Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. V
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
DANCING WITH OUR STARS
EDUCATION
AUSD Seeking Architect for AHS Pool
Melinda Reed Gets It Done Partner Charlie Bradley to make dancing debut
$3.7M in State Matching Funds Could Go Toward Project By LUKE PHILLIPS luke@atacaderonews.com
ning with the reduction of class sizes in Kindergarten through the third grade, which the board has made a priority in recent years. According to Butler, the average number of students in each K-3 class has dropped from 29.33 students in the academic year 2018/19 to 26.53 students this year. “You can see how nice those numbers are,” Butler said. “It gives those students that little bit of extra time with the teacher, a little bit of extra attention.” Butler also praised the board’s direction to make citizenship a priority S LforOstudents and outlined some ways that schools are teaching
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District board of trustees voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 4, to start the search for an architect to design and place a new swimming pool at Atascadero High School. There is currently no funding in place for the pool but according to AUSD Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jackie Martin, that could be changing soon. Martin said that once the State Office of Public School Construction finishes auditing $3,771,792 in matching funds paid by the state for two of the district’s recent modernization projects, those funds could go toward the pool project. “We’re saving it until the state says ‘It’s really yours,’” Martin said. “So there’s some opportunity and we do want to be ready to go once we can figure out all of the funding sources.” AUSD Superintendent said that the district has been working with project managers at Kitchell and meeting with stakeholders in the pool project to determine what some of the project parameters should look like. “They (Kitchell) bring people together to hear our initial ideas, what we need for the education programs, how we’ll use it for P.E., how we’ll use it for different aquatic sports...” Butler said. “From those meetings — we’ve done that, we’ve gathered all that so now we have the information to begin working with an architect.” While some of the trustees expressed a hesitancy to approve the step without knowing more about what the architect’s plans would look like, Butler and Martin both assured them that they would have ample opportunities to review the plans before anything is finalized. “Remember, we have a failing pool,” Martin said. “We just had another issue where we had to shut down the pool because we had to buy some part for it again. So there is some concern that we have a failing pool and at some point in time it’s going to be unoperational again and we’re just trying to be poised and ready.” Board Trustee Terri Switzer said that she would like to see a realistic plan brought back to the board for approval. “Are we going to keep it a little more down to earth and say ‘this is what we can do?’” Switzer said. “Instead of “God isn’t this great,’ and then ‘Well, we can’t do that.’ Are we going to keep it simple? I don’t mean to be simpleminded but why spend all the money with the architect to draw these plans that can never happen?” Butler assured Switzer that the plans would be as realistic as possible and operate “within our financial constraints.” “We want to do it wisely, do it realistic and we want to have a really nice quality complex
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Melina Reed and Charlie Bradley set to tear up the dance floor this coming March. Contributed photo
By GRENDA ERNST For the Atascadero News ATASCADERO — Melinda Reed is a can-do sort of woman, the woman you want on your team when you want to get something done. This elegant, friendly woman is dancing for the Templeton Community Library Association as the Association works to achieve its goal of building a public library in Templeton. Melinda has been involved with TCLA for ten years, on the board for three years, and has helped create the organization’s signature events and fundraisers, including fashion shows, the Site Reveal, donor receptions and the Book Give/Away Sales. She steps up when a volunteer is needed, gets to work, and did not hesitate to accept the assignment of dancing in DWOS. As costume possibilities were outlined at the first meeting of DWOS 2020 participants, Melinda put on her clever, book-themed costume, already constructed and ready to go. Melinda is a retired florist and wedding event planner, and floral arranging continues to be one of her interests. She has won first prizes and Special Judges’ Awards at the Mid-State Fair for her table settings and décor. As a very young woman, she held the position of Chief Equipment Manager for the Telephone Company, overseeing the male switchmen who were trouble-shooting the long-distance networks. After shuttling back and forth between their home in Los Altos and the home they bought in Templeton, she and her husband Doug made the move to Templeton CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
Steppin’ Out:
Daddies, daughters dance the night away Atascadero fathers and daughters got all dolled up and headed to the Pavilion on the Lake Friday and Saturday nights for an evening of dancing, refreshments and fun hosted by the City of Atascadero. The theme for this year’s Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance was “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and DJ Manny Medina of Medina Light Show Designs. Above, Atascadero resident Michael Schultz dances with his daughter Friday evening. Photo by Luke Phillips
EDUCATION
The State of the District
Butler outlines full year of successes, achievements By LUKE PHILLIPS luke@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — Atascadero Unified School District Superintendent Thomas Butler delivered his “State of the District” speech before the AUSD board of trustees Tuesday evening, sharing the achievements of our local students, teachers, school staff and administrators. “We’re in a good spot right now,” Butler said. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but we’ve got the right people in place, and we’ve got the will to do it.” WARRIORS FOR KRISTIN PRESENT Butler outlined successes and challenges at AUSD in several different areas, begin-
AUSD Superintendent Thomas Butler delivers his State of the District presentation before the district board of trustees last Tuesday, Feb. 4. Photo by Luke Phillips
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SIERRA VISTA Regional Medical Center receives Gold Seal of Approval | A2
KRISTIN SMART New search warrants served in this 24-year-old case | A7
SENIOR NIGHT: Overtime VINEYARDS SANTA ROSAKELSEY PARK LUIS OBISPO goal lifts Hounds toSAN victory Atascadero native now the over Mission Prep | B1 Assistant Winemaker | B3
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