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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020
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EDUCATION
EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AS SCHOOL BOARD CUTS PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYEES
HEALTH
COVID-19 Hits North County Worldwide pandemic first detected in the community Saturday By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@atascaderonews.com
blame on ADA (average daily attendance) shortfall is really trying to give camouflage to those who are really responsible,” Baker said. “This is the fallout from gross mismanagement, corruption, incompetence, and negligence of the four of the past administration. Millions and millions of dollars were squandered, absolutely squandered of our reserve. That’s why we have a reserve, so when we have a shortfall, we have a reserve to cover situations like this, but it was wasted.” Baker was referring to budget shortfalls that occurred during previous administrations, decisions that lead from a 10 percent financial reserve in 2015 to 1.73 percent reserve in January 2019. California requires districts to retain at least
NORTH COUNTY — On December 31, 2019, China alerted the World Health Organization to several unusual cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, at which time the term “coronavirus” was relatively unknown. Today, March 18, nearly 200,000 cases of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, have been reported along with 7,868 deaths, and more than 80,000 recoveries, worldwide. On January 28, we reported 11 cases were confirmed in the United States. As days turned into weeks, the virus spread around the world and conflicting reports battled over the narrative as it related to California and the Central Coast. In the first week of March, the County of San Luis Obispo began delivering updates on COVID-19, but had yet to confirm a case. On March 5, California declared a state of emergency and the first patient in SLO County was tested and found negative for COVID-19. On March 6, events began canceling around the state and county like dominoes falling — meetings and events were canceled or placed online only, sports were canceled at the university and high school levels. On March 13, SLO County declared a state of emergency and schools around the county closed temporarily as a means to slow the spread of COVID-19. The state recommended the cancellation of events that would draw crowds of 250 people or more, and that number was reduced to 50 in some cases around the state. California governor Gavin Newsom recommended the canceling of events over the next eight weeks. On March 14, the first case of COVID-19 — reported to be an Atascadero resident — was confirmed in SLO County, followed in the days after by two cases in South SLO County. Local commerce followed suit with the national economy — slowed nearly to a stand-
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Paso Robles student Elisa Hardisty holds up two signs durng the PRJUSD board of trustees meeting Tuesday evening. Photos by Mark Diaz
Accusations of financial mismanagement surface amidst school cuts By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — On Mar. 10, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously eliminated 13 classified positions. In a split decision (5-2), the Board also eliminated a full-time Audio/Video/Multimedia teaching position and a full-time elementary music position. “I do not believe the money savings are significant,” AV teacher Michael Whitman wrote in an email. “I know my program does not cost much to run currently, and that the program contributes to the high school with its ability to provide video services. About five percent of the student population is involved in these classes each year. This is because it is a path-
way with multiple courses, not just a single course.” In a packed room at the PRJUSD Board meeting, students held signs that read “Think of the Students” and “Can you hear all 120 voices?” while they listened to budget talks and calmly waited for their turn to speak. However, board member Joel Peterson confronted audience member Berk Baker during a short break from the marathon board meeting, breaking through a line of chairs to face Baker, saying, “everything was accounted for.” “I felt I needed to let Mr. Baker know that at times his statements are not always accurate,” Peterson said. “It is his right to come to the school board and express his opinion. My intention was not to escalate things, but I’ve listened to him for the last
CITY
City Council Funds 17th Street Sidewalk Project Allots yearly CBDG monies
By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — In March, the City of Paso Robles Council decided on its recommendations to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on how to dole out this year’s allotted $236,185 in Community Development Block Grant Program funds. In a unanimous vote (5-0), the pasoroblespress.com
council decided to fund the 17th Street sidewalk and ramp project for $94,770, Grid Alternatives’ solar project for $58,750, El Camino Homeless Organization for $21,728, CAPSLO’s senior daycare services for $13,700, and administration costs that primarily go to the County for $47,237. SLOBOC makes the final decision on where they will CONTINUED ON PAGE A11
LOCAL NEWS
year and a half of my life and I feel he provides misinformation. Our money went to schools, programs and kids. The money was not missing.” Moments earlier, Baker had stepped up to the podium, saying that he initially did not want to speak, but felt compelled to after watching board members Peterson and Joan Summers vote against eliminating the AV position. Baker blamed the board members for causing the cuts. Baker admonished the Board for “squandering” a seven million-dollar reserve that he said directly led to the night’s cuts. Joan Summers, Peterson, Chris Bausch and Tim Gearhart all served on the board during the controversial tenure of former superintendent Chris Williams and still sit on the board today. “I think hiding and putting the
EDUCATION
North County Schools Close Boards vote to keep students home due to COVID-19 pandemic
By LUKE PHILLIPS & MARK DIAZ
NORTH COUNTY — School boards in Paso Robles, Templeton and Atascadero all convened emergency meetings this past Friday, March 6 to vote on whether or not to close schools due to the imminent arrival of the novel coronovirus COVID-19 in the county and also to decide how long schools should remain closed. The Paso Robles Joint Unified
LOCAL NEWS
School District board of trustees voted 7-0 to close all schools in the district in the face of the pandemic. The closures came at the recommendation of Superintendent Curt Dubost. “We can’t comply with the direction to keep social distance,” Dubost told the board. School board trustee Tim Gearhart said that he didn’t want to wait until the county
had a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus to close schools, saying it would be too late at that point. Board member Chris Arend said that he would have liked to have the “order on high” but said, “it looks like we are going to have to shut the schools down in a matter of days anyway.” The board disagreed on how long the schools should remain closed and Dubost noted that the Centers for Disease Control
is recommended that schools stay closed for eight to 20 weeks. Board member Joel Peterson opposed closing the school for more than two weeks. “I’m not going to vote to close schools for four weeks,” he said. “We don’t even know what … is going on.” The board voted 5-3 to close schools until April 13 . The board will meet again March
SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT
WEATHER
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JEFF RAILSBACK joins Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce team | A2
CITY OF PASO ROBLES works to keep Salinas riverbed clean | A4
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR ‘THE HUNT’ Inflaming the Week 1 of 2: A spotlight on masses? A movie review by top local athletes | B1 Chris Allen | B3
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