San Bernardino Press MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 - JANUARY 18, 2015
sanbernardinopress.com
School District Honors November’s Outstanding Students The San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education honored 12 students with an Outstanding Student Award at the November 18 Board meeting. Outstanding Student Award winners are recognized for achievement in academics, athletics, fine arts, or citizenship or for showing significant improvement in these areas. Students are encouraged to have hope for the future by thinking about their long-term educational and career goals. Cypress Elementary School Outstanding Students Third-grader Andrea Almendares is a true leader. She is a dedicated student and is always ready to help others. Andrea wants to become a Special Education assistant and karate instructor. Sixth-grader Leslie Chipres is thoughtful, reliable, and charming. She exceeds expectations in language arts and math. She wants to attend college and become an attorney. First-grader Daniel Robles demonstrates excellent citizenship and has shown great academic improvement. Daniel is
up being $363,986, according to the reported data, said the paper. The salary jumped up to that amount because of a one-time payment of $121,579 which was what McMahon cashed in for accrued vacation and sick time after he Please see page 2
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Je’Niah wants to attend Harvard and become a lawyer and a judge. Third-grader Sebastian Valadez is always respectful and responsible. He is a reliable classroom helper. He hasn’t decided on a career yet, but he’ll find the right one eventually. Hunt Elementary School Outstanding Students Tamia Conrad, in transitional kindergarten, is already Please see page 4
County Sheriff Makes Over $360k in One Year: Highest Paid Elected Official of 2013 By Vickie Vértiz It is true that our police officers risk their lives every day at work and should be compensated for that and their long hours. However, one officer, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon, especially stands out with an unparalleled total income.
According to The Sun, McMahon was first on the list of highest paid elected officials in California for 2013. The Sun quoted recently released information from the office of the state Controller. The base salary for his position was $225,499. But his total income for 2013 ended
Two-Day Conference Inspires City Unified Teachers to Make Hope Happen More than 3,000 teachers, principals, and certificated support staff in the San Bernardino City Unified School District are spending Thursday and Friday attending a conference designed to support excellent teaching and learning practices. The Making Hope Happen Through High Reliability Schools conference held at Cal State San Bernardino on January 8 and 9 is the first of its kind in the District and offers our educators a variety of workshops focusing on diverse topics like Common Core and technology, student engagement, helping students understand college entrance requirements, and English-language development strategies. The keynote address will focus on what it takes to be a high reliability school. Keynote speaker Dr. Robert J. Marzano is the author of more than 30 books, including The Art and Science of Teaching, Vocabulary for the Common Core, and Effective Supervision. The majority of the sessions will be led by the District’s own staff, said Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Matty Zamora. “This conference goes right along with our District’s mission to prepare students
Andrea Almendares, Daniel Robles, and Leslie Chipres proudly presenting their certificates - Courtesy Photo
considering a career in law enforcement. Fairfax Elementary School Outstanding Students Fifth-grader Luzdaris “Lucy” Regalado is self-motivated and always does her best. She is a great PeaceBuilder, problem solver, and student. Lucy wants to be a professional singer. Sixth-grader Je’Niah Turner is a great team player. She cooperates with her classmates to make school a better place.
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County Sheriff Highest Paid in 2013 Continued from page 1
was appointed sheriff by the Board of Supervisors in December 2012. In January 2013, McMahon started his term as San Bernardino County sheriff. He was subsequently voted in as sheriff for four additional years in June. McMahon was appointed sheriff by the Board of Supervisors after Sheriff Rod Hoops left abruptly. Hoops announced his retirement in November 2012 and took a job with the Washington, D.C., law-enforcement think tank Police Foundation, which is run by former Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann, said the paper. “Before he was sheriff,” said the paper, “McMahon was an assistant sheriff with nearly 30 years of accrued vacation and sick time he
never used.” McMahon, who is 51, told the paper he thinks he “…used two hours of sick leave in my career.” He attributes his good health to going to the gym five days a week and being “… blessed with good genes.” The office of California Controller John Chiang created two new websites to make public finance information easily available to taxpayers: PublicPay.ca.gov and Trackprop30.ca.gov. The first site includes information on public employee pay and benefits, and the second tracks funding raised under Proposition 30, a sales and income tax increase initiative that benefits public schools, added the paper. Other public officials with high salaries included former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca who was at number
Change lives. Make wishes come true.
Sheriff John McMahon -Courtesy Photo
two with $347,786 in total 2013 wages. The third person on the list was San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/ Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Walker with $325,245. Walker said that because of the merger of the Treasurer/ Tax Collector and AuditorController offices, he has more responsibility and thus received a pay increase. He said that things are running
more smoothly and efficiently than ever in his office, he told The Sun. The state controller list also included San Bernardino District Attorney Michael Ramos, who ranked 15th in the state with $259,451 in total 2013 wages. In the top twenty was Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Dennis Draeger ranked at 17th highest paid with $256,682 for 2013. The Sun added that “San Bernardino County ranked 25th in the state in terms of employee pay and benefits, with an average wage of $48,997 and an average of $20,321 in retirement and health care costs.” Jacob Roper, a spokesman for the office of the Controller said that the names of elected officials and county employees were not included in the […] data due to the high volume of information collected. Wages were based on tax filings, he added.
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Following his inauguration, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. swore in Justices Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar and Leondra R. Kruger to the California Supreme Court today in Sacramento. “What I’m looking for is insight and growing wisdom over time so we can create a measure of harmony in what is a very conflicted society,” said Governor Brown at today’s ceremony. “And I think we are going to do very well in helping build the respect for the law, for the courts, for their independence, so that all of us – whatever our particular ideological or philosophi-
cal proclivities – at the end of the day are very thankful that we have honest, intelligent and fair-minded people making sense out of the complexities.” Governor Brown nominated Justice Cuéllar in July and Justice Kruger in November to the California Supreme Court. Justice Cuéllar was confirmed in August and Justice Kruger last month by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, composed of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and senior presiding justice of the state Court of Appeal Joan Dempsey Klein.
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Federal and State Payroll Tax Seminar It is to the advantage of business owners to know their obligations and understand the State and Federal payroll reporting requirements. To help, the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center will offer a seminar on Federal and State employment tax laws on Wed., Feb. 18. The Federal and State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar will be held from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the High Desert Small Business Development Center, 15490 Civic Drive, Ste. 102 in Victorville. There is no charge to attend this seminar. Pre-registration prior to the seminar is strongly recommended, as seating is limited. For additional information, please contact our office at (951) 781-2345; online registration is available at www.iesmallbusiness.com. Business owners and start-up entities alike are welcome to attend this presentation. The Inland Empire Small Business Development Center is hosted by the California State University, San Bernardino, University Enterprises Corporation. The Center is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the California State University, Fullerton, Tri-County Lead SBDC. All of the SBDC programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made.
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Teachers Making Hope Happen Continued from page 1
to succeed in college, careers, and life by providing them with talented educators who can nurture their dreams and aspirations,” Zamora said. “We are fortunate to have amazing and dedicated teachers, administrators, and support staff who create the conditions for hope to flourish every day. Conferences like this one are integral to the professional development of our staff.” In addition to breakout sessions, teachers will also have an opportunity to tour Cal State
San Bernardino, a key District partner in efforts to increase college-going rates in the city. “Educators by their very nature are people who never cease to learn,” Zamora said. “By participating in the many thought-provoking and informative sessions, our staff is making a commitment to continue growing professionally.” The conference is not open to the public. Only certificated employees and substitute teachers in San Bernardino City Schools are eligible to attend.
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Outstanding Students
Plastic Bag Manufacturers Buy Time as Bag Ban is on Hold
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on her way to becoming a model student. She is respectful and responsible. She wants to become a police officer. Fourth-grader Sakiah Oatis Saterfield has a love for learning that shows in everything she does. She asks challenging questions and always has a smile on her face. Her goal is to become a nurse. First-grader Roberto Urrea-Chavez is a hard worker who takes pride in everything he does. He is always ready to go above and beyond in his efforts. Roberto wants to be a firefighter. Kendall Elementary School Outstanding Students Fourth-grader Jason Boakye has stellar attendance and is an enthusiastic learner. He also plays the violin and is a member of the Associated Student Body. Jason wants to be an architect. Fifth-grader Gregorio Espanta never complains and enjoys a challenge. His classmates like him and often ask him for help. Gregorio wants to study aeronautical engineering at Stanford. Fourth-grader Jennifer Sanchez excels at every opportunity. She is attentive and eager to help her classmates. She wants to attend Cal State San Bernardino and become a teacher.
By Courtney Alexander On September 30 of this year, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 270, banning grocery and convenience stores from selling single-use plastic bags, but allowing the sale of more environmentally inoffensive, reusable bags made by certified third party manufacturers. These bags, which have to meet standards for labeling, durability, material makeup, and heavy metal content, can be sold for no less than $0.10 each. Even though about six out of every ten California voters supports the bill, according to a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll, there are still those who oppose its passing. This opposition naturally comes most strongly from plastic bag manufacturers who claim the new law is just a way for grocers and union bosses to stuff their pockets. They also raise the issue that the enactment of the new law will cost plastic workers their jobs. “SB 270 was never a bill about the environment. It was a back room deal between the grocers and union bosses to scam California consumers out of billions of dollars
in bag fees without providing any public benefit. We are pleased to have reached this important milestone in the effort to repeal a terrible piece of job-killing legislation,” said the head of the American Progressive Bag Alliance, Lee Califf in a statement. Soon after the announcement was made that Governor Brown had signed the bill, the American Progressive Bag Alliance fervently began collecting signatures in an effort to overturn the state’s decision – so far, over they accumulated 800,000. In order for their referendum to be on the November 2016 ballot, the Alliance had a 90 day window to gather 504,760 signatures by January 1, 2015. That number has been far surpassed. And it’s not just California bag makers who are against the bill. Only $50,000 of the $1.2 million put into the campaign is from plastic bag manufacturers in California. Most of the funding comes from companies headquartered outside of California. As California has become the first state to sign a statewide ban, manufacturers are also fearful that other states will follow suit. The bag ban, planned to go into effect on July 1, 2015 is now on hold until November 2016 when voters will, again, cast their votes for or against the bag ban. If a referendum has gathered the necessary number of signatures in the allotted amount of time, the
law
that referendum seeks to invalidate cannot be enacted until voters have their say again. Even if the referendum fails, this newfound time before the law goes into effect gives plastic bag manufacturers the opportunity to sell an estimated $145 million worth of bags according to calculations made by the pro-ban group, Californians Against Waste. “We’re not doing this so we can sell bags for another 16 months,” said Mark Daniels, chairman of the American Plastic Bag Alliance. “When consumers understand that this is a cash grab by the grocers, they oppose this horrible legislation.”, he said, citing internal Alliance polling, showing that voters opinions shift after they are told that grocers will make millions from paper bag sales. Regardless of the outcome of this legislative slugfest, the call for bans on single use plastic bags will continue. Environmentalists are continuing to push for bans at the local level, adding to the over 100 California municipalities with bans on plastic bag sales. According to Molly Peterson, a correspondent with Southern California Public Radio, pro-ban environmental groups will continue to strive to add to the “130 municipalities, counties, and local entities that have enacted some sort of a ban.” The battle over plastic bag sales will seemingly be over no time soon.