I started to sit down and write this about a week before we had to travel for my Nana’s memorial service. I knew exactly what I wanted to write. There were things I wanted to share about myself with our readers. I suppose I will still share some of it, but I won’t go into as much detail as I originally expected. Our journey for my Nana’s memorial service is now at the forefront of my thoughts and I have much I would like to share. So, my thoughts are, obviously, divided.

Recently, someone asked me about a Central Valley town about which I know very little. It’s a nearby city that many people are familiar with, but not one I visit and, in fact, I have only been to once or twice (on the west side). So, when asked a “do you know” question about it, my response was simple, “I am still new. I’ve only been in the Central Valley for 15 years.”

Now, the interesting thing is that I have never lived in a single region for that long before in my life. I have called Delhi home longer than any other community in my 33 years. (And yes, even though I lay my head on a pillow in my house in Turlock, I do still consider Delhi my home.) But still, even after nearly 12 years in and around Delhi and 15 years in the Central Valley (total), I consider myself new to the area. I still have much to see, do and learn.

That said, I sometimes feel like an oddball, I think. There are many things I am still learning about this area and the people here. I know I am not always on the same page as many people, even those I call friends. But, I am happy that we are able to communicate with each other and I love having interesting conversations with people.

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Tags: Cambria, Delhi, Episcopal Church of the Messiah, family, friends, James Dean, LACHSA, Midnight Mechanic, Orange, Paso Robles, Santa Ana, Santa Maria

We need to hear from you ASAP! We would love to know what your favorites of 2009 were. A form appeared in the November and December printed editions. Please complete the form and mail it to PO Box 445, Delhi, CA 95315 or e-mail your responses tomustardseedpub@gmail.com right away. The deadline had been December 28, but we will extend the time to  January 22.

If you need yours picked up, please call 209-678-7190, or leave them at Delhi’s Perfect Blend, Rico’s Pizza or M&M Corner Mini Mart in Delhi.

We look forward to receiving your responses, tallying the votes and sharing the results with you in the upcoming February printed edition. Remember, in January, our print date changes to the first Thursday of the month.

Happy New Year, Delhi!

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Tags: 2009, Delhi, favorites, vote

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Many of the thoughts expressed in this editorial are things that Darrel and I have always talked about and considered, but within the past couple of weeks, they have just really been front-and-center for us.

The most recent discussions and frustrations we’ve shared with each other started after the most recent school board meeting.

When I first arrived at the meeting, so many people packed into the room that it was difficult getting through the door and I had difficulty hearing the board president. I felt forced to the back and experienced some less than cordial behavior by more than one person including at least one teacher. Luckily, I and the other person who had attended the meeting with the intent of speaking during public comments, were eventually given the opportunity to do so.

Students and parents attended the meeting to express concerns for the English Language Learners and their rights as students. They did this as part of an attempt to advocate a Student Intervention Committee. The committee itself was not clearly explained or defined during the board meeting and there came a point where control of the meeting clearly shifted. Board member Jesus Rodriguez asked Board President Stella Estrada to read from the district’s vision statement. As Estrada turned back in her notes to do so, a parent approached the lectern, took control of the microphone and suddenly it was apparently time for public input on the topic at hand.

Time limits were not strictly enforced. (Public comments are to be limited to three minutes per person with no more than 20 minutes allocated per topic. At least that is the case for the Public Participation portion of the meeting.) According to the standard information that appears on every board agenda, “The Board President shall not permit any disturbance or willful interruption of board meetings.”

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Tags: Andy Rooney, art, arts, dance, DUSD board meeting, Education, math, music, NCLB, Sir Ken Robinson, theater

Riding the Rails Trip #1
I took #714 South to Bakersfield, then the bus to Union Station in L.A.
For the return trip, I took the bus from L.A. to Bakersfield and then train #713 home to the Denair station.
I set out on train #714. The Amtrak train would take me from the Turlock/Denair station (located on Santa Fe in Denair) to the end of the line in Bakersfield. There, I would board a bus and travel over the Grapevine to Los Angeles’ Union Station. I was taking the trip to help out some family and I didn’t want to worry about driving and all the stress that often comes along with it.
I scheduled a train that left late enough that I was able to attend church with my two-year-old in the morning and still early enough that I was able to have dinner with my girlfriend in Los Angeles that evening. It was perfect.
While the Turlock/Denair train station is little more than an over-sized bus stop, it still makes for a nice send-off point. Connor seemed to like watching the train pull out of the station, though he later realized that the train was taking mommy away for a few days. I waved to my family as the train headed south down the tracks. I wish they had actually seen me as I waved.
I had no intention of eating anything on the train, but that didn’t take long to change. When I got my cup of coffee and saw that some of the prices were really reasonable, I knew I would have to take another look. So, when I was still hungry after eating the bagel I’d brought along, I scoped out the rest of the menu. One of the things that they had was a Hummus Snack Kit. I gave it a try and it was so worth it. It was pretty good as was the price. It cost $2.50. I also got a refill on my cup of coffee. That was a well-spent $1.50, too. The coffee includes free refills.
The candies are a little pricier than many places, but they are “king sized” candies and the prices are still better than you find at a movie theater.
The light snack was filling enough for my lunchtime travel, but didn’t fill me too much. I was still able to enjoy a nice dinner with my friend and her husband upon my arrival in Los Angeles.
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The Delhi Unified School District has very little to offer its students these days. Times are lean and we all must tighten our belts if we are going to get through this recession. That said, with all of the cuts that must be made we should be wondering why the DUSD, with a non-existent GATE Program; very few, if any extra-curricular activities, and very low SARC scores should be cutting the one beneficial and exemplary program it has left. The Dual Language Academy offers proven long term benefits of complete bilingualism to all students upon completion. Completing the Dual Language Program has the added benefit of counting toward the foreign language requirement for college entrance. Students participating in Dual Language programs score higher on standardize tests, and often do better in High School than their non-dual language counterparts. Now, the district is again faced with unprecedented budget cuts, the Delhi Unified School Board wants to pluck the only remaining feather in our proverbial cap. They are favoring money over our children’s well being. The children who typically fair the worst in the California School system are the English Learners; these are children who enter our schools with no English knowledge. In this program, English Learners, as well as functionally bilingual children, and the English Only children prove to score higher on test scores than they would have in traditional classrooms. Why are they cutting this beneficial program, instead of expanding it, which could help remove our schools from Program Improvement standing, or at least improve our SARC scores? Every year our schools don’t improve the sanctions increase, only making matters worse. Cutting this valuable program is not in students’ interest, and its not in school employees interest, but what does the school board care if there are mandatory staff replacements of possible complete federal takeovers? Why have they given the parents who can most favorably advocate for the benefits of this program no opportunity for input? Why haven’t we been given the opportunity to fund raise, or increase interest or enrollment? The school board is failing students, now is the time for action; School Board members: Please Save the DLA. Any interested parties should come to the Delhi Unified School Board Meeting on October 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the district office.

Amy Rodrigues

Editor’s Note: The DUSD School Board meets in the Sarah Jane Clegg Conference Center next to the District office on Locust Street in Delhi.

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Tags: bilingual, DLA, DUSD, elimination, English, SARC scores, school board, Spanish