Film festival to honor Penélope Cruz
Don’t worry; Hercule Poirot will crack the case
Santa Barbara International Film Festival to present star with the Montecito Award - A3
Review: Director and star Kenneth Branagh succeeds with ‘Death on the Nile’ - B1
Our 166th Year
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F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 18 , 2 0 2 2
Righetti assistant principal resigns after allegations Gene Rickman steps down after accusations of misconduct with walk-on basketball coach
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District announced Thursday that Gene Rickman, assistant principal at Righetti High School, has resigned after allegations of inappropriate behavior with a walk-on basketball coach.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
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Upper elementary school students conduct experiments, above and below, in the new STEAM lab at the Montessori Center School in Goleta.
School opens STEAM lab Students engage in projects and experiments at new facility at Montessori Center School By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Montessori Center School, which serves more than 200 students from as young as 18 months all the way through 6th grade, has unveiled its new STEAM Lab. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. This new lab was made possible because of donors, including friends and family members of the school, located in Goleta. It will be used by elementary school students. “Montessori would like to thank all of the generous donors to the STEAM Lab,” Melanie Jacobs, head of Montessori Center School, told
the News-Press Thursday. “We are very excited to be opening our new STEAM lab,” Ms. Jacobs said. “We have always wanted to have a separate, dedicated space for our students to receive hands-on science lessons from our talented faculty, conduct science experiments, explore maker space activities, and much more. The addition of a science lab to our campus has been a long-term goal of ours, and we are thrilled to make it a reality! “Within the STEAM lab, our elementary students will have the opportunity to flex their critical thinking and creative muscles to collaborate, problem-solve, create and innovate — all pillars of 21stcentury learning,” Ms. Jacobs said.
She explained that the interactive space will engage students in hands-on, ageappropriate projects, experiments and activities that integrate the Montessori curriculum in science, art, technology, engineering and mathematical concepts. “Montessori is very hands-on,” Ms. Jacobs said. “The students are very excited about the idea that they have a dedicated space to work on projects and receive lessons “This has been a goal for decades,” said Ms. Jacobs, in her sixth year as the head of the school. Before being promoted, she served at the school as a teacher. “I have been at Montessori for 29 years, and this (the STEAM lab) has been a goal since before I
came here,” she said. “It has been a goal to have a science lab even before STEAM came around. It is so wonderful to see this dream come to fruition.” “Montessori includes a very rich science curriculum,” Ms. Jacobs said. “It is a dedicated space for students to receive lessons from teachers on everything including: botany, zoology, physics, chemistry and more. “The ideas of STEAM are synonymous with Montessori,” she said. “The idea of problem solving and thinking out of the box matches Montessori because we are already doing that.” The lab is being dedicated to Phil
Gene Rickman, who faced allegations of inappropriate behavior on campus with a walkon basketball coach, has resigned as assistant principal at Righetti High School. The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District announced Mr. Rickman’s resignation Thursday. District spokesman Kenny Klein said Mr. Rickman submitted his resignation Wednesday. “We can confirm that the other employee who served as a walkon basketball coach is no longer an employee in the district and has been directed not to enter any district facility,” Mr. Klein told the News-Press Thursday in an email. “The district is cooperating with law enforcement and their investigation,” Mr. Klein said,
referring to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Klein noted the school district has been engaged in an ongoing investigation into the allegations. He also said Mr. Rickman had been employed with the school district since July 1, 2015. Mr. Klein added that the district follows proper reporting procedures in these types of cases, including reporting to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. “We have made arrangements to ensure proper administrative coverage so that student instruction and activities are not disrupted,” Mr. Klein said. “The district also continues to make mental health and counseling services available for students that need any additional support.” email: dmason@newspress.com
ELECTION 2022
Board of Supervisors candidate discusses poverty, economy
Please see STEAM on A2
Laura Capps talks about the issues By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series about candidates in this year’s electoral races and their views on the issues.
Teacher Peggi Robinson works with students in the STEAM lab.
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Tackling poverty is among the top goals by Laura Capps, who’s running for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Ms. Capps is seeking the 2nd District seat, which includes the Santa Barbara area. Its current occupant, Gregg Hart, has decided against seeking reelection and is running instead for the new 37th Assembly seat. Ms. Capps discussed Santa Barbara County issues during a recent interview. “We are tied for first in the state for having the highest poverty rate,” Ms. Capps told
the News-Press. “It shouldn’t be that way. There are a lot of good people and programs trying to alleviate poverty. We can do more. “I have the experience in the field of accessing state and federal dollars to help people who are struggling,” Ms. Capps said. The Santa Barbara Unified School District board member said she sees the impact of poverty on a daily basis on children and noted that 13% of the district’s students are experiencing homelesness. She added that poverty is connected with other issues, such as the high cost of housing and the traffic on freeways because people can’t afford to live in the communities where they work. Please see CAPPS on A6
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B6 Life...................... B1/4 Obituaries............... A6
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-8-36-38-40 Meganumber: 10
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 5-6-9-7
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 2-4-15-21-63 Meganumber: 19
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 3-7-19-22-36
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 08-05-03 Time: 1:42.07
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 22-30-40-42-48 Meganumber: 16
Sudoku................... B5 Weather................. A6
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 0-0-0 / Wednesday’s Midday 1-5-2