Parents upset over growing class sizes

24 Pages·2015·3.19 MB·English

Tiny restaurant, huge flavors
WEEKEND | 15
JANUARY 16, 2015 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 18
VOLUME 22, NO. 51
Parents upset over
growing class sizes
PETITION CALLS ON THE DISTRICT TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN EACH CLASSROOM
By Kevin Forestieri classes smaller,” Kostka said.
Complaints to the district
G
rowing enrollment ratch- started months ago, when Soko-
eted up class sizes at love and 67 other kindergarten
Mountain View schools parents at Huff signed a petition
this year, and parents at Huff stating that, while the teaching
Elementary say it’s high time the staff is doing a great job, teachers
district does something to bring are overwhelmed by how many
student-to-teacher ratios back kids are in each class.
down to a reasonable level. Included in the petition was
At the Jan. 8 Mountain View a statement by Linda Lopez, a
Whisman School District board kindergarten teacher at Huff
meeting, Jeremy Sokolove, a who said these are the biggest
MICHELLE LE
Meysi holds her four-year-old daughter at CSA. They have been homeless since Thanksgiving. parent at Huff, said kindergar- classes she’s seen in her 18 years
ten classes at the school were of working with the district. She
Will the kids be all right? up to 27 students per class this said it’s “disconcerting” that
year — well above the state while academic expectations
average, neighboring school continue to increase, classes are
MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOLS SEE INCREASING NUMBER OF HOMELESS STUDENTS districts, and other getting larger and
elementary schools noisier and each
By Kevin Forestieri just two months ago. Safeway, and spending time in within the district. student is getting
‘Our students
Meysi, who asked that only their truck. The truck has been Sokolove said the less individual time
E
very morning, Meysi her first name be used to pro- vital in getting around, and large classes are a deserve smaller with teachers.
wakes up before 6:30 a.m. tect the privacy of her children, despite having its problems, “serious situation” “Our students
in the homeless shelter in said she lost her job at the same has been a real help, she told the that needs to be class sizes.’ deserve smaller
San Jose. She makes the traffic- time she lost her housing — Voice. addressed. class sizes,” Lopez
filled trek north, dropping off Thanksgiving Day. She passes “It leaks water, it’s not very Huff Elementary LINDA LOPEZ, said in the state-
three of her five kids at schools the hours waiting for the school gas-efficient, but it gets us to is one of the dis- KINDERGARTEN ment
all around Mountain View — day to end by taking her 4-year- the places we need to go,” Meysi trict’s most popular TEACHER AT HUFF To ease the
the city she used to call home old child and 11-month-old and high-perform- difficulty of teach-
before she became homeless grandchild to the park and to See HOMELESS, page 10 ing schools, and has ing more kids than
been at capacity for ever before, parent
years. None of the 63 students on volunteers at Huff are picking
City acting on complaints of smelly tap water wait lists to get into the school up some of the slack. Sokolove
this year has been allowed in; 19 said kindergarten parents put
of them are trying to get a spot in in a combined 40 hours of par-
By Daniel DeBolt tain View officials said they program in times of water short- the already-stuffed kindergarten ent participation per classroom
would begin flushing water ages,” Hosfeldt explained. Sedi- class. every week. Because of the added
T
his week, city officials mains on Wednesday morn- ment can settle in water mains But the issue isn’t unique to help, he said, Huff Principal
responded to complaints ing, Jan. 14, in the area roughly during the winter when there’s Huff. At Monta Loma Elemen- Heidi Smith has told parents the
from residents who say bordered by Moffett Boulevard, little need to water landscaping. tary, two of the fifth-grade class sizes are adequate.
their tap water smells awful. Whisman Road, Middlefield “Once we flush (the sediment) classes ballooned to 34 students But Sokolove said that’s not the
“When you smell something Road and Fairchild Drive. it tends to make (the smell) go this year. Monta Loma parent case, and teachers are requesting
bad in the water, you don’t want “We are definitely aware of away. We like to keep water Lorraine Kostka said she admires more support from parents in
to use for cooking or bathing,” what’s going on,” said Gregg fairly fresh in the system. In some the Huff parents who took a the classroom despite the high
said one resident of the Oakwood Hosfeldt, the city’s assistant pub- ways, it’s like food.” stand on the issue, and that the parent participation.
apartment complex at 555 West lic works director. “We have had City staff said it had been a year district should consider setting a “There’s only so much parents
Middlefield Road who described a number of calls about some and half since the mains in the limit on how large classes can get. can give,” Sokolove said.
the smell as that of “rotten eggs odors in the water.” area had been flushed, and that “The district (could) just set Board member Bill Lambert
or too much chlorine.” “Generally (the poor smell) is the line where you’re going to
To get rid of the smell, Moun- the result of a reduced flushing See STINKY WATER, page 11 hire a new teacher to try to make See CLASS SIZE, page 7
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2 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) January 16, 2015
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January 16, 2015 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) 3
LocalNews
NOTICE OF BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE (cid:81)(cid:3)CRIMEBRIEFS
DRAFT EXISTING CONDITIONS AND
ARREST FOR MOLESTATION SUSPECT len bikes after they arrested a man found with
PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS the bikes near Rengstorff Park in Mountain
Police arrested a Mountain View man last
View.
week for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old child
Officers saw two men with the bikes at 3:30
The City of Mountain View is currently updating its Bicycle and possessing child pornography.
a.m. on Wednesday during a patrol in the Reng-
Transportation Plan (Bike Plan). The community is invited The victim’s mother contacted police over
storff Park area. One of them fled, but police
what she believed to be inappropriate behavior
to attend a Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee were able to identify the second man as 23-year-
between her daughter and the man, identified as
meeting to review and comment on the Draft Existing old Nicholas Mathas of San Jose. Police arrested
47-year-old Jorge Huerta-Alvarez, a three-year
Conditions and Proposed Recommendations for the Mathas on charges of receiving stolen property
Mountain View resident, according to Sgt. Saul
Bike Plan Update at the following time and location: Jaeger of the Mountain View Police Depart- as well as a probation violation.
Police are seeking help identifying the own-
ment.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015—6:30 p.m. Jaeger said officers talked to Huerta-Alvarez, ers of the bicycles, which they believe were
stolen from the area of the arrest. Images of the
Plaza Conference Room the victim and the victim’s mother, and based
bikes are on mountainviewpoliceblog.com and
Second Floor, Mountain View City Hall on their statements arrested Huerta-Alvarez. In
anyone who recognizes a bike is encouraged to
a subsequent investigation, police also allegedly
500 Castro Street, Mountain View, California call 650-903-6344 and reference case number
found child pornography on his computer and
15-239.
Comments received at this meeting will be considered cellphone.
Kevin Forestieri
Huerta-Alvarez was booked into San Jose
in the development of the draft Bike Plan. If you have
Main Jail on charges of lewd and lascivious acts
any questions, please contact Helen Kim, Transportation K9 TRACKS DOWN SUSPECT
on a child as well as possession of child pornog-
Planner, at [email protected], or (650) 903- raphy. Odin, the youngest K9 police dog working for
6311. Police are seeking any additional victims that the Mountain View Police Department, tracked
may have been in contact with Huerta-Alvarez. down a suspect found near fresh graffiti and
The B/PAC agenda packet will be available on Friday, Anyone with information is urged to contact who fled from an officer last week.
January 23, 2015, after 4 p.m. at www.mountainview.gov, detectives at 650-903-6395, and refer to case While driving down the 1800 block of Villa
(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:91)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:92)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:62)(cid:86)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:91)(cid:84)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:80)(cid:91)(cid:96)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:82)(cid:187)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:585)(cid:74)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:3) number 15-0035. Jaeger said nothing in the Street, the officer noticed two people standing
City Hall at 500 Castro Street, and at the Mountain View immediate investigation indicated there were close to a wall where recent graffiti was found.
other victims involved. As soon as the two saw the officer, they fled the
Public Library at 585 Franklin Street.
Police are also encouraging people to do a area, police said.
background check on potential roommates One of the suspects, a juvenile, was seen flee-
_____________________________________________
before moving in, particularly if there are chil- ing near the rear of a building on the 200 block
dren in the home, and advise parents to com- of Higdon Avenue. Officer Dorene Hansen
AVISO DE REUNIÓN DEL COMITÉ ASESOR municate with their children and keep tabs on searched the area with Odin and discovered
day-to-day interactions. where one of the suspects was hiding. The
DEL CICLISTA/PEATÓN (PROGRAMA PARA
suspect had a backpack that held a BB gun and
CICLISTAS Y PEATONES) PARA ACTUALIZAR BIKE THEFT ARREST spray paint, and was arrested.
EL PLAN DE TRANSPORTE EN BICICLETA,
Police are looking for the owners of four sto-
REDACTAR LAS CONDICIONES EXISTENTES Rachel Lee
DEL PROYECTO Y LAS RECOMENDACIONES
PROPUESTAS.
(cid:81)(cid:3)POLICELOG
La Ciudad de Mountain View está actualizando su Plan ARSON GRAND THEFT VANDALISM
de Transporte en Bicicleta. Se invita a la comunidad 700 block Burgoyne St., 1/12 800 block California St., 1/10 1800 block Villa St., 1/7
a asistir a una reunión del Comité Asesor del Ciclista/ AUTO BURGLARY RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY 800 block California St., 1/7
200 block Fairchild Dr., 1/7
Peatón para revisar y comentar sobre el bosquejo 600 block Walker Dr., 1/8 400 block Mariposa Av., 1/7
200 block Escuela Av., 1/8
Broderick Way & Terminal Blvd., 1/8 400 block Victory Av., 1/8
de las condiciones existentes del proyecto y de las 1900 block California St., 1/8
2000 block Stierlin Ct., 1/9
recomendaciones propuestas para actualizar el Plan de ROBBERY 200 block S. Rengstorff Av., 1/8
2600 block W. El Camino Real, 1/9
2500 block California St., 1/9 1900 block California St., 1/8
Transporte en Bicicleta. 500 block Walker Dr., 1/11
1900 block Plymouth St., 1/8
1700 block Crane Av., 1/13 STOLEN VEHICLE
500 block Escuela Av., 1/8
La reunión se llevará a cabo 500 block W. Middlefield Rd., 1/9
BATTERY 1000 block Space Park Way, 10/10
1900 block Colony St., 1/9
en la siguiente hora y lugar: 2500 block California St., 1/11 800 block California St., 1/10
500 block Walker Dr., 1/11
Miércoles, 28 de enero, 2015 a las 6:30 p.m. 500 block N. Shoreline Blvd. 1/12 800 block Bay St., 1/13 300 block Easy St., 10/11
400 block San Antonio Rd., 1/12 400 block Moffett Blvd., 1/12
Sala de Conferencias Plaza (Plaza Conference 1 block E. El Camino Real, 1/13
Room)
Segundo piso del Ayuntamiento
de la Ciudad de Mountain View
Saint Simon
500 Castro Street, Mountain View, California
Parish School
Los comentarios recibidos en esta reunión serán
considerados para la elaboración del proyecto del Plan de
Transporte en Bicicleta. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta,
OPEN HOUSE
(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:89)(cid:3)(cid:77)(cid:72)(cid:93)(cid:86)(cid:89)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:125)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:91)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:196)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:75)(cid:86)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:3)
transporte Helen Kim, [email protected], o
llamando al [phone].
Sunday, January 25, 2015
La agenda de la reunión del Comité Asesor del Ciclista/ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Peatón estará disponible el viernes, 23 de enero, 2015,
10:30 AM Preschool Presentation
después de las 4 p.m. en www.mountainview.gov, en
11:00 AM Kindergarten Presentation
(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:196)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:91)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:91)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:73)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:130)(cid:73)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:3)
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de Mountain View, ubicada en el 585 de la calle Franklin. No Appointment Necessary Located at the intersection of Foothill Expressway and Grant Road
4 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) January 16, 2015
LocalNews
MOUNTAINVIEWVOICE
(cid:81)(cid:3)CITY COUNCIL UPDATES
(cid:81)(cid:3)COMMUNITY
(cid:81)(cid:3)FEATURES
City’s new shuttles make
‘car-free’ life easier
By Daniel DeBolt MVgo is the result of an
extraordinary and unique collab-
A
crowd gathered at the oration of companies, employers
downtown transit center and private landowners who
last Friday to celebrate came together “to do something
the launch of two new shuttles that hasn’t been done yet in the
services that will be free to the Bay Area — collectively run, on
public, one to serve residents and a non-profit board — shuttles
one aimed at commuters. that are there to give free rides to
The effort “clearly commu- employees and residents of the
nicates the message that there’s city of Mountain View, so people
a new day in Mountain View can get to work,” Pinkston said.
where people are really encour- The new commuter shuttle
aged to live the runs between the
life of a car-free downtown train
existence, which station and cor-
‘We’re really
we hope to get porate campuses
to,” said Denise in North Bayshore
making riding
Pinkston of TMG and the Whisman
Partners, the the bus a more area. Consolidat-
developer that ing shuttles that
MICHELLE LE pledged to create viable option.’ companies were
Grant Hendren, left, dances with Aarti Patel, and Ian Heitkamp dances with Sarah Chiu during physical
the MVgo com- operating sepa-
education class at Mountain View High School on Jan. 13.
muter shuttle a DENISE PINKSTON rately will mean
year and half ago. both reducing the
Decision looms for freshman athletes
The shuttle was a number of shut-
condition of the tles on the road
seeking to skip P.E. City Council’s while increasing
approval of a new Samsung the number of pickup times for
campus at 625 Clyde Avenue. commuters.
PARENTS AT ODDS WITH HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, STAFF The MVgo shuttle began serv- “By doubling the shuttle fre-
ing commuters on Monday, Jan. quency to these employment
By Kevin Forestieri athletes from P.E. classes. instructors and parents, board 12. The city’s new community campuses we’re really making
The Jan. 12 district board members agreed to bring it to a shuttle began running on a loop riding the bus a more viable
I
s a school sport a suitable meeting revisited the conten- vote in the coming weeks. around the city on Jan. 5. option,” Pinkston said. “You
alternative to physical edu- tious request to allow student District officials could pro- Pinkston is now chair of the don’t come to Mountain View
cation class? Teachers, prin- athletes to opt out of physical vide exemptions from P.E. Mountain View Transit Man- and find out you have to wait
cipals and staff at Mountain education during their fresh- for ninth-grade students who agement Association, a group half an hour to take the bus after
View-Los Altos Union High man year. An exemption from are taking a school-sponsored of companies that collective- you’ve already been on Caltrain
School District don’t seem to P.E. class is available to older sport during the season, but ly run the commuter shuttle for 40 minutes.”
think so, despite a demand by students. chose not to, citing the impor- and includes Intuit, Google, City Manager Dan Rich joked
a group of parents seeking to After a back-and-forth LinkedIn, and developers Sares that both the MVgo shuttle and
exempt ninth-grade student between physical education See PE EXEMPTION, page 12 Regis, the Sobrato Organization, the Mountain View Community
Broadreach Capital and TMG
Partners. See SHUTTLES, page 11
MV Whisman to redraw school boundaries
KEY DECISION ON OPENING NEW CAMPUS IS TIED TO ATTENDANCE
BOUNDARIES, DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES
By Kevin Forestieri the changes will affect property cited as the primary reasons for
values as well as the expectations the review of attendance bound-
T
he Mountain View Whis- of home-buyers, and it will be aries. Residents in the northeast
man School District is tak- difficult for the district to please quadrant of Mountain View
ing the first steps toward everyone. complain that they haven’t had a
changing attendance boundaries “There’s a joke in superinten- neighborhood school since Slater
for its schools, as the city’s demo- dent circles that this what super- Elementary closed in 2006. Cur-
graphics change and a group of intendents do in the last year of rent attendance boundaries have
parents pushes to open a new the contract before they retire,” kids in the area split between
school in the northeastern corner Skelly said. “There will be no way Huff, Theuerkauf and Landels
of Mountain View. to make everyone happy with elementary schools.
Changing school attendance new boundaries.” On top of that, a 2014 demo-
boundaries can be contentious Growing enrollment at the graphic study shows projected
and controversial, and will be a newly-divided Castro Elemen- student populations and newly-
“big challenge” for the district, tary School and possibly opening built residential housing could DANIEL DEBOLT
according to Interim Superin- a new school in the Whisman City Manager Dan Rich speaks to the gathering at the kick-off event
tendent Kevin Skelly. He said and Slater neighborhood area are See BOUNDARIES, page 8 for Mountain View’s new free shuttle service.
January 16, 2015 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) 5
LocalNews
Sutter Health, Blue Shield in contract dispute
try participants and observers,”
Shivinsky said in a statement.
Shivinsky said Blue Shield
PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION MEMBERS WILL BE AFFECTED gave its best and final offer in
the first few days of January and
Hundreds of thousands of Sutter providers until June 30, those of other health care provid- the current stipulation would was happy to continue talks, but
people have been told they will with some possible increase ers in the area and would remain prevent both it and self-insured “at this time it is up to Sutter to
need to switch doctors soon due in out-of-pocket costs. After so even if the company accepted customers from suing in open initiate the next meeting.”
to a contract dispute between June 30, if no new contract is the new reimbursement rates, in court for anti-competitive busi- Gleeson said on Tuesday, Jan.
Sutter Health and Blue Shield of reached, Sutter will become an part due to the rapidly growing ness practices. 13, that the two sides are not
California. out-of-network provider and company’s dominant market Sutter’s business practices have currently in negotiations but
Notices sent to customers warn out-of-pocket costs will increase position in much of California. previously been the subject of that Sutter has received offers
that as of Jan. 1 the health insurer substantially. Also at issue in the talks is a lawsuits and an investigation by from Blue Shield in the recent
canceled coverage for all hospi- The contract termination stipulation by Sutter that all the state attorney general’s office. days. However, Gleeson said that
tals and medical providers affili- affects Sutter facilities through- unresolved disputes go to man- “The new provision created by Blue Shield has not yet offered a
ated with Sutter Health. out northern California, includ- datory arbitration. Sutter appears driven by their deal that “represents significant
Palo Alto Medical Foundation ing all Palo Alto Medical Foun- While Sutter officials maintain desire to avoid public scrutiny of financial movement.”
is part of the Sutter Health net- dation locations. the provision was present in pre- business practices that have been —Bay City News Service. Sam
work of providers and includes Blue Shield is asking for a cut vious contracts, Blue Shield says frequently criticized by indus- Sciolla contributed to this report
the Mountain View Center at 701 in reimbursement rates, and
E. El Camino Real. Sutter officials have asserted
The cancellation affects 140,573 that the two sides remain “very (cid:81)(cid:3)OBITUARY
HMO members, who will get let- far apart” on the financial terms
ters later this month warning of the contract. John Edward Williams the fam- one who knew him.
that they will be assigned a new “It’s significant enough that it John Edward Williams, a ily construc- He is survived by his wife
primary physician as of April 1, would have a devastating impact resident of Los Altos, died tion busi- Joyce; children Jerry and Jill;
according to Blue Shield spokes- on Sutter Health’s ability to meet Jan. 7 after battling cancer. ness, building grandchildren Keyona, Isabella
man Steve Shivinsky. our patients’ needs,” said Bill He was 71. homes and and James; and great-grand-
In addition, letters have been Gleeson, a spokesman for Sutter Born in Havanna, Arkansas, businesses for daughter Audriana.
sent to 4,413 PPO members who Health. he moved to California with many years. Burial will be at Alta Mesa
have used Sutter facilities in the “This is really about a very his family as a young boy and He also served Memorial Park in Palo Alto.
past 12 months and another large and powerful health-insur- was raised in Mountain View. in the United John Williams A celebration of his life will be
139,338 PPO members living ance company trying to cut back He was a graduate of Mountain States Air Force for four years. held at a later date. Arrange-
within 15 miles of a Sutter facil- on the money it spends on actual View High School and while His family said that his sense of ments were by Cusimano
ity. patient care,” Gleeson said. still a student there, he joined humor and willingness to help Colonial Mortuary in Moun-
The letters inform patients Blue Shield, however, argues Williams Bros. Construction, others will be missed by every- tain View.
that they can continue using that Sutter’s costs are well above
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6 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) January 16, 2015
LocalNews
CLASS SIZE size as a priority, they can con- California schools, which could “This does not have to occur ten teachers at Huff are in their
sider banding together for a help bring down class sizes. Paula tomorrow, or even the next year. first year of teaching at a public
Continued from page 1
parcel tax or increased donations DeRitis, a second-grade teacher You have a number of years to school, making it difficult to rely
said he was surprised by the large to the Mountain View Education at Landels with 26 students in her reach that goal,” DeRitis said. on experience to make up for
class sizes; numbers as high as 34 Foundation. class, pointed out that the new bloated class sizes.
students in a classroom should “To do this we need help, state funding formula for schools, How important But does class size have an
have caught the board’s attention because we don’t have much called the Local Control Funding are small classes? effect on academics? Most stud-
when it reviewed enrollment and money,” Chiang said. Formula, will set a maximum Some board members said ies indicate that they do improve
class-size projections at the begin- Jonathan Pharazyn, president average class size of 24 students that class size doesn’t matter so test scores, particularly among
ning of the school year, he said. of the Mountain View Educators per class for kindergarten through much when high-performing, low-income and minority chil-
“I think this board would have Association, is a fifth-grade teach- experienced teachers are at the dren, and some long-term stud-
recognized a classroom size er at Monta Loma and teaches helm, and that having a quality ies have shown students in
(that) large,” Lambert said. “I one of the 34-student classes. He ‘I don’t think the teaching staff is more important smaller classes go on to lead
don’t remember seeing anything said having that many kids in his than reducing class sizes. more successful lives.
community as a
like that.” class can really limit what teachers Board member Greg Cola- A randomized study in 1990
Board President Chris Chi- can do, particularly with group donato pointed out his kinder- called the Student Teacher
whole understands
ang said he understands that projects, because the room gets so gartner is in a 28-student class Achievement Ratio looked at
parents want smaller class sizes, loud and there isn’t much space. at Stevenson Elementary, but it standardized test scores for stu-
how little money the
particularly when neighboring Pharazyn said the district saves isn’t much of a problem because dents in classes with 13 to 17
school districts such as the Palo money by increasing class size district gets.’ the teacher is experienced and students versus classes with 22
Alto Unified School District don’t rather than hiring new teachers, can handle the larger class size. to 25, and found a striking differ-
have the same problem, but added and that former Superintendent BOARD PRESIDENT CHRIS CHIANG Interim Superintendent Kevin ence in scores for both math and
that the district has to live within Craig Goldman was well aware of Skelly said parents are more reading. The smaller classes also
its means. that. willing to take a large class over had an increased effect on per-
“While Mountain View as a If teachers have classes with third grade. The program gives a smaller one if they have more formance by minorities and kids
whole is a very affluent city, I don’t enrollment that exceeds the con- financial incentives for districts confidence in the teacher. from low-income backgrounds,
think the community as a whole tract limit, which is 30 students to reduce class sizes. “The teacher, to me, is the the study showed.
understands how little money the for fourth and fifth grade, they That wouldn’t necessarily stop absolute most important part One study found that students
district gets,” Chiang said. “Palo get paid $5 extra per day for each kindergarten classes from enroll- that we need to get right,” Skelly in smaller classes go on to per-
Alto Unified gets $6,000 more per student over the limit, according ing 27 students or more, but it said. form better in school even when
pupil than we do, the high school to Pharazyn. would have to be counter-bal- Board member Steve Nelson reassigned to larger classrooms,
district gets over $6,000 more per “This is way less money, even anced by smaller classes. School agreed that teacher quality and are more likely to attend college
pupil than we do. We don’t have using the lowest teacher salary,” districts are also given eight years experience is more important. and earn a degree, and are more
much money from state and local Pharazyn said. to reach that student-to-teacher The problem is, Nelson said, likely to pursue a degree in
revenue.” A new standard for a maximum ratio, and DeRitis said it might that the district has a high STEM fields, according to a 2013
Chiang said if community student-to-teacher ratio will kick not be necessary to take immedi- turnover rate and a lot of new report in the Journal of Policy
members recognize lower class in over the coming years for ate action on class sizes. teachers. Two of the kindergar- Analysis and Management.
V
January 16, 2015 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) 7
LocalNews
BOUNDARIES new boundaries implemented in
Planning Areas and Elementary School Boundaries
the 2016-17 school year.
Continued from page 5
Besides Bryant, task force Mountain View Whisman School District
bump up enrollment beyond members include Castro Princi-
capacity at some schools. Huff pal Terri Lambert, Graham prin-
Elementary, for example, has cipal Kim Thompson and board
been at capacity for years, and members Greg Coladonato and
accepted no students from its Bill Lambert.
D Ames Research Center
w a“iEtvinegry lbisot dthy is aygeraere.s that the itsS kceollmy smauidn tichaet itoansk wfoirtche atnhde NIO R CHARLESTON RD
O
bwoourknidnagr pieasr ticriuglhartl y nwoewll, ” Sakreenll’yt ptruabnlsicp anreeendt sa tso pboes saisb loe pteon eaansde N ANT BLVD Monta Loma A
A E
said. any controversy over the results. S LIN
E
In order to get community “Often times if people don’t R
Monta Loma B HO
input, the district created the like the result they criticize the Monta Loma D S
Boundary Advisory Task Force, process, so it has to be open with
which aims to represent the continual opportunities for feed-
community as a whole and make back,” Skelly said.
recommendations on how to
Monta Loma E
adjust boundaries. The task force New school
includes parents, principals, a district priority? Theuerkauf A
teachers, representatives from The plans for re-drawn Theuerkauf D
Monta Loma C
neighborhood associations and boundaries could mean the
fRcfooiotrryncm eiot eif rs M BexrCoypiuateynnc tttae Cdirnoe t puoVr ncieecoswimel n. etTm iunhepgem wtabtihtsehker ddaS leiasscttcirehsiricoo ton nwl eiioilngln hh tbahwvoehe r ehWtotoh homeidrsa smk,t eoa awn o fhiapninceanhdl Castro A CaCsCatAsrotLrI FoCO BRNIA SCTENTBRuAbL bEX APWY TheuerkauLf aBndTehlse uBerkaufL CandeMlsI DCHDuLffEF AIELD RD Landels A
a recommendation by April, with would have a big influence on
Bubb B
Bubb C Landels D
PUBLIC NOTICE
Landels E
Landels F
MOUNTAIN VIEW WHISMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
ThAPe PMLoIuCnAtaTinIO VNie FwO WRh DisImSaTnR SICchTo oFl ADCisItLrIicTt I(EDSi sCtrOicMt) Mis IsTeeTkEinEg EL CAMINO REAL Landels H
Landels G
qualified, interested individuals to serve on a committee of community
leaders which will serve as the District Facilities Committee (DFC) to Huff B
D
provide input and recommendations regarding the District facilities R
NT
master plan for the elementary school campuses. A
Bubb D R
G
In June 2012, local voters passed a bond measure which provides funding
Huff D
for safe, efficient and modern facilities for the District. To date, the
District has completed modernization projects at both middle schools
and has completed designs for new construction projects at the middle
schools. As the District begins planning for the elementary schools, Huff C
key issues must be considered, including: 1) demographic trends, 2) the
establishment of two schools at Castro Elementary School effective for
2015-16 school year, 3) consideration of opening an elementary school
campus in the Whisman/Slater neighborhood, and 4) facilities needs.
These issues impact enrollment, facilities, and budget for the entire
District and necessitate a review and possible adjustment of the master
facilities plan.
COURTESY MOUNTAIN VIEW WHISMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Current attendance boundaries need to be updated for future school site plans, including a possible new
The DFC responsibilities include the following: (1) represent the
community as a whole in the process of evaluating the Student school, according to district officials.
Facilities Improvement Plan and updated elementary school needs
assessments, (2) consider potential schedules and proposed budgets the task force recommendations. New attendance boundaries whether a school will exist in the
to make recommendations on standard project lists, (3) examine If a new school were opened, might not be the only thing northeast region of the city.
prioritized implementation schedule and initial budget allocation for
students in the area would no hung up until the board makes Weaver argued that the new
each elementary school site, and (4) review the impact of programmatic
longer have to be redistributed a decision on a new school. The school would redistribute stu-
changes at Castro and potentially reopening a school in the Whisman/
to nearby elementary schools Boundary Advisory Task Force dents in a way that will solve the
Slater neighborhood and how that influences the facilities master plan.
through a patchwork of atten- will be working concurrently overcrowding at Huff Elemen-
The DFC will make recommendations on specific facilities master plan
dance boundaries in the area with the new Construction Advi- tary, and would be considered a
related issues as requested by the Superintendent and inform the public
where Highways 85, 101 and 237 sory Group, which will decide win-win.
about the recommendations.
meet. how to spend the remaining When the issue was brought
To the extent possible, participants will include the following:
Former Superintendent Craig bond money from Measure G. up in April last year, Goldman
• Parents, including representatives from the following: an
Goldman and some board mem- Bond money is to be used to said Landels and Theuerkauf
elementary school, a middle school, PTA, School Site Council, or
bers have come out in favor of update and construct new facili- Elementary, the schools near the
English Learner Advisory Committee
opening a new school in the ties at the elementary schools. Whisman and Slater area, are
• Community members residing in the Mountain View Whisman district, saying it’s really more and could also be used to open not overcrowded, and that a new
School District of a question of “when” to open a school in the Whisman and school could siphon off too many
• Principals the new school. But so far the Slater neighborhood. students and cause problems,
board has not approved a plan Bob Weaver, a resident of possibly forcing a school closure.
• Teachers
to re-open either Whisman or the Whisman and Slater area, Board member Ellen Wheeler
• Classified staff Slater campuses, or construct said the board should formally agreed at the time that the dis-
Applications and additional information can be downloaded at an entirely new school. Whisman announce they will open “some trict should be cautious moving
http://www.mvwsd.org/facilities or may be picked up at the District has been leased to the private kind of walkable neighborhood forward, but during the school
Office, 750-A San Pierre Way, Mountain View, CA 94043. Completed German International School school” right away. That way, he board election said opening a
applications should be delivered, mailed, emailed ([email protected]) or of Silicon Valley since 2000 and said, the Construction Advisory school is “the right thing to do at
faxed (650-964-8907) to the Superintendent’s Office of the Mountain in 2006, the Slater campus was Group and the Boundary Advi- this time.”
View Whisman School District, so that it is received by 4:00 PM on leased to Google for use as a day- sory Task Force will be work- Email Kevin Forestieri at
Wednesday, January 28, 2015. care facility. ing with a “full deck” knowing [email protected]
8 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) January 16, 2015
LocalNews
Thank you for donating
to the Holiday Fund
(cid:81)(cid:3)A&E BRIEFS
As of Jan. 12, 2015, 137 donors have donated
$75,416 to the Mountain View Voice Holiday Fund
28 Anonymous .......$10,125 Leslie & Anita Nichols ..........*
Milk Pail Market ..................* Lyle & Sally Sechrest .......100
Chris Petti & Judy Atterholt ..100 Coogan/Hua Family ......250
Andy & Liz Coe ..................* Wakerly Family
Carol Ann Brusven ...........25 Foundation ...............25,000
Crystal Pollock-Dove .......100 Robert & Lois Adams ......500
Jim Whitfield .................100 Debra Babcock ................50
Ann Kapoun ..................100 George Petersen .................*
Tracy Weatherby ...........500 Bruce Karney .................350
Max Beckman-Harned ....400 Mei Hong .....................150
Joel Riciputi ........................* Tats & Rose Tsunekawa ...150
Karen Keefer .................100
Ellen Wheeler ..................50
Michelle Fiedland...........500
Norma Jean Bodey Galiher ..*
Susan Tenney .................200
Susanne Stewart ..............50
Kirsten Hayes ................200
Elaine Roberts ................100
Jim & Alice Cochran .......700
Anne Johnston ....................*
Mountain View Mom’s
Judith Manton ..................50
Cookie Party ..............1,045
Jim Stuhlbarg ...................50 Jennifer Coogan ............300
COURTESY PALO ALTO ART CENTER Jeral G. Poskey ...........6,804 R D Roode .....................100
Sculptures by Lauren DiCioccio and May Wilson will be on view at the Palo Alto Art Center Jan. 17 to April 12.
Ed Taub ..........................72 Laurie Bonilla & Ed Perry 200
David Paradise ..............100 Susan Endsley................100
‘The Libation Bearers’ the 2012 Early Music Baroque by community members. Start- Jeanne Hsu .........................* Christopher &
For its 15th season opener, Performance Competition, the ing Saturday, Jan. 17, the results Catherine P. Howard ......150 Mary Dateo ................1,000
Redwood City’s Dragon Theatre quartet will play a program of of their labors go on view to the Leigh & Michael Cerdes ..150 Ellis Berns......................150
has chosen a Greek tragedy: a 17th-century European instru- public. The show runs through Katherine Preston Kevin Chiapello .............100
powerful tale of violence and mental music, including works April 12, with an opening cel- & Lanier Anderson .........250 Jeffrey Segall .................100
revenge. Aeschylus’s “The Liba- by Italian composers Dario Cas- ebration on Friday, Jan. 23, from Judith Harrison .................50 Donna Yobs ...................500
tion Bearers” is the second book tello and Bellerofonte Castaldi, 7 to 10 p.m. Hedda Hope .................100 Boris Burtin ....................100
of the trilogy the “Oresteia,” and Austrian composer H. I. F. Biber San Francisco-based Wilson
Sheri Morrison .................50
E. Denley Rafferty...........100
the play takes as its subject the and Danish-German organist tends to use heavier materi-
Gary Kushner .....................*
murder of Clytemnestra by her Dietrich Buxtehude. Unlike a als, including industrial felt, Andrew Doerschuk ......1,000
Randal Tsuda .................100
son Orestes, who is avenging his typical chamber-music quartet vinyl, nylon and concrete, to Martin Pulvers ..................50
Cliff Chambers ..............200
father’s murder. First performed consisting of two violins, a viola explore the themes of struggle Marilyn Gildea ...................*
nearly 2,500 years ago, the “Ores- and a cello, Pallade Musica draws and restraint, while DiCioccio Dolores Goodman ..........500
Kevin & Robin Duggan ........*
teia” remains at the foundation of together baroque violin, baroque often incorporates discarded Leona Chu.....................300
Robert J. Rohrbacher ...........*
the Western theatrical tradition. cello, harpsichord and theorbo, a items like newspapers, maga- David Fung ........................*
Lynn Gordon & David Simon *
Dragon Theatre’s production plucked string instrument from zines and plastic bags in her Julie Steury &
runs now through Sunday, Feb. the lute family. intricate, embroidered works. In Peter Reynolds ...............500 Susan Perkins .....................*
1, with shows Thursday through Tickets range from $30-$35; their first-ever collaboration, the Glen & Linda Eckols .......150 Karen DeMello ................50
Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday season subscriptions to the San artists have employed a range of Richard Williams.................* Wesley & Molly Smith ..........*
at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 gen- Francisco Early Music Society techniques — stapling, sewing,
David Fisher .......................* Thomas Mucha ..............350
eral admission, $10 for limited- are also available. Go to sfems. stuffing and weaving — to cre-
Mark Balch ...................450 Helen Gibbons ...................*
availability rush, and $125 VIP. org or call 510-528-1725. ate a series of whimsical, vaguely
Ronald Swierk ...............150 Kathy Hall &
There’s also an opening-night anthropomorphic fabric sculp-
gala after the show tonight, ‘lift/HEFT’ tures. Irving Statler ..................200 Leslie Murdock ...............250
Friday, Jan. 16, as well as a post- As part of its ongoing artists- The Palo Alto Art Center is Mary DeMasters .........2,000 In Memory Of
show panel discussion on Satur- in-residence program, the Palo open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 Jonah & Asher Copeland ..300
Kate Wakerly .....................*
day, Jan. 31, when Stanford Clas- Alto Art Center presents ‘lift/ a.m. to 5p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. Frederick Butts ...............500
Daisy Morris .......................*
sics professor Rush Rehm will HEFT,’ new sculptures by fiber to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Becky Willrich ............2,000
Ernesto Alejandro ...............*
join the show’s director, Tunuviel artists Lauren DiCioccio and Admission is free. To learn more,
Offen-Nyhan Family .......525
Luv, to discuss the play and its May Wilson. The two have been go to tinyurl.com/lvxy6et or call Charles R. Lundine .........100
Sally Evans .........................*
relevance to contemporary audi- busy for the past few months 650-329-2366. Kate Wakerly ................350
Margie Chapman ..........100
ences. The discussion will be creating art out of fabric donated — Elizabeth Schwyzer My beloved Father,
John Ross ........................25
followed by a reception with the Leonard C. Boos .................*
artists; tickets to the Jan. 31 event Hendrik & Janine Goosen .200 Snyder: Il Gatto di tutti
are $30. The Dragon Theatre is Randa Mulford ..............250 Gaiti...............................50
located in downtown Redwood Rose Han ...........................*
Lois & Jean Duperrault ....100
City at 2120 Broadway St. For Carol Monahan ...............40
My beautiful angel,
tickets or more information, go Eva Diane Chang ...........100 Megan Mathias ..................*
to dragonproductions.net or call
Renee Hinson ................100 Susan Prior ......................50
650-493-2006, ext. 2.
Karl Schnaitter ...............525 Nick Bagar ...................150
Kathleen & Phil Creger ...200
Pallade Musica Wendy ...........................25
Moira Turner ...................75
Early music lovers take note:
In Honor Of
Montreal’s acclaimed Pallade Gregory Fowler ..................*
Musica makes its West Coast B.D. Pearson, Jr ..........1,000 Jane & Gerald King ........500
debut tonight, Friday, Jan. 16, Wendy Wong .............1,000 Ed, Petros & Thalia ...........75
when it comes to Palo Alto’s First Kathleen Cutler ...................* Evan C. Rauch ....................*
Lutheran Church (600 Homer Dorothy Meier ....................* Dr. Herbert E. Rauch ............*
St.) at 8 p.m. courtesy of the JAMES KASYAN Charles Black ................500 Henry C. Hennings, Jr. .........*
San Francisco Early Music Soci- Tasi Alabastro, left, plays Orestes and Jessica Bettencourt plays his sister
Rosanne Cejna ...................* Selma & George Ridola ....10
ety. The grand-prize winners of Electra in Dragon Theatre’s production of “The Libation Bearers.”
January 16, 2015 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) 9
LocalNews
HOMELESS
trict are homeless as well, accord- Community Services Agency in
Continued from page 1 ing to Assistant Superintendent Mountain View provided ser-
Karen Robinson. vices to 325 new homeless clients,
said. The truck has also served Meysi’s family includes a according to Natalie Usack, pro-
many nights as a place to sleep 14-year-old, a 9-year-old and a gram director at CSA. She said
for the family of seven. 7-year-old, all of whom attend that of the new clients, 17 percent
The family’s situation has been Mountain View schools. Her are homeless families headed by
particularly hard on her kids, oldest daughter, Maria, 18, has a single mother — up from 12
she said, although they certainly a baby and participated in the percent in the last fiscal year.
aren’t the only homeless students district’s Young Parent Program Meysi’s family has been couch-
in local schools. before its funding was cut. surfing for some time. They lived
As the rate of homelessness with her sister for a while, then
continues to increase across San- Hardest on the children her mother, with a three-month
ta Clara County, there are more The number of homeless fami- stint in between that was spent
homeless students in Mountain lies in the county was up by sleeping in their truck. Recently,
View schools than people might nearly 10 percent between 2011 the family thought they finally
expect, according to Superin- and 2013, according to the Santa were going to have a place to live.
tendent Barry Groves of the Clara County Homeless Census Meysi said they saved up mon-
MICHELLE LE
Mountain View-Los Altos School and Survey. These families were ey for a deposit and sent it to a
Maria, 18, plays with her 11-month-old daughter. She is the sole
District. more likely to be Latino and family friend who was “holding”
financial provider for her family, working part-time.
“We do have more homeless include women, and tended to an apartment for them. The fam-
people than you would imagine,” live in the county longer than ily packed up all their things, told
Groves said. “People who don’t single transients. The report her mother to go ahead and rent working part time at a pizza par- more, just because they’re either
have a home, or move from place also found that families reported out her spare room to someone lor in Mountain View. She said embarrassed or afraid,” she said.
to place.” higher rates of domestic violence else, and were ready to move out. she hopes to graduate soon. While the district has the
A recent count showed that as their “primary reason” for But about a week before “I want to get an education,” resources to help out homeless
about 24 students in the Moun- becoming homeless. Thanksgiving, the family friend Maria said. families, they need to know who
tain View Whisman School Dis- In the last six months, the stopped answering the phone. Because the North County is homeless. Avina said they
Meysi said she must have called lacks a drop-in homeless shelter, sometimes get clued in when
him about 20 times a day ask- Maria and the rest of her fam- teachers overhear that students
MMMMMMMMoouunnttttaaiiiinn VVVViiiieeww RRRRoo tttt aa rr yy C l ub ianllgo wwehde tno tmhoeyv ea irne. going to be iflryo mha vSea tno tJorasvee. l Bbeaccaku asne dM foarrtiha sOletphte ri nti ma ecsa, rt htheye ansikg hfto rb epfrooroef.
On Thanksgiving day, he finally goes to school and works in the of residence, and the parents are
2015 Crab Fee d & R a f f l e responded and said he was not evening, she is out well past the forced to admit they don’t have it
going to give them the apartment. curfew hours of many homeless and explain their situation.
ML iuvsei c! on Saturday, January 31, 2015 Mabeoyusti a$n8d0 0M, aarniad hhaadd g inveonw hheimre sthhee ltfearms. ilWy mitha nhaeglepd ftroo mlo cCatSeA a, imApvoirntaa nts ariodl e sfochr ohoolm pelleasyss staun-
Serving 4:30pm-8:00pm
to go. To make matters worse, place at Family Supportive Hous- dents. While where they spend
at The Mountain View Buddhist Temple Meysi lost her job at Kohl’s for ing in East San Jose. the night changes, possibly on a
575 Shoreline Blvd. (Across from Safeway) not coming in and working on Maria said the shelter gives her daily basis, she said itís impor-
Donation: $50 per person/$20 kids 3-10 yrs Thanksgiving — her day off. family their own room and bath- tant for students to have some
All you can eat “I hit the wall in frustration,” room, and even if the rules are a level of consistency and go to
Meysi said. “I was doing really little strict — they can’t bring any the same school every day. She
Fresh Dungeness Crab...
bad emotionally.” of their own food inside — she said the free and reduced-price
Field Greens and Gorgonzola Cheese with Vinaigrette Dressing
The worst part, Meysi said, was said the 9 p.m. curfew works out lunches for low-income students
Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Fresh Fruit Salad & French Bread
the effect on her kids. Her 9-year- well for them. ensures that the students are get-
Tickets Available Online At: old son was hit particularly hard. It won’t last long though. Maria ting at least a few meals.
www.mountainviewrotary.org or from any mountain view rotarian Maria said her little brother was said they can stay only until
ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT LOCAL CHARITIES so excited he was telling his March 4 before they’ll have to Limited options
friends about his new home and find another place. Maria said the family is look-
setting up play-dates. Now, she Meysi and Maria said they ing at their options for housing,
said, when his friends ask him were worried about revealing but the large family size makes
We’re Hiring about it he avoids the subject. their living situation to the things difficult to stay in the Bay
high school district, and said Area. She said they could try to
A helping hand they thought Meysi’s 14-year-old rent a studio apartment by claim-
Full-time Reporter
Meysi and Maria were able would be pulled from the school. ing they have only one or two
to get help from the homeless When contacted by the Voice, people, rather than seven, but she
The Mountain View Voice is seeking a full-time reporter services at CSA on Thanksgiv- Superintendent Groves said the said they don’t want to lie or risk
ing, and case workers with the family has nothing to fear. State getting thrown out.
with a passion for local journalism. We are an award-
nonprofit were able to secure the law allows homeless people to “I love Mountain View but it’s
winning community newspaper and online news service
family a few nights at a hotel while stay in a school until they find a so expensive,” Maria said.
covering the vibrant city of Mountain View, the home of
they found a homeless shelter. permanent place of residence. He Rather than trying for market-
Google and NASA Ames Research Center, in the heart of
When they arrived at the inn, the said the district also helps chil- rate housing, CSA has been con-
Silicon Valley. We’re looking for someone with excellent 9-year-old was heartbroken when dren in homeless families connect necting Meysi and her family
writing and reporting skills, who is self-motivated and he realized the plans had been to social welfare agencies like to low-income housing options
eager to learn, and is familiar with the Mountain View area. scrapped to get their own home. CSA, welfare housing assistance throughout the county, as far
“We’re adults, we can handle and county services through the south as Gilroy. Meysi said she’ll
Basic video-editing and social media skills are a plus.
it. But how do you explain that district’s staff liaisons. have to go to Gilroy and apply for
The reporter will cover city hall, Moffett Field and general
to the kids?” Meysi said. The Mountain View Whisman housing at about 4 a.m. in order
assignment stories.
Times are tough for Meysi School District has also been to have a shot at the limited avail-
The Voice is part of Embarcadero Media, which includes and her family, but they’ve been willing to help homeless fami- ability.
the Palo Alto Weekly and The Almanac. To apply, send getting a helping hand. CSA has lies like Meysi’s. Nubia Avina is Still, Meysi said she’s prepared
worked closely with the fam- the student services coordinator to take on the challenges ahead,
a resume, cover letter and three news clips to Andrea
ily to find new housing options, for the district, and acts as the and hasn’t lost hope.
Gemmet, Editor, at [email protected].
and volunteers with St. Joseph liaison for homeless families. “You have to look up and keep
Church have helped pay for gas She said the district knows of 24 walking,” Meysi said. “When one
using prepaid gas cards. homeless students in the district, door closes, a hundred new ones
Maria, 18, now goes to a high but that’s only the families will- open. You have to keep your chin
ONLINE school in Fremont, despite being ing to admit that they don’t have up.”
the family’s sole breadwinner — a home and need help. —Michelle Le contributed
450 CAMBRIDGE AVENUE | PALO ALTO | PALOALTOONLINE.COM she has a minimum-wage job “We feel that there’s probably to this report
10 (cid:81) Mountain View Voice (cid:81) MountainViewOnline.com (cid:81) January 16, 2015