Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County High School Mock Trial seeks legal professionals to volunteer

By Leave a Comment

Winners of the 2019 Contra Costa Mock Trial, the California High School Mock Trial Team, led by teacher coach Brian Barr and attorney coaches Larry Lowe, and Ken Mifsud represented Contra Costa County at the 38th Annual California State Mock Trial on March 22-24 in Sacramento, CA. Photo courtesy of CCC Office of Education.

Bay Area soon-to-be, practicing, and retired law professionals are needed to provide assistance to their future brethren at the upcoming 38th Annual Contra Costa County High School Mock Trial Program, held on seven early weekday evenings during late January and early February, in the Martinez Court Rooms. Last year, close to 100 Bay Area practicing and retired attorneys and sworn judges, as well as third-year law students volunteered their time with the Mock Trials.

Coordinated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE), Mock Trial is an academic event provided for high school students. The hands-on educational program was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. This year’s case, People v. Klein: A young adult is charged with two felony counts: making a false report of an emergency (in this case, commonly referred to as “swatting”) and making a criminal threat.

“This program is a great tool to ensure that our students understand the workings of the trial courts and thus the importance of an independent judiciary, says,” says Contra Costa County Presiding Judge Barry Baskin. Judge Baskin, a long-time Mock Trial volunteer, encourages all of his local fellow law professional to join him in assisting with this year’s Mock Trial Competition.

Teams of high school students work with teachers and volunteer coaches to prepare their version of the criminal case, from both the prosecution and defense perspectives.  Students assume the roles of trial attorneys, pre-trial motion attorneys, witnesses, clerks, bailiffs, artists, and court journalists. Mock Trial judges and attorneys score their performance and provide immediate feedback. Winning teams advance through seven rounds of competition. The county’s champion advances to the State finals. This year, there will be 17 Mock Trial teams competing, representing high schools throughout all of Contra Costa County.

Volunteers will score two competing schools that argue the case in their assigned court. Each night, will begin with a 15-minute rules and regulations training, then the volunteers will go into their scheduled courtrooms to serve as Mock Trial judge and scorers.  The Mock Trials’ scorers are made up of Bay Area deputy district attorneys and deputy public defenders, as well as public-sector, private-practice, and corporate lawyers. In addition, seasoned law students are also welcome to participate. A practicing or retired judge or commissioner will preside over each trial, and also serves as one of the trial’s scorers.    

“We applaud the hard work and time our students and their coaches put in to prepare for our Mock Trial program,” said Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey. “In addition, we are grateful for the continued generous volunteer support we receive from our county’s Judicial, District Attorney, and Public Defender offices, as well as so many of our current and retired public- and private-practice attorneys. This successful program would never come together without so much support from the community.”

Teams from the following 17 Contra Costa County high schools will be competing:
Acalanes (Lafayette), Alhambra (Martinez), California (San Ramon), Campolindo (Moraga), Carondelet High (Concord), Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), De Anza High (Richmond), Deer Valley Law Academy (Antioch), Dougherty Valley (San Ramon), El Cerrito (El Cerrito), Hercules Middle/High (Hercules), Heritage (Brentwood), Kennedy (Richmond), Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), Miramonte (Orinda), Monte Vista (Danville), and Richmond (Richmond).  

Schedule for 2019 Contra Costa County High School Mock Trials:

Preliminaries: January 29 and 31; February 5 and 7, – 5:00-8:30 p.m. (Nine competitions each night)

Quarterfinals: February 12, 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Four competitions)

Semifinals: February 14, 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Two competitions)

Final and Consolation: February 19, 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Two competitions) 

Mock Trial will be headquartered at the A.F. Bray Courthouse, 1020 Ward Street, in Martinez.

Interested volunteers can learn more by visiting the CCCOE’s Mock Trial Web page, or contacting Jonathan Lance at jlance@cccoe.k12.ca.us or (925) 942-3429. 

The two highest-scoring teams will advance to the finals on Tuesday, February 19. The winning team will then represent Contra Costa County at the California State Mock Trial Competition, held in Sacramento, Calif., March 22-23. The California state finalist team will then compete in the National Mock Trial Competition, held May 16-18, Athens, Georgia.

In 1977, the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) introduced the concept of mock trials to the Los Angeles schools. In 1980, the program expanded to the state level. The California Mock Trial Program currently involves more than 36 counties and over 8,000 student participants from more than 400 teams. Approximately 1,500 attorney volunteers serve as team coaches and scorers, and 500 Municipal, Superior, and Appellate Court judges preside over the trials. 

 

Contra Costa community colleges will remain closed until Monday, Nov. 26

By Leave a Comment

By Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District

The Contra Costa Community College District (District) has decided to close all College and District operations on Tuesday, November 20th and Wednesday, November 21st. due to ongoing poor air quality.  The District Office and Colleges (Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, San Ramon Campus, Los Medanos, and Brentwood Center) will resume regular operations on Monday, November 26th.

While the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is forecasting improved but fluctuating air quality over the next few days, the District has decided to err on the side of health concerns of its students and staff.  The District has been closed since Thursday, November 15, 3:00 p.m., due to very unhealthy air quality in Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa community colleges to remain closed on Monday due to poor air quality

By Leave a Comment

By Timothy Leung, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District

Due to the ongoing and unpredictable poor air quality we are experiencing throughout Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Community College District has decided to close all locations  – Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, Brentwood Center, San Ramon Campus and District Office on Monday, November 19, 2018.

We hope to re-open Tuesday, but will make a final decision by 3:00 PM on Monday.

Contra Costa Community Colleges closed until Monday due to poor air quality

By Leave a Comment

By Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District

Due to the unpredictable and poor air quality we are experiencing throughout Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Community College District has decided to close all locations – Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, Brentwood Center, San Ramon Campus and District Office – effective 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  We will reopen all locations on Monday, November 19, 2018.

While the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is forecasting a significant improvement in air quality over the next few days, we believe this decision best serves the safety of our students, staff and community.

OP-ED: 2018 test scores show need for charter schools

By Leave a Comment

By John Crowder

Last week the California Department of Education released the 2018 test scores in English and math for all districts and schools in the state.  This is the fourth year of data from this latest testing scheme, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Test (SBAT), meant to align with the Common Core teaching standards and methods.  Students completing the test are placed into four broad categories in the subjects tested.  These are, Standards Not Met, Standard Nearly Met, Standard Met, and Standard Exceeded.  By combining the percentages from the latter two categories, we can compare how well schools and districts are doing in preparing students to, at a minimum, meet basic standards.

As has been the case since California began using this test in 2015, the results are not good for the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD).  AUSD students have the lowest scores of all eighteen school districts in Contra Costa County (See table below).  Further, the results for AUSD have remained, essentially, unchanged for the last four years.  In 2015, the percentage of students achieving success in English was 30%, while it is currently 31%.  In math it was 19% in 2015, and it now stands at 18%.

It is this low performance, combined with a lack of progress, that led hundreds of Antioch parents to sign the petitions and to turn out to the hearings held over the last couple of years to support bringing new charter schools, the Rocketship Elementary School and the Tech Academy Middle and High Schools, to Antioch.

The Charter School Act of 1992 was passed by the California legislature to address exactly the situation we find in Antioch.  Public charter schools, with longer school days, more interventions, and proven programs, bring hope to parents who want their children to have a good education, but who can’t obtain it from the district schools they find their children assigned to.

Parents only have one chance at ensuring their students learn the skills they need to be prepared for college and the job market.  They can’t afford to wait years, or decades, for change, especially when progress toward positive outcomes is nonexistent.  Each year of delay is another year lost.

Establishing high-quality, public charter schools in districts where students are not being adequately educated is imperative for communities where students are being failed by the education establishment when the district schools can’t, or won’t, change.

English Language Arts – Contra Costa County School Districts

Rank                            District                                                                        % Meet/Exceed

1                                  Orinda Union Elementary                                           88

2                                  Lafayette Elementary                                                  85

2                                  Moraga Elementary                                                    85

4                                  Acalanes Union High                                                 82

4                                  San Ramon Valley Unified                                        82

6                                  Walnut Creek Elementary                                           73

7                                  Canyon Elementary                                                    67

8                                  Brentwood Union Elementary                                    60

9                                  Liberty Union High                                                    58

10                                Byron Union Elementary                                            56

11                                Martinez Unified                                                        53

12                                Mt. Diablo Unified                                                     51

13                                Knightsen Elementary                                                43

14                                Oakley Union Elementary                                          39

15                                John Swett Unified                                                     37

16                                Pittsburg Unified                                                        34

16                                West Contra Costa Unified                                        34

18                                Antioch Unified                                                          31

Source:  https://caaspp.cde.ca.gov/sb2018/Search

Mathematics – Contra Costa County School Districts

Rank                            District                                                                        % Meet/Exceed

1                                  Orinda Union Elementary                                           85

2                                  Lafayette Elementary                                                  82

3                                  Moraga Elementary                                                    79

4                                  San Ramon Valley Unified                                        77

5                                  Walnut Creek Elementary                                           71

6                                  Acalanes Union High                                                 69

7                                  Canyon Elementary                                                    65

8                                  Brentwood Union Elementary                                    50

9                                  Byron Union Elementary                                            47

10                                Martinez Unified                                                        42

11                                Mt. Diablo Unified                                                     39

12                                Knightsen Elementary                                                38

13                                Liberty Union High                                                    31

14                                Oakley Union Elementary                                          27

15                                John Swett Unified                                                     26

16                                West Contra Costa Unified                                        23

17                                Pittsburg Unified                                                        20

18                                Antioch Unified                                                          18

Source:  https://caaspp.cde.ca.gov/sb2018/Search

Crowder is a candidate for Contra Costa County School Board, Area 4

Two Antioch School Board trustees forego reelection to take on Belle for County School Board

By 1 Comment

Antioch School Board Trustees Debra Vinson and Walter Ruehlig will challenge incumbent Jeff Belle for County School Board. Photos from AUSD and CCCBOE.

By Allen Payton

Long-serving Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig let it be known on Saturday, July 14 that he will not run for reelection and instead join fellow Trustee Debra Vinson and take on County School Board Vice President Jeff Belle in November’s election.

While Vinson, finishing her first and rather contentious term on the Antioch School Board, didn’t officially announce her campaign, she did ride in a car in the Antioch July 4th Parade with a sign indicating her decision to run for the county board. In 2017 Vinson was censured by her fellow board members for her interactions with district employees. (See related article). She was also passed over for the board presidency, following her year as Vice President. (See related article).

On one issue all three will most likely agree, which is approving private charter schools. Both Vinson and Ruehlig were two of the three board members who, earlier this year, voted in favor of the East Bay Tech Academy middle and high charter school petitions, and Ruehlig was one of the three who voted for the Rocketship elementary charter school petition in 2016. Belle has voted against one and approved five other charter schools while on the county board.

“I have decided definitely to run for Area 5 County Board of Education,” Ruehlig stated, following rumors of the possibility.

In his official announcement, he wrote:

I will be submitting my candidacy papers on Monday, July 16th to run for Area 5 of the County Board of Education, which covers Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Clyde, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg.
In June of 1968, I dedicated myself to public service and youth education when I taught English for the Peace Corps in Sultandag, a rural village in Turkey that had no electricity.  Fifty years later, the idealism continues.

I believe that that my twelve-year service, with three years as President, on the Antioch School Board, and my experience with the Pittsburg Unified School District as a California Department of Rehabilitation Workability Program Director for adults with disabilities and as a career counselor, have given me useful insight into County Trustee duties.  I am excited by the challenge of overseeing career training programs, special education, community day schools, and facilities for incarcerated juveniles.

I was a late-bloomer myself but, fortunately, had teachers who didn’t give up on me. I eventually caught fire and worked my way through college.  My passion for sharing opportunity and persisting with high-risk, disadvantaged or under motivated students is my way of returning thanks.

Aside from counseling, teaching and administrative background, I feel I have the proven temperament and intangible skill sets requisite for good governance.

I enjoy communication and transparency. I am open, creative and innovative but believe in sober budgeting, no-nonsense classroom behavior standards and back to the basics core curriculum.  I am pragmatic and put my ego at the door to focus on getting the task at hand done one building block at a time.  In this age of divisiveness, I am proud to say that I can get along without always going along. I am a consensus-builder but no pushover. I cannot be bullied or bought.

I look forward to meeting the voters of Area 5, hearing their concerns, and presenting my vision. I welcome their scrutiny and would be honored by their support. I pledge not to let them, or their kids, down.

Walter Ruehlig

Candidate, Area 5

Contra Costa County Board of Education

Incumbent Jeff Belle

Elected in 2014, Belle has faced a variety of controversies before and during his term on the County School Board. In January 2016, Belle admitted to claiming he was a respiratory care practitioner even though he didn’t have a license and was fined $8,200 by the state. (See related article).

In December 2016, facing prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for lying on his ballot statement, Belle admitted in court that he didn’t have a college degree which he claimed. He agreed to community service to avoid a trial and possible fine of up to $1,000. (See related article)

He and his wife had to move from their home in Antioch in spring of 2015 for failure to pay rent, due to a loss of his wife’s job and Belle not earning enough through his consulting business. They separated and Mrs. Belle moved to Sacramento. As a result, questions have arisen about Belle’s residency. He rented rooms in other people’s homes in the district. The two have since reconciled and Belle now splits his time between his wife’s place and a home in the district.

In 2017 Belle suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Recently, he posted a fundraising effort on his Facebook page to help him pay off his medical bills. The total raised was $50 from former County School Board Trustee Richard Asadoorian.

Recently, Belle has served as a producer for a TV show entitled Modern Ageless Beauty for women over age 40.

Filing opens on July 16th and closes August 10th if Belle decides to seek reelection, which is expected. If not, the filing period will be extended to August 15th. The election will be held on Tuesday, November 6th.

Contra Costa College District career education programs recognized as “Strong Workforce Stars”

By Leave a Comment


All three Contra Costa Community College District (District) colleges have been recognized by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office as Strong Workforce Stars. Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College and Los Medanos College all had career education programs recognized as Strong Workforce Stars.

California Community Colleges Strong Workforce Stars is a leg of the state’s Strong Workforce Program aimed at recognizing and celebrating colleges’ career education programs whose students show significant gains in three key areas identified as essential for advancing social mobility: substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage and employment in a job related to their field of study.

“At the Contra Costa Community College District, one of our main goals is to provide superior educational programs that lead to career ladder opportunities for our students. This recognition for our colleges affirms that what we collectively are doing yields successful outcomes,” explained Drew Douglass, Senior Dean of Workforce and Economic Development. “We have dedicated and passionate teams of faculty and staff that tirelessly and effectively serve our students. The fact that each of the colleges in the District received this level of recognition truly is a testament to that.”

“Strong Workforce Stars Career Education programs are proven to help Californians increase their earning power,” said Van Ton-Quinlivan, Executive Vice Chancellor for Workforce & Digital Futures at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. “With the introduction of levels this year, we are able to highlight those programs that are seeing significant results, as well as those that are on the rise toward even greater success.”

The Strong Workforce Program is sustained by an annual recurring investment of $200 million in order to improve and increase career education outcomes in California Community Colleges. Now in its second year, Strong Workforce Stars receive awards in three categories: Gold Stars for graduates who achieved strong outcomes in all three key areas; Silver Star for graduates who demonstrated strong outcomes in two key areas; and Bronze Star for graduates who met a high bar in one key area. To see which college programs received gold, silver and bronze stars and to explore a list of all career education programs available, please visit our college websites:

Contra Costa College: https://www.contracosta.edu/career-education/

Diablo Valley College: https://www.dvc.edu/academics/programs.html

Los Medanos College: http://www.losmedanos.edu/cte/

For more information about the Strong Workforce Stars Program, visit http://www.dwmshowcase.com/workforce_stars.asp.

2018-2019 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year finalists named

By Leave a Comment

Two of the four will be chosen and announced at annual dinner in September

The following four teachers have been named as the 2018-2019 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year (TOY) Finalists: Shanna Gagnon, San Ramon Valley Unified School District; Kelly Perkins, Mt. Diablo Unified School District; Rosie Reid, Mt. Diablo Unified School District; and Andrea Salas, Martinez Unified School District. Two of these four finalists will be chosen in late September and will represent Contra Costa County in the California State TOY Program.

For the entire listing of the 22 Contra Costa County TOYs, class of 2018-2019, please see below.

Shanna Gagnon. Photo by SRVUSD

With a slight detour towards her teaching career, Shanna Gagnon started in the business world right after college. Though she was quite successful in her corporate work, as an accountant and later as a buyer, she felt it lacked purpose. Fortunately, for the six-year history/iQuest teacher and her students, she found her purpose in teaching. For the past five years she has been teaching at California High School, in San Ramon. Before coming to California High, she taught history for two years with the Martinez and the Acalanes School districts.

Kelly Perkins, a life skills and remedial math and language arts instructor, chose teaching special education classes because

Kelly Perkins. Photo by MDUSD

she enjoys guiding her students to become independent thinkers and learners. For the past 10 years, Perkins has been a special day class teacher at Ygnacio Valley High School, in Concord. In addition, her 27-year teaching career includes special education instruction for two elementary schools, as well as continuing to serve as an adjunct professor for the Education Specialist Program at St. Mary’s College, in Moraga, since 1988.

Rosanne “Rosie” Reid. Photo by MDUSD

Rosanne “Rosie” Reid was certainly destined to teach English, with her enormous appetite to read books from an early age. Reid was the best customer when the book mobile would come to town, and she would always walk away with a new tower of books to take on. For the past two years, Reid has taught English/ELD at Northgate High School, in Walnut Creek. Her 16 years of instruction includes teaching high school English courses at Piedmont High School, in Piedmont and John O’Connell High School, in San Francisco.

Andrea Salas grew up with an absolute love for her time in school, so much so, she “held class” for her fellow neighborhood

Andrea Salas (right) with County Superintendent Karen Sakata. Photo by CCCOE.

kids on her front lawn, during the summers. Following college, Salas began her teaching career with Teach for America, where the Los Angeles native brought her education love and skills up north to the Oakland Unified School District’s classrooms for five years. Next, she began teaching mathematics, statistics and computer science at Alhambra High School, in Martinez, and has been there for the past 19 years.

The county’s TOY program is directed by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). With such a high caliber of teaching professionals to draw from, the CCCOE’s TOY program uses a three-stage selection process, with a point and percentage system to determine the final candidates as follows:

I Application Screening:

On April 13, a committee of 10 judges, representing the county’s education, business, and public-sector partners carefully reviewed the TOY representative applications submitted by the school districts. This committee independently read and rated each application. After the application screening and scoring were completed, four teachers will be selected to advance to the next two phases as finalists.

II Classroom Observation and Interview:

April 24-May 25, a small committee of education specialists and business partners will observe the four finalists interacting with their students. Immediately following, the committee will interview the candidates, discussing topics such as their teaching philosophy and techniques.

III Speech Presentation:

On July 24, the four TOY finalists will each give a three- to five-minute speech to another panel of a dozen educators, business, and public-sector representatives who will judge the finalists on their speech and presentation skills.

On the evening of September 27, 2018, all 22 TOYs, accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers (an audience of close to 500) will be honored at the annual Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration, held at the Hilton Concord. Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, who serves as master of ceremonies, will introduce all 22 TOYs to the attendees. This will be followed by the four finalists giving their three- to five-minute speeches (same speeches given in July) to the filled banquet room. Finally, the night will come to a dramatic conclusion with the announcement of the two 2018-2019 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year.

Contra Costa County’s school districts 2018-19 Teachers of the Year

Currently, there are approximately 8,401 teachers educating more than 176,000 students in Contra Costa County’s public schools. To recognize their efforts and bring much-deserved honor to the teaching profession, the participating school districts in the county recently named their Teachers of the Year (TOY) representatives. (See list below.) The upcoming school year’s 22 TOYs represent 17 (of 18) Contra Costa County school districts, the Contra Costa Community College District, and the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). Most of these representatives, those who teach grades K thru 12, are eligible to compete in the Contra Costa County TOY competition. The two top teachers in the county TOY program will represent Contra Costa County in the California State TOY Program this coming fall.

The county’s TOY program is directed by the CCCOE. With such a high caliber of teaching professionals to draw from, (21 teachers eligible), the CCCOE’s TOY program uses a three-stage selection process, with a point and percentage system to determine the final candidates as follows:

2018-2019 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Representatives:

  • Lynn Alamillo, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Bella Vista Elementary
  • Glen Barker, Contra Costa County Office of Education, Northgate High School
  • Joanne Chen, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Mira Vista School
  • Shanna Gagnon, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, California High School
  • Cherie Giannotti, John Swett Unified School District, Carquinez Middle School
  • Elizabeth Gonzalez, Liberty Union High School District, Heritage High School
  • Bonnie Ha, Walnut Creek School District, Buena Vista Elementary School
  • Katie Halberg, Brentwood Union School District, Mary Casey Black Elementary School
  • Carol Levin, Orinda Union School District, Glorietta Elementary School
  • Cecil Nasworthy, CC Community College District, Los Medanos College
  • Barry Penning, Byron Union School District, Discovery Bay Elementary School
  • Kelly Perkins, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Ygnacio Valley High School
  • Erik Radkiewicz, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Pinole Valley High School
  • Rosie Reid, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Northgate High School
  • Michael Ruibal, Pittsburg Unified School District, Black Diamond High School
  • Andrea Salas, Martinez Unified School District, Alhambra High School
  • George Seymour, Oakley Union Elementary School District, O’Hara Park Middle School
  • Michelle Stark, Antioch Unified School District, Deer Valley High School
  • Karlene Steelman, Moraga School District, Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School
  • Katherine Walton, Acalanes Union High School District, Acalanes High School
  • Scott Westphal, Lafayette School District, Burton Valley Elementary School
  • Melissa Anne Wunschel, Knightsen Elementary School District, Knightsen Elementary

Note regarding eligible participants:

  • Seventeen of the eighteen Contra Costa County school districts represented, and the CCCOE are participating in this year’s TOY program.
  • Each year, one instructor from Contra Costa Community College District is submitted to the TOY program for his/her outstanding body of work with their designated college. The colleges rotate each year between Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Contra Costa. (These instructors do not compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition.) This year is Los Medaonos College’s turn.
  • Due to the larger number of students and teachers in their districts, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to submit two TOY candidates

“We are extremely proud of these tremendous educators,” said Karen Sakata, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools. “They were thoughtfully chosen to represent their schools and districts, and truly represent what is best about public education.”

Follow Contra Costa County’s Teacher of the Year program on Twitter: #cocotoy

Contra Costa DA charges Vallejo teacher with possession of child porn, other child sex related crimes

By Leave a Comment

Also charged with attempted lewd acts with a child and online enticement of a child

Andrew Lund from the Glen Cove Elementary School website.

On Friday April 20, 2018, Andrew Lund, a 36-year-old Vallejo elementary school teacher, was formally charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with possession of child pornography, arranging to meet a minor for sex, enticing a minor online, sending harmful material to a minor and attempted lewd acts with a child.

Between April 7, 2018 and April 17, 2018, Lund communicated with an undercover police officer, believing he was talking with a 14-year-old girl. Lund sent harmful material to the undercover officer, with the intent that it be seen by a minor and made arrangements to meet the minor in Concord, California for sex.

On April 19, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Lund’s residence in Vallejo. Investigators seized electronics from his home, and after an initial review, determined at least one item contained child pornography. Lund was arrested during the service of the search warrant. Lund as booked at the Contra Costa County Detention Facility in Martinez and he is being held on $3 million bail.

Investigators immediately notified the administration at Glen Cove Elementary School. Additional electronic devices were seized from Lund’s classroom and office at the school pursuant to a search warrant. Lund currently serves as a teacher supervisor for the school and teaches two classes a day to fifth graders.

Lund will make his initial appearance in front of the Honorable Christopher Bowen on Monday April 23, 2018 at 8:45 a.m. in Martinez. Lund remains in the custody of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy District Attorney Jay Melaas is the lead prosecutor on behalf of the People in this case.

Lund has previously taught in Wisconsin, Glenn County (California), Shasta County, San Diego County and Solano County.

This investigation in ongoing and includes determining if Lund acted inappropriately towards any current or former students. Anyone with information can contact Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-2263 or by e-mail at dholcombe@contracostada.org. Information regarding Lund’s employment with the Vallejo City Unified School District can contact their administrative offices at 707-556-8921.

The investigation was conducted by a multi-agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Martinez, San Ramon, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County Probation Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force. Substantial assistance was provided by the Vallejo Police Department.

Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children, and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org for further information.

Case information: People v. Lund, Dockett Number 01-185460-3

College district, Los Medanos College hold groundbreaking ceremony for new Brentwood Center campus

By Leave a Comment

Los Medanos College Associated Students (LMCAS) president, Marco McMullen, college district trustees Gary Walker-Roberts, Vicki Gordon, Greg Enholm, with Chancellor Fred Wood (grey tie), Board President John Marquez and LMC President Kratochvil (far right) dig in for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new LMC Brentwood Center, Wed., April 18, 2018. Photo by Timothy Leong.

Board Vice President takes shots at fellow trustee

By Allen Payton

Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) board members were joined by college district staff, City of Brentwood and other officials, and education supporters on Wednesday, April 18 to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the new Brentwood Center campus of Los Medanos College (LMC). The new site is located at Pioneer Square and Miwok Place in Brentwood (near the intersection of Vineyards Parkway and Marsh Creek Road, just off of Highway 4).

Dr. Bob Kratochvil, President of LMC opening remarks and offered introductions, including Board President John Marquez who in turn introduced Board Vice President and Ward 4 Trustee Gary Walker-Roberts whose ward the new campus will be located.

Without naming Ward 3 BoardTrustee Greg Enholm, Walker-Roberts took a dig at him for his opposition to locating the center in Brentwood, saying it will be built in spite of “resistance from a particular board member.” Enholm campaigned twice on locating the new campus near the Laurel Road interchange with Highway 4, closer in either Antioch or Oakley. However, the college district didn’t own that land and was donated the land on which the new campus will be built.

Walker-Roberts gave credit to former Student Trustee Debora Van Eckhardt, who used to live in Brentwood, for her efforts, as well as the students who spoke out in favor of the Brentwood location.

Only four board members were in attendance including Board Secretary and Ward 2 Trustee Vicki Gordon. That’s because the fifth member, former Board President and Ward 5 Trustee, Tim Farley resigned in February, following the revelation of sexual harassment allegations from five years earlier and an impending investigation. (See related articles, here and here). The board will appoint his replacement to fill the vacancy.

Walker-Roberts paid tribute to the Native Americans in the area, the Miwoks, and then the “Latinx” (which according to the Oxford English Dictionary is “used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina”) community, who lived in the area.

“There was a last-minute attempt, yes by the same trustee, to delay the shovels,” Walker-Roberts said, taking another not so subtle jab at Enholm.

He then thanked Student Trustee Jessica Cisneros for her efforts to make sure “the shovels were in the ground.”

“This has been an exciting time for the 4CD…to see this dream become a reality, today,” Walker-Roberts concluded.

College district Chancellor, Dr. Fred Wood was next to share his thoughts.

“Raul Rodriguez started the Brentwood Center and former President Pete García continued the effort,” he said, giving tribute to the two former leaders of LMC.

“You couldn’t have a more beautiful site…with the views of Mt. Diablo,” Wood pointed out.

View of Mt. Diablo from the new LMC Brentwood Center campus. Photo by Allen Payton

“I want to thank President Bob Kratochvil,” he said. “Without him and his staff we wouldn’t be standing here, today.”

Wood ended his remarks by saying “At the end of the day, it’s for you. We want to thank you for your patience in getting us through the process. It’s going to be an absolute wonderful facility for East County.”

The new one-story Center, designed by Ratcliff Architects, will be approximately 55,000 square feet.  The project will be constructed on a 17.5 parcel purchased by Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) in 2011.  It will feature instructional classrooms, science labs, student support services, library resources, tutorial labs, bookstore and food service areas, “linger and learn” space, faculty/staff offices, and more than 700 parking stalls.  The current Brentwood Center, located in a leased facility at 101A Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, first opened in 2001.  The existing space consists of 22,000 square feet and serves approximately 2,800 students – accounting for about one-third of LMC’s enrollment.

The permanent $65 million facility is made possible through funding from CCCCD Bond Measures A (2006) and E (2014), thanks to support from voters in Contra Costa County.  Construction is expected to be completed in 18-24 months, with the new Brentwood Center projected to open in Spring 2020. It will replace the current Brentwood Center located on Sand Creek Road near Brentwood Blvd.