 16-year-old student, Jonathan Parker, as well as calls for the resignation of the board president during an emotional, special meeting of the Antioch School Board, Wednesday night. (See the video of the meeting,  here).

The sparsely attended meeting was held in Antioch High School’s Beede Auditorium, which has a capacity of 1,500 seats, in response to the tragic incident that occurred on Friday, Jan. 31 following a basketball game between Antioch High and Deer Valley High Schools.

The one item on the meeting’s agenda was listed as Comprehensive School Safety Plans. But, what started out as a presentation of the measures currently underway for school site safety in the district, at one continuation high school and two middle schools, ended with emotional calls for the resignation of Diane Gibson-Gray from her position as board president by two other school board trustees and just flat out resignation by members of the public, complaints by Parker’s family members, and a school site safety staff member at Deer Valley High refuting claims of a lack of safety on the campus, that night.

School Site Safety Presentation Comprehensive School Safety Final Presentation 2.18.20

The presentation by school and district staff included discussion of restorative practice, building community relationships among students, teachers and staff, trauma informed training, the CARE Team and Wellness Room at Park Middle School and the Sandy Hook Promise, which “empowers students to end social isolation” of other students. Part of that will be the use of a new “Say Something” anonymous reporting system app, which will be introduced during the Say Something Week in March, according to Scott Bergerhouse, the district’s Director of Student Support Services. Students and staff will download the app to their phones so they can anonymously report something they see on social media.

“Within two minutes Sandy Hook folks will assess the situation and contact the local police department,” he explained.

Students will be encouraged to share what they know “with a trusted adult.”

Bergerhouse also mentioned that Superintendent Stephanie Anello and Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks, who was in attendance during the meeting and spoke with residents after, “are working on grants for police presence at sporting events.”

He also stated that Measure T, the bond measure on the March 3 ballot, “will increase safety” at the schools in that part of the district if it passes.

Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, Christine Ibarra shared the comments of Deer Valley High students during a meeting she had with them.

“Students said ‘we don’t want more safety. We want more relationship and community. More building each other up instead of tearing down,’” Ibarra said.

Deer Valley High Incident More Important

But, two school board members and members of the public weren’t interested in all of that. They wanted to discuss the shooting at Deer Valley High, why and how it happened and what can be done to prevent it from occurring, again in the future.

In spite of requests by Trustee Ellie Householder to not focus on the Deer Valley High incident, but have the meeting be a more, broad discussion of school site safety, she and Trustee Cystal Sawyer-White attacked Gibson-Gray and staff, in what appeared to be efforts to pander to those in the audience.

At the regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, Householder said about holding the special meeting, “first would be just to review what our safety protocols at our schools and from a district wide perspective, board policy, board bylaws. Just overview of what our safety plan is”

“And then second point I would like to make is I really do like the idea of this kind of, because it’s not going to be a town hall because it’s going to be an official board meeting, right, but that kind of spirit and that idea to, you know we have, you know maybe three items,” she continued. “That’s reviewing the site policy, the district policy, and our policies and then having there be a, you know obviously, public comment, and then that could be a time where the public can come and tell us, you know, how they feel and what direction they think we should go in, and then from there we can, you know, kind of make, have there be an item for further discussion at a next board meeting.”

Yet, at the special meeting Householder said, “Quite frankly, I’m appalled we had to fight to have this agendized, tonight. This is a reflection on the board president. Board President Gibson-Gray failed to act. I’ll be asking for her resignation, tonight.”

Applause from the audience drowned out the rest of her comments which were about Gibson-Gray resigning as board president, not as a trustee.

“I’m concerned we’re not addressing Deer Valley High School,” Sawyer-White said. “Where’s the principal? The parents and family are here.”

“I would have appreciated a presentation on Deer Valley’s site safety,” she said later in the meeting. “The next steps would be to address that, tomorrow.”

Public Commments

Jerome Householder was the first to speak during public comments, referring to the board meeting on Feb. 12 he mentioned, “the eye rolling, the condescending behavior of the board members at last week’s meeting.”

“Where is the safety? Where is the security guard?” he asked.

The second speaker, Laneasha Lee, a mother of a student in the district and an employee at Deer Valley High said, “you guys got to do something and do something, now. You got to do your job because you’re killing our babies. Go get us some police officers during those games.”

Mary Lynn Peck then said, “there’s not safety in our schools. My daughter who teaches (at an AUSD school)…is frightened.”

“I am very dismayed,” she added, also calling for Gibson-Gray’s resignation.

One of Jonathan Parker’s aunts, Margarita Gurule was upset with the school district officials.

“He fought for 15 hours. None of you showed up to the hospital,” she said. “Why haven’t any of you called my sister? This was Jonathan’s first game he went to.”

Antioch resident, business owner and former president of the NAACP East County Branch, Joseph Adebayo spoke as a parent.

“I told my niece I could no longer pick her up because the guy that actually fired the shot was so close to my car,” he stated. “As we were driving out of Deer Valley…the cop car was driving in. It was too late. I told my niece I would no longer allow her to go to games unless there are police before and after the game.”

Another of Parker’s aunts, Aurora Solorio, asked “where was security? It took my nephew’s life. It allowed the kids to jump him and then kill him.”

“We have not yet heard from Deer Valley’s principal,” she continued. “This is not OK. You have resources out here in the audience willing to do whatever they can.”

Another family member said, “we haven’t heard from the principal. Is it because my nephew is a minority? You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

Courtney Campbell Reich, a parent of a Deer Valley High graduate said, “we wanted to hear something, we heard nothing. Six days later the PTSA Board President asked for a meeting.”

She then thanked Anello, Householder and Chief Brooks “for responding to our email.”

“We need more police, better lighting and cameras that work,” she continued, then mentioned an “assault of a school volunteer” speaking of herself, “a football game brawl and now murder.”

Emily Woodhall, a counselor at Deer Valley High said, “I’m here to fight for the needs of my students because they are grieving the loss of their friend, their innocence, their loss of safety. At Deer Valley High School there are no mental health counselors.”

Willie Mims, representing the East County Branch of the NAACP, said “you have to show compassion to this family. I think you let these people down. I didn’t hear anything about the incident.”

“You had over $1 million in site safety,” he continued. “Where was your site safety? You’re spending money in the wrong direction.”

Dave Neal, a 32-year teacher in the district said, “I have a passion for our community. That’s why I’m not retiring. We do not have a comprehensive plan for the district. We need to come together. Let’s sit down together and have a conversation.”

He then invited the board to “community circles” that were to be held the next day at the high school.

Ayesha Hall said, “I told you if you don’t address this issue, this issue will come knocking at your door. I don’t think you can relate to what they’re going through” referring to Parker’s family. “Then we’re having the meeting tonight and you’re not even talking about Deer Valley. We need resolution, right now.”

Site Safety Staff Member Responds

Bob Scudero then refuted some of the comments that there was no safety at the school on the night of the shooting.

“I’m security site safety at Deer Valley High School,” he said. “Our school and our staff are hurting. We talked to John John 10 minutes before the game was over.”

Scudero said “I wanted to set the record straight…we had four security people at the school…we had staff, we had administrators, we had people..staff members from both schools” at the school, that night.

“I’m not making any excuse. There was no excuse for such a waste of such a beautiful human life as John John. And I’m not here to defend our system,” he continued. “But, I want you to know, I want the public to know as large as that school is, and as many people from both schools that were there, there was no possible way that us could have covered the whole lot, the whole property. I believe there should have been police there. That is something that needs to be taken up with the Antioch Police Department. The police were called that night before the incident. I know that for a fact.”

He continued to speak past his three-minute time limit, with the microphone turned off, but Gibson-Gray allowed it.

Scudero spoke of how he corralled a group of students and parents into a room on the campus and told them to stay there, keep the door locked and to not “unlock this door for anyone. I have a key.”

“I ended up with 30 people and I put them in lock down,” he stated.

“I can’t imagine what you feel,” Scudero shared with the family. “But I know my loss with John John and it’s tearing me up.”

Principal Oyebade Speaks

Deer Valley High School Bukky Oyebade then spoke, directing her comments to the family.

“You’re in my heart and my prayers,” she said. “I take full responsibility. We doubled the amount of security that night. There was security, that night.”

“I apologize for his loss,” Oyebade stated. “I talked to John John every day.”

Following the meeting she told the Herald she had reached out to the family, refuting the accusations by Parker’s family members, and that she wasn’t told not to speak to them, as had been rumored.

Board Members Respond & Argue Among Themselves

“I agree with Trustee Ellie Householder and I call for your resignation, Board President Gibson-Gray,” said Sawyer-White.

Trustee Gary Hack then shared his thoughts, saying “You say we’re wrong, we’re cold hearted, we don’t care. I disagree. I’ve gone to the memorial in the parking lot and prayed. It’s a very emotional situation.”

Trustee Mary Rocha was next to share her thoughts, explaining a lack of officers on the Antioch police force as part of the reason for no police at the game, that night.

“I’m a mother, like you are,” she said. “I’ve lost a son, too. We have all thought about the police and there are police at some events. We have a heck of a lot more police, now. If you want to help us, put the pressure on.”

Rocha then read the policy of the Bay Valley Athletic League, for which her son, Antioch High Principal Louie Rocha, Jr. is President of the Board of Managers, that even visiting teams bring their administration to the games.

“With all due respect, Board Trustee Rocha, it’s not all about the police,” Sawyer-White responded. “We have a LCAP fund of $1.155 million and that’s us, the board to allocate appropriately. If we hired teachers of color and counselors…there would be more of an opportunity for the students to relate to their teachers and their administrators. I’ve been addressing that for three-and-a-half years. I’m not seeing how we’re moving forward as a board, as the staff that we hire to address the students of color.”

“We should have had blueprints up here of where the incident occurred, where are the cameras, are we installing more cameras,” she continued. “These are basic steps.”

“No excuses. I’m sorry and we have to do better,” added Householder. “That’s it. It’s really that simple.”

“This is an ongoing investigation and Superintendent Anello is working closely with the police,” said Gibson-Gray. “We want to find out who murdered Jonathan just as much as you do. And if any of the kids out there, adults, anybody hears anything, I beg you to share it with the police. Because someone is out there who needs to be caught.”

“This has not happened before,” she continued. “As someone who has to run this meeting, I have to be composed. Have I cried tears for your son, nephew, cousin at home? Yes, I have.”

But she was shouted down by members of the audience.

“Please let me speak. OK. Fine, I’m not going to speak. To the family I give you my condolences. And I am so sorry there is nothing I can do to bring him back,” Gibson-Gray concluded, then calling for a motion to adjourn the meeting, as members of the audience continued to shout.

She then asked if there was anything else could be said.

“Is there anything we can add to this meeting, because it is an on-going investigation with the police,” Gibson-Gray stated.

“I have nothing,” said Anello.

Then Gibson-Gray returned to the motion to adjourn and even it passed on a split vote with Householder and Sawyer-White voting against.

SATURDAY, 2/22/20 UPDATE – Letter from Principal Oyebade:

In a letter to parents posted on Facebook on Friday, Feb. 21, Principal Ovebade wrote the following about additional safety measures at the campus:

Dear Wolverine Families,

I am contacting you to inform you of additional safety measures that were recently received from our district. Going forward, we will now have two additional site safety team members and two more site administrators. This will assist with supervision of student activities around our campus. We have reviewed camera placement and are looking to increase the number of cameras throughout our campus. Furthermore, beginning next month, the district is launching the Say Something app for the community to be able to anonymously report information that can be routed to school personnel, law enforcement, etc. Finally, our district is in discussions with the police department on how to retain school resource officers for daily presence on campus and supervision of games. Please encourage your student to wear their id at all times. This simple action will assist us with positively identifying our students.

Thank you for your continued patience with us as we work to enhance security on the DV campus.

Bukky Oyebade Ed. D.

DVHS Principal

Antioch High School Principal Louie Rocha sent out the following message to parents of students about a possible gun incident on campus, Wednesday morning:

“Good Morning. This is Louie Rocha, Principal of Antioch High School with an important safety announcement. Earlier this morning, two students were involved in an altercation. During the altercation, a student dropped then retrieved what appeared to be a weapon. Both students fled the campus and APD is currently investigating. All students have returned to class and school has resumed its normal schedule. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.”

A call has been made to the Antioch Police Media Line for more details. Check back here, later for any updates to this report.

Monday, 2/24/20 UPDATE:

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at approximately 9:30 AM, Antioch police officers were called to the Antioch High School campus regarding a physical altercation between two juveniles. During the fight, one of the juveniles brandished a firearm. As the fight continued, the firearm was discharged and fell to the ground. One of the juveniles picked up the firearm and fled on-foot away from the campus. The other involved juvenile also fled off campus. As officers converged on the area, the juvenile who fled with the firearm was located and safely detained. The firearm used in the incident was not located. It was determined that no one was injured as a result of the firearm discharge.

During the investigation, all the involved parties were identified. The juvenile that fled with the firearm was booked into the juvenile hall in Martinez. Today, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, the other involved juvenile (who originally brandished the firearm) was safely taken into custody in the City of Brentwood and will be booked in the juvenile hall.

Currently, the investigation is still ongoing. The Antioch Police Department would like to thank the AUSD staff that contributed to a quick response and assisted with the investigation of this incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Torres at (925) 779-6925. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Luke Johnson 

Lucky number seven is the charm.

After six-straight losing seasons, the boys’ soccer team at Antioch High School reached the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

The Panthers (13-8-1) have a fierce offensive attack with four players finishing in the top eight for goals scored in the Bay Valley Athletic League.

At the top of the list is senior striker Ian Scheringer, who scored 21 goals in 17 matches — far more than anyone else in the league.

However, head coach Conrad Diaz said senior goalkeeper Melvin Morales is the real MVP. Morales is averaging 0.917 goals allowed per game this season.

Diaz said the Panthers are only getting better with the roster full of youth. There are three freshmen currently on the varsity team — one of whom Diaz gave extremely high praise.

“I think he can be the Najee Harris of soccer,” Diaz said.

Freshman midfielder Alvaro Picon only played 11 matches, but made his presence known with eight goals and 11 assists. Picon is also part of the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program — which recruits the highest caliber players around the country to train them to potentially play for the U.S. men’s national team.

The Antioch boys’ soccer program reached the peak of its success a decade ago by winning back-to-back league championships in 2009 and 2010 respectively — the only two BVAL Championships in school history. Shortly thereafter, the Panthers finished seasons with goal differentials of 17-48 (2015) and 25-89 (2016). This season Antioch has a goal differential of 50-20, so far.

The Panthers faced Division I opponents in the Bay Valley Athletic League but, will compete in the Division II bracket of the North Coast Section Playoffs. Diaz said this gives his team an advantage, because his players are battle tested.

Antioch will play at Vallejo High School (17-4-4) in the first round of the playoffs Wednesday evening. Vallejo has a goal differential of 88-29 this season.

“They scored 88 goals, but they beat a team 18-0, and they’re playing Division IV and V teams,” Diaz said.

The furthest Antioch has gone in the NCS Playoffs was the semifinal round in 1995. For Diaz, this his return to the NCS Playoffs after a 45-year hiatus. He last competed in the NCS Playoffs as a player with Mission High School (San Francisco) in 1975.

Millions of Americans could be rejected at airport security without a delay in REAL ID implementation date

Sacramento – Earlier today, Assemblymembers Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), Chair and Vice-Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, introduced AJR 28, a resolution asking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delay REAL ID implementation for domestic air travel by at least three years.

“Over 7 million Californians have a REAL ID and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) estimates that 16 million Californians will need one by October 1st of this year,” said Assemblymember Frazier.  “That means more than twice as many people need to come into a DMV field office between now and October, than in the entire previous two years combined.”

AJR 28 calls for DHS to delay REAL ID requirements for traveling on a domestic flight by at least three years, allowing for a five-year cycle for most Californians to come into the DMV when their IDs expire.

“The DMV has failed on the implementation of REAL ID,” said Assemblyman Vince Fong. “We have already seen very clearly the many problems plaguing the DMV, which have caused undue frustration to the public visiting the department.  In order to prevent bigger customer service issues, we need to give California more time for implementation in order to reduce confusion for Californians and to prevent future travel problems at our airports.”

REAL ID is not just a California problem. The American Travel Association estimates that 72% of Americans do not have a REAL ID, and that 57% of Americans are unaware they need one to fly inside the US.  The American Travel Association estimates that 78,500 Americans will get rejected by airport security on the first day of REAL ID implementation and that the U.S. economy will lose out on nearly $300 million of travel related economic spending in the first week.”

Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

In the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, Antioch police officers were called to the 3100 block of Gentrytown Drive on the report of an adult male victim who had been stabbed. When officers arrived at the scene, they contacted one 26-year-old male victim suffering from a stab wound. Police learned the victim was in a physical altercation with a known suspect who stabbed him during the fight. Afterwards, the 26-year-old male suspect fled the scene prior to responding officers’ arrival. Police administered first-aid to the victim until emergency paramedics arrived and transported him to a local area hospital. The victim was taken into surgery and is listed in critical condition.

Antioch Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigators and Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. At this time, the suspect responsible for this stabbing has not been located. Currently, the investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected.

This preliminary information is made available by the Investigations Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Bledsoe at (925) 779-6884. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Antioch Police Field Services

On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at approximately 4:26 PM, Antioch PD officers were dispatched to the report of a single vehicle collision on James Donlon Blvd. near Hummingbird Drive. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle and it’s three occupants near the intersection. An 18-year-old female (passenger) had been ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead on scene. Two adult males, ages 19 and 20, sustained major but non-life-threatening injuries and were trapped inside the vehicle. Contra Costa Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and extricated the two males. They were subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Initial indications are that excessive speed contributed to this collision.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Officer Prieto at (925) 779-6900 ext 85936 or cprieto@ci.antioch.ca.us. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Allen Payton

Making a third run for Congress to unseat incumbent Jerry McNerney, retired U.S. Marshal Antonio “Tony” Amador is doing so because he wants to get things done. He ran unsuccessfully in 2014 when he got to within 5 percent of McNerney’s vote total, the best of any Republican challenger since David Harmer in 2010, and again in 2016.

But he faces opposition in the primary in the likes of Brentwood resident and Army combat veteran William Martinek. (See related article)

The 75-year-old Amador explained why he jumped in the race after there was another Republican running.

“Martinek really didn’t have much to say, when he came to the San Joaquin County Central Committee meeting asking for an endorsement,” he shared. “He said he didn’t have any money or know the issues. They didn’t endorse him.”

“I spoke to my wife that night and the next morning after sleeping on it, and she told me I needed to get back in ‘because we need a real candidate,’” Amador stated.

“I always file later, to see who else files and what strengths they bring,” he said. “I called immediately to Matt Shupe about talking to the Contra Costa Republican Central Committee. But he wouldn’t take my calls. I knew he was Martinek’s campaign consultant and the county party chairman. He has a conflict of interest. They didn’t allow me to go over there before they made their endorsement.”

“In fact, they endorsed Martinek even before the filing closed,” Amador stated. “Even if you aren’t going to endorse me, you need to have the appearance of fairness.”

“I’m not attacking him (Martinek) personally because I’m going to need his help,” he added. “In fact, Matt’s doing a good job raising money in Contra Costa.”

Amador ended up getting the San Joaquin County Republican Party endorsement, as well as the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly.

Shupe responded, explaining the process in Contra Costa County.

“William was recruited by Central Committee members in Brentwood and Antioch and brought him to our meeting,” he said. “I had never met him, before and then I allowed William to speak. The following meeting, before the end of the filing period, we endorsed him because no other candidate had expressed an interest. We do that to give candidates all the tools they need to win.”

“I did not call, text with or advocate to any central committee members on anything about William,” Shupe stated. “When the endorsement came up at the meeting, I fully disclosed he was a client of mine and I recused myself, turned over the meeting to our vice chair and left the room.”

“Tony never reached out to us requesting an endorsement nor has he made a request to speak since he’s been declared,” he continued. “I received an email on Dec. 5, 2019 that he was upset that we endorsed in the race before the end of the filing period.”

“He waits until the last minute and doesn’t end up running a serious race,” Shupe said. “And people are tired of it.”

Amador’s professional background has been in law enforcement as well as a lifetime of public service. In addition to his seven years as a U.S. Marshal, he served as the Director for the California Youth Authority and worked for 13 years as a Los Angeles Police Officer. Amador was appointed to serve as Deputy Director of the California Employment Development Department,a member of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection, California Public Employee Retirement, and California Narcotic Addict Evaluation Boards, and the San Joaquin County Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention Commission.

About the incumbent he’s hoping to face after the primary, Amador said, “McNerney won’t debate me on the issues. In 14 years, he’s been here and turned over a spade of dirt and said he’s supporting the veterans.”

Amador opposes the Delta tunnels that will take fresh water and move it around the Delta south to Los Angeles.

“But we need storage,” he said. “We need sufficient water to prevent the saltwater. McNerney has done nothing to offer a solution to our water challenges. I don’t know of any legislation from him to provide new storage facilities.”

“He has no political power. His emphasis has been on solar and wind energy, which has proven to not pay for itself.”

Amador supports the efforts of Antioch and the Northern Waterfront Initiative in Contra Costa County for a shipping port to access the deep water Stockton channel in the river, for local employment.”

Transportation is another major issue for his campaign.

“We need the road to the Byron Airport and Tracy, Route 239 and McNerney’s done nothing to make that happen,” Amador pointed out. “He sides with the environmentalists who oppose it.”

“That airport has so much potential for job creation. We have routes going to L.A. out of Stockton. The same could happen there,” he added.

“You get me into office, I’m going to make noise about this,” said Amador. “I went out to the airport and visited.”

“We need to look further into federal transportation matching funds for East County, to create jobs and a better environment for people in the area,” Amador stated. “It will benefit the agriculture industry in East County, too.”

“Why we can’t we create good jobs in the county, where people live?” he asked.

“Another issue that needs to be discussed and addressed is the homeless,” Amador said. “We can’t expect the cities to handle the problem. First, we need to help the veterans who are homeless.”

“He’s definitely for sanctuary cities and I’m opposed to them, especially with my law enforcement background,” he stated. “McNerney hasn’t done anything to address human trafficking or sex trafficking that is affecting our area.”

“But I do want to be want to resolve the DACA issue and give them legal status, and later the opportunity to become citizens,” Amador said. “As long as they haven’t committed any crimes and have lived a good life, while here. But we can’t have open borders like McNerney wants.”

“McNerney votes along the same lines as Nancy Pelosi,” he added. “There isn’t anything independent that he’s done in 14 years.”

Amador has been married to Evelia for 54 years, they have four daughters, 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. They live in Lodi.

To learn more about Amador’s campaign visit www.amadorforcongress.net.

By Allen Payton

In response to the recent shooting death of a student at Deer Valley High School following a basketball game against Antioch High on Jan. 31, the Antioch School Board will be holding a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss comprehensive school safety plans.

According to Trustees Crystal Sawyer-White, the week following the shooting she and fellow Trustee Ellie Householder made the request for the item to be placed on the agenda, for the board’s regular meeting this past Wednesday. However that didn’t happen, and instead it was decided at the board meeting to discuss the issue during the special meeting this next Tuesday.

The public will have the opportunity to speak on the matter. The meeting will be held Antioch High School’s Beede Auditorium, 700 West 18th Street, Antioch. Or it can be viewed on the school district’s YouTube channel.