How to resolve AdBlock issue? Letter to editor: No on Measure K: OUSD bond
No on Measure K:
OUSD bond
BOB DADDI — Ojai
Since 1997, Ojai Unified School District has steadily been losing attendance from a high of 4,772 to less than half that number today. We have struggled with too many failed ideas and costly studies predicting growth, and they have all been proved wrong.
Years ago, before past Superintendent Gwen Gross pushed through a bond, we had been growing as a school district. Half-a-dozen superintendents later, over the last 25 years, we have not been able to solve this problem of enrollment decline. OUSD may lose another 25 percent of its enrollment over the next two years and drop to 1,500 students. This bond measure — Measure K on the November ballot — could not have worse timing.
When a former superntendent was questioned as to why we couldn’t be an Oak Park, where my children graduated, or a Foothill Tech in Ventura, he said we would never achieve that. I guess if we decide it can’t be done, it can’t be done.
What is interesting is that our school district holds out charter school High Tech High in San Diego as an example of excellence (documentary “Most Likely to Succeed,” shown at OUSD “Engage to Impact” meeting in July 2019). That is where two of my grandchildren attend and one nephew is a recent graduate.
When we have a successful model, is it a bigger risk to change to that successful model or continue to keep the failed model we have followed for the last 23 years?
Many residents, parents and I agree that a change to include a magnet school (in one of the many half-full schools we have now) would be a bet- ter choice for stemming the consistent hemorrhaging of students.
The continual focus on upgrading buildings that become more empty each year should not be the primary focus of this district. It should be on student achievement and excellence in learning, and it isn’t.
Too much focus has not been on scholastics.
For that reason, along with a crippled economy and jobs outlook, another bond will not best serve our purpose with an eighth-of-a billion dollars in school bond indebtedness that Ojai takes on if this bond measure passes.
Bring up the test scores, change direction and wait to assess the needs of the district post COVID-19; then bring a bond back up with a better purpose. Measure K proposes a $45 million bond ($86.4 million payback over 30 years) for buildings and not a dime for the kids’ education.
— This letter was corrected to state that Ojai Unified School District has steadily been losing attendance from a high of 4,772 in 1997 to less than half that number today.
Casitas Municipal Water District Div. 3 candidate: Irene V. Henry
Photo courtesy Irene Henry
Irene Henry and her grandson.
The Casitas Municipal Water District supplies water to 60,000 to 70,000 people in western Ventura County and to hundreds of farms. The district boundaries encompass the city of Ojai, Upper Ojai, the Ventura River Valley area, the city of Ventura to Mills Road, and the Rincon and beach area to the ocean and Santa Barbara County line.
In addition, the district operates the Lake Casitas Recreation Area, which has become a popular destination with more than 750,000 visitors each year.
There are three candidates for one seat in Casitas Municipal Water District’s Division 3. They are Irene V. Henry, Pete Kaiser and Jeffrey Ketelsen.
What is your opinion of the "physical solution" proposed by the city of Ventura, the Ventura River Water District, Meiners Oaks Water District, Taylor Ranch, Rancho Matilija Mutual Water Company and other agricultural water users?
Casitas Municipal Water District Div. 3 candidate: Jeff Ketelsen
Ojai Valley News photo by Austin Widger
Jeff Ketelsen
What is your opinion of the "physical solution" proposed by the city of Ventura, the Ventura River Water District, Meiners Oaks Water District, Taylor Ranch, Rancho Matilija Mutual Water Company and other agricultural water users?
Casitas Municipal Water District Div. 3 candidate: Pete Kaiser
Photo courtesy Pete Kaiser
Pete Kaiser
What is your opinion of the “physical solution” proposed by the city of Ventura, the Ventura River Water district, Meiners Oaks Water district, Taylor Ranch, Rancho Matilija Mutual Water Company and other agricultural water users?
Meiners Oaks Water District candidate: Diana Engle
Photo courtesy Diana Engle
Diana Engle
Meiners Oaks Water District has served its community and properties of the unincorporated portion of Ventura County called Meiners Oaks for over the past 70 years. Meiners Oaks Water District serves approximately 4,200 people through 1,280 connections and 19 miles pipelines, including domestic, commercial, and agricultural customers. It achieves this with four active wells, just over 1 million gallons of storage, and two booster stations to supply water to customers at higher elevations.
The district delivers an average of 2.64-acre feet of water per day to its customers, which is equal to 862,005 gallons, or 205.2 gallons per customer. In the summer months, that number can reach up to 5.56-acre feet per day, or 1,812,002 gallons.
Meiners Oaks Water District candidate: John Russell
Photo courtesy John Russell
John Russell
Meiners Oaks Water District has served its community and properties of the unincorporated portion of Ventura County called Meiners Oaks for over the past 70 years. Meiners Oaks Water District serves approximately 4,200 people through 1,280 connections and 19 miles pipelines, including domestic, commercial, and agricultural customers. It achieves this with four active wells, just over 1 million gallons of storage, and two booster stations to supply water to customers at higher elevations.
The district delivers an average of 2.64-acre feet of water per day to its customers, which is equal to 862,005 gallons, or 205.2 gallons per customer. In the summer months, that number can reach up to 5.56-acre feet per day, or 1,812,002 gallons.
Meiners Oaks Water District candidate: Christian Oakland
Photo by Christian Oakland
Christian Oakland
Meiners Oaks Water District has served its community and properties of the unincorporated portion of Ventura County called Meiners Oaks for over the past 70 years. Meiners Oaks Water District serves approximately 4,200 people through 1,280 connections and 19 miles pipelines, including domestic, commercial, and agricultural customers. It achieves this with four active wells, just over 1 million gallons of storage, and two booster stations to supply water to customers at higher elevations.
The district delivers an average of 2.64-acre feet of water per day to its customers, which is equal to 862,005 gallons, or 205.2 gallons per customer. In the summer months, that number can reach up to 5.56-acre feet per day, or 1,812,002 gallons.
OVSD Division 3 candidate: Jeff Ketelsen
Ojai Valley News photo by Austin Widger
Jeff Ketelsen
The Ojai Valley Sanitary District collects and processes wastewater from about 20,000 residents of the city of Ojai, the unincorporated Ojai Valley, and the north Ventura Avenue area. Approximately 120 miles of trunk and main sewer lines form a network that transports the untreated wastewater downstream to the Ojai Valley Treatment Plant.
Jeff Ketelsen and Lowell Martinson are vying for one seat on the Ojai Valley Sanitary District Board, Division 3. Incumbent Pete Kaiser is not running for re-election.
OVSD Division 3 candidate: Lowell Martinson
Photo courtesy Lowell Martinson
Lowell Martinson and wife Virginia.
The Ojai Valley Sanitary District collects and processes wastewater from about 20,000 residents of the city of Ojai, the unincorporated Ojai Valley, and the north Ventura Avenue area. Approximately 120 miles of trunk and main sewer lines form a network that transports the untreated wastewater downstream to the Ojai Valley Treatment Plant.
Jeff Ketelsen and Lowell Martinson are vying for one seat on the Ojai Valley Sanitary District Board, Division 3. Incumbent Pete Kaiser is not running for re-election.
OVSD Division 5 candidate: Robin Gerber
Photo courtesy Robin Gerber
Robin Gerber
The Ojai Valley Sanitary District collects and processes wastewater from about 20,000 residents of the city of Ojai, the unincorporated Ojai Valley, and the north Ventura Avenue area. Approximately 120 miles of trunk and main sewer lines form a network that transports the untreated wastewater downstream to the Ojai Valley Treatment Plant.
Robin Gerber and James Kentosh are vying for one seat on the Ojai Valley Sanitary District Board, Division 5. Incumbent Russ Baggerly is not running for re-election.
OVSD Division 5 candidate: James Kentosh
Photo courtesy James Kentosh
James Kentosh
The Ojai Valley Sanitary District collects and processes wastewater from about 20,000 residents of the city of Ojai, the unincorporated Ojai Valley, and the north Ventura Avenue area. Approximately 120 miles of trunk and main sewer lines form a network that transports the untreated wastewater downstream to the Ojai Valley Treatment Plant.
James Kentosh and Robin Gerber are vying for one seat on the Ojai Valley Sanitary District Board, Division 5. Incumbent Russ Baggerly is not running for re-election.
Ojai Unified School District Board Area 4 candidate: Shelly Griffen
Photo courtesy by Shelly Griffen
Shelly Griffen
Voters in new Trustee Areas 2 and 4 will choose two Ojai Unified School District Board members Nov. 3. The two vying for one seat in Trustee Area 4 are Shelly Griffen and Chiany Dri.
1. Do you support Measure K? Why or why not?
Measure K is necessary. We had $100 million in facilities repairs and only $35 million from our last bond. Without a new bond, we will continue to have inadequate classrooms and will likely lose our aquatics programs.
Ojai Unified School District Board Area 4 candidate: Chiany Dri
Photo courtesy Chiany Dri
Chiany Dri
Voters in new Trustee Areas 2 and 4 will choose two Ojai Unified School District Board members Nov. 3. The two vying for one seat in Trustee Area 4 are Chiany Dri and Shelly Griffen.
1. Do you support Measure K? Why or why not?
I support Measure K. I support the bond for improvements to our school facilities.
Ojai Unified School District Board Area 2 candidate: Rebecca Chandler
Photo courtesy Rebecca Chandler
Rebecca Chandler
Voters in new Trustee Areas 2 and 4 will choose two Ojai Unified School District Board members Nov. 3. Since incumbent Thayne Whipple in Trustee Area 2 is not seeking re-election, the two vying for his seat are Rebecca Chandler and Jeffrey Starkweather.
1. Do you support Measure K? Why or why not?
The state of California has little to no options for schools to improve facilities. This means if we want to fix our facilities (some of which are over 100 years old), it is up to the community.
Ojai Unified School District Board Area 2 candidate: Jeffrey Starkweather
Photo courtesy Jeffrey Starkweather
Jeffrey Starkweather
Voters in new Trustee Areas 2 and 4 will choose two Ojai Unified School District Board members Nov. 3. Since incumbent Thayne Whipple in Trustee Area 2 is not seeking re-election, the two vying for his seat are Jeffrey Starkweather and Rebecca Chandler.
1. Do you support Measure K? Why or why not?
I always support school capital bond referendums that will increase local school funding. I support Proposition 15, which would require most commercial and industrial properties to be taxed based on market value, rather than purchase price.
Ojai city mayor candidate profile: Betsy Stix
Photo by Elizabeth Herring
Betsy Stix
The city of Ojai mayor race has two candidates — William Weirick and Betsy Stix. The Ojai Valley News provided them several questions that they responded to in writing.
OVN: What is your background, particularly as it relates to this position?
BS: I was raised in the Midwest by parents who wove the values of hard work, resilience, kindness and integrity into the fabric of our daily lives.
Ojai city mayor candidate profile: William Weirick
Photo by William Weirick
William Weirick
The city of Ojai mayor race has two candidates — William Weirick and Betsy Stix. The Ojai Valley News provided them several questions that they responded to in writing.
OVN: What is your background, particularly as it relates to this position?
WW: I have been enamored with Ojai since the first weekend I visited, enticed by the opportunity to hear Jiddu Krishnamurti give a talk at the Grove in the 1970s.
Ojai City Council District 4 candidate: Suza Francina
Photo courtesy Suza Francina
Suza Francina
OVN: What is your background, particularly as it relates to this position?
SF: I am a current member of the Ojai City Council running for re-election. I've lived in the Ojai Valley since 1957, attended local schools, raised my children here, know the community and bring a lifetime of experience to the City Council position.
Ojai City Council District 4 candidate: Jeri Becker
Photo courtesy Jeri Becker
Jeri Becker
OVN: What is your background, particularly as it relates to this position?
JB: I’m Jeri Becker, and I am running for City Council in the new 4th District of Ojai. I am a retired attorney and current owner of a real estate brokerage here in town. I have enjoyed the beauty of the Ojai Valley and the Ventura River since I was a child; and in 1994, my husband, Troy, and I decided to move our family here permanently.