YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 7, No. 3
Including Surrounding Communities
www.discoverybaypress.com
New CSD directors take their seats by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Members of the CSD Board said goodbye to some familiar faces and hello to some new ones last week with the official changeover of directors as dictated by voters on Nov. 4. The transition took place during the monthly CSD board meeting. Director Bob Doran and Treasurer Patty Knight received gifts, commendations and thanks for their contributions to the board. Following the presentation, incoming directors Ray Tetrault and Mark Simon were administered the oath of office. Seats were changed and new board positions immediately voted on, led by a motion from outgoing President Shannon Murphy-Teixiera, who nominated Director Dave Dove for president. Dove said he would prefer to hold the treasurer’s seat, and in turn nominated incoming director and past president Ray Tetrault for president. Tetrault accepted and the board
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Incoming President Ray Tetrault, left, and new Vice-President Mark Simon took the CSD reins at the Jan. 7 board meeting. approved his nomination. Simon was named vice-president and Dove treasurer. Murphy-Teixiera and David Piepho, who was not in attendance, remain on the board as directors. “I am glad to be here, and look forward to a successful and productive term,” said Tetrault.
“I will also try to make the meetings move along and get everyone out of here by 10 o’clock as often as possible.” Dove said his goals for the coming year include updating the town’s Web site and advancing a variety of the community’s landscaping projects. He added
that he would also like to add a treasurer’s report to the monthly meetings. “I believe these are important items and we want to make sure that the board moves ahead quickly and efficiently,” said Dove. In other meeting news, officials from Veolia Water, the town’s new sewer and water contractor, introduced themselves to the board and said they expect to have a detailed report on the current state of the systems and what is needed for the future within the next few weeks. Veolia replaced embattled SouthWest Water, which rescinded its contract with the CSD in December. Tetrault said he would like to create a sewer and water committee, headed by him and Dove, to oversee the first few months of Veolia’s tenure. “That means adding an additional meeting a month to our schedule,” said Tetrault. “But we want to insure that we don’t have another probsee Directors page 21A
Preschool-daycare to prep kids for future
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January 16, 2009
THIS WEEK
Partying with the pols
Revelers in D.C. are sure feel a vibe radiating from East County on Inauguration Day.
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In search of a quorum Discovery Bay property owners were asked to vote on a dues increase – but not enough of them answered the call.
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Wrestling royalty
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
As school funding continues to be cut by the state, there hasn’t been much good news to report on the education front. But in far East County, an innovative preschool and childcare program is giving the Byron Union School District (BUSD) plenty to crow about. Located on site at Timber Point and Discovery Bay elementary schools, the combination program is designed to allow students and parents the opportunity to become involved in their prospective school district at an early age by providing the academics students need and the daycare consistency and flexibility parents crave. “It’s no secret that kids with preschool experience do better in kindergarten and beyond,” said Ken Jacopetti, assistant superintendent of educational services for BUSD. “But the real power behind this program is: it is community-based and helps us to establish a continuum to work with these students as they progress in their education.” And it doesn’t hurt that the program is self-funded. “Not one dollar is coming out of school funds,” said Danielle Storey, teacher on special assignment for BUSD and creator of the program. “In these tough economic times, we feel grateful to have been able to develop
A Liberty High junior’s gift of grapple has earned her the title Queen of the Mat.
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INSIDE
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Plans are in the works for an onsite preschool and childcare program through the Byron Union School District. Classrooms at Discovery Bay, above, and Timber Point elementary schools have already been designated for the program, which is slated to begin this summer. a program like this without touching school dollars.” Storey said initial funding will be taken care of through tuition costs, and because the classrooms are already designated – as well as supplies such as books, toys and desks – the plan can easily get up and running with a
minimum of financial outlay. “Right now, the tuition-based approach will work, and later perhaps there will be grants we can apply for,” said Storey. “There are millions of dollars out there in available see Day Care page 21A
Arts...................................14A Calendar ..........................19B Classifieds ........................15B Coplog .............................17A Education ..........................7A Entertainment ................18B Health & Beauty ............... 8B Milestones ......................... 7B Opinion ...........................16A Sports ................................. 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A