The
INSIDE
Islands’ 1st naturalist
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The new eco-economy
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Salish Sea Music Festival
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VOLUME 38, NUMBER 9 • MARCH 3, 2015
Lopez School welcomes a new superintendent by Cali Bagby Weekly editor
Brian Auckland, shown right, has been named the new superintendent of Lopez Island School District.In August of 2014, Auckland was hired as the interim elementary principal and special services director, replacing Lisa Shelby who has returned to Alaska. Auckland's aunt lives on Lopez so he visited the island often throughout his life. What drew him to the “friendly isle” was Bill Evans who he met about 15 years ago. Auckland was looking for a place to fulfill his superintendent internship and thought Evans would be an ideal mentor. “His genuineness, his caring and deep commitment to student learning and the fact that you can count on Bill to keep students first is what I respected about him and want to follow,” said Auckland. In December, the staff recommended Auckland for the position of superintendent as Evans had turned in his resignation. In January the school board asked for Auckland to apply for the position.
Lopez Center
“It's a natural fit. I enjoy the staff and kids,” said Auckland. “And the board is supportive … It's just a good fit.” Auckland's wife and two kids, a fourth grade son and second grade daughter, still live in Arlington, Wash., and he sees them on the weekends. His family plans on moving to the island in June. Auckland takes this position in the aftermath of a few big changes at the school. Evans resigned last April, but stayed in the position until his replacement was found. At the time Evans cited financial oversight as his main reason for stepping down, writing in a press release to the Weekly that, “We need a superintendent whose skills include a high degree of financial savvy.” The new superintendent describes himself as “number- oriented.” Auckland has been an administrator for more than ten years. He worked at an elementary with more than 700 kids and large budgets. “I've always kept a balanced budget,” said Auckland.
Live in Concert
Saturday, March 7th, 4:00 pm
Joe Reilly & Allison Radell with Jaime Cordova & Colin Doherty A concert for the whole family!
Advance Tickets: Adult $10, Youth $5, Family $30. Buy Tickets Online at Paper Scissors on the Rock, Blossoms, Lopez Bookshop & LCCA Tickets at Door: Adult $10-15 (sliding scale), Youth $5, Family: $30-45
He also comes to the district in the wake of the November election where voters passed a $9.6-million capital projects bond. The bond represents significant revisions from the $16.5-million renovation project proposed in 2013, which did not meet with voter approval. School officials say the bond will provide sufficient funding for critical upgrades and renovations to meet basic safety, health and educational standards, by reducing originally proposed new additions and site improvements, trimming back on refurbishment of classrooms, and eliminating original plans for water catchment for irrigation. With these changes on the horizon, Auckland said his goal is to listen and ask questions to find out what the community truly needs. Auckland said he got into the education business because he has always loved watching kids learn. “It's a gift to teach kids how to learn everything from sports to the arts,” said Auckland. “That is at the heart of what I do – a passion for student learning.”
Sheriff responds to crime survey by Cali Bagby Weekly editor
San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs said he was not surprised to find that 59 percent of 240 participants in a recent poll said drug activity
was their main worry when it comes to crime in our island communities. “I knew that was a primary concern,” said Krebs. He already has some plans in place to address these issues, but cannot share specific tactics with the public at this time. “We are going to be paying more attention to places where there are known drug hangouts in Friday Harbor
and other places where there are concentrated areas of activity,” said Krebs. “We will also focus on the way drugs are getting on the island.” Drugs was one of several topics in the poll, which was created by the Islands’ Weekly in January. A total of 268 islanders responded to the poll – 33 answers were skipped. See the results of the survey on page 7. What Krebs found most
Lopez School Drama Club ✧
presents ✧
10th Annual Festival of One-Act Plays
Dinner Theatre at the Galley!
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday March 4, 5, 6 Dinner from 5pm; Show at 6:45pm Call the Galley for reservations:
Dinner and Show: $30 Show only: $10 at the door (available 6:30 pm)
startling about the poll was that only 16 percent of survey responders checked excellent in response to deputies’ professionalism in their interactions with the community. “My goal is to change that quickly,” said Krebs. “There is absolutely no reason that our deputies should not be professional and friendly in our community.” Krebs said the perception of unprofessional deputies may be because the memory of the Christmas Eve incident in Friday Harbor. The incident involved Deputy Felix Menjivar pulling over a San Juan Island man driving a trailer, which carried more than a dozen holiday carolers including several children. The ensuing verbal exchange between the driver and Menjivar became heated and, according to several witnesses, that dispute nearly escalated into an altercation. Witnesses say that at one point the deputy lunged at the driver, but was restrained by a second officer who arrived at the scene. Krebs said he would not be surSEE CRIME SURVEY, PAGE 5