Oakley Press 05.15.2020

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Vol. 20, No. 20

YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

High schools plan in-person graduations by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer

Following a Liberty Union High School District board meeting held May 6, Superintendent Eric Volta announced the district tentatively plans to conduct in-person commencement ceremonies for the nearly 1,900 seniors in the district expected to graduate this year. “Pending shelter-in-place orders, we have pushed back the commencements to June 22, 23 and 24,” he said. “Right now, we’re planning on these commencements being student only. If we cannot hold those ceremonies per the current shelter-in-place orders, then we’ll have a virtual ceremony.”

With the school year quickly drawing to a close, school administrators are trying to develop graduation plans that will recognize students’ achievements while adhering to a continuously evolving set of restrictions resulting from the statewide stay-at-home order. “Graduation is the most important event on our campuses each year,” said Carrie Wells, Heritage High School principal. “As a district, I feel that we are trying our best to have plans that keep with the spirit of the traditional ceremonies offering an opportunity for families to create positive memories during this unprecedented time.” This week, Contra Costa

Lending A Helping Hand

Residents are making a difference as the community comes together during COVID-19 crisis. Page 4 Photo by Tony Kukulich

Kiala Kieffer, a graduating senior at Freedom High School picks up her cap and gown during a scheduled drive-up distribution this month. Health Services (CCHS) issued graduation guidance that urged school administrators to forego in-person graduations in favor of virtual ceremonies. The county did issue guidelines for two types of graduation ceremony options including a drive-thru diploma pickup and an in-person graduation for gatherings of less than

25 graduates. However, even the drive-thru option compels administrators to limit ceremonies to a maximum of 200 cars. With more than 500 graduates each at Liberty, Heritage and Freedom high schools, that cap presents a serious logistical challenge. see Graduations page 18

Free COVID-19 testing opens in Brentwood by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer

A COVID-19 test site recently opened in Brentwood, offering free testing to anyone regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. The site, set-up in the lobby of the performing arts center (PAC) on the Liberty High School campus, opened May 7 and is currently taking patients on a daily basis via appointment. “They (the state) were looking for something in Brentwood for the far East County, and this was the closest to serve the far, far east county,” said Kim McCarl, Contra Costa Health Services assistant to the director of communications. “We will be on that site for the next three weeks, and then we will try and

“ We really want people to get tested for

themselves and in order to help meet the goals the governor has set to reopen.

Diane Burgis, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District III find a more permanent site in Brentwood.” Liberty is one of three stateprovided walk-up locations in the county — the other two are in Pinole and Walnut Creek. Additional county-run sites offer drive-thru testing by appointment in Antioch, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, San Pablo and San Ramon. Eric Volta, Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) superintendent, said he was hap-

SAVE NOW

py to support the county’s testing needs and is confident the site is a safe one. “The few students who are picking up packets are nowhere near the PAC, parking is far away and the test center is hundreds of feet away from our skeleton crew, so I do not see this as a safety issue,” said Volta. “It is something that is needed to get us back on our feet and is part of the governor’s mandates. Our local businesses are struggling,

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and if LUHSD can help in any kind of way to make quicker the reopening of our town and community, then that’s what we are all about.” Volta added that while he has not officially alerted LUHSD staff about the testing availability since most are currently sheltering in place, he does support those who want to get tested. Brentwood City Manager Tim Ogden agreed. “We didn’t overtly alert our staff either requiring or recommending testing,” Ogden said. “I understood the testing capacity was limited, and with no confirmed or suspected cases amidst staff, (I) hadn’t done so. Most of the city hall staff are also working remotely, so that was another see Testing page 18

Rattler Season www.thepress.net/news/webextras

East Bay Regional Park District issues early-season warning for rattlesnake safety.

Ready, Willing And Waiting

New LMC campus is slated to open for fall semester if face-toface instruction is allowed. Page 6

Running In A Virtual World

Running club founder launches online program to keep kids motivated during pandemic. Page 14 Adopt A Pet............................8 Cop Logs................................19 Education................................6 Legals.....................................17 Milestones............................13 Opinion..................................12 Sports.....................................14

Virtual Grads

www.thepress.net/news/press_releases

Health officials are urging schools to hold virtual graduations to avoid COIVD-19.


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