Y UR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
4th Feb. 1
Vol. 18, No. 6
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Reinforcing positive behavior by Aly Brown
February 9, 2018
Here Comes The Bride
Staff Writer
The Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) rolled out a program for positive behavior enforcement, and four years later, the result is fewer suspensions and less chronic absences. AUSD first launched Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS) at Turner Elementary School in 2014. Initiating the program, which is funded by the State Department of Education, involved in-depth training of teachers, administration, counselors and office staff and helped the school determine its motto, which became ‘Be kind, be safe, be responsible.’ “The training was great, because it gave us the ability to all work together,” said Deborah Meylan, principal, noting that the motto is in everything the school instills in the children. “It’s about reaffirming the positives rather than catching them being bad.” And for a school that once struggled with a high suspension rate, Meylan said see Behavior page 26A
Planning a wedding? We’ve got you covered in this week’s special edition. Page 1B
Peace Corps Legislation
Photo by Aly Brown
Turner Elementary School launched Positive Behavior Intervention Systems, which encompassed a series of actions taken to reinforce positive behavior in students. Principal Deborah Meylan said the initiative has since helped to lower chronic absences and suspension rates.
Fire district projects budget savings by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District is on track to save $664,000 this year, said Fire Chief Brian Helmick at this week’s budget update. The bulk of the savings ($365,000) is the result of retirements and attrition. The district had budgeted for 39 personnel but saw a couple of members retire or move to other agencies, reducing the number to 35. “We are on course, and it looks like at year-end we will be under budget,” said Helmick, who indicated that the district’s staffing levels will remain at 35 for the foreseeable future. Another chunk of the savings ($240,000) stems from the
“ The district’s projected revenue for the year – $15 million – is expected to remain steady.
long fire season, which reduced the cost of the district’s contract with Cal Fire to cover the Marsh Creek-Morgan Territory area. The state covers the cost of the Cal Fire station during fire season. “The district’s projected revenue for the year – $15 million – is expected to remain steady,” Helmick said. An estimated $9.9 million will be spent on salary and benefits, while $2.4 million will be used on services and supplies in
conjunction with covering city and county charges. The city and county charges include human resources and accounting services provided by the City of Brentwood; legal services provided by the law firm Hanson Bridgett LLP; and dispatch, fire inspection, permit approval and investigation services provided by the neighboring Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Additionally, the district will put $800,000 toward a capi-
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tal equipment fund, and $65,000 in a capital facilities account. The two accounts are used to pre-fund major facility maintenance and equipment replacement costs. The district will also pay $330,000 on one-time costs, including an expected $200,000 on a March election to determine if the ECCFPD Board of Directors should switch from nine members to five; $100,000 on special projects; and $20,000 on an other post-employment benefit (OPEB) actuarial study. OPEB benefits are received by an employee upon retirement, including health care and life-insurance premiums and deferred compensation. see Fire District page 26A
Bill named after Liberty grad Nick Castle offers protections for Peace Corps volunteers. Page 5A
Still Number One
Heritage High boys’ basketball team holds onto top spot after win over Pittsburg. Page 19A Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................22A Cop Logs.............................25A Entertainment..................10A Food.....................................11A Health & Beauty...............17A Milestones.........................12A Opinion...............................18A Pets......................................14A Sports..................................19A
Fresh Water Plan
New President
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Antioch plans to build a brackish water desalination plant on the San Joaquin River.
County Board of Education selects Fatima Alleyne, Ph.D., as new president.