Notebook

June 7, 2006

District employees receive pay hike

All Petaluma City School District and Petaluma Joint Union High School District employees will receive a 3.5 percent pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2005, the board of education decided at its meeting last month.

The increase means the entry level for teachers' salaries is $36,978, with a ceiling of $70,945.

The school board also decided that beginning July 6, the district's payment of employees' health share premiums will increase by 14 percent. Due to rising health insurance costs, employees with Kaiser plans will still be paying 14 percent more per month, and those with other insurance plans will be paying up to 33 percent more.

The combined salary and health increases will cost the school district some $2.2 million per year.

Sonoma College grad ceremony

Sonoma College in Petaluma, which offers programs in homeland security and allied health, will hold its graduation ceremonies June 17 at the Petaluma Woman's Club.

In 2004, the college started a Homeland Response and Emergencies associates degree program consisting of online and in-class education. Michael Hill, a deputy sheriff with the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, was the first graduate of the program and helped to set the standards for it.

The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. at the club, 518 B St.

Head Start applications

Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County Head Start, a federally funded preschool program for children ages 3 and 4, is now accepting applications for the 2006-07 school year.

The five-week program is culturally diverse, and offers a comprehensive educational experience while emphasizing child and family development. It is free for children whose family income meets the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Benefits for children include licensed preschool classrooms; Early Childhood Education credentialed teachers; nutritional snacks and meals; preventative health and dental wellness programs; a developmentally appropriate preschool program; and full inclusion of children with diagnosed disabilities.

Families are offered family literacy programs; family outreach workers; parent training and leadership groups; monthly parent meetings; conferences and home visits with teachers and family outreach workers; opportunities to set and work toward personal and/or family goals; referrals to community services and resources; and opportunities for direct involvement in curriculum planning, menu planning, classroom activities, parent committees and the Policy Council.

Anyone with questions or needing an application should call the local Head Start office at 544-6911 before June 15. The office also can be contacted at headstart@capsonoma.org and 1300 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa 95401.

St. Vincent student to attend Presidential Classroom

Joseph Emde, a junior at St. Vincent de Paul High School, will attend Presidential Classroom's National Security in a Democracy program July 15-22 in Washington, D.C.

During the program, juniors and seniors from throughout the nation have access to the leaders who shape U.S. public policy and explore the role that the government, military and private sector play in planning and executing defense and homeland security policies.

The program offers students an in-depth look at the national security process, from diplomacy to securing peace after conflict. It investigates the chain of command and coordination of intelligence gathering and policing from all agencies. The defense/industry partnership, role of the media in national security and debate over citizens' rights also are studied.

Student participants must be involved with their community and school, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Corporations, foundations and individual donors help to provide assistance to students with financial need.

Presidential Classroom, a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization, was founded in the tradition of former President John F. Kennedy, who challenged young Americans to be committed to public service. PC's mission is to prepare young leaders for responsible citizenship and provide the opportunity to explore the political process firsthand.