Students look forward to primary

BY SEAN TURNER sturner.gazette@gmail.com P articipation in democracy is an essential part of the American Identity, and with the California Presidential Primary quickly approaching, many seniors will be experiencing their first election. While some students aren’t interested in the political process, many are watching debates, attending rallies and even donating to campaigns of their choice. “I can’t be bothered (to vote),” senior Keaton Brasse said. “I think it is of the utmost importance that Americans vote when given the opportunity... I’m just not going to.” A similar sentiment can be seen in young voters across the nation. In the 2018 midterm election, eligible voters aged 18-29 had the lowest turnout of any age group at 35.6%, according to the United States Census. However, not all students on campus share this attitude toward political participation. Hunter Josephson is a politically active senior who has attended rallies, donated to his favorite candidates and kept up-to-date on debates and political media. “I think it's important that we actually have our voices heard,” said Josephson, who sees voting as the essential outlet for Americans to shape their government. “If you don’t vote, you can’t criticize anyone else.” To Josephson, voting is necessary for all who are eligible, because it is the only way to have the government properly represent them. Unfortunately, not all who are eligible to vote in the 2020 Presidential Election are permitted to vote in the California Primaries. California laws dictate that to vote in the Primary Elections, the voter must be 18 years old by the primary date. With California's relatively early primary, many seniors will be left without a voice in their registered party. “I will be 18 for the general election but not in time for the primary election,” said Zack Haug, a politically active student who will not be eligible to vote in this year's primary. “I have made calls for my favorite candidate, Elizabeth Warren, and I stay up-to-date and well-versed in politics overall.” Haug said he believes California laws should be changed to accommodate voters like him. But rather than wait for his time to vote, Haug has found other ways to take action in politics. “My friend Jordan Greenfelder and I have contacted our state senator and have scheduled a meeting in order to try to propose legislation to change the laws,” he said. Although the laws can’t be changed in time for him to vote, Haug said he hopes California law will change for the sake of future voters. When it comes to actually deciding whether to vote or not, Josephson says the decision is personal. “I try not to criticize anyone's decision to vote,” Josephson said. “Because it’s their choice.” Three GBHS teachers choose to retire early after district offers one-time $20,000 incentive I think it’s of the utmost importance that Americans vote when given the opportunity. –Keaton Brasse, senior

Gazette illustration /ASHLEY LUCIA

BY LINDSEY ZABELL lzabell.gazette@gmail.com Ever since its opening in 1996, Granite Bay High has been home to hundreds of teachers, all who have devoted their time to educating their many students. For the past few years, there has been a $5,000 retirement incentive for teachers willing to commit to retiring at the end of that school year, as long as they made their decision by mid-February. Last fall, the Roseville Joint Union High School District, put an additional $20,000 early retirement incentive on the table, and three GBHS teachers decided to take it – Advanced Placement micro/ macroeconomics and journalism teacher Karl Grubuagh, photography and art teacher Amelie Rider and health teacher John MacLeane. In order to receive this additional $20,000, the staff members were required to make their decision by Dec. 6. “A retirement incentive is an additional sum of money that can be offered to employees to encourage them to consider retiring now to open up some vacancies in our system for hiring other staff members,” district superintendent Denise Herrmann explained. Although many school districts offer retirement incentives as a cost saver due to veteran teachers earning more money than new teachers, the reasoning behind RJUHSD’s new retirement incentive was because of the opening of a new high school, West Park, in West Roseville in August. As the district prepares for the opening of the new school, the new positions opened up because of retirements will allow for a more smooth transition for students, staff members and faculty across the district. “We didn't want teachers to have involuntary transfers, so our intention was to create openings across the district so that if we had any school that was overstaffed, there would be openings from retired people, so that (teachers) would have a choice,” Herrmann said. “Rather than people having to (transfer) to West Park or having to go to another school, it allows a little more space. Our goal was to try and make this process of transition as comfortable as possible for teachers.” On average, there are between seven and 15 retirees district-wide each school year. This year, there are 21. “Our goal was to have somewhere between 10 and 20 (retirees), so we met the top end of our target,” Herrmann said. According to Grubaugh, in addition to the $25,000, there is also an additional incentive of a maximum of $20,000, depending on how long that teacher has been in the district. MacLeane’s decision to retire became easier once the incentive was offered. “I was going to retire this year or next year anyway,” Macleane said. “I really thought I was going to wait until next year, but that extra incentive was enough to (retire).” Rider said the extra incentive also made her decision to retire after 14 years much easier. “I feel like the (teaching environment) has changed a little bit,” she said. “The $20,000 made it easier for me to say, ‘This is the year.’ ” Our intention was to create openings across the district ... –Denise Herrmann, superintendent