VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 16 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009 School Board Cuts $4 Million from Budget By Patricia Koning decisions upon us. We’ve done school year, the California the District’s total budget, but of cation aides is one of the more The Livermore Board of Edu- more with less for several years. School Employees Association the $4 million in cuts, $3 mil- controversial items. Previously, cation voted to enact $4 million However, it is not business as (CSEA), Livermore Management lion are LEA.” the Board had considered reduc- in budget cuts for the 2009/10 usual in the education field in Association (LMA), Superinten- Nearly three-quarters of the ing hours of special education school year. The action took the State of California.” dents, and Classified/Confiden- total cuts came from four items: aides from 30 to 25 per week. place at last Tuesday's meeting. Miller added that although tial Managers all agreed to take increasing the K-3 class size to According to Miller, the CSEA The cuts are spread across all lev- many of the cuts are described in five furlough days and the Prin- 22 students, which will eliminate leadership preferred a layoff els—elementary, middle and terms of the number of FTEs (full- cipals/Vice Principals agreed to 16.5 FTE ($946,334 savings); rather than across-the-board high school—and many service time equivalent) reduced, her take three furlough days. increasing the average high hours cut. Because of the layoff, areas, including special educa- recommendations directly im- The Livermore Education As- school class size to 29.68 stu- the remaining special education tion, elementary music and pact 134 of the District’s employ- sociation (LEA), the teachers’ dents, which will eliminate 11.67 aides are exempt from the fur- physical education, nurses, infor- ees. union, turned down an offer for FTE ($945,270 savings); refor- lough. mation support services, custo- The cuts are substantially the three furlough days. “Even matting the elementary music Special education aides and dial services, and administration. same as the list the Board began though LEA is not participating program ($537,223 savings); and parents of students in special edu- “We come to this with a discussing in early March with in the furlough days, we are do- reducing special education aides cation have spoken out against heavy heart,” said Superinten- the addition of furlough days ing our fair share to help solve by 11.86 FTE and reorganizing this change. Julie Elfin, a school dent Brenda Miller. “The State that will generate nearly this crisis,” said LEA President the remaining aides’ assignments secretary at Mendenhall Middle Riley Greenough (left) as Beezus of California is in a difficult bud- $280,000 in savings and prevent Kathleen Reardon. “Our bargain- ($427,932 savings). School, questioned the feasibil- and Sika Lonner as Ramona get situation that is forcing these further layoffs. In the 2009/10 ing unit represents just 55% of The reduction in special edu- (See CUTS, page 7) perform in “Ramona Quimby” at the Amador Theater, opening April 17th. The play, based on Beverly Cleary's books and dramatized by Regional Theater Len Jenkins, features vignettes that trace Ramona's tumultuous passage through third grade along with her family One Step Closer relationships. Performances of this Civic Arts Stage Company A regional theater in down- moment for the city.” He added, production are April 17, 18, 19, 24, town Livermore moved one step “The theater will live on long closer on Monday. after we’re gone. The arts are en- 25 and 26. At 8 p.m. on Fridays The Livermore City Council, during. Even if nothing else is and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays, sitting as the Redevelopment built, the theater will be the foun- also 2 p.m. on April 25. At the Agency Board, voted unani- dation of the blossoming of hap- Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita mously to authorize staff to pre- piness and culture in the city.” Road, Pleasanton. Tickets are pare a final disposition and de- Councilmember Jeff Williams adults $14, $18, $20; children (12 velopment agreement (DDA) be- stated, “I think the theater will yrs & under): $8, $12, $16. They may tween the Redevelopment be a fantastic long term invest- be purchased online at Agency (RDA) and the Liver- ment. It is not with zero risks. www.civicartstickets.org up more Valley Performing Arts Cen- There are no zero risks. I think to three hours prior to the ter (LVPAC) to build, operate and the cultural and financial returns performance, by phone at (925) maintain the theater as described will be positive.” 931-3444, or in person at the in the proposed summary. Councilmember Marj Leider Amador Theater Box Office. Mayor Marshall Kamena de- said she felt people would come clared, “This is a transformative (See THEATER, page 4) Garden Club E-mail Urging ‘No’ on G Annual Plant Prompts Neutrality Discussion Sale Slated By Ron McNicoll Measure G people hadn’t cov- ered. The Livermore Amador Gar- Although no formal, orga- nized opposition has material- The email statement is titled den Club will host its annual “The Real Facts Regarding the plant sale on Sat., April 18 in the ized against Measure G in Pleas- anton, one unsigned e-mail cir- Pleasanton School District and parking lot at the Amador Val- culating in the community has the Parcel Tax.” However, some ley High School. urged a “no” vote at the polls June of the “real facts” were misstate- Sale hours are 9 a.m. to noon. 2. ments, said Pleasanton school There will be a wide variety of It was the first time anyone superintendent John Casey. He annuals, perennials, shrubs, publishing an argument against sent an e-mail to district schools trees, herbs and more at afford- the measure urged a “no” vote. concerning the anti-Measure G able prices. There are ballot arguments statement, declaring that eight All plants are grown by club against Measure G. However, the points in it were erroneous. members. Most plants are in the signers, according to former Casey’s message prompted $1 to $10 price range. Expert school board member Steve parent Julie Testa to call for the gardeners will be available to Brozosky, said they were just pre- school board to have an agenda assist with plant advice and se- senting arguments that the pro- (See MEASURE G, page 6) lection. Amador Valley High School is located at 1155 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton Residents Will Pleasanton. For information, call Lydia at 461-1725 or Rebecca See Changes in Trash Pickup at 216-1786. Pleasanton residents will see Assistant City Manager Steve a change in both their trash Bocian stated, "Pleasanton will pickup service and billing. have real curbside recycling for Free E-Waste The city is switching to the first time. Pleasanton has curbside recycling. The cost for been lagging behind in residen- Collection Part trash pickup will go up. How tial recycling." Of Earth Day much depends on what size trash Currently, all trash is dumped Photo - Doug Jorgensen container is selected. Pleasan- into one container, picked up and The City of Pleasanton will Kids got a chance last Saturday to go in search of Easter eggs during annual hunts in Livermore ton contracts with Pleasanton taken to a site where the refuse is observe Earth Day with a free E- Garbage Service (PGS). sorted by hand. In the future, resi- and Pleasanton. In the photo, Lyla VanDerMeer, age 2, talks about the eggs she found during The council vote was unani- dents will be given a green waste Waste collection on April 17, 18 the hunt in downtown Livermore. and 19, at the Alameda County mous. (See TRASH, page 7) Fairgrounds. Enter through Gate 12 off Valley Avenue. The collection is Conservancy Celebrating scheduled from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Its 15th Anniversary Saturday and Sunday, April 18 The Tri-Valley Conservancy yond its first goal of preserving and 19. Last year, more than (TVC) is celebrating its first 15 land in South Livermore. Now the 2,200 vehicles dropped off e- years of operation. Its goals are Conservancy has in its sights ac- waste equipment items. to protect and save agricultural quiring property that will link All types of electronic equip- and open space land in the Tri- two local East Bay Regional ment can be dropped off. There Valley area. Park District parks, Shadow Cliffs is no limit to the amount of What started out as the South in Pleasanton to Del Valle Re- qualifying items, although resi- Livermore Valley Agricultural gional Park in Livermore. An- dents are encouraged to take an Land Trust has grown to become other future, long-term goal is to inventory of their E-Waste items the Conservancy that now en- link the Bay Trail and the Pleas- intended for disposal. Among compasses Livermore, Dublin, anton Ridge. the items that will be accepted Pleasanton and San Ramon. Asked how the current eco- are computer components, tele- Started in September 1994 as nomic downturn is impacting the visions, digital cameras, power the South Livermore Valley Ag- Conservancy, Burnham said cables, toner cartridges, video ricultural Land Trust, with only there is no money available from game systems, MP3 players, key- a handful of members and just as the state. Unlike homes, raw land many directors, the land trust at has not decreased in value.