PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987
VOL. 32, N0. 21
MAY 25, 2018
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Gun show owner under . investigation
Encinitas committed to Beacon’s
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Council pledges staircase funds
By Bianca Kaplanek
According to a report on certificated salaries issued by the California Department of Education’s School Fiscal Services Division, the lowest teacher salary offered at SDUHSD last year was $61,449. Nearby school district San Marcos Unified’s minimum salary, by contrast, was $37,922. The second-highest minimum salary offered by a San Diego County school district was La Mesa-Spring Valley Elementary’s $54,678. That’s still
DEL MAR — As pressure to end gun THE shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds VISTA continues, president of the 22nd District NEWS Agricultural Association Stephen Shewmaker announced that Crossroads of the West Gun Shows owner Robert Templeton is under investigation. Crossroads has held gun shows at the fairgrounds for the last 28 years. “There have been alleRANCHO gations against the promotSFNEWS er of the shows we currently have at the fairgrounds, serious allegations,” Shewmaker said, shortly before a public comment period. “We on the board take those seriously and we’ve started an investigation with the Department of Justice,” he said. “They’re involved in it right now to make sure that the licensing of the promoter is up to snuff.” Del Mar resident Rose Ann Sharp said when she and her husband, Ira, founders of NeverAgainCA, began looking into the business background of Robert Templeton, owner of Crossroads of the West Gun Shows, they learned he and his son, Jefferey, are convicted felons. According to reports in the Deseret News and other publications across Utah, where Crossroads is based, the elder Templeton pleaded guilty to charges that stemmed from the sale and transport of guns to Mormons in South Africa.
TURN TO SCHOOL BOARD ON A6
TURN TO GUN SHOW ON A15
By Aaron Burgin
ENCINITAS — The City Council unanimously voted at its latest strategic planning session May 16 to continue support for the Beacon’s Beach staircase project. The plan would end a nearly two-decade dilemma on how to fix the unstable coastal bluff that threatens the current switchback staircase and parking lot atop the coastal bluff at the beach. The city has appeared to clear a significant hurdle in its efforts — both the Department of State Parks and the California Coastal Commission appear to be on board with the plan, which was developed last year after the state commission rejected earlier efforts. “This project is long-awaited, shovel-ready and most importantly, necessary for public safety,” Mayor Catherine Blakespear said. “I’m glad that all council members remain committed to this effort.” Previously, the city tried to address the erosion on the bluff, which threatens the current staircase and parking lot, by reinforcing the bluff using erodible soil cement. But the Coastal Commission signaled in March 2017 that it wouldn’t approve the proposal because it would limit the amount of sand that would return to the beach. It raised additional questions about the TURN TO BEACON’S ON A11
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RECON REMEMBRANCE Chief John E. Bohan III tackles the obstacle course of the 10th Annual Reconnaisance Challenge in memory of his fallen brother Ryan Lohrey on May 17 at Camp Pendleton. “It’s just very beautiful to see all of them willing to put their bodies through this incredibly tough challenge. My husband talked about honoring his brothers in this way. I’m glad my husband will be remembered. The feeling is overwhelming and amazing,” said Dani Romero, 23, whose husband, Cpl. Alejandro “Alex” Romero, died on Jan. 22 in a parachute training accident. Photo by Shana Thompson
Unease mounts over district finances, student well-being By Carey Blakely
REGION — A Torrey Pines High School graduation flier recently emailed to parents advertised a $5,000 VIP package. Doubling as a donation to the TP Education Fund, the expensive package promised 10 “exclusive” spots on the field at graduation as well as two “preferred” parking spots and a gift basket. The ad exhorted parents to act fast because, “There are only 3 remaining!” Requests for large donations are par for the course at San Dieguito Union High School Dis-
trict, which faces a projected $8.3 million deficit this school year over its $134.6 million general fund revenues. The district will have tough questions to ask when the board reconvenes on June 21 to approve next year’s budget. SDUHSD anticipates deficits of $4.4 million and $3.5 million for the next two respective school years and foresees a surplus of only about $271,000 for 2020-2021. The district’s reserves, akin to a rainy-day fund, stood around 20 percent just two years ago — an
impressive savings. According to a district report, SDUHSD expects to finish the year with 10.8 percent reserves and the 2020-2021 year with 6.6 percent reserves. Board member John Salazar is concerned by what he calls “fiscal mismanagement at its most basic level.” He attributes the deficit to the teacher raises, which he did not vote for, of 12.5 percent in 2015 and 0.5 percent in 2017. The district has the highest teacher salaries by far in San Diego County.
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