By Corporal Powell Meads, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On January 6th, 2016 at approximately 8:43 a.m., Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to Tobin World, located at 2310 Country Hills Drive in Antioch, for a child abuse report. School administration reported that a Teacher’s Aide had assaulted a student, on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 and that video of the assault had surfaced on the internet. Arriving Officers contacted and interviewed school staff members, other student witnesses, and the victim, a 9-year-old resident of Oakland.

The victim did not have any visible injuries or complaints of pain.

After conducting interviews and reviewing the cell phone recording of the incident, Officers determined that a felony child abuse had occurred.

The Teacher’s Aide was identified as Kamaljot Kaur, a 26 year old Antioch resident. Kaur was contacted at her residence in Antioch and was taken into custody. There is no picture available at this time.

Anyone who may have witnessed this assault is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778- 2441.

To see the video posted on the Bay Area KRON-TV Channel 4 news website, click here.

By Allen Payton

Research by Barbara Zivica, a regular, contributing columnist for the Herald, revealed that on August 17, 2015, following an investigation by the California Medical Board that began in 2010 and a prosecution by the California Attorney General’s office, Contra Costa County School Board Trustee Jeff Belle admitted he “is not now, nor has ever been, licensed by the Respiratory Care Board of California” and agreed to pay a fine of $8,200 in a settlement.

According to the Stipulated Citation and Order, before the Respiratory Care Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California, Belle violated “Business and Professions Code section 3760, subdivisions (a) and (c) and 3761, subdivision (a), by misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care without a current and valid license in California.”

Those sections state “no person shall represent himself or herself to be a respiratory care practitioner…or use the abbreviation or letters ‘R.C.P.’…without a current and valid license issued under this chapter” and “granted under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.” The maximum penalty for doing so is $15,000.

According to the Cause for Citation, Belle applied for a license as a respiratory care practitioner in California on December 24, 2010 and completed the “Board’s Statement of Understanding acknowledging he understood the following:

‘During the application period, the applicant shall be identified as a ‘Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant’ and may only practice with a valid work permit while under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.’

‘No person who has not been licensed by the Board shall engage in the practice of respiratory care despite holding a CRT or RRT credential.’

‘No person shall engage in the practice of respiratory care or represent him/herself as such through verbal claim, sign advertisement, letterhead, business care, badge/name tag, or representation unless he or she holds a valid license issued by the Board.’”

Yet, the Citation further states that “Jeffery Johura Belle was and is not licensed to practice respiratory care in the State of California nor was ever issued a work permit. On May 23, 2015, Subject’s (Belle’s) application for licensure was deemed abandoned as he failed to complete the application process.”

The investigation conducted by the California Medical Board, whose findings were forwarded to the state Respiratory Care Board, found that Belle “was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the business, Respiratory Clinical Institute (RCI), which provided tutorial and clinical rotation services to students who were completing their respiratory care studies using an online program. On March 2, 2012, the Subject appeared for an interview with the Medical Board investigator wearing a white lab coat, a name badge and a stethoscope. During the interview, the Subject introduces himself as Jeffery Belle, Respiratory Care Practitioner. On the lab coat was an embroidered patch and name badge that identified the Subject as ‘RCP.’ Subject also provided advertising and contractual/student materials to the investigator. Within the signature block of the Tutorial Agreement between RCI and the Student, the Subject is identified as an ‘RCP.’

During the interview, the Medical Board investigator informed Belle that “he was illegally representing himself as a respiratory care practitioner and again educated the Subject with the laws that govern the practice of respiratory care in the State of California.”

Belle then “signed an affidavit on March 30, 2012, stating he would no longer represent himself as a respiratory care practitioner in California.”

As part of his settlement with the state, Belle was ordered to “immediately cease and desist any and all unlicensed activities pursuant to the Respiratory Care Practice Act” and to “pay civil penalties in the amount of $8,200…to the Board” for “misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care in California without a valid license.”

He is to make payments of $136.66 per month for five years from the date of the decision and if Belle “fails to make a monthly payment, the remaining amount of costs shall be immediately due and payable,” that the “filing of bankruptcy…shall not relieve (him) of his responsibility to reimburse the Board” and “the Board will collect cost recovery from the Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, or by any other means of attachment of earned wages legally available to the Board.”

In spite of the citation and order, and Belle signing the affidavit in 2012, as of January 6, 2016, on his LinkedIn account it states the following:

President/Senior Lecturer

Respiratory Clinical Institutes

January 2008 – April 2011 (3 years 4 months)Sacramento, Contra Costa County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland

Company founder and leader in training respiratory care students through clinical rotations, clinical coordination and partnerships. Established and Trained over 100 students at 10 clinical sites. Attained a student passage rate on National Board Exams of 93 percentile. The Gold Standard in Clinical Education!

Respiratory Care Specialist ( RRT)

Registered Lobbyist and Contract Practitioner

January 1999 – 2008 (9 years)CA, WA, OR, AR, TX, AZ, OK, NM,VI

Served as contract therapist with a speciality in adult critical care and pulmonary diagnostics at various hospitals, clinics and outpatient medical facilities from the U. S. Virgin Islands to Northern California. In addition, I worked as a contract lobbyist in Washington, D.C. for various companies.

Prior to entering the race for County School Board, in 2014, Belle claimed to have been licensed in other states as a respiratory care practitioner and stated he didn’t need a license in California in order to teach in the state, since he wasn’t actually practicing medicine, and that only his students were.

Belle is currently being prosecuted by the Contra Costa District Attorney for lying on his candidate ballot statement, during his 2014 election to the County School Board and faces a maximum fine of $1,000 for that violation if found guilty. Belle stated he had a “Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science,” but had not completed his course work, according to the college. He has pled not guilty and his next court date is set for 8:45 a.m., February 11, 2016 in Martinez. For more information about that case click here.

Barbara Zivica contributed this report.

New playground placed in one of Antioch’s most challenged neighborhoods

An Antioch neighborhood known for drugs, crime and violence (Sycamore) received a brand new playground, thanks to a grassroots group of parents and the City of Antioch who partnered to improve Contra Loma Estates Park. The parent advocates and representatives from the City of Antioch, including Mayor Harper and all four council members, as well as Rhea Elina Laughlin, Community Engagement Officer for First 5 Contra Costa and members of her team, joined together on Saturday, November 21st for a ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration to unveil the new park.

The drive for the new playground began with the East County Regional Group, a parent advocacy group sponsored by First 5 Contra Costa, who first conducted in-depth rating assessments of every park in Antioch. Their findings revealed that parks located in the city’s lower-income communities were plagued by crime, graffiti or unsafe conditions that rendered these parks unusable by families, compared to the city’s newer neighborhoods.

The culmination of high crime and child poverty rates, along with its very low park rating, led the parents to select Contra Loma Estates as the park most in need of rehabilitation. They took their findings to the Antioch City Council, who given their ongoing efforts to improve safety in the Sycamore neighborhood, allocated $250,000 to renovate the park. The parents group worked with City staff to design the new play structure and will be partnering with the Antioch Police Department to address residents’ safety issues.

The renovated Contra Loma Estates Park includes a brand new play structure for toddlers and school-age children, play structures designed for children of all abilities, such as children in wheel chairs or with other special needs and a foam floor which replaces sand that often contained needles, used condoms and glass.

Physical outdoor play is important for children’s health and development, but not all children in Antioch have access to safe, usable parks and playgrounds. Crime, vandalism, and unsafe conditions have prevented families from enjoying Contra Loma Estates Park – until now. This is the first victory for this grassroots group of parents, who aim to increase children’s access to outdoor play by improving one East County park at a time.

Contra Loma Estates Park is located at 2395 Manzanita Way at Mahogany in Antioch.

First 5 Contra Costa helps young children start school healthy, nurtured and ready to learn by investing in programs and activities focused on children during their first five years, the most important time in children’s development. Since 2000, First 5 Contra Costa has invested more than $120 million in Proposition 10 tobacco tax funds to help Contra Costa’s children get the best possible start in life. First 5 supports three Regional Groups of parents dedicated to making their communities healthier and safer for families. Learn more: www.first5coco.org.

The Contra Costa County Elections Division is kicking off 2016 in a fun, unique way. In what promises to be a busy year for elections, the department is holding a photo contest for all county residents to submit their best pictures of what the area has to offer for the cover of its Voter Information Guides in June and November.

“Hopefully getting our residents involved in the election process months before Election Day will help them be engaged in local issues and pique their interest in voting,” said Registrar of Voters Joe Canciamilla. “Plus, it’s a way to showcase the flavor and flair of where we live.”

One of the unique features of the Contra Costa voter guide/sample ballot is that the cover features a photo highlighting some of the intrinsic beauty and history of the county, which enhances the voters’ experience.

Few, if any, counties in California feature a photo on the cover of their guide.

The winner will have their photo featured on the cover of the booklet, which goes out to over a half-million registered voters. First, second and third place winner will also have their photos featured in our office lobby and on our Website. The winning artists will also receive collectible election pins, which are issued to Contra Costa Election Officials.

The Elections Division will be taking submissions from January 1st to February 29th. Applicants must submit a 50-100 word description about their photo. The photos must be able to run in black-and-white and sent in JPEG format.

There is no entry fee.

More information, including release forms, will be available on the Contra Costa Elections Website, www.cocovote.us.

By Corporal J. McMurry, #2384, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Friday, December 25, 2015 at 5:28 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the 900 block of J Street after 911 calls were received of shots fired. A 26-year-old male was located at the scene suffering from gunshot wounds. The male was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries, and he is expected to survive.

We are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects involved. There are no other updates on the condition of the victim at this time. The public is encouraged to call with any

information, no matter how minor, that could be related to this case. The public is asked to call Detective Colley at (925) 779-6922. They may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word Antioch in the body of the text.

By Allen Payton

At their regular meeting on Wednesday night, December 9, 2015, the Antioch School Board interviewed the representatives of three search firms, vying for the contract to help the district hire a new superintendent, to replace Dr. Don Gill.

After being sworn in at an earlier, special session, new trustee Fernando Navarro took his seat on the dais. In addition, the trustees voted in Diane Gibson-Gray as President and Walter Ruehlig, the highest vote-getter in last year’s election, as Vice President, for the coming year. They will begin serving in their new roles at their next meeting, in January.

Superintendent Search Firm Interviews

The board members challenged the representatives of the three search firms with questions such as how they plan to engage the community and about a money-back guarantee.

The three groups included Educational Leadership, Leadership Associates and Ray & Associates, Inc.

In response to a question by Gibson-Gray, Jim Brown of Leadership Associates and who is a former superintendent, as are his partners Sally Frazier and Rich Fischer, said their money-back guarantee applied even if the board goes with someone they don’t recommend.

“We want the candidate to interview us,” Gibson-Gray stated.

“We do too,” Brown replied. “We suggest two rounds in the interview process.”

Trustee Debra Vinson wanted to know how the search firms plan to engage the community.

Each group committed to reaching out to as many people in the community as possible.

They spoke of online surveys for the public to provide input, using the district’s website.

“There’s different steps in the process,” Brown responded. “Up front it’s very important to reach out as widely as we can and we’ll need your help to identify individuals.”

“Everybody’s perspective is important,” he added.

Dr. Carmella Franco, a former superintendent and Lead Consultant for Ray & Associates, Inc., spoke of public and employee meetings for input and a “full report with every single word taken down.”

Her colleague Noel Gallo, who served on the Oakland Board of Education for 20 years, shared his experience as a selling point.

“I know all about California and the Ed Code,” he said. “And I know Antioch. We work for the board. We work for you.”

Ruehlig asked about the current field of potential applicants.

“We don’t get the numbers we did 40 years ago or 30 years ago,” Brown replied. “Now we deal with the spouse because you’re not just hiring one, but two. We’re optimistic about the candidate pool. “We’re hoping to get 12 to 25 applicants.”

“We have a website people are checking throughout the state,” Frazier added.

Franco responded to the same question when it was her group’s turn.

“In a recent search in California, we had 54 applicants, which is unheard of,” she stated. “Some from California, some who have worked in California and want to move back. There usually is a connection to California.”

Franco said they do “deep reference checking.”

Ruehlig then asked about diversity, which Gallo had mentioned.

Franco stated they get “candidates from all backgrounds. Some bilingual, if that’s desired.”

“We want to see the superintendent be successful and for you to have a good relationship with the superintendent,” she added.

Gibson-Gray asked Franco about the money-back guarantee, as well, asking if the superintendent left within the a year would they do the search for free.

“We have the same money-back guarantee,” Franco stated. Then said they have had “less than five” superintendents that have done so.

“We have a very successful record,” she added.

Gibson-Gray then suggested the board members “mull over” their selection “individually, then come back January 20^th” at the next board meeting to take a vote.

Vinson and Ruehlig agreed. Navarro did, as well.

“Of course, I’m on board,” he said.

Public Comments, More Teacher Complaints

Resident and regular board meeting attendee, Julie Young spoke about the new federal education bill, that recently passed Congress.

“We are going to still be teaching to the test,” she stated. “It requires state that they have adopted standards that comply with 11 federal requirements. We are stuck in this Common Core that is being run by a bunch of corporations and not in the interest of the children.”

She mentioned the “21^st century initiatives making schools the sweeping influence in a child’s life.”

Deer Valley High teacher Joan Setka complained about class sizes.

“My largest class size is 37,” she stated. “But I have colleagues that have up to 44. This is more child care than teaching.”

Kenneth Kent, who teaches fifth grade at Kimball Elementary, spoke about special education.

“We have a history of placing students in special ed,” he said, then shared two concerns, including the hiring and support of special education staff.

“One left after less than a month,” Kent shared. “One who’s only there until 10 AM and another only going to be there one hour a day.”

He said the qualifying process is “laborious. It has to be streamlined.”

“We have a larger population of students who have needs,” Kent continued. “Let’s stop ignoring them.”

Deer Valley High teacher Scott Benedict shared his concerns about the teachers’ contract with the district.

“This contract we’re negotiating is not just about current teachers,” he said. “This district always seems fit to do the negotiating in the contract year. We’re doing it backwards.”

“You’re going to be faced with a huge deficit of teachers this next year, due to fewer coming out of schools,” Benedict stated.

Antioch Middle School teacher Trish Campbell complained about the lack of heat in her classroom.

“I dress in multiple layers to teach in my classroom,” she stated. “The heat wasn’t going to be turned on until the calendar said so, instead of the weather. It’s set at 61 degrees.”

“When we hit a heat wave, the air conditioning goes off and we have no windows open,” Campbell continued. “We should be able to control it in the classroom and make them [the students] comfortable.”

Pamela Fisher, a kindergarten teacher at Carmen Dragon Elementary also shared concerns about class sizes.

“Our students deserve to learn in a smaller class,” she stated. “Districts are being funded to be 24 to 1. But our district is only willing to lower to 27 to 1 at the elementary level. You’re telling us you don’t care.”

Fisher spoke of the need for “better relationships to address student needs and disciplines.”

“Now all I do is trying to keep them under control,” she added.

Robert Strickler, President of the Antioch Education Assocation (AEA), the local teachers’ union, congratulated Navarro, then directed his thoughts to Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello, saying “If I was in charge of the search, it would be over.”

“We’re here to present Christmas cards from teachers,” Strickler said, then spoke of class sizes, especially in special education being over the legally maximum size.

“Eight teachers have filed grievances,” he stated. “Several aren’t returning next year.”

He also mentioned that there are “no computer education classes in elementary and middle schools.”

Sharon Weaver, a teacher at Turner Elementary, asked that the district would “please send your team, tomorrow,” then stated that the “special ed staff shortage is real and must be addressed to retain current employees.”

“Our students with disabilities deserve the best and that will never happen with a string of subs,” she added.

Antioch Middle School teacher Deb Hubbard offered her thoughts on the teachers’ contract discussions with the district.

“Let’s settle the contract early, instead of May,” she said. “It would be great for me and my colleagues to feel valued.”

“Pittsburg is in settlement,” Hubbard continued. “They just got a 7% raise, total. Almost 20% in two years.”

“Let’s get decent pay and let’s get this contract settled,” she added.

Antioch High French teacher Sara Svacool, Political Chair of Antioch Education Association, continued her efforts on the issue of substitute teachers, that she spoke about at length, at the previous board meeting, saying they’ve “got the ball rolling.”

“Thank you for passing on my message with regards to substitutes,” she told the board.

Synitha Walker shared her concerns about challenges with college application of high school students in the district.

“Transcripts of our students are incorrect,” she stated. “They’re not updating their GPA when classes affecting the college application process.”

“They need to be aware they need to send their transcripts from the colleges where they’ve taken classes,” Board President Claire Smith responded.

“They’re doing that,” Walker replied.

Board Actions

The board chose not to vote to endorse the proposed “Funding Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016” after Julie Young questioned the need for it.

“Do we need to have more taxes in Antioch?” she asked. “I’m certainly done.”

In a vote that should help alleviate the concerns of not enough teachers, the board voted 4-0-1, with Navarro abstaining, to approve a Provisional Intern Permit. That allowed the hiring of someone obtaining their credential by next May, for one classroom at Jack London Elementary, to replace a teacher who left.

“I don’t want to just rubber stamp the vote,” Navarro stated as his reason for abstaining.

Smith said she had told him it would be acceptable to not vote on issues that night, as he just took his seat on the board, earlier that afternoon.

“But, next meeting, he needs to be ready,” she added with a smile.

The Antioch Unified School District Board of Education meets twice a month, usually the second and fourth Wednesdays, at 7:00 p.m. at the School Services Building, 510 G Street, Antioch. For more information visit www.antioch.k12.ca.us.

County to honor residents who embody the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do you know someone whose work and presence in the community exemplifies the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?  Time is running short to submit your candidates for consideration as the Contra Costa County Humanitarian and Student Humanitarian of the Year.  County residents are encouraged to submit online nominations of community leaders no later than Thursday, December 31.  Student nominations can be accepted through Tuesday, January 5.

Each January, the Board of Supervisors recognizes a community member as well as a student leader whose dedication to others embodies the essence and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Those selected as winners will be presented with their awards during the County’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ceremony on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.  The public is invited to the ceremony and commemoration, which takes place in the Board of Supervisors Chamber at 651 Pine Street in Martinez.  The event begins at 11:00 a.m., followed by a complimentary buffet lunch.

The 2015 Humanitarian of the Year was Bishop Edwina Perez-Santiago, whose work transitioning previously incarcerated women back into their communities has influenced countless lives.  Among her signature efforts was the opening last year of Naomi’s House, a first-of-its-kind transitional home in North Richmond for formerly incarcerated women and their young children.

Heritage High School alum Tyler Page took honors as the Student Humanitarian of the Year for 2015.  Page, now in college, has spent much of his young life raising money and awareness for kids less fortunate them himself, whether in his own community or to combat human trafficking in Ghana.

For more information, a look back at previous celebration videos or to submit a nomination, visit the County’s website at www.ContraCosta.CA.gov.

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper announced, on Wednesday, December 23rd, his decision to run for Contra Costa County Supervisor in the 3rd District, which includes parts of Antioch.

In his statement, Harper wrote “Due to the time consuming nature of running a winning campaign, I am stepping away from my field representative responsibilities with Senator Glazer,” which he was hired for in October, this year.

He states that he “has a proven track record of effective leadership that will benefit the Board of Supervisors and the County.”

After being appointed to the Antioch School Board in 2008, to fill the vacant seat due to the death of Trustee  Joyce Seelinger, Harper ran for and was elected to the Antioch City Council in 2010. Then, in the middle of his term he was elected Mayor in 2012, which ends next December.

Harper’s professional experience includes 24 years in law enforcement, including serving as a police manager, and teaching Emergency Preparedness, from which he retired in 2012 to serve as Mayor full time. However, currently, in addition to the position with Glazer’s office, Harper works as a part-time teacher at Antioch High School, teaching “Law Enforcement Careers” in the Leadership in Public Services Academy.

He states that he believes education and critical thinking skills are important as a leader.  Harper has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pastoral Studies from Patten University, where he was Student of the Year. He earned his Master of Business Administration in Leadership from John F. Kennedy University’s School of Management, and was honored as Alumni of the Year. During his career, Harper completed Executive Development Training, Management Training, and the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute where he was selected as class valedictorian.

As a directly-elected mayor of the largest city in District 3, Harper has served on the board of directors for several committees such as Transplan, the Highway 4 Bypass Authority, eBART Policy Advisory Committee, as well as the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority.

He is Vice Chair of the Contra Costa County Conference of Mayors and meets with the Delta 6, which includes the East County mayors and supervisors or their representatives, to discuss regional issues.

Harper states that he believes, fiscal stewardship is of the utmost importance and that under his “leadership, the City of Antioch is operating from a solid strategic plan and has approved a policy and practice to commit 50% of all one-time funds and salary savings to reduce unfunded liabilities.  The City of Antioch maintains an AA- bond rating.”

Harper is also a member of the Board of Directors for Tri-Delta Transit and mentioned that it won “The Best Small Transit System in America” award in 2014 for the excellent operation of the transit agency. He also serves on the Delta Diablo Sanitation District Board of Directors, which Harper states “has won multiple awards for their efficient operations.”

“Delta Diablo is a leader amongst sanitation agencies,” he wrote in his statement.

Harper says he “understands water issues as the City of Antioch is a city in District III that maintains Senior Water rights, and that he “has fought to protect Antioch’s water rights and will continue to fight to protect our Delta.”

“What do I want people to know about me?” Harper asked. “That I am a man of faith and a family man.  I have prepared myself to lead and I consider my service to the community as my calling and a life-time commitment.”

Harper states that his family supports his run for Supervisor. He and his wife Lisa, an Instructional Assistant for Special Education in the Antioch Unified School District, have been married for 26 years. Their children attended Antioch Unified School District schools and the California State University system.”

“I respectfully request your support to serve as Contra Costa County Supervisor, District III,” he added.

Harper’s entry brings the total to four candidates in the race, including Oakley Councilman and immediate past Mayor Doug Hardcastle, NAACP East County Branch President Odessa LeFrancois and East Bay Regional Parks District Trustee Diane Burgis, who announced her campaign on Tuesday.