Santa Maria-Bonita School District officials are looking for answers regarding the inclusion of three district campuses on a California Department of Education list of “low-performing” schools. According to Department of Education records, Adam, Alvin, and Oakley schools are three of the more than 180 California elementary schools in need of state intervention because of poor […]
The state deems three Santa Maria-Bonita elementary schools ‘low performing’
Posted inNews
Lucia Mar Unified School District sends preliminary layoff notices to dozens of staff members
More than 70 Lucia Mar Unified School District employees are going to be seeing pink soon. On March 2, the district school board voted 6-1, with board member Georgie O’Connor dissenting, to issue pink slips to dozens of credentialed and classified employees, including 50 teachers. The district oversees most schools in southern San Luis Obispo […]
Posted inNews
See Hancock program in 3D
Want to learn about Allan Hancock College’s applied design and media program? A public service announcement (PSA) produced by the program’s students is airing through April 2 on KCOY TV channel 12. According to Hancock officials, the PSA is the result of a competition among student groups within the college’s intermediate motion graphics class. The […]
Posted inNews
County education grants help local schools fund special projects
The Santa Barbara County Office of Education recently awarded grants for classroom projects to a handful of Santa Maria-Bonita School District teachers, the district announced in its monthly newsletter. The grants, which range from $500 to $1,000, will help teachers develop philanthropic, research, and learning projects for their students. • At Ontiveros Elementary School, students […]
Posted inNews
Nominate a great farmer
The 37th District Agricultural Association is accepting nominations for people who’ve made important contributions to Santa Barbara County’s agricultural industry until April 16. The winners will be announced at the group’s Agricultural Recognition Awards at the opening day ceremony of the Santa Barbara County Fair, held on July 14. Categories include Agri-Business Person of the […]
Posted inNews
Wine competition expands
The Central Coast Wine Competition, an eight-year-old event showcasing some of the finest wines produced locally, has announced that it’s expanding its geographical growing area. The competition will now include all of the Central Coast American Viticultural Area, spanning from Santa Barbara County to the San Francisco Bay Area, and Ventura County. The AVA includes […]
Posted inNews
Easter Bunny visits the mall
Everybody’s favorite bunny is hopping by the Town Center mall to visit with children starting March 19. The Easter Bunny will make his appearance at a springtime garden on the mall’s lower level Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until April 3 (excluding a daily break from 3 to 3:30). Visits are […]
Posted inOpinion
No one is entitled to education
A sign promoting the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education contained two statements: Education is a Human Right; and Resist, Mobilize, and Transform. The first is false—education is not a human right. We are not born with it; we or our parents earn it! The second, a trio of commands, is contrary […]
Posted inOpinion
Study cowboy ethics and vaquero culture
Santa Barbara County, in its present boundary, is actually a parcel within a rich territory of history that has as a foundation the lifestyle of western ranching, sometimes called the ethics of the cowboy or the culture of the vaquero. On Saturday, March 6, two local documentary producers—Susan Jensen and Paul Singer of Santa Barbara—screened […]
Posted inOpinion
Supervisors must reduce dunes pollution
The San Luis Obispo Health Commission took a bold, heroic step at its March 8 meeting, regarding the APCD Phase 2 Study. It passed two motions to advise the Board of Supervisors to do everything possible to stop the health-threatening air pollution from the ODSVRA immediately, and to inform the public about the dangers. Among […]
Posted inOpinion
Too many Americans are ignorant and lazy
Regarding the American Party commentary (“Think of the country, not the party,” March 11): The Republican Party is closer to honoring our Constitution than the Democrat Party, though it can share plenty of the blame for the present grotesque situation. Voters must not tolerate candidates who, when questioned, mouth generalities and platitudes (e.g., Obama, though […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Meghan Zimmer
People seem to enjoy leaving an impression on their alma maters—witness the bounty of scratched names on the imitation pinewood desks. But that’s not how it is for San Diego State Freshman Meghan Zimmer who, just a few weeks ago, set a meet record at the Mountain West Conference Championships in the 500 free, which […]