By John Crowder

Labor agreements negotiated by the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) with the Antioch Education Association (AEA) and California School Employees Association (CSEA) were both ratified at the May 28th meeting of the school board. The board also approved an adjustment to salary schedule and benefits for the Antioch Management Association (AMA).

According to documents submitted to the board by Keith Rogenski, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, the compensation for members of all three groups was increased by 5.21%. The total cost of the compensation increase for each group is listed as $2,442,195 with AEA, $1,029,960 with CSEA, and $384,245 with AMA. Together, the agreements raise the combined total compensation costs to AUSD by about $3.5 million.

Later in the meeting the Board revisited an item that had been discussed earlier this year during their January 22nd meeting. At that meeting, the idea of placing a parcel tax on the November ballot had been raised, and staff had been directed to gather further information. The board had not been willing, however, to authorize conducting a survey of Antioch citizens on the matter. Now the decision to move forward with a survey of voters appears to be gaining support.

During the discussion on the potential for placing a parcel tax on the ballot, all three board members who were present, President Joy Motts, Vice President Gary Hack, and Trustee Barbara Cowan, indicated they were in favor of moving forward with a survey.

However, before a motion was made supporting this step, both Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill and Hack voiced the opinion that it would be better to wait until the full board was present before taking any action on the matter. Board members Diane Gibson-Gray and Claire Smith were absent from the meeting.

Nonetheless, it was agreed that Associate Superintendent Tim Forrester could begin working to determine what questions the survey should ask in order to save time should the board decide to move forward with the survey in June.

According to Forrester, the purpose of the survey would be to determine whether or not there is public support for putting a parcel tax on the ballot in support of various programs that might be implemented or expanded by AUSD.

“School boards have no authority to tax anyone,” Forrester said. “A survey is a way for the board to gauge if the public would support the board in placing a parcel tax on the ballot for needed programs for students. A survey would ask, at what level, would the public consider supporting the district’s needs.”

Some of the programs mentioned during the meeting that might be supported by a parcel tax included technology, counselors, art and music classes, and after-school programs. The cost of conducting such a survey was estimated to be between $25,000 and $30,000.

Not everyone at the meeting was happy with the idea of a parcel tax. Prior to the board discussion, one Antioch resident, Julie Young, addressed the matter during public comments. Young urged against placing a parcel tax on the ballot, citing a long list of other taxes either already in place, such as Mello Roos, Measure B and Measure C, or proposed, such as Measure E (which passed on June 3rd), the landlord business license tax and the increase in the minimum business license tax.

She made an analogy between a family that must budget for a large expense and government.

“We are already taxed and if you want something else, you should budget and save to get it,” Young stated. “If you decide to put the parcel tax on the ballot for November, be prepared for a huge campaign against it.”

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11th, at 7:00 p.m. The Board is expected to take up the question of whether or not to move forward with the survey to gauge the support for a parcel tax at that time. Meetings are held at the AUSD School District Office located at 510 G Street.

Dr. John Copeland receives his alumni award from Grinnell Alumni Council President Susan Henken-Thielen during the Alumni Assembly on Saturday May 31, 2014. photo by Justin Hayworth

Grinnell, Iowa — Grinnell College recognized the professional accomplishments and service contributions of 10 alumni during Alumni Reunion Weekend, May 30-June 1, on the Grinnell campus.

Alumni Award recipients are members of reunion classes who have distinguished themselves in their careers and communities and embody Grinnell’s mission of lifelong learning and service.

The honored alumni are:

Dr. John Copeland. photo by Justin Hayworth

— M. Anne Brineman Anderson, a member of the Class of 1964 from Washington, D.C., for decades of work toward peace as a leader with activist and advocacy groups.

— Noga Ashkenazi, a member of the Class of 2009 from Tel Aviv, Israel, who used her documentary film work to bring attention—and reform—to the issues faced by women in prison. (Ashkenazi is one of two recipients of this year’s Pioneer Awards, which recognize distinctive achievements made by alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years.)

— Elizabeth Barnard Brooke ’54, from Vienna, Va., for decades of leadership in journalism at U.S. News & World Report, and for her extensive community service.

— Martha Grodzins Butt, a member of the Class of 1964, for helping Grinnellians, and others, build connections with Thailand, both through her work at Payap University in Chiang Mai and through her volunteer leadership and service at Grinnell.

— Peter Coyote, a member of the Class of 1964 and a resident of Mill Valley, Calif., for his work as an actor and social activist.

— G. Peter “Pete” Ferrell III, a member of the Class of 1974 and a resident of Beaumont, Kan., for his leadership in sustainability—both through his work with wind energy and through his service on the boards of the Land Institute, the Beaumont Community Association, and other environmental organizations.

— Anthony Hyatt, a 1985 Grinnell graduate now living in Bethesda, Md., for using music to inspire older generations to sing, dance and socialize with each other.

— Sarah B. R. Labowitz, a member of the Class of 2004 and a resident of New York, N.Y., for her nuanced and pioneering work in the areas of human rights, Internet freedom, and cyber policy. (Labowitz is one of two recipients of this year’s Pioneer Awards, which recognize distinctive achievements made by alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years.)

— Samuel Schuman, a member of the Class of 1964 and a resident of Asheville, N.C., for significant contributions—both as a scholar and a chancellor—to the field of higher education.

About Grinnell College

Since its founding in 1846, Grinnell has become one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges, enrolling 1,600 students from all 50 states and from as many international countries. Grinnell’s rigorous academic program emphasizes excellence in education for students in the liberal arts; the college offers the B.A. degree in a range of departments across the humanities, arts and sciences. Grinnell has a strong tradition of social responsibility and action, and self-governance and personal responsibility are key components of campus life. More information about Grinnell College is available at www.grinnell.edu.

The City of Antioch’’s Environmental Resources Division is holding its first ever photo contest on Facebook and Instagram:

• Win an eco-ticket to ride with #EcoAntioch!

• Attention Antioch Residents (age 17 & younger)!!

• You Can Win a FREE Tri Delta Summer Youth Transit Pass ($60value)!!

Who:  All Antioch Residents (age 17 & younger)
What: Participate in EcoAntioch photo contest
When:  May 29 -June 11, 2014
Where:  EcoAntioch Facebook page or Instagram account
Why: Promote conservation & recycling in Antioch
How: Get started by taking pictures of you doing something earth friendly such as recycling at a city park, picking up litter, car pooling, walking or biking or on public transit.  Follow EcoAntioch on Facebook or Instagram.  Post your earth friendly pictures and tag #ecoantioch to enter the contest.  The pictures with the most likes by 5pm on June 11th will win!

By John Crowder

A new tax measure and an increase in the rate of an older one were the main order of business, and the most controversial items on the agenda, at the May 27 Antioch City Council (Council) meeting.

As previously reported, members of the Friday Morning Breakfast Club (FMBC), a citizens group made up of residents from disparate political backgrounds, but with a shared goal of seeing Antioch move forward as a city, has been circulating a petition to place a residential landlord rental tax on the November ballot.

Earlier in May, City Manager Steve Duran had been directed by the council to meet with this group, and others, in order to develop a revenue initiative that would have broad-based support. During the May 27 meeting, Duran put forward a staff proposal that called for taxing those doing business as residential landlords according to a sliding scale based on the number of rental units owned. The base fee for one unit would be set at $250 per year for a detached home, and $150 per unit for a multi-unit complex. (Under the proposal, an exception would be carved out for homeowners with “in-law” or similar units where no rent is being paid. These would not be subject to the tax.)

The tax proposal presented by staff also included an increase in the business license tax fee from a minimum of $25, as it currently stands, to a minimum of $100. Under the proposal, an exception would be carved out for home-based businesses, with their minimum business license fee remaining at the $25 level.

Predictably, both tax ideas were met with opposition. During the public hearing on the proposal, several individuals representing apartment complex owners and owners of residential homes derided the rental tax proposal, calling it unfair, and claiming they were being picked on because of a perception that they were making a lot of money. Theresa Karr, of the California Apartment Association, summarized her organization’s position following the meeting.

“We felt like it should be a broad-based business license tax, instead of 90% on the apartment owners,” Karr said. “We felt like it was an unfair tax. We’re being singled out, one business in the city, to find $2.27 million.”

Dr. Sean Wright, CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, spoke in opposition to the increase in the business tax. He pointed out that, by increasing the minimum business tax, Antioch would make it more difficult for new businesses to open here as opposed to Brentwood, or elsewhere. “What we’re going to do is let businesses know that, as they’re starting, we’re going to make it harder for them,” he said. “We believe that the way to increase revenue in the city of Antioch is to open more businesses…”

“That $100 minimum is really only for those start-up companies. Are we going to be open for business in Antioch?” Wright asked. “We need a competitive advantage, and one of the competitive advantages we have is a small startup cost.”

Alex Aliferis, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, was also on hand at the meeting and spoke against the rental tax. He addressed what he considered the impetus for the tax proposal, spiraling expenses, in particular, rising pension costs for public employees. He said that, along with other California cities, Antioch has spiraling pension costs and that these were the cause of another nearby city, Stockton, filing for bankruptcy.

He next quoted from a 2012 article entitled Antioch Rushing to Increase Pension Benefits, which he said discussed Antioch increasing retirement benefits while “drowning in $59 million in unpaid debt.” He went on to say that the amount of unfunded pension liability, “has probably increased by now.” Aliferis then quoted from the April issue of the Antioch Herald, a statement attributed to City Manager Steve Duran regarding a 37% increase in the cost for a police officer. Aliferis called pension reform, “a real issue that this city has to face.”

“You’re crowding out services to pay for pensions,” he concluded, “that’s why you’re targeting for this rental tax.”

Not all citizens spoke in opposition to the proposed measures, however, Several, including Antioch citizens who are rental property owners, spoke in favor of the rental tax measure.

“I am a landlord, I own rental property, none of which is in the city of Antioch. I have to pay a license fee in other cities. It is a business,” said Former Police Commissioner Hans Ho. “You bet you, it is a business. Businesses pay a license tax. Please, put it into perspective, we’re talking about $20 per month.”

Another resident, Clay Baskin, expressed a like sentiment. He stated that rental units have paid a disproportionately low rate, but use a disproportionately high rate of services.

“We don’t feel safe in this town because we don’t have enough police officers,” he stated. “The landlords are going to pass it along.”

He also said that renters would ultimately benefit from the tax because (with increased police protection), “They’ll feel safer for it.”

Duran, who addressed both measures during the council meeting, expressed particular frustration in dealing with the apartment owners, saying that, “They drew a line in the sand, and wouldn’t agree to any per unit tax.” After the meeting, he elaborated on his position.

“Residential landlords are making a lot of money here in Antioch, both in terms of cash flow, and asset appreciation,” he said. “It’s time they pay their fair share.”

Following discussion by the council, in which all members expressed support for placing a tax measure on the November ballot, they voted 5-0 to direct staff to prepare a measure to take before the voters. The draft of this measure is to be brought before the council for approval in June.

To give kids the independence and ability to have a constructive, safe and fun summer, Tri Delta Transit will once again be offering a very unique, unlimited-ride Summer Youth Pass to kids age 17 and under. However, new this year is the inclusion of WestCat buses in West Contra Costa County to the Summer Youth Pass, which will allow kids to go even more places on public transit. Summer Youth Passes are now available.

The Summer Youth Pass, which is available for only $50, allows kids to ride all Tri Delta Transit and WestCat fixed route buses as often as they want from June 1 through August 31. “It’s the most economical pass we offer,” said Director of Marketing Mike Furnary. “The Summer Youth Pass provides three full months of rides for less than the price of one general public 31-day pass. But more importantly, by providing kids with the ability to get to our community’s many entertainment and educational outlets-as well as summer employment-we hope this will have a positive impact on our community.”

Tri Delta Transit has been able to keep the price of the Summer Youth Pass low thanks to a generous partnership with 511 Contra Costa. 511 Contra Costa is a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that promotes alternatives to the single occupant vehicle. The commute alternative group is providing a $10 subsidy for every pass sold this year.

What remains unique about Tri Delta Transit’s pass is its design. The pass is a colorful, silicone wristband. “We made the pass a wristband for two reasons,” said Furnary. “First, we wanted it to be something that would be fun to have and to wear. Second, we didn’t want parents worrying about their kids losing them. Once these passes are on kids’ wrists, they stay in place.” Traditional paper youth passes often get misplaced or run through the washing machine. When this happens, parents are out their purchase price and have to buy another one. “This pass is durable and totally waterproof so kids can shower and swim with them on and they’ll stay in place until they are physically removed.”

Tri Delta Transit’s Summer Youth Passes give kids a certain independence allowing them to get where they want to go without having to rely on their parents for a ride. “We call it the cure for summertime boredom,” said Furnary. “Not only will it take them to places they want to go but it will also provide them with discounts at restaurants and local hot spots.” However, it would appear that another huge benefit of the pass goes to parents who won’t have to constantly drive their kids everywhere this summer.
Summer Youth Passes can be purchased from Tri Delta Transit over the phone at 925-754-6622, online at www.TriDeltaTransit.com, or in person at their administrative offices located at 801 Wilbur Avenue in Antioch. Summer Youth Passes are now available.

Tri Delta Transit provides over 2,500,000 trips each year to a population of nearly 250,000 residents in the 225 square miles of Eastern Contra Costa County. Tri Delta Transit operates 13 local bus routes Monday – Friday, 4 local bus routes on weekends, express commuter service to BART, and door-to-door bus service for disabled and senior citizens.

For additional information about Tri Delta Transit, please visit www.trideltatransit.com.

By John Crowder

The Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) and the Antioch Education Association (AEA) announced that they have reached a tentative agreement in their recent labor talks at the AUSD School Board meeting on Wednesday, May 14th.

As recently as April 28th, the AEA had posted on their website an update expressing their dismay that AUSD had not yet made a salary proposal in the ongoing negotiations. On May 6th, however, both groups were able to reach agreement on all points that had been under consideration during the negotiating process.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement, teachers in the district are to receive two retroactive raises. The first is a 2% increase in “all salary schedules and advanced degree stipends in the Collective Bargaining Agreement” effective from July 1, 2013. The second is also a 2% increase on the same items and is effective from January 1, 2014. In addition, it was agreed that, “The extra duty schedule, stipends, hourly rate, period substitution, and all other rates of pay shall be increased by 4.04% effective July 1, 2014, effectively increasing payment for other teacher duties by the same rate as the salary raises negotiated during the talks.

Class size was another item negotiated during the meetings. Here, for grades K-3, the parties have agreed to reduce class sizes year-to-year, with an average class size of 29 pupils per site for those grades during the 2014-2015 school year, 28 during the 2015-2016 school year, and 27 for the 2016-2017 school year. Maximum class size for those years were also agreed to, of 30, 29, and 28 respectively.

The adoption of Common Core Standards by the state of California was also taken up during the bargaining process. Addressing this issue, the parties created a Memorandum of Understanding emphasizing their shared commitment to successful implementation of the program, which they jointly state will, “ensure that ALL students are ready for college, career, and citizenship in the 21^st century.” In order to accomplish this goal, AEA and AUSD have agreed to establish “an advisory Common Core Committee (CCC).” This committee, to be comprised of district members, teachers, and that may include up to two parents, is to meet at least four times per school year. Their primary role will be to “help guide the implementation of Common Core,” including staff development related to the implementation of the new standards.

Robert Stickler, President of the AEA, said, “AEA is pleased with the tentative agreement that was reached with AUSD on May 6th, 2014. I have heard many positive comments from teachers regarding the 4.04% raise and an increase to the district’s contribution to benefits. We are also happy that elementary teachers in grades kindergarten through third grade will have class size maximums written in the contract and that these maximums will reduce each year over the next 3 school years. The class size ratios for these grades will also be reduced. They will continue to be reduced further if the state’s projected Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is fully implemented over its 8 year time span.”

Antioch teachers are now in the process of voting for ratification of the agreement. The results of that vote are expected next Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Board is expected to vote on acceptance of the agreement as well.

In other news, the Board recognized employees for their outstanding service. Anndria Romo, who assists with Special Education at Diablo Vista Elementary School, was chosen as the Classified Representative of the year. Julie Verhoek, from Sutter Elementary, was Runner Up Teacher of the Year, and Kevin Jones, Antioch High School EDGE Academy, was selected as the Teacher of the Year.

By John Crowder

On Wednesday, May 21, the Contra Costa County Board of Education (Board) voted 3 to 1 to deny the petition submitted by the teachers of Dozier-Libbey Medical High School (DLMHS) to convert the campus to a charter school and remove it from under the control of the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD).

Board Trustee Cynthia Ruehlig cast the lone vote in favor of the petition. Trustees Richard Asadoorian, Daniel Gomes, and Pamela Mirabella voted in opposition to the charter proposal.

Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, County Office of Education staff (Staff) had submitted a recommendation to the Board that the petition be denied. In recommending for denial, they stated that, “the Petition presents an unsound educational program and petitioners are demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program set forth in the Petition. The Petition does not contain reasonably comprehensive descriptions of all of the elements prescribed by law.”

Staff findings were refuted in a letter submitted to the Board by Paul Minney, an attorney representing the teachers, and by supporters of the move speaking at Wednesday’s meeting. With respect to Staff finding that the charter school would present an unsound education program, Minney’s letter pointed out that the Education Code specifically defined “an unsound educational program” as one that would present, “the likelihood of physical, educational, or psychological harm,” or “was not likely to be of educational benefit” to pupils, noting there was no evidence to support either contention.

Many of the public comments in support of the charter petition dealt with the concerns regarding their plan for assisting low-achieving, special education, and English learner students. Those opposed cited the problems identified by Staff in their report, and noted that many groups in the community, including elected officials, AUSD employees, advocacy groups and business representatives were opposed.

Following public comments on the matter, the Board questioned the teachers, staff, and AUSD representatives.

Ruehlig was the most outspoken in asking questions, beginning her examination by charging the teachers with explaining what they were offering that was not in place when they won a Distinguished School award in 2011. Dr. Cynthia Soraoka responded by detailing her desire to have her students participate in “virtual internships” with doctors from around the world. She described how her efforts to bring such plans to fruition had been stymied by AUSD over the last few years, specifically addressing a lack of technology. Ruehlig then asked how many of the teachers were committed to working at the school who had been involved with Dozier-Libbey when it won the Distinguished School award. Teachers responded that, with two exceptions, the staff would be the same.

Asadoorian asked about the use of the facility currently occupied by DLMHS. AUSD has taken the position that the charter school, if approved, would not be entitled to the use of the facility because of a lack of timeliness in requesting its use. This argument was countered by Minney, who said that, although he was confident that the teachers were legally entitled to the use of the facility, the teachers were willing to delay the conversion until the 2015-2016 school year in order to avoid a protracted legal fight.

Trustee Mirabella took issue with what she considered the lack of a comprehensive plan, as outlined in the petition, to operate the school as a charter.

In explaining their positions just prior to the vote, Mirabella and Ruehlig each weighed in on the proposal. Mirabella said she was voting against the petition, and supporting the findings of county Staff in their assessment that there were too many corrections needed. She went on to say that the intent of the law was to convert low-performing schools to charters, and that this petition had divided the community.

Ruehlig countered that the main question was whether or not we have the right to self-governance. She said her decision was based on the proposal presenting a sound educational program, and that it not only was sound, but was likely to succeed, and was best for the community.

With the rejection of their proposal by both the Antioch and Contra Costa School Boards, teachers must now decide if they will appeal the decision to the State Board of Education.