Dublin Unified School District and Community Continue Transition to “Trustee-Area” Elections
DUBLIN, CA–On Monday evening members of the community offered their thoughts on how Dublin School Board district lines should be redrawn for future elections. This action was in response to a demand letter that alleged violations of the California Voting Rights Act. As previously reported, this is not a new phenomenon. The movement away from “At-Large” to “By-Trustee-Area” elections has gained significant momentum in the golden state. Almost all school districts that have received a demand letter have made active movements to change – rather than to fight/fund what could become lengthy litigation.
Dublin High School Sophomore Experiences Thrill of Flying in Six Week Aviation Course
DUBLIN, CA–Like many high school students, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I have many interests such as art, music, and engineering, but none seemed like a profession I wanted to pursue. Going into the Engineering Academy at Dublin High School has helped me expand my knowledge of different engineering careers and pathways; however, I was still apprehensive about what I wanted to become. Unexpectedly in the middle of my summer, I received an email from Ms. Eugene Chou, the Dublin High Engineering and Design Academy Coordinator, informing me of an opportunity to enroll in a six-week aviation course held by the Patriots Jet Team Foundation (PJTF). Despite my limited knowledge of aviation, I decided to attend the course. Little did I know, but this course is what helped me decide on what career I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life.
Instructors and Students PJTF, Summer 2017
Dublin School Board’s Joe Giannini on Being an Effective Trustee
DUBLIN, CA–How Dublin Unified School District Trustees are elected has been in the news lately, with Dublin soon moving from an at-large to a trustee-area model (read more…). To get a better sense of what it’s like to be a Dublin School Board Trustee we recently spoke with Trustee Joe Giannini who is in his first year on the Dublin School Board.
Joe Giannini
OneDublin.org: What is the time commitment of a Dublin School Board Trustee?
Trustee Joe Giannini: “When I joined the Board I had a good idea of what the commitment would be: there is at least one long meeting per week during the school year (from 4:30pm to midnight) plus committees involving multi-hour meetings. There are also education events and training opportunities. For Trustees like myself who have full-time jobs it’s a challenge to make the schedule work, and still have time for family and a social life. In my case I work at SFO and the nature of my job means I can’t work from home, and taking time off means taking vacation days.
“I think a lot of people believe that being a Trustee is a full-time job. Trustees are only paid a stipend of under $5000 per year so Trustees are typically balancing full-time jobs with being a Trustee. Being a Trustee is a significant time commitment but isn’t a full-time job like being a Congressperson or Senator.”
Student Council Tradition Continues at Frederiksen Elementary School
DUBLIN, CA–On Tuesday, the release bell sounded at 2:00 PM at Frederiksen Elementary School. However, dozens of students began to gather on the black top and in front of a closed door to Room 17. Why did these children elect to stay after school? About 10 minutes later, a surprised 3rd Grade teacher Kenna Moirao opened the door and welcomed these fourth and fifth graders by instructing them that every desk should be occupied and that the overflow would be handled by taking a seat on the carpet at the front of the classroom.
The occasion was to orient all in attendance to the purpose of the Frederiksen Student Council. The presentation underscored the importance of the endeavor, the scope of all positions available and a set of leadership “expectations” that should be demonstrated by all that are involved. This is not necessarily something new to Ms. Moirao. She has worked in the teaching profession for eight years. Additionally, this is her third year as Student Council Advisor at Fred.
Read more…
DUBLIN, CA–As reported earlier this summer, due to a lawsuit threatened by Malibu, CA based attorney Kevin Shenkman related to the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA), Dublin will be moving from an “at-large” to a “trustee-area” voting model. To do so requires drawing map boundaries for each trustee.
Seven options are now being considered (see maps below), two proposed by the community and five by the District demographer. According to the District, “all seven of the map options being considered meet the legal requirements outlined in CVRA. Those maps that were submitted by the community but are not being considered were not legally compliant.”
There will be several community meetings and public hearings leading up to the Oct 22, 2017 deadline: Read more…
Contentious Dublin School Board Meeting Sets Funding and Size for Second High School
DUBLIN, CA–By the end of Tuesday’s bi-monthly Dublin Unified School District meeting, the final vote on the last motion was three to two. It was a result that left many residents and even two Trustees feeling unsatisfied. The key item on the agenda was a discussion and then decision of what portion of Measure H funds would be devoted to a second comprehensive high school in Dublin.
Dougherty Elementary School Welcomes New Kindergarten Complex with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
DUBLIN, CA–Under cloudless skies on Sunday, a large group of residents, school staff and representatives from the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) welcomed the newest extension of classrooms at Dougherty Elementary School. Located at the Northeast corner of the campus, citizens gathered for a moment to hear from a number of speakers and, to then witness a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
