Calabasas plastic bag ban seems to carry weight

By Sylvie Belmond

belmond@theacorn.com

PACKAGE DEAL—A shopper gets help with reusable bags. Acorn file foto Many shoppers in Calabasas appear to welcome the city’s prohibition on carryout plastic bags. But others say the regulation is an infringement on personal liberty and a drag on business.

The Calab asas City Council is debating the pros and cons of the plastic bag ban, which affects all retail stores in the city. The ban went into effect last July.

While larger stores, such as Albertsons and Rite Aid, had to comply right away, smaller retails stores had until Jan. 1 to conform to the ordinance.

Though stores will no longer provide free disposable plastic bags, customers have the option to buy recyclable paper bags for 10 cents each.

To help with the transition, the city worked to educate residents about the benefits of the ban and to promote the use of reusable bags.

But some shoppers are still unaware of the ban and aren’t happy about the 10-cent fee to purchase paper bags, Alex Farassati, environmental services manager for Calabasas, said in a report.

According to the report, more than 330,000 paper bags were sold between July 1 and Jan. 1, totaling about $32,000 in revenue for large shops. Store managers believe the sale of paper bags will drop in 2012 as residents become accustomed to carrying reusable bags when they run errands.

The shops have also sold a large number of reusable bags.

Overall, stores are reporting a smooth transition to the ban on plastic. Merchants believe shoppers have adjusted well to the ban and most are amenable to the change because they believe it will benefit the environment.

Resident Dale Reicheneder initially opposed the ordinance because he considered it an intrusion. But he said the law has forced him to change old habits and decrease his consumption of disposable plastic bags.

“I learned from it and I think I’m better for it,” Reicheneder said.

Other speakers endorsed the ban in front of the City Council, describing how it protects local creeks, beaches and the environment.

Calabasas officials made a prudent decision, said Kirsten James, water quality director with Heal the Bay, a nonprofit environmental organization.

“It is making a difference, and we need to continue on this path,” James said, adding that fewer bags have been found in local waterways since the ban went into effect.

Sarah Paulson Sheehy, a representative for the California Grocers Association, said her organization has no qualms about the prohibition on plastic bags.

Although the transition at some stores hasn’t been seamless, “we as an association are comfortable with the ordinance,” she said.

Rick Crandall, an environmental department representative for Albertsons, said his company is happy with the approach the city took.

“Most customers don’t understand that bags have never been free,” he said. The costs are always passed on to consumers, who pay for them one way or another.

But not everyone is so agreeable.

In October, a lawsuit was filed challenging Los Angeles County’s plastic bag ordinance. The suit alleges that the 10-cent charge for paper bags is a special tax that cannot be enforced without voter approval.

“It’s inappropriate for a city to establish the price an establishment should charge for anything,” Calabasas resident Thomas Hanson said.

Martin Goldstein, who lives just outside the city limits on Mulholland Drive, said he no longer buys large quantities of goods from Calabasas stores because it’s too inconvenient.

Stores should be able to supply plastic bags if they choose, Goldstein said.

Paul Mac, who owns a gas station in Calabasas, asked officials to better educate consumers who don’t live in the city.

“We get a lot of transient customers. When they purchase items and bring them to the cashier and learn there is a 10-cent charge, at times they get rude or leave the store,” Mac said.

Alicia Weintraub, a member of the Calabasas Environmental Commission, suggested the city develop the capability to field complaints. That would take the burden of angry customers away from store employees, she said.

“The problem is that some store employees get harassed by customers who oppose the ban,” Weintraub said.

Because the ordinance for smaller stores only went into effect four weeks ago, it’s too early to evaluate its impact, Farassati said.

The Environmental Commission will revisit the ordinance in about six months.

Calabasas council rescinds septic law

2012-02-02 / Community

By Sylvie Belmond

belmond@theacorn.com

The Calabasas City Council has closed the book on a controversial septic tank inspection law that was accused of creating stress and hardship over the past year for some homeowners in the rural parts of town.

Last week, the council overturned the law and restored the regulations to what they were before the adoption of the septic tank ordinance, a law that was pushed heavily by former Councilmember Barry Groveman.

“ This rescinds the codes passed two years ago and takes us back to that date,” Mayor James Bozajian said. In the future, the city will abide by septic tank regulations that are being developed by the state.

In 2009 the city passed an ordinance requiring property owners who have on-site wastewater treatment systems to obtain operating permits and to make sure their septic tanks working properly.

Building officials inspected 138 septic systems in Calabasas. Twenty of those properties subsequently hooked up to sewers. Of the 118 that remained, 31 received violation notices stating that their septic tanks were failing.

The city will work with the property owners who have notices of violation to help them make their systems work. If a faulty tank only affects private property and not creeks or public rights of way, the city will dismiss the notice of violation without further inspection.

The city will also accept inspections recently performed by a licensed inspector who can confirm that a system is working properly.

But if a code enforcement complaint comes from a third party, the city will investigate, as it would with any other building violation. If the system is found to be defective or overflowing and poses a health risk, it must be repaired, city officials said.

Councilmember Fred Gaines says he’s not opposed to the septic systems.

“But septic systems in our city, as far as I’m concerned, have to work,” Gaines said.

Bozajian, who initiated the repeal, apologized to the community for the trouble the city septic ordinance may have caused.

“I’m very pleased tonight that the council is taking this direction,” he said.

Districts and families in limbo over proposed cut to new kindergarten program

Photo by David Yamamoto, Special to The Star // Buy this photo

Transitional-kindergarten pupils look at a substance for a science project during class at Sumac School in Agoura Hills.

Alyce LaLiberte has no great options.

Her daughter, Addisynn, turns 5 in November — nine days past the state’s new cutoff to register for kindergarten.

To enroll in regular kindergarten classes in the fall, children must turn 5 by Nov. 1, a month earlier than for this school year.

The state is moving up the birthday cutoff gradually over three years. By 2014, children will have to turn 5 by Sept. 1 to be eligible — a move legislators approved in 2010 to boost student achievement and bring California in line with most other states.

A new state law requires districts to put transitional kindergarten programs in place for children like Addisynn.

But

Gov. Jerry Brown last week proposed eliminating that mandate. Faced with an estimated $9 billion budget deficit, officials said now is not the time to expand or create programs. The move could save $224 million in 2012-13.

Preschool advocates, however, say the plan will shut thousands of children out of public education. Educators, lawmakers and others vow to fight the proposal.

Districts and families in limbo over proposed cut to new kindergarten program

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The situation has left LaLiberte in a holding pattern as she tries to make sure her daughter has a spot somewhere this fall.

“It’s seriously what I think about every day,” the Simi Valley resident said. “It’s very frustrating.”

The governor’s budget is just the first step in the budget process. Legislators must weigh in, and officials say a lot could change.

Districts faced challenges getting new transitional programs ready, but now they’re stuck in limbo.

“We’re just working in the dark,” said Robert Iezza, elementary education director in the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

Conejo Valley and other local districts said they plan to continue moving forward with transitional programs.

Some districts already have similar classes, geared toward children with fall or even summer birthdays. At the end of the first year, parents and teachers decide whether the pupils are ready for first grade or kindergarten. Most choose  kindergarten.

In the past, all those children have made the age requirement for kindergarten. This fall, those with November birthdays won’t.

California has a waiver option that could be used to let some pupils into kindergarten, but how or if that process would work is unclear.

With the proposal to cut state funding, district officials said they are having to tell families things are up in the air for children with November birthdays. Officials estimate about 40,000 pupils statewide will fit into that category in 2012-13. About 120,000 children are expected to qualify for the transitional programs in 2014.

The Simi Valley Unified School District plans to move forward with its transitional program. The district has had a similar program before, offered to some of the youngest kindergarten-eligible children.

Officials are planning to expand it to more campuses in the fall but caution parents that it might not be available for children born in November, said Ron Todo, elementary education director.

About 100 to 120 pupils in the district could be affected. Todo said the district hopes the state will come up with another solution and that local officials may search for more funding if the state cuts the money.

LaLiberte said she will have to continue paying tuition at a preschool but that she worries the wait could put preschool out of reach, too.

Preschool spots are competitive, she said. If she has to wait to see what happens with the state budget, she could lose her daughter’s spot in the preschool.

The Las Virgenes Unified School District has had a transitional program, Journeys, for four years and plans to keep it going. From its start, the classes have filled up and had waiting lists, said Carol Martino, principal of Sumac School in Agoura Hills.

“If they cut the funding for the November students, we will continue to have the Journeys program. But obviously, if they don’t fund, we won’t be necessarily serving those November kids,” said Rose Dunn, the district’s director of instruction.

“It will be difficult to run the programs, given the kind of cuts that we’ve had, for free,” she said.

Preliminary estimates say the district may have 50 pupils with November birthdays who would be affected.

“It really speaks to the need to have a more stable funding source for education, because to be having to make decisions like ‘today you’re in; tomorrow you’re out’ is really unconscionable for children,” Dunn said.

Bay Laurel kids stuffed with joy

2011-12-29 / Community

WARM FUZZIES—Fifth-grade students at Bay Laurel Elementary School show the results of their school-wide stuffed animal donation drive. The cuddle friends will be donated to Stuffed Animals for Emergencies, a national organization that distributes the animals to children in times of distress.

School districts cope with budget cuts

By Stephanie Bertholdo

bertholdo@theacorn.com

MOVING ON—In early December, LVUSD officials did not renew Superintendent Donald Zimring’s contract. STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers Las Virgenes and Oak Park unified school districts have struggled with less state funding, but both agencies have tried to put students first regardless of the economy.

Both school districts earned top spots in California standardized testing. The Oak Park district received the top ranking for Ventura County, with Medea Creek Middle School claiming the top middle school rank for the fourth consecutive year, and Oak Hills Elementary School garnering the top title for elementary schools for the first time this year.

Las Virgenes Unified School District also achieved high test scores and is ranked among the top school districts in the state.

Las Virgenes Unified

Budget troubles continued to plague Las Virgenes throughout the year. Volunteers raised about $450,000 through its Save Our Schools campaign early in the year, but when the district attempted to pass a second parcel tax—this one at $95 per year— the measure failed to meet the two-thirds “yes” vote benchmark.

Marie Panec The LVUSD Board of Education did not renew Superintendent Donald Zimring’s contract. Dan Stepenosky, assistant superintendent of personnel, was promoted to deputy superintendent and is a contender for the top job.

Knowledge Countys replaced the Las Virgenes Educational Foundation to run the district’s summer school program.

Meanwhile, T. H. E. ( Together Helping Education) Foundation was created to host a wine festival with the potential to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Many schools throughout Las Virgenes Unified are embracing some new educational techniques that allow for interactive, dynamic student learning. The first group of students to complete Agoura High School’s International Baccalaureate program graduated in June. The IB program, which was introduced in the 2009-10 school year, offers a student-driven curriculum with an international perspective. IB students are encouraged to explore their own passions and interests.

Another program launched at Agoura High was a social studies and English literature class team-taught by Jason Busby and Deb Frank. The students hosted a communitywide event called EduCon at the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center. Students developed surveys, analyzed data and, based on what they found, developed questions for a cross section of community leaders and activists who served on the event panel.

Some Las Virgenes elementary schools launched a Spanish language program starting in kindergarten. The district also expanded its Journeys kindergarten preparatory program to every elementary school in the district. The program is designed for children who turn 5 between July and Dec. 1 and need extra support to achieve school readiness. A t Bay Laurel Ele mentary School in Calabasas, one student in the Journ eys pro- gram has had violent outbursts toward other students, the teacher and aides, and the classroom was evacuated several times. Parents are threatening to pull their children from the class if the violent disruptions continue.

Online classes were introduced to LVUSD this year. Technology guru Phil Scrivano has been in charge of developing the program.

We moved to Calabasas for the Las Virgenes Unified School Disctrict. We put our daughter in Bay Laurel Elementary. We are one family among countless who moved to the area for the same reasons. The schools are very important to us and the community and we will all continue to support each of them. From Round Meadow, to Chapparal, to Lupin Hill to Bay Laurel for the elementary schools. And A.C. Stelle and A.E. Wright for Middle schools. Up into Calabasas High School. I’m sure the families who send their children the Las Virgenes schools in Agoura and Oak Park feel the same.

NEWS RELEASE

LAS VIRGENES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

4111 N. Las Virgenes Road

Calabasas, California 91302

Phone: (818) 889-4000

Fax: (818) 880-4200

 

Contact Person: Rose Dunn, Director of Instruction

Phone: (818) 878-5219

December 2, 2011

 

LVUSD Expands “Journeys” Program to All Elementary School Sites

 

The Las Virgenes Unified School District is expanding its highly successful “Journeys” kindergarten preparatory program to include every elementary school site within the District.  The program is designed for children who are of kindergarten age (turning five between July and November 1st) but need extra support to achieve kindergarten readiness.  Students who turn five November 1 – December 2 are entitled to a two year kindergarten program and they will also be a part of this class.

 

The program utilizes a kindergarten curriculum, but focuses on hands-on and active learning.  The curriculum is also paced to allow students to grasp key concepts before moving to the next stages of their education.

 

There is significant research that supports the importance of ensuring a child’s readiness for school, and Journeys is tailored to meet students’ individual needs with a developmentally oriented pace. Following a year in the Journeys program, most students will enter a traditional kindergarten program, although some may be ready to move on to first grade.

 

The program has already been implemented at Sumac, White Oak, Bay Laurel and Lupin Hill Elementary Schools.  To register, parents will follow the usual registration process.

 

Informational meetings for parents are scheduled as follows:

           

Bay Laurel Elementary:          Monday, December 5th, at 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the MPR

Chaparral Elementary:            Friday, December 9th at 8:30 a.m. in the MPR

Lupin Hill Elementary:           Wednesday November 30, 9:00 a.m.

Round Meadow Elementary:  Tuesday, December 13, 6:30 p.m. in the MPR

Sumac Elementary:                 Tuesday, December 13th, 8:30 a.m.

White Oak Elementary:          Monday, December 12th, 8:30 a.m. in room K2

Willow Elementary:                 Friday, December 9th 8:30 a.m.

Yerba Buena Elementary:       Tuesday, December 6th 9:00 a.m. in the MPR

 

For more information, parents can contact Rose Dunn at the District Office or the main offices of their preferred school site.