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Opinion
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Last year brought change to the Lakeport Unified School District as we began to align our schools to the recommendations of the California Department of Education to improve academics, implement positive social emotional behavior systems and provide equity for all children.
Bond funds have provided updated facilities and technology that meets the majority of the students.
The district prioritized the central kitchen/high school cafeteria and library/media center. Students now have a place to eat and socialize during inclement weather, and they can now be served and eat during the 30-minute lunch period. Healthier food choices are served due to the facilities upgrades.
The new culinary program will provide our students with future career opportunities. Our food services director and new culinary teacher from Fresh & Bangin will combine their efforts to improve both our food menus and student experience. The culinary program allows the district to apply for a grant to reimburse some of our costs of the new facility.
Despite soaring costs due to the economy and local fires, the district is actively seeking funding to build the pool, tennis courts, and fitness center. Grants are being actively sought and the application for Prop 51 funding has been submitted. State Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry are working with our school board to facilitate that funding.
Safety continues to be a priority of the district. The District Safety Committee consists of Lakeport Police, Lakeport Fire Department personnel, the school resource officer, administrators, teachers, classified staff, directors, maintenance staff, the school nurse, and parents and meets monthly to deal with current issues.
The Aeries communication system allows parents to choose the method of delivery they prefer during emergencies including text, email and voice mail.
Training has been provided by the FBI for active shooters response and our school resource officer is trained in the DARE program which will be delivered to students during class.
The district is supporting systems to improve school climate as required by the California Department of Education to reduce suspensions/exclusion. We believe in teaching positive behavior and social justice as opposed to harsh punishment and exclusion.
Positive Behavior Intervention System, or PBIS, is being implemented at a higher level including more training for teachers, classified staff, bus drivers and parents.
A full-time PBIS teacher coach supports positive discipline options and restorative social justice to teach students how to repair relationships and the damage caused by negative behavior.
Lakeport Elementary School now has a sensory room for students to de-escalate when they are angry and disruptive.
Clear Lake High School has instituted an advisory period to build relationships, provide academic planning and discuss social emotional issues such as bullying.
Training will be provided for all staff on PBIS, trauma-informed care, adverse childhood effects, and de-escalation techniques to help staff deal with students who have social challenges.
Staffing changes have occurred at both the elementary and middle school. The majority of the staff changes were due to teachers moving out of the area, changing positions within the district, retirement, and credential issues.
The new teachers have a high level of support. Lake County Office of Education provided a summer institute, LUSD provides an instructional teacher coach at each school and a PBIS behavior teacher coach for the district. A wide variety of training and coaching is provided throughout the year tailored to the individual needs of the new teachers.
Our Local Control Accountability Plan is currently being implemented and we have many new and exciting programs at our schools including:
● A full-time K-12 music teacher providing chorus at all grade levels.
● Instructional teacher coaches at all schools and a PBIS behavior coach districtwide.
● Community partnership coordinator to assist parents and connect with our community.
● Dashboard teams of teachers, administration, and classified staff looking at our data and making action plans in the areas of English/language arts, math, suspension, and chronic absenteeism.
● Native American AmeriCorps social/emotional support tutor located at Terrace campus.
Dennis Darling and Tom Powers are members of the Lakeport Unified School District Board and both are seeking reelection Nov. 6.
Bond funds have provided updated facilities and technology that meets the majority of the students.
The district prioritized the central kitchen/high school cafeteria and library/media center. Students now have a place to eat and socialize during inclement weather, and they can now be served and eat during the 30-minute lunch period. Healthier food choices are served due to the facilities upgrades.
The new culinary program will provide our students with future career opportunities. Our food services director and new culinary teacher from Fresh & Bangin will combine their efforts to improve both our food menus and student experience. The culinary program allows the district to apply for a grant to reimburse some of our costs of the new facility.
Despite soaring costs due to the economy and local fires, the district is actively seeking funding to build the pool, tennis courts, and fitness center. Grants are being actively sought and the application for Prop 51 funding has been submitted. State Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry are working with our school board to facilitate that funding.
Safety continues to be a priority of the district. The District Safety Committee consists of Lakeport Police, Lakeport Fire Department personnel, the school resource officer, administrators, teachers, classified staff, directors, maintenance staff, the school nurse, and parents and meets monthly to deal with current issues.
The Aeries communication system allows parents to choose the method of delivery they prefer during emergencies including text, email and voice mail.
Training has been provided by the FBI for active shooters response and our school resource officer is trained in the DARE program which will be delivered to students during class.
The district is supporting systems to improve school climate as required by the California Department of Education to reduce suspensions/exclusion. We believe in teaching positive behavior and social justice as opposed to harsh punishment and exclusion.
Positive Behavior Intervention System, or PBIS, is being implemented at a higher level including more training for teachers, classified staff, bus drivers and parents.
A full-time PBIS teacher coach supports positive discipline options and restorative social justice to teach students how to repair relationships and the damage caused by negative behavior.
Lakeport Elementary School now has a sensory room for students to de-escalate when they are angry and disruptive.
Clear Lake High School has instituted an advisory period to build relationships, provide academic planning and discuss social emotional issues such as bullying.
Training will be provided for all staff on PBIS, trauma-informed care, adverse childhood effects, and de-escalation techniques to help staff deal with students who have social challenges.
Staffing changes have occurred at both the elementary and middle school. The majority of the staff changes were due to teachers moving out of the area, changing positions within the district, retirement, and credential issues.
The new teachers have a high level of support. Lake County Office of Education provided a summer institute, LUSD provides an instructional teacher coach at each school and a PBIS behavior teacher coach for the district. A wide variety of training and coaching is provided throughout the year tailored to the individual needs of the new teachers.
Our Local Control Accountability Plan is currently being implemented and we have many new and exciting programs at our schools including:
● A full-time K-12 music teacher providing chorus at all grade levels.
● Instructional teacher coaches at all schools and a PBIS behavior coach districtwide.
● Community partnership coordinator to assist parents and connect with our community.
● Dashboard teams of teachers, administration, and classified staff looking at our data and making action plans in the areas of English/language arts, math, suspension, and chronic absenteeism.
● Native American AmeriCorps social/emotional support tutor located at Terrace campus.
Dennis Darling and Tom Powers are members of the Lakeport Unified School District Board and both are seeking reelection Nov. 6.
- Details
- Written by: Dennis Darling and Tom Powers
As I sit here, just a few days away from the Lakeport Unified School Board election, I am extremely concerned with the divide in our community that is being caused and at times seemingly promoted by the candidates running as a “three-member team” in this election.
This “team” approach sounds favorable in theory, but do we really want decisions that directly impact our schools and students to be made as a “team”?
It is obvious to me that this three-member team has a set agenda that does not take into account any of the services or actions that our existing board members are currently addressing. I know that I want members of a board that weigh the facts and aren’t afraid to independently do what they feel is best for the district and our students.
This three-member team has not only made their action plan public by Web site, social media, newspaper and campaign propaganda, but they have even resorted to delivering numerous evening robo calls. The one thing that is surprisingly missing from the basic three-point action plan is OUR STUDENTS!
In all of the articles, phone calls and propaganda distributed, they have failed to make any mention of our students and what they are going to do to directly help them.
This same three-member team also states that they have talked to teachers, staff, volunteers and parents, but what about talking to the administrators at each site and the superintendent?
I have made it a point to attend several board meetings, PTO meetings and both Lakeport Elementary School “Conversations with the Principal” events, and most recently a Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee meeting. What I have found to be consistent with our current leadership is the transparency of information and the willingness to openly discuss difficult topics, and opening up conversations on how they can improve. The one thing that is clear in every meeting that I have attended, is that the students best interests are at the forefront of decisions.
In addition, this three-member team who openly blames the new superintendent for the downfall of this district has obviously had blinders on for the past several years and isn’t aware of the problematic indicators that the California Department of Education notified LUSD about from data prior to the 2016-17 school year.
It surprises me to read or hear statements made from individuals who have never been on campus, have not taken the initiative to research the real facts or to physically show up to these events to ask questions. It appears from recent articles that the desire of this three-member team and their supporters is to go back to the system that was in place 20 years ago that is no longer legal and is not best for the diversity of our current students.
I attended the latest Conversations with the Principal event at Lakeport Elementary, where the topic was the discipline policy and the discipline matrix that were both developed by the PBIS Team and the teaching staff over the last three years.
I was surprised by the level of detail and the focus of teaching to the whole child (academics, behavior and social-emotional). It also dispelled the comments that I have been hearing in regards to this school not suspending students and having no real consequences for poor behavior. It starts in the classroom where teachers have a clear expectation of the desired behaviors and level of consequences that are expected within the classroom environment.
It seems logical that as the behaviors increased on the matrix, the students would be referred to the office by the classroom teacher for further consequences.
If you are really questioning how things are handled, you should call and ask questions and not just assume that because changes have been made in recent years that they are negatively impacting student learning. Like anything that is new, it takes time and acceptance to make it fully functionable.
The effort and energy that was evident from the last Lakeport Elementary PTO meeting and the Conversations with the Principal that I attended, it became apparent that the staff and leadership are working together to continue to refine a system that supports all students.
I would encourage you to ask questions, do some of your own research and not fall into the trap of basing your viewpoints from hearsay that is being angled towards an already predetermined agenda endorsed by the three-member team.
Remember that our school district board should be driving their decisions around what is best for all kids and not always what is easy for the adults.
Kathy Gonzales lives in Lakeport, Calif.
This “team” approach sounds favorable in theory, but do we really want decisions that directly impact our schools and students to be made as a “team”?
It is obvious to me that this three-member team has a set agenda that does not take into account any of the services or actions that our existing board members are currently addressing. I know that I want members of a board that weigh the facts and aren’t afraid to independently do what they feel is best for the district and our students.
This three-member team has not only made their action plan public by Web site, social media, newspaper and campaign propaganda, but they have even resorted to delivering numerous evening robo calls. The one thing that is surprisingly missing from the basic three-point action plan is OUR STUDENTS!
In all of the articles, phone calls and propaganda distributed, they have failed to make any mention of our students and what they are going to do to directly help them.
This same three-member team also states that they have talked to teachers, staff, volunteers and parents, but what about talking to the administrators at each site and the superintendent?
I have made it a point to attend several board meetings, PTO meetings and both Lakeport Elementary School “Conversations with the Principal” events, and most recently a Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee meeting. What I have found to be consistent with our current leadership is the transparency of information and the willingness to openly discuss difficult topics, and opening up conversations on how they can improve. The one thing that is clear in every meeting that I have attended, is that the students best interests are at the forefront of decisions.
In addition, this three-member team who openly blames the new superintendent for the downfall of this district has obviously had blinders on for the past several years and isn’t aware of the problematic indicators that the California Department of Education notified LUSD about from data prior to the 2016-17 school year.
It surprises me to read or hear statements made from individuals who have never been on campus, have not taken the initiative to research the real facts or to physically show up to these events to ask questions. It appears from recent articles that the desire of this three-member team and their supporters is to go back to the system that was in place 20 years ago that is no longer legal and is not best for the diversity of our current students.
I attended the latest Conversations with the Principal event at Lakeport Elementary, where the topic was the discipline policy and the discipline matrix that were both developed by the PBIS Team and the teaching staff over the last three years.
I was surprised by the level of detail and the focus of teaching to the whole child (academics, behavior and social-emotional). It also dispelled the comments that I have been hearing in regards to this school not suspending students and having no real consequences for poor behavior. It starts in the classroom where teachers have a clear expectation of the desired behaviors and level of consequences that are expected within the classroom environment.
It seems logical that as the behaviors increased on the matrix, the students would be referred to the office by the classroom teacher for further consequences.
If you are really questioning how things are handled, you should call and ask questions and not just assume that because changes have been made in recent years that they are negatively impacting student learning. Like anything that is new, it takes time and acceptance to make it fully functionable.
The effort and energy that was evident from the last Lakeport Elementary PTO meeting and the Conversations with the Principal that I attended, it became apparent that the staff and leadership are working together to continue to refine a system that supports all students.
I would encourage you to ask questions, do some of your own research and not fall into the trap of basing your viewpoints from hearsay that is being angled towards an already predetermined agenda endorsed by the three-member team.
Remember that our school district board should be driving their decisions around what is best for all kids and not always what is easy for the adults.
Kathy Gonzales lives in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Kathy Gonzales
I have a lot of fond memories growing up in a small Southern California town with a community pool, tennis courts and little league fields.
Some members of our community have expressed disappointment and betrayal that there is not sufficient funds left in the Lakeport Unified School District bond to complete the Westshore Pool Complex renovations. They believe the school board has been fiscally irresponsible by not making the pool a higher priority.
Community pool operations normally don’t take in enough revenue to pay annual operating expenditures.
A few local examples are:
– The city of Ukiah has an annual budget for the operation of the Ukiah municipal swimming pools for aquatics programs and events. During the last three years, the program has had an operating deficit in excess of $350,000. The recommended annual budget for 2018-19 projects an operating deficit of $160,000.
– The Fort Bragg Aquatic Center lost significant amount of money during its first 15 months of operations. In 2010, the annual operating budget was approximately $500,000 per year while its revenue was just $334,000 per year. To keep the pool open, Fort Bragg voted a 0.50-percent sales tax increase in 2012 to fully fund the annual operations.
– The City of Lakeport provides assistance toward operating costs of the Westshore Pool complex. Lakeport has provided over $165,000 in support of operating costs for the pool during the previous three years. The 2018-2019 annual adopted budget for the city of Lakeport has reduced the level of support to $3,000. Any future operating deficits of the Westshore Pool Complex will have to be covered by the Lakeport Unified School District by reducing services to students.
The Lakeport Unified School District has demonstrated fiscal responsibility by focusing on the Measure T Bond projects that directly benefit the students.
It is also clear that the community supports the Westshore Pool complex. The sistrict has successfully partnered with the city of Lakeport in the past to help offset operating costs of the Westshore Pool complex, and to minimize the impact on student services.
Rather than making the Westshore Pool complex a divisive issue, our community would be better served by working to together to solve the financial problems often associated with a community pool.
The Mendocino Coast Recreation & Park District has successfully partnered with the city of Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Unified School District, the California Recreational Alliance and others to insure the success of its community pool.
There is no reason that our community could not do the same.
John Robertson lives in Lakeport, Calif.
Some members of our community have expressed disappointment and betrayal that there is not sufficient funds left in the Lakeport Unified School District bond to complete the Westshore Pool Complex renovations. They believe the school board has been fiscally irresponsible by not making the pool a higher priority.
Community pool operations normally don’t take in enough revenue to pay annual operating expenditures.
A few local examples are:
– The city of Ukiah has an annual budget for the operation of the Ukiah municipal swimming pools for aquatics programs and events. During the last three years, the program has had an operating deficit in excess of $350,000. The recommended annual budget for 2018-19 projects an operating deficit of $160,000.
– The Fort Bragg Aquatic Center lost significant amount of money during its first 15 months of operations. In 2010, the annual operating budget was approximately $500,000 per year while its revenue was just $334,000 per year. To keep the pool open, Fort Bragg voted a 0.50-percent sales tax increase in 2012 to fully fund the annual operations.
– The City of Lakeport provides assistance toward operating costs of the Westshore Pool complex. Lakeport has provided over $165,000 in support of operating costs for the pool during the previous three years. The 2018-2019 annual adopted budget for the city of Lakeport has reduced the level of support to $3,000. Any future operating deficits of the Westshore Pool Complex will have to be covered by the Lakeport Unified School District by reducing services to students.
The Lakeport Unified School District has demonstrated fiscal responsibility by focusing on the Measure T Bond projects that directly benefit the students.
It is also clear that the community supports the Westshore Pool complex. The sistrict has successfully partnered with the city of Lakeport in the past to help offset operating costs of the Westshore Pool complex, and to minimize the impact on student services.
Rather than making the Westshore Pool complex a divisive issue, our community would be better served by working to together to solve the financial problems often associated with a community pool.
The Mendocino Coast Recreation & Park District has successfully partnered with the city of Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Unified School District, the California Recreational Alliance and others to insure the success of its community pool.
There is no reason that our community could not do the same.
John Robertson lives in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: John Robertson
With just a few more days to go until Election Day, I am writing to the voters of Lake County to say, “thank you.” Thank you for voting for me for Superior Court judge. Even if you did not vote for me, thank for voting. You still have a few more days to return your ballots or to vote in person on Nov. 6.
Since I filed to run for office back in January, I have worked every day to travel to all parts of the county to meet as many of you as possible. You have welcomed me with open arms, from that first campaign visit I made to a chili cookoff in Spring Valley to last weekend where I attended the Harvest Festival in Clearlake, the Halloween event in Loch Lomond, the Animal Coalition Dinner at the Moose Lodge and knocking on doors in Hidden Valley – and everything in between.
You have asked me wonderful questions and provided invaluable insight. You have made me dig deeper into issues – mental health courts, homeless issues, what the no money bail and new cannabis law impacts will be on the judicial system, and how you would really like to see the court system be more streamlined for ease of use. I look forward to meeting with additional community leaders on these issues and working to find more state funding going forward.
In June, you rewarded me by making me the top vote winner in the primary race against two opponents who had previously run for public office. As there was no majority winner, I began again the weeknights and weekends of reaching out to even more voters for the runoff election ending on Nov. 6.
None of this could have happened without the help of my family members. Between my full-time job as Lake County deputy county counsel and raising my 6-year old daughter, their help in placing all of my campaign signs, keeping track of all of my campaign finances and filling my campaign reports, and spending endless hours watching over my daughter helped me have sufficient time to devote to running a professional campaign. The same can be said of an early group of supporters, who provided invaluable advice and sufficient initial funding to allow me to pursue my goal of being a Lake County judge.
From the very beginning, my campaign has been completely transparent to the voters. Day by day anyone could watch the list of endorsements growing on my Web site – www.electshandaharryjudge.com/endorsements – and all of my financial reports have been filed online so that donors and the amount they gave and all monies expended are available for all to see: http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Misc/filerSearch.aspx?SEARCH=Shanda+harry .
I am proud of and grateful to all who have supported and endorsed me – you come from all economic, political, religious and ethnic backgrounds, all ages, all locations. In this time of political strife, it’s a comfort to know we can come together around a candidate in a nonpartisan judicial race. And also, to know that if I am the one to step onto the bench in January, I will do so with tremendous support from the community.
And that support comes not because people think they will get some “favor” from me when I become a judge but because they have deep confidence in my education, experience and abilities to feel sure that I will be an ethical judge who will treat all people in my courtroom with dignity and respect and I will make fair and impartial decisions according to the law.
Thank you, Lake County.
Shanda Harry is candidate for Lake County Superior Court judge. She lives in Lakeport, Calif.
Since I filed to run for office back in January, I have worked every day to travel to all parts of the county to meet as many of you as possible. You have welcomed me with open arms, from that first campaign visit I made to a chili cookoff in Spring Valley to last weekend where I attended the Harvest Festival in Clearlake, the Halloween event in Loch Lomond, the Animal Coalition Dinner at the Moose Lodge and knocking on doors in Hidden Valley – and everything in between.
You have asked me wonderful questions and provided invaluable insight. You have made me dig deeper into issues – mental health courts, homeless issues, what the no money bail and new cannabis law impacts will be on the judicial system, and how you would really like to see the court system be more streamlined for ease of use. I look forward to meeting with additional community leaders on these issues and working to find more state funding going forward.
In June, you rewarded me by making me the top vote winner in the primary race against two opponents who had previously run for public office. As there was no majority winner, I began again the weeknights and weekends of reaching out to even more voters for the runoff election ending on Nov. 6.
None of this could have happened without the help of my family members. Between my full-time job as Lake County deputy county counsel and raising my 6-year old daughter, their help in placing all of my campaign signs, keeping track of all of my campaign finances and filling my campaign reports, and spending endless hours watching over my daughter helped me have sufficient time to devote to running a professional campaign. The same can be said of an early group of supporters, who provided invaluable advice and sufficient initial funding to allow me to pursue my goal of being a Lake County judge.
From the very beginning, my campaign has been completely transparent to the voters. Day by day anyone could watch the list of endorsements growing on my Web site – www.electshandaharryjudge.com/endorsements – and all of my financial reports have been filed online so that donors and the amount they gave and all monies expended are available for all to see: http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Misc/filerSearch.aspx?SEARCH=Shanda+harry .
I am proud of and grateful to all who have supported and endorsed me – you come from all economic, political, religious and ethnic backgrounds, all ages, all locations. In this time of political strife, it’s a comfort to know we can come together around a candidate in a nonpartisan judicial race. And also, to know that if I am the one to step onto the bench in January, I will do so with tremendous support from the community.
And that support comes not because people think they will get some “favor” from me when I become a judge but because they have deep confidence in my education, experience and abilities to feel sure that I will be an ethical judge who will treat all people in my courtroom with dignity and respect and I will make fair and impartial decisions according to the law.
Thank you, Lake County.
Shanda Harry is candidate for Lake County Superior Court judge. She lives in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Shanda Harry