Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 8-29-19 E-edition

Thursday, August 29, 2019
50 cents
Vol. 1, No. 9
Prep football is back
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Paul Melikian, Reedley assistant city manager, explained the sales tax measure options to the Reedley City Council during the Aug. 13 meeting.
Reedley ponders sales tax measure in March
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
If Reedley residents are going to be voting whether to tax themselves in an ef- fort to prevent the city from an imminent budget defi- cit, that vote will be taking place next March.
At its Aug. 27 regular meeting, the Reedley City Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution declar- ing a fiscal emergency, with the intent of placing a gen- eral purpose tax ballot mea- sure on the March 3, 2020 statewide primary election.
While technically not a full-fledged fiscal emergen- cy, it was a definite sense of urgency for the council to approve the resolution. The Aug. 27 meeting was the final opportunity for the council to take initial steps to place a proposed general tax measure on the March ballot, as such action needs to be in place six months before the desired election.
That's important, be- cause having the potential sales tax measure up for a vote in the March election rather than the November 2020 general election could mean an initial influx of one million dollars in potential sales tax, which would mean
See SALESTAXonpageA14
ABOVE: Sanger High players hoisted the Trea- sure Chest after defeating rival Reedley High by a 49-6 score on Aug. 23 in Reedley.
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
LEFT: Dinuba High's Ronnie Rubalcaba (21) and Brian Campbell (2) celebrated a touchdown during the Emperors' Aug. 23 season opener.
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
BELOW: Immanuel players (from left) Michael Kawagoe (52), Matt Tiger (7) and Winston Wil- liams (24) led their team onto the field Aug. 23.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Region's prep teams opened 2019 season on Aug. 23
MVT Staff Report
The calendar and thermom- eter may still show that it's summer, but a right of fall pas- sage began on Aug. 23 when the prep football season kicked off in Mid Valley Times cities.
Sanger High continued its domination of longtime rival Reedley High, as the Apaches responded to a first-quarter Pirates touchdown with 49 un- answered points en route to a 49-6 victory at Sal Gonzalez Field. It was the Apaches' 12th consecutive win in the century- plus series, giving them a 71- 33-2 record all-time against the Pirates.
Also in Reedley, Immanuel High got its season off to a win- ning start with a 30-18 decision over Roosevelt High of Fresno at County Line Stadium. In Di- nuba, the Emperors dropped a 48-42 decision to Porterville High.
Details on week 1 action is in Sports on Page B1.
Superintendent lists 2019-20 goals for DUSD
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Dr. Joe Hernandez, superintendent for the Dinuba Unified School District, gave his top five goals for the year at the regu- lar school board meeting held on Aug. 22. Among his top priorities are academic achievement and student safety.
Those goals have been reflected in the district’s addition of 32 new teachers this year as well as employee training, such as the active shooter training on Aug. 8, and additional fencing throughout various school sites.
“Social emotional learning is big for all of us,” said Hernandez at the board meet- ing. “It’s going to be ongoing throughout the year.”
Hernandez told trustees and staff that part of providing for a safer school envi- ronment includes updating the district’s dress code.
Dr. Joe Hernandez, Dinuba Unified School District su- perintendent, gave his top five goals for the 2019-20 school year at the district's regular board meeting on Aug. 22.
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
“There’s a close correlation between dress code and school safety,” he explained. Hernandez added that the district will be soon getting feedback from parents in regards to the current dress code. The dis- trict will then look to update in the spring
and implement the new code next fall. His other top five goals for the school year include improving the way the dis-
trict communicates with staff, students and parents, and deepening the district’s understanding of generational poverty. A conference on generational poverty is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16, for district administrators.
‘Ending generational poverty’ is the dis- trict’s mission statement.
And his final goal is to further develop what he called ‘the Dinuba way’.
Said Hernandez, “The Dinuba way re- fers to our set of values, beliefs and char- acter qualities that define our district cul- ture.”
In addition to the new teachers, the dis- trict has also contracted 85 new substitute teachers.
District Assistant Superintendent of In- struction and Human Resources, Marti Ko- chevar updated the board on new hires and stated that Dinuba Unified has the luxury
SeeD.U.S.D.onpage A6
Mid Valley Times offices to close in observance of Labor Day
The Mid Valley Times' business offices in Dinu- ba, Reedley and Sanger will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day.
The Times' three of- fices will reopen for busi- ness at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Classifieds - B3
Directory - A12 Legals - B6-9 Sports - B1-2, B10 Lifestyle - A7-11 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4