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Opinion
Wednesday morning at 10:04 a.m., I received a very odd notification text on my phone that the Terrace Middle School principal was on leave and that it was a confidential personnel matter, but, not to worry, Lakeport Unified School District has this covered.
Frankly, I do not think so.
The Terrace Middle School principal, Mrs. Rachel Paarsch, has been nothing short of amazing in her time at the school.
I have had a very conflicted relationship with this school district (including my wife and I settling a lawsuit against the school district).
Recently, Mrs. Paarsch was hired to be the principal of Terrace Middle School and since her hire date, my relationship with the school and its employees has improved immensely. I credit this mainly to Mrs. Paarsch’ s willingness to reach out and invite our family to be part of the school community and ensure that we felt safe in our interactions with school employees.
Our schools need people who give their professional experience as well as giving of themselves. I find Mrs. Paarsch to be a perfect example of that – and I have observed improvements since she arrived in the behavior of the students at the school, the morale of the teachers and staff, and have felt a general positive feeling while on school grounds.
Again, her willingness to reach out to my family and invite us back into the school community has been incredibly healing for myself and my children. Lake County needs more devoted, caring, and passionate people like Mrs. Paarsch.
While I applaud LUSD’s forethought and fantastic choice in hiring Mrs. Paarsch as the principal for Terrace Middle School, I strongly question the sudden and unforeseen leave of this experienced, capable and caring principal from our school district.
Though I will not be able to attend the school board meeting Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., I encourage all caring parents and community members to attend and make it clear to the board that this community supports Mrs. Paarsch.
If this is how we treat our treasured and hardworking school administrators, who would ever decide to come to this district and teach our students?
Sarah C. Billig is a parent and resident of north Lakeport, Calif.
Frankly, I do not think so.
The Terrace Middle School principal, Mrs. Rachel Paarsch, has been nothing short of amazing in her time at the school.
I have had a very conflicted relationship with this school district (including my wife and I settling a lawsuit against the school district).
Recently, Mrs. Paarsch was hired to be the principal of Terrace Middle School and since her hire date, my relationship with the school and its employees has improved immensely. I credit this mainly to Mrs. Paarsch’ s willingness to reach out and invite our family to be part of the school community and ensure that we felt safe in our interactions with school employees.
Our schools need people who give their professional experience as well as giving of themselves. I find Mrs. Paarsch to be a perfect example of that – and I have observed improvements since she arrived in the behavior of the students at the school, the morale of the teachers and staff, and have felt a general positive feeling while on school grounds.
Again, her willingness to reach out to my family and invite us back into the school community has been incredibly healing for myself and my children. Lake County needs more devoted, caring, and passionate people like Mrs. Paarsch.
While I applaud LUSD’s forethought and fantastic choice in hiring Mrs. Paarsch as the principal for Terrace Middle School, I strongly question the sudden and unforeseen leave of this experienced, capable and caring principal from our school district.
Though I will not be able to attend the school board meeting Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., I encourage all caring parents and community members to attend and make it clear to the board that this community supports Mrs. Paarsch.
If this is how we treat our treasured and hardworking school administrators, who would ever decide to come to this district and teach our students?
Sarah C. Billig is a parent and resident of north Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Sarah C. Billig
My name is Dan Buffalo and I am running for the Lakeport Unified School District Governing Board.
My wife, Megan [Casey], grew up in Lakeport. She introduced me to Lake County, and we decided to make it our family’s home, loving every moment since.
I have a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and a master’s degree from USC. I am a certified public accountant (CPA) and serve as the chief financial officer for the City of Ukiah, responsible for managing an $83 million budget. Formerly, I had the privilege of serving as the finance director for the city of Lakeport.
Over the course of my 13 years as a professional in local government, I developed a record of building successful teams and organizations.
I am a proud father of three wonderful children – two who currently attend Lakeport Unified schools.
One of the reasons we moved to Lakeport was the quality of those schools, which had a reputation for attracting great teachers and offering excellent academic programs.
Education is something I value greatly. I come from a family of educators, and I married into a family of educators. I am also an adjunct professor at Mendocino College, Lake County Center.
The practice of education is a part of me, and it has provided me with a valuable perspective.
I chose to run for Lakeport School Board because the decisions this board will make over the next two years – and the next decade – will have a direct impact on our community.
Our businesses depend on a capable workforce. Our hospitals, police and fire departments rely on well-educated doctors, nurses, officers, and firefighters. Our neighborhoods grow stronger and more secure because of good schools.
There are three important aspects of my platform:
Great people: Good schools start with great people. We need to support, retain, and recruit outstanding teachers, volunteers, and administrators. We need to promote a culture of respect and dignity. And we need to foster a learning environment that is safe, secure, and free of Distraction.
Classroom resources: Experienced teachers know best how to deliver a lesson and make their students successful. We must trust them, and provide important resources. This means securing materials, supplies, and services teachers need to instruct, and students need to learn. For our younger students, this includes providing aides in the classroom to mitigate
disruptions to learning, enhancing volunteerism, and encouraging greater parent-teacher collaboration.
Smart money: I will honor the will of our community as to how district resources are best spent. I will fight to appropriate every dollar in its budget (including bond money) to maximize the educational value to our students. This includes funding for academics, athletics, and activities that teach basic life skills. We can afford nothing less.
With your support, I believe we can affect positive change on a school district in need of new energy, new ideas, and a commitment to do what’s best for students and the community.
I have the expertise, insight, and perspective to find the right solutions to fix our district’s problems – always with the best interests of our students and community’s concerns at heart.
Please join in voting for Dan Buffalo, Jennifer Hanson and Carly Alvord on Nov. 6. Together, we will be able to make a big positive change for our schools.
Get more information at www.fixLUSD.com or contact me directly at
Dan Buffalo lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Dan Buffalo
I have known Shanda Harry for more than 10 years and can’t think of anyone more suited to be the next Lake County Superior Court judge.
I first met Shanda Harry when we were both hired to be prosecutors at the Lake County District Attorney’s Office and I was immediately impressed with her keen legal mind and strong sense of justice.
Shanda also has an innate ability to defuse stressful situations with her calm and capable demeanor.
Shanda introduced me to my husband and we have been friends for over 10 years now. We both chose to raise our families in this community and Shanda is dedicated to keeping Lake County safe.
I know that she will work hard every day to make sure that everyone who appears before her is treated with fairness and dignity.
Join me in voting for Shanda Harry for Lake County Superior Court judge on Nov. 6.
Megan Lankford is an attorney. She lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
I first met Shanda Harry when we were both hired to be prosecutors at the Lake County District Attorney’s Office and I was immediately impressed with her keen legal mind and strong sense of justice.
Shanda also has an innate ability to defuse stressful situations with her calm and capable demeanor.
Shanda introduced me to my husband and we have been friends for over 10 years now. We both chose to raise our families in this community and Shanda is dedicated to keeping Lake County safe.
I know that she will work hard every day to make sure that everyone who appears before her is treated with fairness and dignity.
Join me in voting for Shanda Harry for Lake County Superior Court judge on Nov. 6.
Megan Lankford is an attorney. She lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Megan Lankford
The fear, anger and outrage felt by activists on the left was on full display during the raucous Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Democratic Senate Judiciary Committee members acknowledged and affirmed the activists’ voices.
Democrats expressed numerous doubts and concerns and concluded that Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court is not merely a threat mind you, but a direct and fundamental threat to equal justice for all Americans.
Then an allegation from the nominee’s distant past surfaced. An opportunity to derail Kavanaugh’s nomination and tarnish his otherwise exemplary life and exceptional career: kill two birds with one stone. Suddenly, I can see the upside to my unremarkable and modest life.
What of those grave dangers to me and you if Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed? Many are extravagant exaggerations right from the Democratic Party’s playbook.
Their biased opinions of how Judge Kavanaugh may or may not rule on matters before the court conjure up memories of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy excoriating conservative Judge Robert Bork on the Senate floor during Bork’s confirmation battle in 1987.
It might be politically expedient and popular with some for the Dems to invoke fear in those following the hearings. However, in my opinion, their fears are not commensurate with the situation.
In response to their dire predictions for the Affordable Care Act if Kavanaugh is confirmed, I believe we can all agree that the ACA is not without its flaws or detractors.
Let me begin at ground zero: its enactment. This law passed without a single Republican vote. Furthermore, recent polling data by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows 50 percent view the law favorably, 40 percent unfavorably and 10 percent have no opinion.
Furthermore, I take exception to predictions that Judge Kavanaugh’s presence on the court will, over time, result in invalidation of the ACA.
At its worst, this might be seen as a calculated smarmy attempt to capitalize on the fears and frustrations shared by most Americans with our health care system. And the ACA is part and parcel to our broken health care delivery apparatus.
I believe this highly qualified nominee could potentially pave the way for more sorely needed incremental improvements to the system.
For example, I support efforts in Arkansas to phase in work requirements or other eligibility requirements for those able-bodied childless young adults receiving Medicaid. Arkansans who are working, volunteering, going to school or looking for a job at least 80 hours a month meet the threshold.
My understanding is Judge Kavanaugh’s dissent in 2011 in Seven-Sky v. Holder was based on technical, jurisdictional grounds. At the time, conservatives decried his failure to declare outright the ACA unconstitutional.
He has also focused attention on the legal idea of “severability” while opining on ACA issues during meetings with senators prior to the hearings. This doctrine says that even if one part of the law is found invalid, the rest could still stand.
Judge Kavanaugh’s critics have said he would not faithfully apply our nation’s laws nor guarantee equal justice under the law for all Americans. I disagree.
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
Democrats expressed numerous doubts and concerns and concluded that Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court is not merely a threat mind you, but a direct and fundamental threat to equal justice for all Americans.
Then an allegation from the nominee’s distant past surfaced. An opportunity to derail Kavanaugh’s nomination and tarnish his otherwise exemplary life and exceptional career: kill two birds with one stone. Suddenly, I can see the upside to my unremarkable and modest life.
What of those grave dangers to me and you if Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed? Many are extravagant exaggerations right from the Democratic Party’s playbook.
Their biased opinions of how Judge Kavanaugh may or may not rule on matters before the court conjure up memories of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy excoriating conservative Judge Robert Bork on the Senate floor during Bork’s confirmation battle in 1987.
It might be politically expedient and popular with some for the Dems to invoke fear in those following the hearings. However, in my opinion, their fears are not commensurate with the situation.
In response to their dire predictions for the Affordable Care Act if Kavanaugh is confirmed, I believe we can all agree that the ACA is not without its flaws or detractors.
Let me begin at ground zero: its enactment. This law passed without a single Republican vote. Furthermore, recent polling data by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows 50 percent view the law favorably, 40 percent unfavorably and 10 percent have no opinion.
Furthermore, I take exception to predictions that Judge Kavanaugh’s presence on the court will, over time, result in invalidation of the ACA.
At its worst, this might be seen as a calculated smarmy attempt to capitalize on the fears and frustrations shared by most Americans with our health care system. And the ACA is part and parcel to our broken health care delivery apparatus.
I believe this highly qualified nominee could potentially pave the way for more sorely needed incremental improvements to the system.
For example, I support efforts in Arkansas to phase in work requirements or other eligibility requirements for those able-bodied childless young adults receiving Medicaid. Arkansans who are working, volunteering, going to school or looking for a job at least 80 hours a month meet the threshold.
My understanding is Judge Kavanaugh’s dissent in 2011 in Seven-Sky v. Holder was based on technical, jurisdictional grounds. At the time, conservatives decried his failure to declare outright the ACA unconstitutional.
He has also focused attention on the legal idea of “severability” while opining on ACA issues during meetings with senators prior to the hearings. This doctrine says that even if one part of the law is found invalid, the rest could still stand.
Judge Kavanaugh’s critics have said he would not faithfully apply our nation’s laws nor guarantee equal justice under the law for all Americans. I disagree.
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Mike Tabacchi