SEE PAGE3 FOR Settlement ends kaiserrn dispute
SEE PAGE 3 for new fiscal deputy superintendent appointed MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 - FEBRUARY 1, 2015
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How Starbucks Hopes to Profit from MLK Day O pinion By NICK KIPLEY According to an article published by the Boston Globe in 2011, sales of the Frappuccino make up roughly a fifth of Starbuck’s revenue. Possibly to counter a reputation as a venue that makes 20% of its money in what are arguably just coffee milkshakes, Starbucks also offers a variety of products supporting the good cause: a community bulletin board, inoffensive bestsellers about protagonists changing the status quo through championing a noble cause, bottled water that allegedly raises money for drinking water programs in Africa, and selected CD’s of eclectic music performed by top artists collaborating in an effort to raise money for famine relief, an end to human trafficking, AIDS research, a cure for cancer, etc. This does a lot to corroborate Starbuck’s image as not just another fast-food-style chain selling beverages big enough to drown a cat in, but as a meeting place where social consciousness, community
activism—and corporate altruism—flawlessly comingle. Huge corporations like Starbucks, Apple, Nike, et. al have learned to market positions of selfless activism by painlessly co-opting figures from the “politically correct” canon. A recent, prominent example of this comes from an ad run by Starbucks in the New York Times which shows the alphabet sequence printed backwards in white letters upon a black background. Its letters “MLK” are highlighted in red. Beneath this text, also in white font, made highly visible against a full-page sea of black, reads the call to action statement: “It’s time to look at things differently. Again.” Is this statement telling us that if we find ourselves arranged within a sea of hierarchical conformity, all we need to do is change the way the system is viewed in order to gain a startling new perspective? In this case, that perspective leads to some crackly, inner-speaker of pop-culture and history, which
copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 19 years to life in state prison and mandatory life-
Beverly M. Hempstead Announces Retirement As Supe. of Cypress School District
time sex offender registration. He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled for pretrialtomorrow, Jan. 22, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton. At the time of the crime, Millette was a seventh-grade
After four years of successful leadership, Beverly M. Hempstead announces her retirement as the Superintendent of Cypress School District, which she calls “the most enjoyable and fulfilling time of my 38-year career in the field of education.” Leaving with “mixed feelings,” her decision is going into effect June 30, 2015. She writes: “During these past four years, the Board of Trustees, parents, teachers, and staff have modeled their commitment to the District’s mission that “every child reach his/her maximum potential” by working together as a unified team with “one voice.” This unified voice and consolidated efforts have resulted in many distinguished accomplishments that are the hallmark of Cypress School District. These have included: - Received rating as the 2nd highest achieving K-6 elementary school district in Orange County Received California Distinguished School recognitions - Developed a Facilities Master Plan that will provide modular classrooms to support class size reduction for grades K-3 - Successfully completed modernization of five of the District’s six schools - Successfully received
Please see page 4
Please see page 4
Dr. Martin Luther King - Courtesy Photo
resonate with the words, “I Have A Dream.” Displayed directly below this message is Starbuck’s logo. Thus, the only information we are given is that the largest coffee chain in the nation—who makes billions selling high calorie coffee milkshakes—shares the same beliefs as the greatest American civil rights leader of the 20th Century. Wait. What? Not advertising anything but the Starbucks brand, the Please see page 4
OCDA Seeks Help Identifying Potential Additional Victims of Middle School Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a middle school teacher charged with sexually assaulting a minor female relative. Christopher Millette, 36, Fullerton, is charged with one felony count of oral
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Settlement Ends Kaiser-RN Dispute With a settlement that is likely to elevate RN standards across the nation, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United announced a major tentative contract agreement for 18,000 California RNs who work at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics that will give the RNs a stronger voice on patient care, and breakthrough improvements in workplace protections. The agreement also provides significant economic gains and additional retirement security. While the pact must still be ratified by the RNs, who will hold membership meetings beginning next Wednesday, CNA said it is cancelling a strike that had been scheduled for January 21 and 22. The agreement affects registered nurses and nurse practitioners who work in 86 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics in Northern and Central California, from Santa Rosa to Fresno. CNA/NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro paid tribute to the “unity of the Kaiser RNs and their devotion to assuring the highest level of quality care for patients as well as protections for the nurses who deliver that care.” “We look forward to a new chapter in our interactions with Kaiser,” DeMoro added. “We especially appreciate the commitment of Kaiser’s leadership to addressing our concerns, including working through
the complicated problems associated with the changes in health care delivery, some of them related to the Affordable Care Act, and the attention it has paid in this contract to the health and safety of its registered nurses as well as patients.” A key to the settlement was the agreement by Kaiser to establish a new committee of direct care RNs and NPs who will work with management to address the concerns RNs have about care standards in Kaiser facilities. “This is a great day for Kaiser patients and nurses,” said Zenei Cortez, RN, chair of the Kaiser RN bargaining team and a co-president of CNA. “We have an agreement that will strengthen the ability of Kaiser RNs to provide the optimal level of care our patients deserve, while establishing additional security for nurses. I am so proud of the Kaiser RNs and NPs who worked so hard for so long for this day.” “This agreement is a great achievement,” added Diane McClure, a Sacramento Kaiser RN and nurse negotiator. “We are especially excited about the expanded opportunity for new RN grads and trainees in Kaiser and the protections this agreement offers for RNs and our families.” Among other major components of the agreement: •Kaiser will hire hundreds of RNs which the nurses say should substantially improve
the quality of care for hospitalized patients, as well as signaling a renewed commitment to RN training and employment opportunities for new RN graduates at a time many hospitals have frozen RN hires. •Groundbreaking workplace protections for nurses from workplace violence to infectious diseases like Ebola to needle stick injuries. •Substantial economic gains for RNs and NPs, many of them the sole source of income for their families or extended families. Over the three years of the agreement, all the nurses will receive 14 percent pay increases through across the board hikes and lump sum payments. •Additional long-term retirement security for Kaiser RNs
and NPs through maintenance of a secure pension plan plus a substantial increase in employer contributions to the nurses’ 401k pension plans for the 87 percent of Kaiser RNs with those plans. •Annual paid release time, the first in the nation, for 25 RNs every year to participate in NNU’s disaster relief program, the Registered Nurse Response Network, which has dispatched hundreds of RNs to provide basic medical services following U.S. and global disasters from Hurricane Katrina to the Haiti earthquake to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. CNA also committed to helping National Union of Healthcare Workers at Kaiser, including mental health clinicians, to achieve a contract agreement as well.
Boys & Girls Club Receives Donation from Women’s Club On Jan. 7 the Cypress Women’s Club donated $200 to the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress. The Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Anne Hertz, Director of Operations Sue Osbon and Formula for Impact Director Justin Winford were present to receive the contribution and provide an update on the Club’s program and activities. The donation will be used to fund program supplies for the Club. The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress is an afterschool program that emphasizes academic success, good character, citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. The Club offers a variety of structured recreational activities, homework and enrichment opportunities for children in first grade on up. Older youth often serve as volunteers. On a day-to-day average, the Club serves 250 youth from the Cypress district
and surrounding areas. “We are grateful for the support of the Women’s Club and their donation that will help fund program supplies for Martin Luther King Day of Service,” says Director of Operations, Sue Osbon. Members from the Cypress City Council and active members of the Cypress Women’s Club, Mariellen Yarc and Stacy Berry were onhand to participate in the meeting and celebrate the presentation of the check to the Club. Stacy Berry also serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress. The Club is appreciative of the donation and thanks the Cypress Women’s Club for their support. For more information about ways to help the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, please call 714-527-2697 or visit www. boysandgirlsclubofcypress. com.
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New CDE Fiscal Deputy Supe.Appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today named Nick Schweizer to the position of Deputy Superintendent for the Services for Administration, Finance, Technology, and Infrastructure Branch of the California Department of Education (CDE). “We are pleased to find an outstanding leader with a deep knowledge of education, the state budget, and fiscal issues,” said Torlakson. “Nick brings so much to the department. I look forward to working with him.” Schweizer has been at the California Department of Finance since 1998 and has served in a variety of roles, including overseeing and developing budget policies affecting K-12 education, community colleges, state universities, college financial aid, teacher credentialing, and child care. Schweizer also spent one year as executive director of the State Board of Education where he provided leadership and direction to the board members and staff. As Deputy Superintendent, Schweizer will oversee the CDE budget, accounting, information systems, personnel services; and assistance to local educational agencies for fiscal and business aspects of public schools. He replaces Jeannie Oropeza who recently became Deputy Secretary for Human Resources for the state Senate. For additional information on the CDE’s Services for Administration, Finance, Technology, and Infrastructure Branch please visit http://www.cde. ca.gov/
Firefighters Say You Only Have Two Minutes Imagine being sound asleep in the middle of the night when suddenly your smoke alarms start blaring. Your house is filling with smoke. Do you know what to do? According to our friends at the American Red Cross (ARC), Los Angeles Firefighters agree that people have about two minutes to escape a burning home. With this in mind, ARC created the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign to reduce the number of fire related deaths and injuries by up to 25 percent over the next five years. You can be a part of this movement by having a fire escape plan that includes the following: - Make sure all members of the household know how to get out of every room in the house;
- Pick a place outside where everyone can meet and be sure everyone knows where it is; - Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside; - Practice your home fire drill until everyone in the house can do it in less than two minutes; and - Make sure everyone knows how to call '911'. The U.S. Fire Administration says people are at greater risk for home fires during the winter months. Now that the season is here, use ARC’s printable worksheet and begin planning; then check out this video from MySafeLAto learn how to conduct a fire drill with your family today!
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4 | JANUARY 26, 2015 - FEBRUARY 1, 2015
Supe. Retirement Continued from page 1
approval of a ballot measure that will ensure ongoing unrestricted revenue that will support 21St century instruction for our deserving students - Established a Technology Services department to support current and future technology needs I have been privileged to be a part of this rich legacy of educational excellence where the focus is on student achievement. As I look toward the future, I see our students who will become our community and world leaders. Their leadership has and will continue to be supported by the Cypress family and community.
Please know that during these next six months I will continue to provide my full attention and support to the District operations and to assisting with a seamless transition. I have great confidence that the Board of Trustees, staff, and community will continue to make those critical decisions to keep our District moving forward and supporting the success of each student. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful District. My life has been truly enriched by each of you. Best always, Bevery M. Hempstead Superintendent”
Sexual Assault Victims Continued from page 1
teacher at Valadez Middle School Academy in Placentia. The victim in this case did not attend the school where the defendant had been teaching. Between Aug. 1, 2012, and Dec. 28, 2014, the defendant is accused of sexually penetrating relative Jane Doe, who is under 10 years old, and committing lewd acts upon the victim twice. The crime was reported to the Fullerton Police Department, who investigated this
case, and arrested the defendant on Dec. 31, 2014. The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Kelly Core at (714) 347-8794. Deputy District Attorney Karyn Stokke of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
Measure to Repair California’s Deteriorating School Buildings Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) has introduced Assembly Bill 148 to offer an alternative solution to school construction funding in both K- 12 grades and community colleges. “California schools are in terrible shape and lack the funds to make necessary repairs. Toilets are clogged, roofs leak, and students swelter in hot classrooms. The Governor’s budget proposal does not provide a sustainable solution for our children. AB 148 will begin discussions about the future of school financing, which may include both bond financing or tax financing, and
also streamline the state facilities program, which is currently a burdensome layer of bureaucracy,” said Assemblymember Holden. “The time to modernize and build our school facilities is now while the economy is in good shape. Without repairing and updating our schools, we are leaving our children in unsafe classrooms that jeopardize their futures,” added Holden. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to adopt a sustainable school facilities plan that improves learning and teaching conditions in California’s public schools. Let’s get the job done.”
MLK and Starbucks Continued from page 1
ad is still effective for the company’s PR; however, it really doesn’t do anything to champion Civil Rights or promote Black History Month or even to promote an interest in the work and life of Dr. King. It’s really just designed to get you to buy coffee without feeling guilty. Not many would disagree with Martin Luther King Jr., but a lot of people have found an issue with Starbuck’s system of cheap labor which requires enlisting an army of part-time workers whose hours fluctuate week by week due to a piece of scheduling software which assigns shifts based on a mathematical logarithm that calculates each worker’s level of gross productivity. Dr. King, speaking on April 4th, 1967 at the Riverside Church in New York, warned against the sort of society in which coffee chains claim to be
activists. Speaking of a world in which America came out peacefully from the Cold War (ours) he said, “I am convinced that if we are to get on to the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” Like anything, changing anything in a community requires its members, “To get out and get active.” Activism can be anything in which the community comes together to discuss its important issues. It isn’t limited to marching, but it also isn’t marketing.