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F R I DAY, M A R C H 11, 2 0 2 2
Leading Santa Barbara schools
Santa Barbara resident to run against Carbajal
Superintendent Hilda Maldonado focuses on ‘humanity of our kids’
Michele Weslander Quaid emphasizes liberty during announcement speech
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
Michele Weslander Quaid said she’s running for Congress to preserve America’s liberty.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Stressing her support for individual freedom, Michele Weslander Quaid announced her candidacy Thursday for the 24th Congressional District seat. Ms. Weslander Quaid, a Santa Barbara resident who has worked in government and business, is running as an independent against U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, in the June primary. Ms. Weslander Quaid addressed an audience outside South Coast Church in Goleta, where supporters applauded her statements promoting liberty,
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
“We hold the keys to the future of our community, which are the kids we get to educate,” said Dr. Hilda Maldonado, superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
From a young age, Dr. Hilda Maldonado’s family instilled in her the importance of language and education. But she quickly and acutely learned, too, the value of advocacy. That’s who Dr. Maldonado is, as the superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District: a supporter for educators and students alike, from the classroom to mental health and anything in between. Dr. Maldonado took the helm of Santa Barbara Unified in July 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc across the country. And schools
were not spared. When Dr. Maldonado came to SBUSD from Los Angeles, schools had been shuttered already for about four months. It wouldn’t be until March 2021 when schools reopened for in-person learning. And after today, masks will no longer be required (albeit, strongly encouraged) in schools, according to the Governor’s Office. “It was a series of steps and learning that we went through” throughout the pandemic, Dr. Maldonado told the News-Press, recalling how SBUSD traversed ever-changing metrics, created socially distant classroom spaces and navigated staffing issues. “It’s been layers of learning that happened, but we knew that the
best place for students was going to be in person.” Now, too, Dr. Maldonado is focused on the mental health of those within the school district. SBUSD partnered with CALM and Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County to provide resources during the pandemic for children, and the district is now working with teachers to make sure their workload is manageable, she said. Aside from the pandemic, Dr. Maldonado is taking on the challenge of equity and inclusion — which takes many forms. Lately, the Santa Barbara community has been rocked by instances of racially-charged language and “hate violence” seen
particularly in middle schools directed at black students, Dr. Maldonado has said. One parent reportedly said her son was called racial slurs and students kneeled on his head and neck while referencing George Floyd, the black Minneapolis man whose murder at the hands of police officers sparked nationwide protests in 2020. “I really want to take on this challenge of equity for our students, creating safe school environments that really include everybody, that address the diversity and inclusion issue that we’re currently seeing,” said Dr. Maldonado. “That’s a foundation
By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF-WRITER
Gas price averages $5.69 a gallon in Santa Barbara County By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
Gas prices go past $6 a gallon at the Chevron gas station at Hollister Avenue and Glen Annie Road in Goleta.
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(The Center Square) — Gas prices and inflation hit yet another high this week, raising more concerns about the impact on regular Americans and the future of the U.S. economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Thursday reported that the Consumer Price index, a major marker of inflation, rose 7.9% in the previous 12 months. “The 12-month increase has been steadily rising and is now the largest since the period ending January 1982,” BLS said. “The all items less food and energy index rose 6.4%, the largest 12-month change since the period ending August 1982. The energy index rose 25.6% over the last year, and the food index increased 7.9%, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending July 1981.” Rising food prices were a major source of the overall increase
and a serious pain point for many Americans. “The food at home index rose 8.6% over the last 12 months, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending April 1981,” BLS said. “The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 13% over the last year as the index for beef rose 16.2%.” According to the American Automobile Association, gas prices have risen to a new high with a national average of $4.32 per gallon, up from $2.82 the same time last year. California has consistently stayed above the national average. On Thursday, the average price in the state and specifically in Santa Barbara County was $5.69 per gallon, according to AAA. In fact, the News-Press found two Goleta stations where the prices exceed $6 a gallon. The Mobil gas station, at the corner of Please see INFLATION on A4
Please see CANDIDATE on A3
Santa Barbara inches closer to electoral map
Please see MALDONADO on A3
Inflation expected to get worse this year
respect for the Constitution and limited government, and a strong America. “America is the best, last hope on Earth,” said Ms. Weslander Quaid, a former information officer in federal intelligence and a former Google chief technology officer. “If America falls, there is no place for freedom-loving people to go. We must recognize what is at stake and take a courageous stand to preserve our liberty. “That is why I’m running for U.S. Congress, and my family supports this decision,” she said, prompting immediate applause.
The Santa Barbara Independent Redistricting Commission considered a new batch of potential electoral maps Wednesday — but a consensus has not yet been reached. A variety of maps presented Wednesday evening kept the Eucalyptus Hill neighborhood intact in District 4, a concern expressed during last week’s meeting. Now the focus is on the boundary lines for District 3, whether the Upper East neighborhood can remain intact and the Latino citizen voting-age population in District 3. “We listen to all of you, and we want to incorporate all of your concerns. But there will be limitations,” Judge Abraham Khan, a member of the commission, said. “It’s not a perfect process.” Santa Barbara City Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez said he liked Plan 103RE, which stretched his District 3 west, past Modoc Road. However, that plan only leaves the district with a 40% Latino citizen voting-age population. Plan 105BE stopped District 3 at Mission Street and shifted it
east to cover areas on both sides of the freeway. It includes some of downtown as well and has a higher Latino CVAP of 46%. Mr. Gutierrez suggested a combination of those two maps. Additionally, Councilmember Kristen Sneddon noted some of the proposed maps split the Upper East Side neighborhood between districts 4 and 6. She would like the neighborhood to remain together. Up for consideration Wednesday: Plan 101RE: District 1 preserved its coastal territory. District 3 shifted to include the apartments near La Cumbre Junior High School and shifted toward the coast to include Lower State. The total population deviation is 6.3%. Plan 102RE: District 1 shifted away from State Street and took in Santa Barbara High School. District 3 moved further west of the freeway and encompassed more of the area around Modoc Road while District 2 included all of the Waterfront. District 6 covered all of the central business area. The total population deviation is 8.1%. Plan 103RE: District 1 would include most of the Laguna Please see REDISTICTING on A4
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 19-34-36-41-42 Meganumber: 3
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 9-3-3-7
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-18-38-58-64 Meganumber: 24
Thursday’s FANTASY 5:9-11-14-18-37
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 01-12-08 Time: 1:44.04
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 13-22-34-51-67 Meganumber: 10
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 6-2-8 / Wednesday’s Midday 8-3-6