Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/633768
Ithasbeentwoyearssince I was asked to leave my po- sition as Superintendent of Red Bluff Joint Union High School District. When I was hired the Board of Directors was very clear about the ben- efit of hiring someone from outside of the community to bring a fresh perspective and to make the needed changes in the district for the benefit of all students. We spent time to- gether updating the district vi- sion and mission and created a strategic plan with goals — something the Board had not done before. I didn't know un- til after I was hired that three candidates for the position were currently working in the district and that might cause some angst when they didn't get the position. I didn't real- ize how tightly connected the Board members were to the staff and even though they wanted what was best for the students, they were neigh- bors and family members of the people I would eventually push for change. When I arrived I was greeted with the statement "If you weren't born in Red Bluff, you never will be." I wasn't quite sure what that meant but I had a feeling it wasn't a warm fuzzy welcome. I naively thought the focus on increasing access and opportunities for all students through a quality education would break down any barriers created by me be- ing an "outsider" and we would work together to move the dis- trict forward. As you know, that didn't happen and at the time I chose not to respond to attempts to discredit my char- acter and professional compe- tency and learned that people can say horrible things about you very publicly and there isn't much you can do about it. It is not my nature to dwell on negativity or the past and that certainly isn't the purpose of this letter. What I would like to communicate is the vision cre- ated during my tenure — that all students leave RBHS pre- pared for college, career and life — has resulted in some very positive changes for stu- dents in Red Bluff. As you know the world is changing and the skill set our students need for the 21st Century looks very dif- ferent than it did in the past. Changes were needed and there was a push for in- creased accountability to en- sure we were meeting the needs of all students. When Ron Fisher was recommended for principal of RBHS and Dr. Terrie Poulos was recom- mended for the position of Director of Categorical Pro- grams/Special Education by interview teams comprised of staff, students and com- munity members, I approved their hiring because they clearly had the skills and sup- ported the vision of the dis- trict. Two-and-a-half years later there have been many changes at the high school that support increased access and opportunities to a qual- ity education for all students. Here are some of the high- lights: A 7-period day is now in place, which allows students to take additional courses and meet state requirements for graduation and university re- quirements for admission. A 7-period day also provides freshmen the opportunity to take electives to explore their interests and possible career paths. There are increased course offerings in the following ar- eas: anatomy, environmental science, mass media, auto up- keep, children's literature, ag- riculture farm class, agricul- ture soils chemistry, Project Lead the Way computer sci- ence, construction skills, con- struction skills class at Salis- bury, cake decorating, eco art, art 2, honors Spanish 2 and 3, and Spanish for Spanish speakers. There are plans to expand courses in health occu- pations, agriculture and com- puter science, add engineer- ing courses and create other elective classes for next school year. AVID is a program I brought to RBHS before I left and is now offered to grades 9-11. Next year it will be of- fered to grades 9-12. AVID is a program whose mission is "to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for col- lege readiness and success in a global society." Increased opportunities for all students to be prepared for life after high school include diploma bound students who receive special education ser- vices are now being taught in core classes with their peers by general education staff, which is consistent with the law. There is a learning center to support students who strug- gle academically and some classes are being co-taught by general education and special education teachers with stu- dent tutors. There continues to be an online credit recovery pro- gram to allow students to make up classes they failed without having to go to an al- ternative placement. Soon stu- dents will have an opportunity to have credit recovery classes offered during the school day, not just after school. The quality of the Career Technical Education (CTE) courses enabled the district to receive the Gold Ribbon Award from the State of Cali- fornia. The State Superinten- dent of Instruction, Tom Tor- lakson, visited he district and commented on the programs. The district is now aligned with the requirements of the state for a quality CTE pro- gram. Those of us in leader- ship positions know that it takes 3-5 years to really turn around and move an orga- nization forward. There has been progress made in Red Bluff for all students due to the efforts of Principal Fisher, Dr. Poulos and the staff. This is a great start and I hope it continues because students now in addition to founda- tional skills need to be able to communicate effectively, col- laborate with others, think critically and be creative and innovative in problem solving. Though I am working hard in another community to ensure the success of our students, I know we have a continued shared responsibility for the education of students every- where. I remember hearing on many occasions from alumni and community members that "Red Bluff High School is a great place to work." My hope is that this changes to "Red Bluff High School is a great place to learn." Our future, the future of our children and our grandchildren depends on it. LisaEscobar Positive changes at Red Bluff High Cartoonist's take Despite questionable deci- sions recently by the Board of Supervisors, the four male members of same seem to be get- ting plenty of sup- port via letters to the editor in which some writ- ers admit to at- tending every meeting of the Board. If they in- deed attend every such sched- uled event, they may be retired folks, or perhaps on a disability status giving them opportunity to study the machinations of said Board. On the other hand, maybe their perfect attendance record is due more to the cold weather. These modern cham- bers could be an inviting place to keep warm this winter. They are well lit for reading news- papers whether the Board is in session or not, and the hours the chambers are open dur- ing the week may be more con- venient for Daily News scru- tiny or doing crossword puzzles than the County Library, for ex- ample. Well, whatever their motive, those in the audience are to be commended for their atten- dance and for keeping awake while the Supes pontificate. It is, as we have said before, a thankless job being a Supervi- sor — except for the county paid health benefits — yet I suspect some members would prefer a less demanding job and yearn to be elsewhere. Maybe at the next election we can help them to find their way to full retirement. ••• A well meaning senior cou- ple dropped off a summary of the little things that make our status so worthwhile but per- haps unknown to younger gen- erations. "We are the life of the party, even if it lasts until 8 p.m. We are very good at opening child- proof caps with a hammer. We are awake many hours before our bodies allow us to get up. We smile a lot because we often cannot hear a word you are say- ing. We're certain that every- thing we can't find is in a safe and secure place, somewhere." And so on… ••• Next week, that large and talkative bull-mastiff, All That Jazz, will discuss my unusual tour of our fair city accompa- nied by an actress who was fea- tured in the TV series "The Last Ship" and the recent movie "San Andreas." ••• I thought the prevalence of cell phones and iPhones around the world would even- tually bring all people together in peace and harmony in that they would have the same ac- cess to truth despite the manip- ulations by their individual gov- ernments. However, sources say that some 4 billion people, the ma- jority of the world's population, lack access to the Internet. If these folks cannot Google for answers, they are lost. ••• Speaking of communications, Wheaton is a rather famous col- lege. It is an evangelical college — the Alma Mater of celebrity preacher Billy Graham — and it currently is in an uproar over what appears to be an innoc- uous statement by one of their professors, Larycia Hawkins. She was quoted as saying that Christians and Muslims "wor- ship the same God." Well, for heaven's sake. What's so upset- ting about that? Nevertheless, she has been accused of com- mitting heresy and will be tried by her schools' administra- tion in coming weeks. However, much of the college commu- nity has rallied to her defense. And yet everyone is getting into the act, and Billy G's son Frank- lin has proclaimed that "Islam is not a peaceful religion." Ah, there is a revelation. There is absolutely nothing in this world that is as pre-ordained as one religious pot calling the other, black. Why don't people "of faith" get together on the subject of God, that is, if there is one? They should assume that he or she doesn't pick sides, doesn't roll the dice as Einstein said. God, with a capital G, either sits on high and works in mys- terious ways — to coin a phrase — or he is a figment of the hu- man race's imagination created in fear of death. I say "human race" because my dog Jazz sel- dom if ever evokes his name, in vain or otherwise. He has other bones to pick rather than wast- ing time worrying about some- thing none of us have any con- trol over. In the meantime, let us hope that the Evangelicals and the Muslims can find some common ground and keep from each other's throats. Thus ends today's sermon. Now let us turn to hymn num- ber 666 titled, "Onward Chris- tian and Muslin Soldiers, marching etc." ••• The current oil prices are a joy for us consumers when fill- ing up at the pump, but they are playing hell with some oil producing countries. In Saudi Arabia they rely on oil for about 80% of their budget revenue. This could bring a halt to sky- scraper construction, for which they appear to have a penchant. ••• Eleanor Roosevelt had a fe- male confidant. I've misplaced her name, but this previously unknown person has just been revealed. If you are a fan of the President's wife, you will be re- lieved to know however that the relationship was almost exclu- sively epistolary. Say what? Oh, you mean "in writing?" Yes. ••• An airplane was about to crash and there were 5 pas- sengers but only 4 parachutes. The first passanger, a beauti- ful woman, said "I'm the pretti- est woman on board and no one wants my beauty to die." She took the fist pack and jumped. The next passenger, John Mc- Cain, said "I'm a senator and a decorated war hero who has sacrificed enough already." So he grabbed the second pack and jumped. The next passenger, Donald Trump, said "I am going to be the next president of the United States, I am the smartest man in the country and I will make America great again." So he grabbed the pack next to him and jumped. A fourth passenger, Billy Gra- ham, said to the fifth passenger, a 10-year-old school girl, "I have lived a full life and served my God the best I could. I will sac- rifice my life and let you have the last parachute." The little girl said, "That's OK, Mr. Graham, there's a para- chute left for you. The smartest man in America took my school bag by mistake." RobertMinchisalifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail. com. I say Regular board attendance to be lauded What I would like to communicate is the vision created during my tenure — that all students leave RBHS prepared for college, career and life — has resulted in some very positive changes for students in Red Bluff. GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIAL BOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. 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Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Robert Minch StateandNational Assemblyman James Gallagher, 2060Talbert Drive, Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530895-4217, http://ad03.asmrc.org/ Senator Jim Nielsen, 2634Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530 879-7424, senator.nielsen@sen- ate.ca.gov Governor Jerry Brown, State Capital Building, Sacramento 95814, 916445-2841, fax 916 558-3160, governor@governor. ca.gov U.S. Representative Doug La- Malfa, 507Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. 20515, 202225-3076 U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, One Post St., Ste. 2450, San Francisco 94104, 415393-0707, fax 415393-0710 U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, 1700 Montgomery St., San Francisco 94111, 510286-8537, fax 202 224-0454 Local Tehama County Supervisors, 527-4655 District 1, Steve Chamblin, Ext. 3015 District 2, Candy Carlson, Ext. 3014 District 3, Dennis Garton, Ext. 3017 District 4, Bob Williams, Ext. 3018 District 5, Burt Bundy, Ext. 3016 YOUR OFFICIALS OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, January 29, 2016 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5