The Coast News INLAND EDITION
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ESCONDIDO, SAN MARCOS, VISTA
VOL. 5, N0. 26
DEC. 27, 2019
Palomar places Blake on leave, launches probe
Council passes on raises, seeks more feedback By Steve Horn
ESCONDIDO — At its Dec. 18 meeting, City Council voted 4-1 against giving itself a pay raise for the next two-year cycle, pending more community outreach and dialogue on the issue. The City Council Rules and Policies call for a consideration of raises in December of odd-numbered non-election years, an arrangement many on the council agreed puts them in an “awkward” political situation. They decided, instead, to take the issue to the public and hash out the issues of pay increases and whether the people of Escondido want full-time or part-time council members. “Any salary increases must be adopted by ordinance, and cannot exceed five percent for each calendar year calculated from the operative date of the last increase,” according to a memorandum written by City Attorney Michael McGuinnes, citing state law, ahead of the meeting. Automatic lockedin pay increases are also not legally authorized for city council members in California. Much of the council’s agenda on the topic centered on the issue of the difference in pay between the mayor and other members. Currently, Mayor Paul McNamara makes just over $70,000 per year for the job, while other council members earn just over $25,000 per year. Councilwoman Olga Diaz, who says she will step down from the seat whether TURN TO RAISES ON 2
By Steve Horn
day-themed cookies and donated the earnings to pay the school lunch balance for students within Vista Unified School District. Katelynn, who said she hopes to someday be a teacher, said knowing she was able to help others made her “happy.” “It is the best feeling
SAN MARCOS — After an hour and a half closed session at the end of Palomar College’s Governing Board five-hour Dec. 17 meeting, the board announced it voted to place President Joi Lin Blake on paid administrative leave and to launch an outside independent investigation in a 3-2 tally. With 15 of the original 150 attendees remaining in the Howard Brubeck Theater, Governing Board Chair Nancy Ann Hensch came back with the announcement. Jack Kahn, currently the assistant superintendent and vice president of instructional services, will serve as acting president for the college until the matter is resolved. Governing Board members John Halcón and Mark Evilsizer voted against the motion. “This is non-disciplinary pending investigation,” Hensch said to the remaining crowd. “Again, this is non-disciplinary and being taken as a precautionary measure to protect all parties involved.” Hensch told The Coast News after making the announcement and closing the hearing that the board could not answer further questions about the scope or nature of the investigation. Hensch said the investigator will utilize the services of the law firm Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo on as-needed basis as part of the probe. Blake has come under fire for months by college faculty and staff for financial and personnel decisions she has made during her tenure there. They charge that, due to Blake’s leadership, the college has reached the “high risk”
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TURN TO BLAKE ON 5
BREEZE HILL ELEMENTARY student Katelynn Hardee, 5, paid off the lunch balances for more than 100 of her fellow students by selling hot cocoa and cookies. Courtesy photo
5-year-old has sweet idea to help her peers By Hoa Quach
VISTA — More than 100 students and their families at Vista Unified School District saw their balances wiped cleaned recently after a kindergartener personally paid it off. Breeze Hill Elementary School student Katelynn Hardee raised a total of $78 to pay off the school lunch balances for
123 students. Katelynn’s mother, Karina Hardee, said her daughter raised the money by selling hot cocoa and cookies, as well as, selling an art piece she created. Karina Hardee said her daughter came up with the idea to fundraise for her peers after she overheard another mother say she had a difficult time paying for an
after-school program. “I explained some aren’t as fortunate as us and it is kind to give when we can,” Karina said. “She asked if we could do a hot cocoa and cookies stand. I said, ‘Let’s do it’ and all proceeds would go to charity.” The mother and daughter team sold and decorated holi-
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