Saving Coach O’Brien: Letter writing campaign to keep the city paying for Masters Swim coach position

The City Council will continue its discussion about which programs to keep—and which to ax—as it tries to balance the budget.  Members of the city’s nationally recognized Masters Swim Team continue to voice their hope that their beloved coach, Kerry O’Brien, keeps his job.

Masters Team swim members pleaded their cause at the City Council meeting two weeks ago. Now they have flooded the council—sorry, couldn’t avoid this verb—with letters, presenting their reasons for why the team isn’t just good for the team’s some 500 swimmers, but for the city, too. 

The city proposes to discontinue funding for O’Brien and the assistant coaches. The team has more than 300 members, adults of all abilities from their 20s to seniors. They joined the team to swim for fitness and for competition. Many rise early to make their daily practices at Clarke Memorial Swim Center at Heather Farm. O’Brien has been coaching the team since 1980 and is himself an accomplished butterflier who competes in the 45-49 age group.

“The Walnut Creek Masters Team plays a vital role in making Walnut Creek the top desired location in the Bay Area for new residents and visotrs. The number one reason why people love Walnut Creek is because of its healthy, competitive sports and outdoor recreation lifestyle.

If the city does not fund the coaches, WCM may need to let them go because our dues cannot cover the cost of their employment,” write brothers Jon and Ben Luchesse

Many on the team reside right here in the city, there are some who travel great distances.

Walnut Creek business also directly benefit from a strong, robust [masters swim team]. We patronize the city’s swim and sporting goods stores. We regularly gather after practice. …

It is well known that most residents and visitors to our city are drawn here for our unmatched outdoor, recreational and sporting activities. Some may think it’s the shopping, but really many of the stores in Broadway Plaza are the same ones you can find at nearby malls. What really makes Walnut Creek unique is that it is the perfect place for competitive and recreational athletes.  Where else can one get top-notch swim instruction, in a beautiful swim facility, under the sentinel of Mt. Diablo?”

Rob Butcher, executive director of U.S. Masters Swimming writes: “More than 30 years ago, the city pioneered a partnership with Walnut Creek Masters that today is being modeled across the country. Your partnership included empoying Kerry O’Brien as a masters swimming coach. You partnership signaled a commitment tot he citizens of WC to offer and adult swimming lifestyle program that would be accessible and make a difference in the quality of their lives.”

One team member said she moved to Walnut Creek for the sole purpose of swimming on the masters team. She also made important friends on the team. “Best of all, I found a partner and we have been married for 15 years. My husband and I have two children who are swimmers as well—this has all been a direct result of the masters!”

The council is set to finalize its budget by June 15. 

Reminder: School bands and choral groups perform to save Mt. Diablo music programs

Bands, orchestras and vocal groups from elementary, middle and high schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District will perform today at the All Area Music Festival.

The event takes place, starting at 2 p.m., at Concord's Sleep Train Pavilion. Tickets are available at the box office starting at 1 p.m. and are $12 for adults and $6 for students. The event is sponsored by the Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation, which is trying to save music classes in the district's schools.

Twenty-five music teachers in the district, including the director of Northgate High's acclaimed music program, learned at the district's meeting this week that they would be laid off. The district is making the cuts in response to the state budget crisis. The district is also looking to eliminate fifth grade music.

Measure A passing

With all 37 precincts reporting, more than 68 percent of  voters said "yes" to Measure A, a $112-per-parcel tax to help high schools in the state-budget-stricken Acalanes Union High School District save teachers' jobs and core academic and elective programs.

A few hours after polls closed, the Contra Costa County Elections office reports that 68.5 percent of voters said yes in the special mail-in ballot. The measure needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

County election officials told the Contra Costa Times that ballots counted as of 8 p.m. Tuesday did not reflect ballots that had been delivered to the office Tuesday. Elections officials said they would begin counting uncounted ballots Wedesday and come up with the final tally Friday.

Measure A would bring in to the school district about $3.8 million a year over the next five years. The district is facing a $4.8 million shortfall. The district already has a $189 parcel tax that voters decided to extend indefinitely in November. 

NOTE: Well, it looks like my Crazy poll, which you can still see at left, was pretty close and a pretty good crystal ball. When I finally, with the help of a reader, did the calculations correct, my poll said that Measure A would pass with 69.5 percent of the vote.  That's just a point off what the yes vote was, calculated by the county Elections Department.

Big student rally and performances in Lafayette Sunday to protect arts and elective programs in Walnut Creek and Lamorinda high schools

My sixth-grade son recently said he was looking forward to going to school at Las Lomas, because he had heard there would be a creative writing class there. But that class might not be there when he gets to Las Lomas. It might not be there next year. The teacher says the class will get cut if the Measure A parcel tax does not pass.

Measure A is an emergency $112-per-parcel tax for property owners in the Acalanes Union High School District, which includes Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek. The district has had to cut its budget by $8 million over the past three years and is looking to eliminate more than 50 teaching positions. Those cuts will mean the loss of science, foreign language, English, social studies, arts and mathematics classes. They could also mean the loss of seventh period. The district has already decided to close Del Oro, its well-regarded alternative high schol.

Measure A, if approved via a mail-in ballot due May 4, will bring in about $4 million to the district each year.  This parcel tax would sunset in five years and be paid in addition to the current $189 parcel tax, which voters extended indefinitely in November.

Students from throughout the district performed music, drama skits, and public speaking at a rally in Lafayette's Downtown Plaza. One of those students was Emily Shearer, a senior at Acalanes High who is a member of the school's award-winning Mock Trial team. She spoke about how participating in mock trial, the environmental club, and Science Bowl have taught her team work, critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership.She adds  her accomplishments in these extracurricular programs gave her an edge when she applied for college--her experiences won her admittance to top universities.

John Stockton, in an e-mail to parents, wrote about the value of performing arts classes. He said they are often taken for granted but that they provide numerous benefits to students:

--Student overall academic achievement improves by participation in performing arts programs.

--Dedicated adult role models and peer support provide a positive emotional growth environment for students.

--Time management and teamwork qualities are promoted and enhance the development of the total student.

--Studies show a correlation between development of artistic skills and success in core academic areas such as math.

As the advanced boys and girls choral groups from Campolindo High school performaned Glee TV show-quality numbers, I thought of what my son and other kids would lose if they couldn't do this sort of music class or drama or studio art.

I also thought of what he would get out of a creative writing class that he wouldn't get out of a regular English class. Not surprisingly, I'm a fan of creative writing classes, and I think they are helpful to avowed non-writers, people who don't see themselves as aspiring Stephen Kings or Sylvia Plaths. The thing is, even non-writers, willl have to be able to write at various points in their lives--college essays, business memos and proposals where they have to communicate their ideas.

The teacher told me how her creative writing class allows students to express themselves in ways they don't get to do in a regular English class, where they are usually locked into writing persuasive essays in that tightly controlled structure.In creative writing, these students get to express themselves, through stories, poems, and free writing.

I've seen how this kind of self-expression can free up kids--and adults--to play, experiment, and find their own voice. It can help people become comfortable with writing, and the more people become comfortable with writing, and free up their own voice, the easier it becomes for them to articulate their ideas.

Students rally to save arts, electives and other programs in our schools

State budget cuts are threatening to cut English, science, foreign language, social studies, mathematics and arts classes in the Acalanes Union High School District. The elective programs at risk are studio art, academic decathlon, band, choral music, drama, digital design, mock trial, public speaking, student newspapers.

State budget cuts are also threatening fourth and fifth grade instrumental music programs in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District.

To save these programs, Acalanes district students will be holding a rally in downtown Lafayette Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. They are asking property owners who reside within the district’s boundaries to support the $112-per parcel Measure A tax. For more information about the rally, or Measure A, check out the About Measure A website. 

Join us at this one of a kind event, brought to you by students, teachers, administrators, and parents working together to celebrate our excellent schools. Come support all students – your kids, friends, and neighbors – and the extraordinary programs currently at risk. Bring the whole family!

Meanwhile, the Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation is offering you the chance to win a cruise for four to Vancouver, or a five-day, four-night vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida.  

A $10 donation buys you won chance to win one of these prizes. A $20 donation buys you three chances to win. And so on… The seven-night Disney cruise to Florida is valued at $9,000. Make your donations now, and find out on May 15, during a drawing at the MDMEF Musical Festival at Sleep Train Pavilion whether you and your family won. To donate, go to the foundation's website. 

Mt. Diablo school board to make more cuts tonight

The Mt. Diablo School Board is expected to vote tonight on cutting 11 non-teaching positions and scaling back the workdays of about 125 school office workers.

These cuts are seen as a compromise worked out after the district said it needed to slash the jobs of 23 school secretaries to save $1.1 million a year, the Contra Costa Times reports. The district needs to cut $31 million over the next four years, and is also looking at instituting furlough days and eliminating three days from this school year.

The new reductions would save more than $1.4 million and specifically involve cutting the positions of three operations and maintenance workers, eight adult education employees and reducing the hours and workdays of elementary school secretaries, office managers, and middle and high school office employees.

The meeting takes place 7:30 p.m. at the district offices, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord. 

Teacher pink slips have gone out: Are you concerned about favorite teachers or other school employees not having jobs next year?

The number is huge: 23,000.  That's the number of pink slips that have gone out over the past week to public school teachers and certified employees across the state, due to some pretty savage education budget cuts. Districts had until Monday to issue notices to teachers, telling them they may not have jobs next year.

But behind that number are many individuals working in public schools in Walnut Creek and surrounding communities. These are individuals who have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of our kids. We've all had the experience of our kids dealing with the "bad" teacher. More often, we've seen what happens to our kids' confidence, learning, and enthusiasm for learning when they have a good teacher.

I've been hearing some pretty sad stories over the past few days. There is the husband and wife, who had some 10 years' or more teaching experience between them, who lost their jobs last year in one East Bay district. They relocated this school year to another district. But because they didn't have any kind of seniority with their new employer, they're going through the pink slip blues for a second year in a row.  They have two young kids.

I also heard about a popular shop teacher at a local high school who just received his pink slip. Sure, we live in an era that stresses high GPAs and SAT scores, especially in some of our more high-achieving school communities. I can see people making the argument that in tight budget times electives like shop should be low on the priority list. Better that shop classes get cut instead of AP math, right?

Not so fast. 

The thing is, not all kids are Ivy League-bound or fit that super-achiever mold. Some kids have other talents. The sort of technical education that kids learn in shop can be very useful in life and in the ability to get out and earn a good leaving--and to be a productive member of our community. I've also heard that this particular teacher was very good at working with those kids who didn't feel like they quite fit in. His class was giving these kids good reason to stay in school, feel good about themselves, and accomplish things.

I'm sure you've heard some bad news about a favorite teacher who may not have a job next year--and you're not happy about it.

Feel free to share, but don't post the teacher's name, or mention anything that would too easily identify them, as I understand not all teachers want this news broadcast. On the other hand, if the news is general knowledge ... Use your best judgment. Also fee free to privately e-mail me the name and school of the teacher.  I could follow up and see if that teacher would be interesting in sharing his or her story with Crazy readers.

Mt. Diablo school board OKs tough budget cuts, including 200 teacher layoffs and shortening the school year

About 400 parents, teachers and staff packed the cafeteria at Monte Gardens Elementary Tuesday night, as the Mt. Diablo Unified School District board began to make painful decisions about programs and jobs to cut.

The district has to cut $48 million over the next four years. KTVU reports that trustees went through proposed reductions item by item. As of late Tuesday evening, trustees had approved "reductions to special education, adult education, summer school sessions, hours worked by office and maintenance workers as well as shortening the school year to cut costs."

"As a result of the decisions, some 200 teachers, librarians, counselors and others can expect layoff notices Monday," KTVU further reported.

The board also decided to and to move forward with a $348 million facilities bond measure in June.

These cuts will likely mean raising class sizes and shortening the school year by as many as five days. In order to save 19 clerical and maintenance jobs, some workers would see a work day reduced from eight hours to six hours, resulting in 10 fewer work days a year.

Outpouring of concern about Walnut Creek Intermediate students' safety and well-being not enough to save vice principal's position

Parents, teachers, and staff packed into the Walnut Creek School Board chambers Monday night to voice concerns about the proposed $1 million in cuts the district says it must make to stay solvent over the next few years. They were especially concerned about the loss of one particular position: one of two vice principals at Walnut Creek Intermediate.


Those who spoke talked about how Bridget Vorhees, the vice principal whose job was at stake, provides an absolutely vital function at the school. Like her counterpart, Kevin Honey, Vorhees doesn't just take care of discipline. She gets to know students, and provides the kind of counseling and support that some kids need to "stop from going down the wrong path," some parents said.


Having two vice principals at the 1,120-student campus is essential to maintaining a safe environment for all kids, teachers and staff. In an e-mail sent out to parents, PTA president Liz Bettis said "one VP is simply not enough to handle potential problems effectively. We are so fortunate as our VPs at WCI know our students by name even if they are not in their part of the alphabet."


Another parent, said, "Everyone one of those kids will suffer next year without the second vice principal.


The five school board members all expressed deep regret at having to make this kind of cut. "I'm frustrated that we even have to consider it," said Arthur Clarke. He said the district, like all other districts throughout the state in this tough budget times, is facing more than a rainy day kind of situation--which would allow it to get by by dipping into the district's rainy day fund. "This is a monsoon. It is been going on for two years, and it is likely to last two more years."


Superintendent Patty Wool said the district has to make these cuts now; the district is "deficit spending" in the amount of $1 million a year. In a couple years, it could become insolvent, and the state would have to step in and take over.


Board member Katie Pena became emotional and began to cry: "This is so painful, and it hurts so much to make these kinds of cuts."


Despite acknowledging the pain, board members unanimously voted to eliminate Vorhees' job. Another painful cut was the tech support position. 


The board also approved still other cuts on a list devised by a Budget Review Committee: two days of furloughs for teachers, reductions in hours and pay for special education teachers, and cutting one coach’s position.  With these cuts class sizes would go to: grades K-3, 25:1; grades 4-5, 28:1; and cap the middle school core classes at 32:1.


Board member Barbara Pennington called these sorts of cuts "criminal," while Dan Walden said: "I take no pleasure in doing what we need to do."

Mt. Diablo district to consider 200 lay-offs and cutting three days from the school year

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District board will vote Tuesday on making $48.8 million in cuts over the next four years that could lead to laying off 200 credentialed employees, shortening the school year, and making more than $8 million in cuts to special education.

The Contra Costa Times also said that trustees would consider placing a $348 million bond measure on the June 8 ballot.

Day of Action for students and teachers to protest statewide school budget cuts

The Mt. Diablo Education Association is organizating several demonstrations of students, teachers, and staff today  to protest $17 billion in state budget cuts to schools and colleges over the past two years.

These Mt. Diablo Unified efforts are part of March 4 Statewide Day of Action involving demonstrations around the state, including on college campuses such as UC Berkeley. A march and rally will take place in front of San Francisco' City Hall this evening.


These demonstrations are expected to be underway in various places around the state, starting soon.  In the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, students, staff and teachers at Clayton Valley High School were scheduled to begin their demonstration outside the school at 7 a.m. After-school demonstrations will take place at the following locations, according to the Mt. Diablo Education Association blog: Ygnacio Valley Rd and Oak Grove; Treat and Clayton Rd; and Monument and Contra Costa Boulevard.
 
Organizers note that "entire art,  music and PE programs have been eliminated, more than 16,000 educators were laid off, and large California corporations enjoyed tax breaks."

"This year, in the wake of all these cuts, our students and schools are being threatened again. We can’t let that happen."

Just this week, the Mt. Diablo school board is contemplating making $6 million in cuts every year to its $71-million-a-year special education program. Those cuts could mean that the district would eliminate the positions of 37 special education teachers and 65 special education assistants, according to the Mayor of Claycord. It could also mean that teachers in  classrooms would need to be trained to accommodate special education students in their non-special education classrooms.

Walnut Creek schools district cuts proposed: Class sizes may be affected, a middle school vice principal position eliminated, teacher furloughs instituted

Walnut Creek School District Superintendent Patty Wool sent out this bulletin to parents, letting them know about recommendations made by a Budget Review Committee to cut $1 million from the 2010-11 academic year budget.  These recommended cuts will be presented to the school board on March 8.

As Wool says: "Due to dwindling state funds to school districts, the Walnut Creek School District must cut $1 million dollars from its budget for the 2010-11 school year. During February, three groups--employees, managers, and parents--met separately and created three different cost containment lists. Then on February 24, the Budget Review Committee--comprised of two school board members, two principals, the superintendent, the chief business official, two parents, three classified employees, and four teachers--met and created the 'Draft Cost Containment List' that will be presented to the Governing Board on March 8."

Here are some highlights (or lowlights, rather) of the "Draft Cost Containment List":

District Office Savings:

--Superintendent Secretary, 20 percent, $18,990
--Director of Facilities 20 percent, $24,066 as of Sept 1
--Tech Support, $73,808
--Purchasing, $29,447

--Sub Coordinator, $30,318

--No Summer School (Regular Ed), $35,000

TOTAL: Around $200,000 

Special Education Savings

--Contracted Speech Therapist, $16,000

--School Psych .10, $8,403

--Para-three hour, $8,791 (no lay off)

--Speech therapist .4, $32,323

--Guest speech program, $12,529

--Change of student placement, $33,700

TOTAL: around $100,000

Staff and teacher salary savings--Furlough, 2 days (One staff development day; one student day), $200,000

--Reduce 1 Middle School vice principal, $120,000

--Reduce one Coach, (If State budget crisis continues, cut coach program entirely for 2011-12) $80,000

--25 percent cut from SIP, $50,000

Class sizes and related issues

--Efficiently fill classes to ratios implemented in 2009-10, $260,000-$300,000

--25:1 K-3

--28:1 4-5

--Cap middle school core at 32:1

--Eliminate the Walnut Creek Intermediate chair prep period, $48,000

Savings to be Worked On:

--Medi-Cal Billing, $100,000

--Mats & amp; Uniforms $20,000

--Food Served at Events: $2,000

--Strategic Planning, $7,000

--Subbing: Managers to Sub 10-11, $3,000

--Roto Rooter: $4,000

--Facility Use/Contracts - Renegotiate. Amount TBD

--Close district office every Friday/employees work 10-hour days: $1,000

Wool concludes by saying: "We regret that any of these cuts are necessary; however, we need to make these cuts so that the Walnut Creek School District will be able to remain solvent in these difficult fiscal times."