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Current
Granite Bay Gazette wFriday, February 7, 2020
Students look forward to first primary
Many have their first opportunity to vote and are excited to practice civic engagement with peers BY SEAN TURNER
ment properly represent them. Unfortunately, not all who are eligible to vote in the 2020 Presidential Election are permitted to vote in the articipation in democracy is an essential part of California Primaries. the American Identity, and with the California California laws dictate that to vote in the Primary Presidential Primary quickly approaching, many Elections, the voter must be 18 years old by the priseniors will be experiencing their first election. mary date. With California's relatively early primary, While some students aren’t interested in the political many seniors will be left without a voice in their process, many are watching debates, attending rallies registered party. and even donating to campaigns of their choice. “I will be 18 for the general election but not in time “I can’t be bothered (to vote),” senior Keaton Brasse for the primary election,” said Zack Haug, a politically said. “I think it is of the utmost importance that active student who will not be eligible to vote in this Americans vote when given the opportunity... I’m just year's primary. “I have made calls not going to.” for my favorite candidate, Elizabeth A similar sentiment can be seen in Warren, and I stay up-to-date and young voters across the nation. In well-versed in politics overall.” the 2018 midterm election, eligible Haug said he believes California voters aged 18-29 had the lowest I think it’s of the utmost laws should be changed to accomturnout of any age group at 35.6%, modate voters like him. But rather importance that according to the United States than wait for his time to vote, Haug Census. Americans vote when has found other ways to take action However, not all students on in politics. campus share this attitude toward given the opportunity. “My friend Jordan Greenfelder political participation. –Keaton Brasse, senior and I have contacted our state senaHunter Josephson is a politically tor and have scheduled a meeting in active senior who has attended ralorder to try to propose legislation lies, donated to his favorite candito change the laws,” he said. dates and kept up-to-date on debates Although the laws can’t be changed in time for him and political media. “I think it's important that we actually have our voic- to vote, Haug said he hopes California law will change for the sake of future voters. es heard,” said Josephson, who sees voting as the essenWhen it comes to actually deciding whether to vote tial outlet for Americans to shape their government. “If or not, Josephson says the decision is personal. you don’t vote, you can’t criticize anyone else.” “I try not to criticize anyone's decision to vote,” To Josephson, voting is necessary for all who are eligible, because it is the only way to have the governJosephson said. “Because it’s their choice.” sturner.gazette@gmail.com
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Gazette illustration /ASHLEY LUCIA
Three GBHS teachers choose to retire early after district offers one-time $20,000 incentive RJUHSD wants to avoid involuntary transfers, overstaffing as it moves toward the opening of West Park High in the fall BY LINDSEY ZABELL
low for a more smooth transition for students, staff members and faculty across the district. “We didn't want teachers to have involuntary transfers, so Ever since its opening in 1996, Granite Bay High has been our intention was to create openings across the district so home to hundreds of teachers, all who have devoted their that if we had any school that was overstaffed, there would time to educating their many students. be openings from retired people, so that (teachers) would For the past few years, there has been a $5,000 retirement have a choice,” Herrmann said. “Rather than people having incentive for teachers willing to commit to retiring at the end of that school year, as long as they made their decision to (transfer) to West Park or having to go to another school, by mid-February. it allows a little more space. Our goal was Last fall, the Roseville Joint Union to try and make this process of transition High School District, put an additional as comfortable as possible for teachers.” $20,000 early retirement incentive on the On average, there are between seven and table, and three GBHS teachers decided Our intention was to 15 retirees district-wide each school year. to take it – Advanced Placement micro/ This year, there are 21. macroeconomics and journalism teacher create openings across the “Our goal was to have somewhere beKarl Grubuagh, photography and art district ... tween 10 and 20 (retirees), so we met the teacher Amelie Rider and health teacher –Denise Herrmann, superintendent top end of our target,” Herrmann said. John MacLeane. According to Grubaugh, in addition to In order to receive this additional the $25,000, there is also an additional $20,000, the staff members were required incentive of a maximum of $20,000, to make their decision by Dec. 6. depending on how long that teacher has “A retirement incentive is an additional sum of money that can be offered to employees to encourage been in the district. MacLeane’s decision to retire became easier once the them to consider retiring now to open up some vacancies in incentive was offered. our system for hiring other staff members,” district superin“I was going to retire this year or next year anyway,” Matendent Denise Herrmann explained. cleane said. “I really thought I was going to wait until next Although many school districts offer retirement incentives year, but that extra incentive was enough to (retire).” as a cost saver due to veteran teachers earning more money Rider said the extra incentive also made her decision to than new teachers, the reasoning behind RJUHSD’s new retire after 14 years much easier. retirement incentive was because of the opening of a new “I feel like the (teaching environment) has changed a little high school, West Park, in West Roseville in August. bit,” she said. “The $20,000 made it easier for me to say, As the district prepares for the opening of the new school, ‘This is the year.’ ” the new positions opened up because of retirements will allzabell.gazette@gmail.com
Gazette illustration /ASHLEY LUCIA
