Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi School Board Update
Trustee Wallek was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by the Kern County Board of Education and signed by Mary Barlow, the Superintendent of Kern School honoring his five years of service on the Tehachapi Unified Board of Trustees. From left: Jackie Wood, Leonard Evansic, Board President Jeff Kermode, Rick Scott (back), Joe Wallek and Dean Markham.
School security in the case of an active shooter was a topic front and center at the Sept. 10 meeting of the Tehachapi Unified School District Board Meeting. Trustee Joe Wallek had requested the discussion at previous meetings. The topic was timely since school administrators, Trustee Rick Scott and Superintendent Stacey Larson-Everson will be attending "Run, Hide, Fight" training on Sept. 16. Run, Hide, Fight is currently considered the best school response to an active shooter on a school campus although some board members expressed concern that it may not be the most effective way to deal with the situation.
Wallek expressed concern over how special needs students would be accommodated during an active shooter scenario. He proposed that special needs students should have individual actions written into their official IEP. Trustee Dean Markham, who is the father of a special needs student, agreed with Wallek; however, Trustee Leonard Evansic, who also is the father of a special needs student, disagreed that procedures should appear in the Individual Education Plan for each special needs student. Trustee Nancy Weinstein agreed. The District can be cited every time an IEP is not followed to the letter and the trustees expressed concern that in the event of an active shooter, such a procedure would be difficult to guarantee. The board finally requested staff to research actions of other districts and report back to the board.
Superintendent Larson-Everson reported that the District had adopted the California TWIG Science Program which is designed to support the current Federal Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). According to the TWIG website, TWIG goals are to investigate, design, build and understand phenomena using a blend of hands-on, digital, video and print resources.
On the third Wednesday of every month, Superintendent Larson-Everson has issued an invitation for parents, students and others to "Sipping with the Supe" at Kohnen's Bakery, 125 W. Tehachapi Blvd. Ste. D. from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The first event will be held on Sept. 18.
The TUSD Board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. at the TUSD District Office, 300 S. Robinson St., Tehachapi.
