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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 9, No. 25
Resource officer to stay on beat by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
When the Byron Union School District reopens for business on Aug. 1, Deputy David Allain will be among those on campus welcoming students back to school. But for the popular school resource officer (SRO), it’s the gig that almost wasn’t. “David’s been saved,” said Lt. Mike Burton of Delta Station. “It came right down to the wire, though. The poor guy came to work every day not knowing if he had a job or not. We’re all very thankful.” And no one more than Allain. “I’m glad it all worked out,” said the Discovery Bay resident of his extended contract with the school district. “And I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue in this role. I’ll do my best to serve the residents of Discovery Bay and the school district.”
ALLAIN The school resource officer position was originally funded through a California Department of Education grant and supported by a partnership with the school district, Contra Costa supervisors and the sheriff’s office. When Allain came to the job last September – replacing the current SRO – the program was on the final leg of its five-year, $500,000 grant. A lack of alterna-
tive funding for the following year put the position in jeopardy. However, thanks to the generosity of the Discovery Bay P-6 Committee (an advisory body that helps fund police services), Allain will remain on the job for at least another year. The committee is picking up the tab for the next 12 months, approximately $200,000 for a full-time deputy plus a patrol car. “The P-6 committee is funding it all; it’s pretty amazing,” said Burton. “They have been unbelievably supportive. Their focus has always been on how to best benefit the community, and this is just another example of that.” Because of ongoing budget cuts in the sheriff’s office as well as the school district, had the P-6 committee not stepped up, it’s likely the SRO program would have been eliminated. What will happen next year, however, remains to be seen. “It’s kind of band-aid, but it
does buy us some time,” said Burton. For Byron Superintendent Ken Jacopetti, it’s a band-aid the district is happy to use. “Deputy Allain has been an outstanding fit for us and we are definitely pleased he will be with us for another year,” said Jacopetti. “There is such a need for this program, and this additional year will give us a chance to look for funding in terms of grants or whatever else might be available.” For his part, Allain will continue to do the job he was assigned: protecting the students and families of Discovery Bay. “I really see myself as a liaison between the school district and the sheriff’s office,” said Allain in a previous interview with The Press. “I love working with the kids, building their trust and helping them where I can. It’s a very gratifying job.” To comment, visit www. thepress.net.
‘No shot, no school’ deadline looms by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Of all the items parents need to put on their child’s back-to-school checklist this year, the pertussis vaccine should be at the top. As of July 1, California law requires all students entering seventh through 12th grades to be immunized with the whooping cough booster vaccine. And local school districts and health affiliates throughout East County are continuing to reach out to the school community, emphasizing the now well-known slogan: No Shot, No School. “We’ve been sending out weekly reminders to our families,” said John Saylor, director of special services with the Liberty Union High School District. “And for us, that is 7,200 students. I would have to say that in general our families have been very good at getting it done. We still have a way to go, but things are beginning to trickle in.”
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Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread through coughs and sneezes and characterized by severe, lingering coughs. In 2010, 10 infants died from the malady – the highest number since 1950 – and thousands more became ill, prompting state health officials to declare a pertussis epidemic in California. The pertussis – or DTaP vac-
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cine – consists of four inoculations. The first three doses are given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age. However, immunity wears off over time and the danger lies in adults and older children spreading the illness to infants too young to receive the vaccine. East County’s local school districts have been working for
Celeb central
go to news/WebExtras! An upcoming golf tourney in Tahoe promises the ultimate in VIP sightings.
months to inform the public about the new law, emphasizing that without proof of inoculation, students will not be allowed to attend school. But as thousands of students have yet to be inoculated, and most schools open their doors on Aug. 1, the looming deadline is daunting. “Approximately 80 percent of our children have yet to provide proof of their pertussis vaccine, so we have a bit to go,” said Jan Steed, director of student services for the Brentwood Union School District. “But we have it (information) plastered everywhere, and Kaiser has been sending home letters notifying families, so we’re doing everything we can.” At the Oakley Union Elementary School District, where roughly 800 middle school students still need to file their proofs of vacci-
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June 24, 2011
Primed for the big day
Let our Wedding Planner help you sweat the details right now so you can relax on your wedding day. Page 1B
Input integrated The town’s operating budget for the coming fiscal year bears the stamp of community involvement. Page 3A
Talent to spare
The recent PBA Senior Northern California Classic brought pocketcrashing class to Brentwood. Page 21A Business ............................... 4A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 17B Cop Logs ............................11A Entertainment ................. 13B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ..............18A Milestones ........................ 22B Sports .................................21A Wedding Planner .............. 1B ravemotionpictures Brentwood 14 +
see Deadline page 17A
Vets get boost
go to news/press releases A new bill before Congress would help veterans get access to good jobs.
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FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Green thumbs
go to multimedia/videos Brentwood was beautified as part of Mormon Helping Hands Day.