GUHSD students above average on state tests

Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) students scored higher than the state average on the new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) state tests. According to a press release from superintendent Ralf Swenson’s office, these tests are “significantly more rigorous than the prior assessments.” These new tests were designed to measure students’ critical thinking with questions that required them to demonstrate research, writing and problem solving using interactive test questions and constructed responses.

Preparation for the tests included an investment in more than 10,000 digital devices, additional Internet bandwidth and extensive teacher training. The high-tech approach is part of the district’s “Future Forward” program designed to equip students with skills in creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Every student uses a digital device to engage in real-world work done by professionals such as scientists, engineers, musicians, artists, filmmakers, authors and more.

In math, the most rigorous exam, GUHSD students beat the state average by four points in the percentage scoring at or exceeding the standard. The state average for the percentage of students to meet or exceed the standard is 29 percent. Overall, there were 33 percent of GUHSD students who met or exceeded the standard in math.

Fifty-six percent of the GUHSD students met or exceeded the standard in English.

The results of the tests, along with a variety of other measures, help the district monitor progress in meeting its goals and objectives, the press release stated.

Scholarships awarded to Grossmont, Cuyamaca students

More than $85,000 was awarded to 128 students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca community colleges at events held Sept. 12 that celebrated students who achieved success despite obstacles. The scholarship award ceremonies were presented by the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges.

More than $43,000 was awarded to 69 students at Grossmont College and almost $42,000 was awarded to 59 students at Cuyamaca College, according to a press release. Many of the students were awarded Osher scholarships, part of a statewide community college scholarship fund established in 2011 by the Bernard Osher Foundation, which donated $50 million and challenged colleges to raise money to establish the scholarships. Grossmont and Cuyamaca raised $850,000 and were two of 31 schools in the state that reached the fundraising goals required to get the scholarship money.

Some of the examples of winning essays by the students to get the scholarships include: Melissa Murphey, who won a culinary arts scholarship for her story about learning to cook with the food packets her family got from church pantries and now wants to become a chef; Kalisha Haywood was abandoned by her parents when she was 14, her brother was killed and now she wants to become a nurse; Antewane Collier lost his home and lived in his car for 18 months following a back injury and now wants to attend San Diego State University and open a business; and Tharma Basaka, who immigrated from Iraq in 2009 and now speaks fluent English and maintains a 3.8 grade point average and wants to study mathematics.

In addition to the Osher scholarships, there were scholarship sponsors who created memorial funds to honor deceased loved ones. Marcia Seiler presented a scholarship she created to honor her daughter Christy Seiler Davis, a Grossmont student who died in the 2003 Cedar Fire. Dick Nolan created a scholarship for an engineering student to honor his son Ivan Nolan who led construction of the Griffin Center, the site of the scholarship ceremony at Grossmont College.

SDG&E billing to change 

Starting this month, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) begins to transition customers to the new electric rate structure, which was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in July. As a result of this decision, SDG&E customers will begin to see gradual changes to their electric bill over the next five years.

This month, SDG&E will reduce the number of tiers that customers fall under from four to three. Other changes will happen over the next few moths and years. In March 2016, the number of tiers will gain be reduced to only two. Then in 2017, SDG&E will introduce a “Super User” (SUE) electric surcharge that will penalize excessive energy consumption – customers whose usage is above 400 percent of baseline, or double the average customer’s usage in their climate zone. In 2019, the differential between the first two tiers will shrink to 25 percent and the differential between the bottom tier and the SUE rate will increase to 119 percent.

“This is the first step in providing more fairness and transparency in utility bills for all customers,” Caroline Winn, chief energy delivery officer at SDG&E, said in a statement. “We want people to understand the changes to how they are billed and also how they can manage their energy costs.”

Other changes on the horizon for SDG&E customers include the implementation of a minimum monthly bill of $10 per month for non-CARE customers and $5 per month for CARE enrollees. The CARE program will also see changes this month as the effective discount will be reduced from 40 to 35 percent.

In 2019, residential customers will automatically be defaulted to “time-of-use” (TOU) rates, meaning the price of electricity will depend on what time of day homes use energy. Customers will be given the choice of opting out of the TOU rate and using the tiered rate structure instead.

In September and October, most online residential “My Account” customers will receive a video bill to help them understand the changes to their bill introduced by rate reform. Customers can also visit sdge.com/ratereform to learn more about the changes to come.

Rodeway Inn burns down

On Sept. 15 at 4:42 a.m., Heartland Fire & Rescue responded to a two alarm fire at the Rodeway Inn located at 4210 Spring St. in La Mesa.

No injuries were reported but the fire dislocated 17 occupants. The damage to the building is estimated at $1.5 million and two-story structure is considered a total loss.

When firefighters arrived, there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof area of the building and areas of Spring Street were closed down while the blaze was battled.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said Monica Zech, Heartland Fire & Rescue public information officer. The investigation has been hampered by the heavy rains that fell on the burn site shortly after the fire was put out.

“Because the water used to put out fire, then the heavy rain, it could be tough and sometimes the cause of these fires goes undetermined,” she said.

Cuyamaca College offering eight-week classes

Earning college credit just got a lot easier for people with busy schedules now that Cuyamaca and Grossmonst Colleges will offer courses that can be completed in just two months.

Starting the week of Oct. 12, select general education and specialty-subject classes will be offered as an eight-week course at the same cost as regular, semester-length courses, $46 per unit. The expedited classes will consist of tradition, hybrid and online classrooms.

For students wanting to quickly finish their general education requirements for transfer, classes include Introduction to Physical Anthropology, History of Jazz Music, Interpersonal Communication, English Fundamentals, Modern American History, Principles of Humanities, Introduction to philosophy, Spanish, College Composition and Reading, Public Speaking, Intermediate Algebra, English as a Second Language and more.

Other classes offer specialized training in culinary arts, nursing, water conservation/wastewater technology and ornamental horticulture. Courses teaching business office skills and learning skills are offered as online, self-paced classes.

Lists of classes offered as eight-week courses are posted online at www.gcccd.edu/now. Deadline for registration is Oct. 16.

Sharp HospiceCare Benefit Regatta exceeded fundraising goal

The 13th Annual Sharp HospiceCare Benefit Regatta netted more than $360,000 during the two-day event, held Aug. 28 and 29. Hosted in partnership with Coronado Yacht Club and Cortez Racing Association, the Regatta supports Sharp HospiceCare with all proceeds benefiting its Homes for Hospice campaign – an initiative to build hospice homes in San Diego.

Sharp HospiceCare currently operates two hospice homes in the neighborhoods of La Mesa and Del Cerro. A third hospice home, located in Bonita, is scheduled to open this fall.

“I am very grateful to all the partners, sponsors, volunteers and community members who give generously to the Regatta in support of Sharp HospiceCare programs and services” said Suzi K. Johnson, Vice President of Sharp HospiceCare in a press statement. “This year, tribute was paid to veterans in our community, highlighting the We Honor Veterans program, which provides special services to veterans and their families nearing end of life.”

The Aug. 28 evening event at the Hotel Del Coronado was sold out and featured live music, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. The next day, the regatta drew 47 sailboats to compete as more than 600 attendees watched the race from nearby yachts.

The sailboat “Justice,” skippered by John Harrop won the race for the second year in a row.

Sharp HospiceCare is an organization that provides comprehensive care and compassionate support to patients and their families struggling with a life-limiting illness. Sharp’s hospice homes are unique living environments – custom-designed and built in established, residential neighborhoods. They are the only

places of their kind in San Diego County which combine around-the-clock hospice care with an intimate, comfortable, home-like setting.

For more information about Sharp HospiceCare, visit www.sharp.com/hospice.

GM invests in Cuyamaca auto program

Students studying auto technology at Cuyamaca College will have three new cars to learn on courtesy of General Motors.

The cars, a 2014 Impala, 2014 Silverado and a 2013 Corvette, will be used to train aspiring auto technicians enrolled in GM’s Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) offered through select colleges nationwide. Cuyamaca is one of three colleges in California to provide the two-year program, which combines advanced automotive technical training with a strong academic foundation in math, English, electronics, analytical and technical skills culminating in an associate of science degree. GM auto dealerships sponsor the trainees, who alternate between on-campus instruction and paid work experience at the dealerships.

“This generous donation from GM enables us to deliver the highest quality education to our students,” said Chris Branton, coordinator of the college’s auto tech program and the ASEP instructor in a press release. Cuyamaca College plays an important role in helping the auto industry fill a critical need – developing and retaining skilled automotive technicians, he said.

San Diego County approves apiary rules

On Sept. 15, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to amend county ordinances governing beekeeping throughout the county. The new ordinances will loosen restrictions for beekeepers, from large commercial operations to backyard operations by creating a three-tier system of regulations.

Changes in the rules for apiaries have been in the works for several years, but there was some debate as to the environmental impacts involved with increasing the number of hives in a county that is within the Africanized honeybee zone. Africanized honeybees are more aggressive than the common European honeybees.

The ordinance amendment will benefit beekeepers by expanding opportunities for responsible beekeeping in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County while promoting public safety. The safety rules include registry of hives and buffer zones based on the number of hives. Apiaries with 20 or more hives must be at least 450 feet away from areas like schools and parks, whereas a one hive apiary is required to be 25 feet from roads. There will also be a mitigation, monitoring and reporting program overseen by the Agricultural Commissioner’s office that will require beekeepers to register and use best management practices.

The cost of the new program is roughly $345,000 to pay for the startup costs for supplies and salaries for the Department of Agriculture and Weights and Measures in preparing the change and an estimated $150,000 annual cost to run the program.

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