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Local school districts consider plans for possible reopening by Aly Brown Staff Writer
REGIONAL As COVID-19 infection rates changed this week, the options for returning to the classroom became clearer for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Announced Tuesday, Sept. 29, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) reported the county had downgraded from the state’s most restrictive purple tier (widespread transmission) to its less restrictive red tier (substantial transmission) — an indication that the virus in the region is less widespread than just the week before. This news came with additional reopenings of local businesses but also marked the beginning of possible change to come for the schools. CCHS noted elementary and
Eric Volta, Liberty Union High School District superintendent, said the high school district is considering a January reopening, following recent news from the health department.
Photo by Tony Kukulich
secondary schools can reopen for in-person instruction on Oct. 13 if the county remains in the red tier for two more weeks. Currently, elementary schools can apply for a
waiver from the health officer to reopen. While still in the purple tier last week, East County’s school district superintendents were well
aware that the targets for entering the red tier had been met in the county for the first time on Sept. see School page 22
Fire district supports Measure X “ It’s a call to action. There’s nothing (in the
by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
REGIONAL The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Fire Board unanimously approved a resolution in support of Measure X, a countywide sales tax initiative that, if passed, could play a significant role in the resolution of the district’s persistent service level challenges. Measure X, which will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot and requires a simple majority to pass, would assess a 0.5% sales tax across Contra Costa County for a term of 20 years. It is expected to generate more than $80 mil-
measure) that says they’re going to give us even one station, let alone two or three stations. But this could be a long way toward a solution.
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Brian Oftedal, ECCFPD fire board president lion annually that will go into the county’s general fund. “I think the board has made it very clear that they’re supporting this not to address a one-time capital need,” said ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick. “They’re supporting this for a reoccurring,
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guaranteed revenue stream to address ongoing operations and the deficit of three stations. We’re trying to responsibly get engaged in every conversation we can to address the issues that we have. We’re trying to explore all options.” Currently, the district op-
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Girl soars to Eagle status by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
DISCOVERY BAY Katie Neely of Discovery Bay has spent the past 20 months working toward a single goal: achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, BSA pivoted in February 2019 to allow girls to join its ranks. The organization also came up with a fasttrack program allowing girls who joined to complete the steps necessary to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout in approximately 20 months. Katie said she has been working hard to complete all necessary requirements and be counted part of the inaugural group of female Eagle Scouts. “I love Scouts so much,” Katie said. “It’s given me so many opportunities and so many different life skills . . . I just worked really hard, because I want to be in the first group of girls to get Eagle.” Katie’s work has paid off. She is currently in the process of completing her Eagle Project, a community board designed to help the honorees of Discovery Bay’s chapter of Helping One Woman (HOW). Before shelterin-place restrictions prohibited its activities, HOW hosted a monthly dinner for a woman who had suffered an irreplaceable loss. The monthly dinners would draw community support for the honorees and raise funds through ticket sales, raffles, auctions and donations. All funds generated would be handed to see Eagle page 22
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erates three stations located in Brentwood, Oakley and Discovery Bay. The district’s strategic plan identified an existing need for six stations to provide a level of fire service in line with standards published by the National Fire Protection Association. Incident response times in the district regularly exceed national standards. Passage of the measure is no guarantee that the district will see any funding, much less the estimated $13.5 million a year needed to operate the three additional fire stations needed to serve the district’s current need.
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YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS | SERVING EAST COUNTY
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