I attended the School Board meeting on Wednesday, November 11, 2016. This governmental body meets every two weeks to discuss issues and make decisions about the Piedmont Unified School District, including the three elementary schools, the Middle School, and both Piedmont and Millennium High School. This meeting was focused on honoring Rick Raushenbush, who is retiring from the board, and reviewing the many science class models presented by the state of California for both the middle school and the high school. Almost all of the board members, and a community member, spoke about Mr. Raushenbush and presented him with gifts.

Alisha Lewis also delivered the school report to the board, mentioning events like the seniors’ urban plan projects, Civics students’ phone banking for campaigns, and the theater program’s performance, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Community members, including many students, had the opportunity to speak about an issue. I spoke to the topic of AP classes, because I have noticed that many of the advanced classes are in the Science Department, and I would love to see more opportunities in the humanities/social sciences realm, specifically for classes like Psychology. The board did not comment, other than to thank me for my input.

A large chunk of the meeting was devoted to presenting NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) course models for the middle and high school. Dr. Cheryl Wozniak and Principal Shati Shah, along with middle and high school teachers, presented these options, including benefits and challenges for each, which the state has developed. They explained how there are new standards for the science department, and they would like to incorporate more earth science and engineering into most classes. At the middle school level, there are two options, one of which more closely aligns with the current course system, and one that integrates all areas of science into each level. There are also eight different models at the high school level, three of which are accelerated. Each model has drawbacks and benefits, although many of the accelerated models seemed to have the most challenges.

Personally, I think it would make more sense to make more engineering and earth/space classes available, rather than try to incorporate those in the existing courses. I like that right now, most students have freedom to choose their science path, but if they are required to take classes that are not domain specific, they cannot focus on a particular interest and college applications become more confusing. However, the board must pick one of the options provided by the state, so whichever one has the least specific path structure and would be ideal. I do think that integrated science at the middle school level would be helpful, though.

    Another issue addressed by the board is the methods of communication, and whether community feel they can both stay informed and share their own opinions. Some members spoke to the idea of parents selecting filters, so they might only hear about their topics of interest (ex: arts, high school) and therefore do not become desensitized to the constant email communication that would otherwise occur.

   I interviewed Board Member Doug Ireland, who spoke to his motivation for being involved. He said that he loves the job and aims to maintain good schools, as that is critical to the community. Specifically about Wednesday’s meeting, he mentioned that difficulties include curriculum changes and budgeting. The process of changing curriculum involves meeting about the changes, getting updates from staff in order to make informed decisions, and reviewing different curriculum; the same method was used when they reformed the math curriculum last year. In terms of updating the schools, they are spending money to fix facilities in order to modernize learning in all aspects.

Ella Gilbert, Piedmont High School Senior

Editors Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Several people have asked when “It’s Official” so please know that you’re all welcome to attend Piedmont’s City Council Installation Ceremony on December 5th, 6:30 p.m., at Piedmont’s Community Hall (reception to follow).

 RSVP’s requested to Lisa Argue at  largue@ci.piedmont.ca.us.

As I shared throughout the campaign, I really do value your input and ideas and I want to hear from you. I will be shutting down my campaign website and this email account soon, but starting Dec. 6th, you can email me at jcavenaugh@ci.piedmont.ca.us.

You can also engage with the whole council at any time. City Council meetings occur generally on the first and third Monday of each month. You are always welcome to attend a council meeting and share your ideas on any issue you care about. The time allowed for that is the Public Forum and it takes place during the first 10 minutes of every meeting. You can also tune into council and commission meetings on the city’s cable channel KCOM or download video or audio of city meetings from the city’s website.

With deep gratitude,

Jen Cavenaugh

Jen4Piedmont
http://www.jen4piedmont.com/

Editors Note: PCA does not support or oppose specific candidates for public office.

A swearing in ceremony for the newly elected Council members and the election of a mayor and vice mayor will take place in the Piedmont Community Center, located in the Main Park on – 

Monday, December 5, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Agenda < 

 Certified election results here. 

A reception will follow the “reorganization” of the Council and the election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor.

The public is invited to attend and participate in the activities. 

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After a very active election period with four Piedmonters running for the two open seats on the five member Piedmont City Council, Jen Cavenaugh and Bob McBain were chosen to serve 4 year terms on the City Council.  Cavenaugh, a first time candidate, won 42% of the votes, while incumbent and Vice Mayor McBain won 30%.  Appointed incumbent Jonathan Levine received 26% of the votes.  N. “Sunny” Bostrom-Fleming received 2% of the votes. See results below.

Campaign finance reports indicate that Cavenaugh significantly exceeded the amount of campaign money raised by her opponents. Read the East Bay Times article on candidate campaign finance reports here.

Below are the election results.

	# of Votes                         % of Total
Jen Cavenaugh	4627	42.43%
Bob McBain	3236	29.67%
Jonathan Levine	2818	25.84%
N. ”Sunny” Bostrom-Fleming	198	1.82%
Write-in	26	0.24%

The following letter was sent to all school parents and guardians.  The letter is now addressed to all Piedmonters.

November 21, 2016

Dear Piedmont Neighbors,

Reactions to the national election and recent alarming acts of prejudice and bigotry in Piedmont have led us to reflect on our values and who we are as community leaders. While we may have differing political, religious, social, or sexual orientations, we each feel strongly that, at our very core, we value diversity, respect, and inclusivity.

We, along with Piedmont Unified School District and City of Piedmont staff, are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and civil community through our policies, our programming, and our leadership. We stand firm in our collective belief that a safe and civil environment in our schools and across Piedmont is paramount.

To be clear, we will stand firmly united to promote acceptance and kindness, and we will stand up to bigotry, hatred, intolerance, and violence. We will stand in support of our diverse community, honoring and protecting every resident regardless of race, creed, color, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, orientation, or identity. We will strongly uphold our established policies prohibiting discrimination, hate-motivated incidents and hate crimes, hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, and other disruptive or violent behaviors in our schools and our city.

The City and the School District share these values. The City Administrator and the School Superintendent collaborate to ensure that our community is welcoming and works together for the betterment of its citizens. Our Police and Fire Departments, along with all City Department Services, work in concert to keep our residents safe and secure. Our teachers are holding age-appropriate discussions with students, including reminders about the importance of reflection, respect, and civic engagement. They teach our students the skills, attitudes, and competencies to stand in the shoes of others; exercise empathy; speak out against bullying; make responsible, caring choices; solve problems peacefully; and, as they grow up, become the architects of a better world.

We recognize that we live in challenging times and navigating the waters ahead may not always be smooth. We want to reassure our community that we will take care of each other, we will respect each other, and we will not tolerate the intolerable. By focusing on our shared values of respect and inclusivity, we have an opportunity to come together to be our best selves, to support each other, and to strengthen our community.

Sincerely,

Piedmont Board of Education

Andrea Swenson, President

Sarah Pearson, Vice President

Amal Smith, Member

Doug Ireland, Member

Rick Raushenbush, Member

Cory Smegal, Member-elect

~~~~~~~~~~~

Piedmont City Council

Jeff Wieler, Interim Mayor

Robert McBain, Vice Mayor

Teddy Gray King, Councilmember

Jonathan Levine, Councilmember

Tim Rood, Councilmember

Jennifer Cavanaugh, Councilmember-elect

Signed by, Randall Booker, Superintendent of Schools

Hoping a New Agency will Produce Greener Electricity – 

On Monday, November 21, the City Council is expected to approve the second reading of the authorization of Piedmont’s participation in a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Authority.  State policy permits Piedmont to aggregate electricity demand within our City and prioritize alternative energy supplies from sources other than PG&E.  PG&E would continue to bill, transmit and distribute the electricity to Piedmont homes.  It would also continue to provide meter-reading, maintenance and outage response services.

PG&E already provides “some of the nation’s cleanest electric power,” said utility spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian.

The 2015 power mix of PG&E’s energy consisted of 30% renewable sources, and the company is heading toward the state’s 33 percent benchmark at least by 2020. Adding its 23% nuclear and 6% hydroelectric sources, last year 62% of the power PG&E provided was carbon-free.

State regulators allow the utilities to levy a charge on departing CCA customers to compensate them for the cost of the power that the utilities had already purchased to serve anticipated load. Piedmonters will be automatically enrolled in the CCA before allowing them to opt out. However, those who prefer to continue to receive PG&E energy, cannot submit opt-out requests to PG&E.

If you receive notice that your electric service can be served by a CCA, and you want to opt out of the CCA program, you must submit your opt-out request directly to the CCA. Submit an opt-out request if:

• Your area is transitioning to the CCA for the first time

• You start a new electric service within an existing CCA area

The number and type of customers who opt out of the CCA affect the market negotiations and resulting rates for those remaining in the CCA. Some predictions of CCA rates did not figure in impacts from opt out customers. Other analyses assumed less than 10% customer opt outs, according to the Good Energy August 1, 2016 feasibility study. It notes that terms are not subject to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approval.

The East Bay Community Energy Authority would come into being after three jurisdictions sign the Joint Powers Agreement. Berkeley and Emeryville joined on November 1. Good Energy reported significant administrative and start-up costs for existing California CCAs.  The new public agency would set its own customer billing rates, buy and sell its own electricity and procure its own clean power.

The East Bay Community Energy Authority would set rates. Therefore, rate comparisons for Piedmont are not known at this time. Community Choice Aggregation Piedmonters who choose “Deep Green” (a goal of 100% renewables) CCA electricity may pay more per KWH, while “Light Green” (a goal of 50% renewables) CCA may cost a little less or more. To get an idea of the rate comparisons see existing CCAs:

Rate comparison tables for the first bay area CCA, Marin Clean Energy (MCE).

San Francisco’s CleanPowerSF is offering a mix of natural gas and 35 percent renewable energy from Calpine Corp., as well as a 100 percent renewable option, which comes from Iberdrola Renewables’ Shiloh Wind project in Solano County. Only 220 customers have opted for the “super green” option.

Rate comparison tables for CleanPowerSF (CPSF)

The intent is to speed up the development of new sources of green energy but the means of accomplishing that is unclear and Renewable energy certificates (REM) seem to compromise that goal.  REMs qualify as renewable content even if “unbundled,” meaning the CCA is not actually using renewables in their location; simply, there are renewable units somewhere on the grid. This would mean no local GHG  (greenhouse gas) reduction due to crediting pre-existing renewable sources.

The matter is not without controversy as some in the community have questioned CCA’s transparency and oversight, unnecessary potential energy cost increases, complicated processes, and the establishment of a parallel new energy agency authorized by the City of Piedmont.  Other citizens are enthusiastic, hoping for greener energy from this approach.

The item is number 9 on the November 21 agenda. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers starting at 7:30 p.m.  Live and recorded broadcasts of the meeting can be found on Cable Channel 27 and the City website.

Read the staff report here. 

DRESS BEST FOR LESS

The Carriage House Marking Room is proposed to be eliminated for a new Aquatic Center development.

Carriage House Marking Room at Magnolia and Bonita Avenues – 799 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont, CA – 510-653-0221

Compounding challenges for DBFL, the proposed Aquatic Center includes destruction of the Carriage House, valued as a quaint landmark of Piedmont’s past. The Carriage House has long served as the DBFL sorting and marking room and a very convenient drop off center for donations.  On any day of the week Piedmonters can be seen bringing bags and boxes of toys, outgrown clothes and housewares to the Carriage House.

The elimination of the Carriage House as a marking room is not immediate. However, if a bond is approved by voters for the Aquatic Center, a new marking room will need to be purchased, rented or built in a central Piedmont location for the convenience of volunteer workers and donors, who donate or work at the Carriage House before picking up kids or after swimming next door. 

Are there any other City owned properties that could serve as well as the Carriage House for donations and recycling in the community? Perhaps the east wing of 801 Magnolia Avenue or the City garages on Magnolia Avenue?

According to Gayle Sells, Chair of DBFL Board, “We hope that the city and school community can find us another space if the pool gets the go ahead.  Our board supports the idea of a new community pool.”

Recycling locally is an important contribution to fulfilling our required reduction of greenhouse gases and reaching the objectives of Piedmont’s Climate Action Plan. 

If you have ideas or can help relocate DBFL, let DBFL know at  shopdbfl@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the last Saturday of the month, there is a $10 bag sale from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Carriage House Marking Room – Bag Day is a popular adventure allowing avid thrift shoppers to stuff a standard brown grocery bag full of items for $10.

DONATIONS: 

Cleaning closets? Recycle and reuse with Dress Best for Less! DBFL is always in need of gently used and good condition clothing, books, sporting goods and other small household items that will produce revenues for the schools. (Please no computers, non-working electrical items, or soiled, stained, moldy items!). Donate items at the marking room at 709 Magnolia Avenue, across from Piedmont High School.

Shop at the Store for Great Bargains. DBFL is the best upscale resale store in the East Bay! We sell only the most current styles and labels as well as household items in a friendly, organized atmosphere.  Come to the Store located at 3861 Piedmont Avenue.

DBFL Store:
3861 Piedmont Avenue,
Oakland, CA 94611
Phone – 510-658-8525
Email: shopdbfl@gmail.com
Tuesday -Saturday – 11am to 6pm

Marking Room:
799 Magnolia Avenue,
Piedmont, CA 94611
Phone – 510-653-0221
Monday – 10:00am – noon
Tuesday – 9am – 1:30pm
Wednesday – 9am – 4pm
Saturday – 10am – noon

DBFL is an important resource for Piedmonters and Piedmont Schools. 

Read more about Dress Best for Less here. <

League of Women Voters of Piedmont

Holiday Luncheon

Senator Loni Hancock

2016 Election Round-Up

Friday, December 2, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Piedmont Veterans Hall

401 Highland Avenue

The LWV Piedmont is pleased to announce Senator Loni Hancock will be the keynote speaker at its annual Holiday Luncheon on December 2, 2016. The outgoing state senator will provide insight into what the 2016 election results mean for California, the Bay Area and the future. The Senator will also provide a personal perspective of her nearly 14 years in the California Legislature, first as an Assembly Member from 2002 to 2008, and as State Senator from 2008 to 2016. Throughout her legislative career, Senator Hancock has focused on education, the environment and economic equity, while representing nearly 1 million constituents.

Speaker and lunch is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. To reserve your spot, visit LWVPiedmont.org and click the Reserve Now button. Payment via credit card, debit card or PayPal account accepted. Payment by check should be made payable to LWVP and sent c/o Ward Lindenmayer, 40 Highland Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611.

There is no fee for the speaker portion of the program. Doors open at 11:15, the program begins at 11:30 with lunch following the presentation.

Editors Note:  PCA does not support or oppose candidates for public office or ballot measures.