Happy Father’s Day East County!
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 16, No. 25
Anello finalist for AUSD superintendent Stephanie Anello, interim superintendent for the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD), has been named as a finalist for the district’s superintendent. The board will consider a contract for Anello at their June 22 meeting. There were 20 qualified candidates, seven of whom were interviewed by the board. After a full search using Leadership Associates, the board selected Anello due not only to her extensive experience during her 18 years of employment with Antioch Unified School District, but also her seven months of accomplishments as the interim superintendent. Her experience in AUSD as a classroom teacher, vice principal, principal, director, associate superintendent and interim superintendent makes Anello uniquely qualified to lead the district. Since taking the helm in November, Anello has successfully negotiated teacher and classified contracts; taken decisive action to integrate special-education stu-
ANELLO dents into current and new AUSD programs by opening the Bidwell Center; and has made several difficult decisions to better align spending with current rev-
enues. Additionally, she has successfully ensured that district initiatives are more publicly transparent. While doing so, she has adeptly employed positive social media and established robust media relationships and city partnerships to highlight the many positive activities happening in our schools. “Stephanie Anello is a respected educator and leader with a proven track record of implementing reforms and improving student achievement,” said AUSD Board President Diane Gibson-Gray. “She has fostered strong parent and community partnerships, as well as strong relationships with AUSD’s employee groups; all of which publically endorsed her for the position. These strong relationships, coupled with her vision for AUSD, will allow Stephanie to more quickly and efficiently continue the district’s forward momentum, while at the same time making necessary changes to move the district forward.”
BART seeking tax to fix rail system “ The system right now is (more than) 40
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system could stay on track to accomplish a long list of projects if voters approve a $3.5 billion bond in November. The money would be used to improve safety, increase train reliability and reduce traffic on the 107-mile, decades-old system. “Right now, the system is 40-plus years old, ridership is growing and everything about the system is aging, so this is an effort to modernize the system,” said BART Board Director Joel Keller, who represents East County residents. The measure will appear on Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco county ballots, the only three over which BART has taxing authority. If approved by a combined two-thirds majority, property-tax bills will increase in Contra Costa County by an av-
years old … so this is an effort to modernize the system.
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BART Board Director Joel Keller erage of $37 a year for 30 years. The exact amount would depend on the assessed value of property. The proposed measure is being described by transit officials as a ‘fix-it first plan,’ with 90 percent of funds slated to repair and replace critical safety infrastructure and 10 percent aimed at relieving crowding and increasing access to stations. The aging railway averages 129 million trips annually and various physical parts of it are coming to the end of their useful lives, often causing mechanical failures that lead to delays,
BART officials said. If approved, officials say there would be 40 percent fewer delays caused by mechanical issues than occur today. “This bond measure is practical; it’s dedicated to fixing what we have,” said BART Board President Tom Radulovich. “We have a responsibility to keep our system safe and reliable, while getting the maximum value out of taxpayers’ investment.” Keller said the agency and its riders are doing their part to fix the aging system, but more funds are needed. A bi-annual fare increase adopted in 2013 is
slated to generate a total of $325 million for capital improvement projects by 2020, and the agency has put half a billion dollars in operating funds into its capital improvement budget over the last decade, according to Keller. “We are trying to reduce the need of taxpayers, but at the end of the day, we have things that are not very glamorous,” he said. “The power, track and stations are 40-plus years old. Our signaling system is (more than) 40 years old.” Key improvements slated to occur if the measure is approved include replacing 90 miles of worn, original rail; modernizing the train control system, which should result in fewer delays and reduced wait times between trains; replacing or adding electrical substations to maintain and improve service reliability; and replacing the emergency see BART page 30A
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Contra Costa County Women’s Commission adds three new commissioners.
June 25, 2016
Planning Your Special Day
See this week’s special edition for everything you need to make your wedding perfect. Page 1B
Sizzling At BaconFest
Owner of Byron Inn Cafe has been selected to compete in first area Baconfest. Page 8A
New Heights In Motocross
Anthony Belt receives American Motorcyclist Association honors for the winter series. Page 21A Calendar............................. 11B Classifieds..........................26A Cop Logs............................. 10B Entertainment..................10A Food.....................................11A Health & Beauty...............14A Milestones.........................18A Opinion...............................20A Pets......................................13A Sports..................................21A
Field Day
go to news/press releases Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club hosts free annual Field Day event.