Our e-mail addresses are: Advertising: ads@sdranchcoastnews.com | Editorial: editor@sdranchcoastnews.com | Web: www.SDRanchCoastNews.com
National AwardWinning Newspaper
Celebrating Our 19th Year!
VOLUME 27 NUMBER 12
A dance with Dad
County to look at equine rules BY JOE NAIMAN Contributor The County of San Diego may be updating its regulations of equine operations, including possibly a tiered ordinance which would provide regulatory relief to smaller boarding, training, and other commercial operations. A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote March 2 directed the county’s Chief Administrative Officer to work with the county’s equestrian community and any other interested parties to investigate options which would protect and promote equine operations throughout unincorporated San Diego County. The options will include the potential development of a tiered ordinance, similar to what the county has adopted for wineries, and the Chief Administrative Officer was directed to report back to the Board of Supervisors within 120 days. “This idea today, I think, is long overdue,” said See EQUINE, page 21
■ For great Summer Camp ideas for kids, see our special section, pages B16-B20.
MARCH 24, 2011
High school athletic programs absorb cutbacks BY MARSHA SUTTON Contributor The severity of education funding cuts at the state level has forced the San Dieguito Union High School District to trim budgets in all areas, including athletics. The belt-tightening, which began several years ago, continues into this year and the next, according to district officials who said their primary objective is to protect classroom learning. Direct costs for athletics in 2009-2010 were about $1.33 million, down from $2 million the previous year. Athletic departments are prepared to experience a prolonged downward trend. “The reason for that is we’ve cut back significantly,” said Rick Schmitt, SDUHSD’s
associate superintendent of educational services. “We’ve cut coaches, we’ve cut allowance, we’ve really scaled back just like we have in every other area of the district.” Schmitt said that 24 coaching positions were eliminated in 2009-2010. Although no positions were affected in the current school year, another 20 will be cut next year. “It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s not a coach in the program,” he said. “What typically happens in our community is they raise money and the foundation picks up the costs.” Torrey Pines High School and La Costa Canyon High School will each be required See CUTBACKS, page 21
District approves master planning contracts for high school facilities The senior class of National Charity League’s San Dieguito Chapter held its traditional FatherDaughter Waltz dance at the Estancia Hotel La Jolla on March 20. The event provides the fathers with a chance to have a dance lesson with their daughters as a prelude to the girls being presented at Senior Recognition in May. (Above) Lauren Rowles shares a moment with father Steve. See page B14 for more. Photo/WIll Parson
BY MARSHA SUTTON Contributor San Dieguito Union High School District trustees on March 17 approved contracts with four separate firms to provide facilities master planning for the district’s schools. “Each of the completed master plans will then guide the district in longrange planning, construction, and modernization priorities at each of our schools,” reads the board report for this
agenda item. Developer fees and Mello-Roos funds will pay for the four master planning contracts, which total over $412,000. Each school’s needs were previously identified by the district’s long-range facilities task force. But because the task force recommendations were broad and extensive, the next step, said SDUHSD associate superintendent for business services Eric See CONTRACTS, page 7
Earthquake preparedness is crucial, local experts say By DAVE SCHWAB daves@lajollalight.com Local experts say an earthquake and tsunami of the same magnitude as the one that ravaged Japan recently couldn’t happen here. But they were quick to add that doesn’t mean there isn’t cause to be concerned — or prepared — for a quake — particularly with the San Onofre nuclear facility nearby — See KEY, page 7
Readings at the time of the Japan earthquake taken from the seismometer at Mount Soledad, which is part of the ANZA Seismic Network operated by Frank Vernon from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. COURTESY: UCSD
JOHN R. LEFFERDINK
619-813-8222
Short Sale Experts. No fees. No Commissions. No Lender recourse. Call for details. 619-813-8222 ANGELA MEAKINS-BERGMAN www.johnlefferdink.com 858-405-9270
CONNIE SUNDSTROM
LISA KELLEY
858-334-8114 858-880-5242