YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 2
READ BREAKING NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
District hires interim leader by Aly Brown Staff Writer
In addition to new board members, the Byron Union School District (BUSD) recently welcomed an interim superintendent. Rami Muth steps out of retirement from a 40-year career in education to help bridge the gap for BUSD on its quest for a permanent replacement for former Superintendent Dr. Debbie Gold, whose resignation was announced in November. Over half of Muth’s career was spent in the classroom with high-needs students, and she also served as the director of curriculum and instruction
MUTH and coordinator of Beginning Teacher Support Assessment, secondary literacy, PAR and
GATE. “I think of my foundational work as a teacher for 22 years as really the heart of who I am as an administrator – I always look through the lens of an educator,” said Muth, who prides herself on positive collaborative leadership. While she plans to remain retired, she’s prepared to see the BUSD to the end of the school year if a new superintendent isn’t found before that time. As an administrator who pulled her home district of Martinez through the Great Recession, Muth said she plans to bring to Byron her ability to view hardship as an opportunity for improvement. “My goal is not to feather
my nest but to make sure (the BUSD) gets what they need and help facilitate that transition,” Muth said. “There are some issues (the BUSD) faces as a small district with not a whole lot of leeway in the budget, but it’s also an opportunity to work together and with fresh eyes.” Muth noted Gold and the board of trustees have been welcoming and helpful in bringing her up to speed on the district. And that board now consists of three new members, Eva Pahl, Melissa Ortiz-Gray and Joshua McMurray. Pahl’s professional background was in business administration, during which
by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
Let The Crab Feeds Begin
The new year signals the start of East County’s local crab feed events and fundraisers. Page 8A
Check out The Press’ commemorative Liberty High football state championship section. Page 1B Photo by Tony Kukulich
A memorial on Vasco Road commemorates Castulo Loredo Jr. who was killed in an auto accident in November 2017. fic when he was struck from behind by the driver of a Nissan Versa. The impact of the collision pushed Jr’s car into the path of a northbound Toyota Corolla that struck him broadside.
Both drivers involved in the second collision were flown to the trauma center at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut
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Furry Friends Pet Relief continues its commitment to aid fire victims’ pets. Page 5A
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Friends Aid Fire Victims
see Leader page 22A
Raising awareness, saving lives There is a quote about the fickle nature of life written by journalist Mary Schmich in a 1997 column for the Chicago Tribune. “Don’t worry about the future,” wrote Schmich. “Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.” Brentwood resident Cynthia Loredo was blindsided by her troubles around 4 p.m., though it was an idle Monday in November 2017 when a phone call delivered devastating news. A social worker from a hospital told her that her husband had been admitted after a serious auto accident. Castulo Loredo Jr., known to his friends and family as Jr, had been headed south on Vasco Road in his silver Audi A4 that afternoon. He was headed toward the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he worked as a machinist. Jr, who was a few weeks past his 55th birthday, had slowed to stop in heavy southbound traf-
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Youth Job Fair
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East Bay Regional Park District will host two Youth Job Fairs in the East Bay.
Calendar.............................23A Classifieds..........................17A Cop Logs.............................21A Education ..........................15A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Health & Beauty................. 7A Milestones.........................10A Pets......................................16A
New Leadership
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Lynn Mackey has been sworn in as the new Superintendent of Schools.