How to resolve AdBlock issue? School officials deal with student’s ‘inappropriate comment’ in wake of Connecticut shooting
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A local school is working to reassure students and parents of its safety precautions after a student’s remark made during class last week raised concerns.
Kelseyville High School Principal Matt Cockerton said a male student blurted out what he called an “inappropriate comment” that was heard by a few students in a classroom setting, where a substitute teacher was present.
The boy’s comment was made in the early afternoon of Friday, Dec. 14, hours after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. – where 20 young students and six teachers and staff were shot to death by a lone gunman – had occurred, Cockerton said.
Cockerton would not disclose to Lake County News the student’s comment, and couldn’t answer many other questions about the matter due to confidentiality rules governing students.
He did not consider the comment a threat. “I don’t think it was something he’s planning,” Cockerton said.
However, he added, “We’ve taken all the necessary precautions.”
Those precautions include notifying both law enforcement and district officials, he said.
“The sheriff’s department was brought into the loop, as was our board,” Cockerton said.
Cockerton said school officials also have spoken with both the student and his parents.
Kelseyville resident Sarah Ryan said she was concerned after hearing from her daughter, who attends Kelseyville High, that the student had made a threatening comment. Ryan’s daughter didn’t hear the comment directly.
Ryan said she and her husband spoke to Cockerton at a Wednesday night concert at the school. He wouldn’t disclose to her what the student’s comment was, but said it was being addressed.
She said she wished school officials would have handled the matter by directly speaking to students and parents in order to help dispel the resulting concerns. Ryan said she’s aware of other parents who called Cockerton as well, seeking answers.
Cockerton said it has been a challenge addressing parents’ concerns, with much of the information around the incident having been embellished by rumors and student discussions on social media.
With parents, students and schools already on edge due to the Connecticut shooting, it leaves Cockerton concerned that parents are becoming unnecessarily fearful.
“We’re not going to turn our back on something like this,” Cockerton said. “We’re going to address it 100 percent and take every precaution.”
In speaking with Lake County News on Thursday, District Superintendent Dave McQueen also emphasized that the school had followed all the necessary precautions and that the school was safe.
McQueen posted a letter on the district’s Web page on Thursday that discussed security concerns for the district as a whole in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
The letter, which can be seen in its entirety below, did not specifically address the high school student’s comments last week.
In the letter, McQueen explained that each school site is required by law to have a safety plan developed by staff and the school site council, and approved by the Kelseyville Unified School Board.
“As of last Friday, I have asked each school site within the District to review these safety procedures with staff and students. Over the next month, each school will be discussing, practicing and adding to their school safety plans in order to prevent what happened in Connecticut,” McQueen wrote. “While we have been doing many of those things already, there is always need for improvement when it comes to safety.”
Separately, at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Board Chair Rob Brown said sheriff’s officials were considering how to reestablish a school resource officer for county schools.
Ryan said she just wanted to know that the school is taking the matter seriously, and she wants her children to be safe.
She said her sister lives an hour from Sandy Hook Elementary. “It kind of brought it home,” she said of the shooting, which she called both heartbreaking and terrifying.
Kelseyville High wants to make sure students are safe, said Cockerton.
“I hope there’s enough trust that they trust we’ll do the right thing,” he said of parents.
The full text of McQueen’s letter is below.
A Tragedy That Affects Us All
December 20, 2012
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
Kelseyville Unified School District is well aware of the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut and is saddened by this horrific event. Kelseyville Unified School District is taking precautions to keep each student, staff member and school site safe.
As required by law, each school site has a safety plan that was developed by staff, the school site council and approved by the Kelseyville Unified School Board. As of last Friday, I have asked each school site within the District to review these safety procedures with staff and students. Over the next month, each school will be discussing, practicing and adding to their school safety plans in order to prevent what happened in Connecticut. While we have been doing many of those things already, there is always need for improvement when it comes to safety. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to give input, I encourage you to speak with your child’s principal.
Kelseyville Unified School District takes the safety of its students and staff seriously. I have personally been in contact with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and am pleased that they will be working with our district to immediately help secure a safe environment and respond to each situation accordingly. Officers have already visited sites and will periodically be on campuses for safety as well as helping in the implementation and future development of safety plans and procedures.
Kelseyville Unified School District grieves with our nation for the victims at Newtown, Connecticut. I know that the Kelseyville Community will work together to ensure that our schools will continue to be a safe haven. We are here to educate, protect and encourage your child. May we all experience true peace over this Winter Break and think about those things which we hold dear.
Sincerely,
Dave McQueen
Superintendent
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Supervisors approve exploring options to assist Lucerne water ratepayers
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors agreed on Tuesday to allow staff to explore options for assisting the Lucerne community, which is facing a proposal for another large water rate hike.
One of those options to be explored with staff assistance is the cost to take over the water system serving Lucerne’s 1,200 households from California Water Service Co., which is proposing to raise rates 77 percent over three years, beginning in 2014.
However, a system takeover could be enormously expensive, and supervisors cautioned that it isn’t the likeliest option.
Supervisor Denise Rushing, whose Northshore district includes Lucerne, had asked the board to have the conversation about options.
“The situation out in Lucerne is dire,” with water bills virtually double other areas of the county, Rushing said.
Before asking county administrative staff to spend any time on research, Rushing wanted to have the board’s support.
Among the options she wanted to consider was the purchase or takeover, which some community members have supported but which Rushing also acknowledged would be both difficult and expensive. It likely would have to involve bonds, and would have to have as a goal lowering residents’ water bills.
Even so, she wanted to at least conduct cursory research of that path.
Board Chair Rob Brown said he saw a valid reason to look at that possibility, but cautioned that while for some there is an expectation that it might occur, it’s actually very unlikely. As a result, he wanted to set limits on how much staff time to devote to the research.
Rushing said taking over the system could cost twice the $16 million in property tax the county takes in annually. However, to even consider it, the county needs to know the costs.
Brown worried about potential staff time, adding that no one would disagree Lucerne has a problem.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry said staff could report back to the board after some of the work has been done.
Brown said members of the public think the county can just take the system over.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said he hoped the public didn’t get the false expectation that the county ultimately will take over Lucerne’s water system.
In some cases Smith said the county hasn’t been good at keeping up some of its own water and sewer systems.
However, he acknowledged, “We need to look at it for sure.”
Lucerne resident John Parker welcomed the board’s consideration. “Perfect, this is the discussion we need.”
Another Lucerne resident, Craig Bach, told the board, “We’ve seen this movie before and it’s not going to get any better.”
He said his water used to cost $1.70 per cubic foot, with that same amount of water now costing well over $7.
Without the county’s help, he said Lucerne’s residents have no representation. “We are grateful for your consideration.”
Rushing said the board voted to represent Lucerne before the California Public Utilities Commission in the general rate case, and said the county will do its best.
Lenny Matthews thanked the board for the discussion. “We’re underwater, literally,” said Matthews, who explained her water bills have shown steady increases in usage she hasn’t had.
She said Lucerne needed to get rid of Cal Water.
The board agreed by consensus to move forward with studying a takeover. Brown added that the county will do everything in its power to help Lucerne.
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Lakeport City Council welcomes new members
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council’s three newest members took their oaths of office on Tuesday evening.
Kenny Parlet, Martin Scheel and Marc Spillman were sworn in and seated at the regular meeting, which ran 45 minutes.
They succeed outgoing members Suzanne Lyons, Bob Rumfelt and Roy Parmentier. Parmentier was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Stacey Mattina started the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims of last week’s Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
The council then moved on to business, including acceptance of resolutions accepting the results of the Nov. 6 election and approval of the certificate of the county of Lake’s result of the election canvass.
Deputy City Clerk Kelly Buendia then administered the oath to Parlet, Scheel and Spillman, and Lyons and Rumfelt left the dais, receiving hugs and handshakes as they departed.
The new council then chose its leadership for the coming year, with Spillman nominating Engstrom for mayor. No other nominations were made, and Engstrom quipped, “I hear the train a comin’,” before being elected mayor.
Scheel nominated Mattina for mayor pro tem, and she also was elected. She and Engstrom switched seats, exchanging a hug as the did so.
“This is not something I expected,” said Engstrom. “It is an honor to represent the people we serve in Lakeport in this capacity.”
He thanked Mattina for her work as mayor this past year, noting that she handled hotly contested issues with dignity and professionalism. Engstrom additionally thanked Lyons and Rumfelt for their work.
During citizen’s input, Lakeport resident Bob Bridges – who this fall had rallied citizens to fight proposed water and sewer rates which the council ultimately approved – congratulated the new council, and asked them all to think of how their votes affect city residents.
Bridges, a senior county counsel with the county of Lake, suggested the city needed an effective marijuana ordinance. “Now is the time to do it,” before the growing season, said Bridges, who has been tasked with defending the county’s marijuana ordinance in court.
Engstrom said a committee is set to meet Thursday afternoon to begin that process. Bridges offered his help.
Carol Hays of the Lakeport Main Street Association presented the group’s business of the quarter award to Paul and Barbara Breunig of Hillside Honda.
Breunig, the association’s board president, then presented awards to the winners of the holiday decorating contest. First place for business was Sanducci's Cottage restaurant, 1090 N. Main St., with Rocky Point Care, 625 Sixteenth St., taking second place.
In the residential category, the Bussard family of 842 Central Park Ave. once again received top honors, with the Domagalski family’s decorations at 1075 N. Forbes St. earning them second place.
The council then considered adopting an ordinance implementing uniform cost accounting that establishes informal bidding procedures under the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act of 1983.
Finance Director Dan Buffalo said the policy is meant to assist cities with a set of accounting standards for public works projects.
His written report said the act allows agencies “to perform, or procure contract services to perform, public works projects without the need to engage in formal bidding requirements, up to certain dollar thresholds,” so long as an agency adopts and practices cost accounting procedures outlined in the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission’s manual.
It allows for public agencies to perform projects with its own personnel on projects up to $45,000 or engage a contractor using alternative bidding procedures.
Those procedures include using a negotiated contract or standard purchase order for projects less than $45,000; projects of or below $175,000 by negotiated contract pursuant to the act; or projects in excess of $175,000 by formal bidding procedures pursuant to the act.
City Engineer Scott Harter said it allows for smaller projects to move more quickly.
Parlet asked if it would streamline projects in terms of time, money or both. Both, said Buffalo.
Harter said the county has been using the process for 15 years.
During the public hearing, Dave Meek of Meek Construction suggested the city needed to reduce its insurance requirements, which are higher than the county’s, because they make it difficult for small contractors to compete for city work.
Nancy Ruzicka said many projects go to out-of-county firms, and she hoped that drain wouldn’t continue regarding professional services, goods and other services.
Harter clarified that the ordinance does not speak to professional services, explaining it was for construction.
The council approved the ordinance 5-0.
Engstrom asked the new council members to look over a list of committees in the coming weeks and decide on which they would like to serve.
“There’s plenty to choose from. Most of us serve on two or three committees,” said Engstrom.
“Five, thank you very much,” Mattina replied.
Spillman thanked Lyons, who recently had invited her to his home and gave him a stack of folders and paperwork to read. “I appreciate that and the input that she gave me,” he said, also thanking Rumfelt.
Engstrom pointed out that Lyons also had left Spillman a page full of notes on the desk calendar where she previously had sat.
Parlet thanked the department heads for helping him get up to speed, and said he has enjoyed living in Lakeport for 42 years. He said he looks forward to making a difference, and helping making Lakeport an even better place to live than it is now.
Scheel also thanked staff for being accommodating, and offered his appreciation to Rumfelt, Lyons and Parmentier for their service. He said he was looking forward to getting the job done.
City staff extended their welcomes to the new council members.
While their first meeting had lasted 45 minutes, Engstrom advised the new council members, “Don’t expect that every week.”
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State controller issues update on city, county government salaries statewide
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The state controller reported Monday that he has published the latest salary, pension and other compensation figures for city and county employees and elected officials across California.
State Controller John Chiang updated the information, which is for the year 2011, on his compensation Web site, www.publicpay.ca.gov .
Chiang reported that the newest information is based on submissions from 462 cities and 53 counties, totaling more than $37.6 billion. Average wages statewide are $61,259, the site reported.
The latest update includes a detailed breakdown of actual wages paid, including regular pay, overtime, lump sum cash outs of vacation and sick leave, bonuses, and other pay subject to Medicare taxes; and the employer's share of pension costs, Chiang reported.
The Web site, which recently was completely redesigned, now offers analytical tools, map-based searches, trend analyses, chart and graph builders and direct access to the entire payroll database.
According to the latest information, the top five salaried employees across the state in 2011 included a senior psychiatrist at Salina Valley Psychiatric Program, $800,363; a staff psychiatrist at Napa State Hospital, $770,870; an orthopedic surgeon at Kern Medical Center, $716,116; city manager for the city of Indian Wells, $677,172; core physician, Kern Medical Center, $669,708; general manager-metropolitan transit authority, San Francisco, $567,595.
The data provided by the site shows that Lake County has some of the lowest compensation levels in California for its public officials.
There are 1,067 government employees, according to the site, which – with an estimated population of 64,784 – is a breakdown of 60 residents per employee.
The site shows that the average wages are $36,929 in Lake County, with approximately $39,403,197 being paid out to all government officials countywide.
The top five paid positions in the county’s government for 2011, based on the report, were the county administrative officer, $142,842; public health officer, $142,632; county counsel, $122,910; social services director, $120,436; and health services director, $109,027.
Lake County’s two incorporated cities, Clearlake and Lakeport, showed lower average compensation figures.
Clearlake, with a population of 15,289, has 65 government employees, for an average of 235 residents per employee. Wages average $35,752 per employee, with total wages at $2,323,884.
The top five paid positions for last year in Clearlake were the chief of police, $111,685; police sergeant,
$95,057; records and communication officer supervisor, $82,460; police sergeant, $81,305; and city engineer, $79,977.
In Lakeport, which has 4,745 residents, there are 79 employees for a resident to employee ratio of 60 to one. Average wages for city employees are $32,497, with total wages at $2,567,225.
The top five wage earners amongst the city of Lakeport’s employees in 2011 were the city manager, $112,883; community development director, $97,696; police chief, $90,376; police sergeant, $89,001; and utilities director, $86,718.
For the Monday posting, 17 cities and three counties did not file in time, or filed incomplete records, according to Chiang’s office.
Counties not complying included Sutter, Humboldt and Tulare, while noncomplying cities included Bell, Brawley, Cloverdale, Dunsmuir, Fairfax, Firebaugh, Fort Jones, Hercules, Holtville, Imperial, Mammoth Lakes, Oakdale, Oakland, Pacific Grove, Porterville, Rio Vista, San Mateo and Tracy.
Each noncomplying agency could face a penalty of up to $5,000, Chiang reported.
Chiang created the Web site in late 2010, after he ordered local governments to provide salary and other compensation information for their employees to his office.
The Web site’s creation was in response to information about excessively high salaries for government officials in the Southern California city of Bell.
The controller's Web site includes data from cities, counties, special districts, California State Universities, community colleges and the state itself.
For the calendar year 2010, the wages for more than 1.5 million public positions were made available. More than 622,179 positions have been posted for calendar year 2011, Chiang reported.
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Lucerne residents urged to take action on water issues
LUCERNE, Calif. – County officials updated Lucerne residents at a town hall meeting last week about the efforts to fight a large water rate hike.
Approximately 55 people attended the meeting, which ran just under an hour and a half last Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center. A video of the meeting can be viewed above.
Supervisor Denise Rushing hosted the town hall, and was accompanied by Deputy Administrative Officer Eric Seely, Deputy Administrative Officer Alan Flora, County Counsel Anita Grant, District Attorney Don Anderson and a representative from state Sen. Noreen Evans’ office.
While there were brief updates on other developments in town, including the new lease agreement with Marymount College to use the Lucerne Hotel as a college campus, the main focus of the town hall was the lakeside town’s water rate issue.
One of the key points local officials emphasized repeatedly throughout the meeting was the need for Lucerne residents to take an active part in filing complaints with the state about the water situation.
In July, California Water Service, which owns the system serving Lucerne’s estimated 1,200 households, submitted a general rate case petition with the California Public Utilities Commission, seeking to raise rates 77 percent over a three-year period, beginning in 2014. Lucerne has a 25-percent vacancy rate, high foreclosures and a large senior population.
Over the past decade Lucerne has seen numerous efforts by Cal Water to raise the rates, including the 2005 petition for a 273-percent rate increase. The company eventually received a 120-percent increase.
Since 2005, rates have increased a reported 160 percent, and Rushing said at the meeting that Cal Water has reported that monthly bills in the town average $158, with Lucerne paying the second-highest rates in Cal Water’s 34-district system.
Cal Water was invited to the meeting, Rushing said, but did not attend.
Rushing said the Board of Supervisors gave her permission to get involved in Lucerne’s rate case, and as a result the county will be filing testimony in the fight against more water hikes for the town.
CPUC documents show that the county filed for party status in the general rate case on Dec. 6. Separately, Rushing filed a motion for her own party status on Nov. 2.
She said she has been following three paths in the effort to assist the town, the first being to intervene in the rate case directly.
The second is to advocate for legislation to make rates more reasonable and the third is to investigate a county takeover of the system, with those latter two options being very time consuming.
A county takeover would be “a really difficult path,” and one that, while not wholly impossible, could take tens of millions of dollars and intricate legal work, it was explained at the meeting.
To aid in the fight, Rushing asked community members to tell their stories about the issues they’ve experienced with Cal Water. A Web site has been set up at www.lucernestories.org for that purpose.
Second, she asked community members to write the CPUC, which has regulating power over Cal Water. The Board of Supervisors itself voted to write the commission and state legislators on the community’s behalf.
She also urged Lucerne residents to sign up for Cal Water’s rate assistance program, and to write state legislators about the rates and Cal Water’s service, and to request that the state water infrastructure fund be used to help disadvantaged communities like Lucerne.
As for a potential takeover, Rushing said it would require the Board of Supervisors’ support. At its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18, the board will consider Rushing’s request for staff support to analyze that process, which she said will require state and federal funding, as well as other options. The community is intended to attend that meeting.
Rushing estimated that it could take between $20 million and $30 million, almost twice the $16 million in sales tax the county receives on an annual basis, to purchase the system.
“If Cal Water doesn’t want to sell it, then it’s even more expensive,” said Rushing, adding that she wanted the analysis done to know for sure what would be required.
Community members Lenny Matthews and Doug Reams spoke about efforts to organize the community to fight Cal Water, saying they were prepared to picket the company’s corporate headquarters as part of a campaign to make it too uncomfortable for Cal Water to continue operating in Lucerne.
Grant said the CPUC looks favorably on public entities taking over water systems. Rushing added that Lake County Special Districts runs an efficient shop, with county water rates about half of Lucerne’s.
She noted, however, “Eminent domain is a tool, it’s not the answer,” pointing out that the county has been reluctant to use eminent domain, which she called an “awesome” government power that can create fear. Grant said it’s also a long, involved process.
Reams suggested something was going on with how the company bills ratepayers, saying he received an $1,800 water bill one month, followed by a bill for $0 the next month and $30 after that.
Rushing encouraged ratepayers to gather evidence of any such unusual billing activity, as the district attorney doesn’t launch investigations just because people are upset about bills.
“That’s one of the reasons why I’m here,” said Anderson, noting he was trying to learn more about the situation faced by Lucerne water users.
Grant also encouraged complaints be filed with the CPUC if ratepayers believe they are experiencing billing errors.
“I would think 300, 400 complaints might get their attention,” Grant said.
Rushing said as few as 10 complaints likely could get the CPUC’s attention, as complaints in the process are rare.
In addition, Rushing urged community members to remember, “The near term fight is the rate fight.”
Ways community members can get involved
Here are several ways community members can get involved, according to Rushing. She said complaints should be specific, and evidence and documentation should be provided. Focus on service and billing issues, as well as matters involving waste.
- Post your story at www.lucernestories.org .
- Attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. At 10:45 a.m. the board will discuss options to help Lucerne with its water rates.
- Write to Supervisor Denise Rushing about your experiences with Cal Water’s rates and service at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send a letter to her in care of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, First Floor, Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, CA 95453. - Email the California Public Utilities Commission’s Public Advisor Office at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write the CPUC Public Advisor, 505 Van Ness Ave., Room 2103, San Francisco, CA 94102. Reference Cal Water general rate case application application A1207007, which was filed July 5, 2012. - Write your state legislators to ask that the state water infrastructure fund be used to help Lucerne. Contact Sen. Noreen Evans: http://sd02.senate.ca.gov/contact ; Ukiah office, 200 South School St., Ukiah, CA 95482, telephone 707-468-8914; State Capitol, 1303 10th St., Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone 916-651-4002. Assemblymember Mariko Yamada: http://asmdc.org/members/a04/ , click on “Contact Us” in the lefthand column; State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento, CA 94249-0004, telephone 916-319-2004.
- Apply for Cal Water’s Low-Income Rate Assistance Program online at https://www.calwater.com/your_account/lira.php .
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