J.P. Lake for School Board 2020

Who's side is Governor Newsom on? Parents or special interests? While failing to give school districts some liability protection even when opening up safely in accordance with public health guidelines, the Governor did sign SB 1159 which makes it easier for an employee to sue their district and will likely lead to rising workers compensation costs for public schools.

Does our Governor really want schools to reopen? When the legislature had the opportunity to give school districts some liability protection related to COVID via AB 1384 they passed and failed to take action. Schools can reopen safely and Panama is moving in the right direction. We started bringing back our special ed students over a month ago and now we're working to speed up our 6 phase plan so that all kids have an opportunity to come back before the holidays.

Why does our state legislature play political games with real world issues impacting our communities? Take broadband internet access for example. Sacramento legislators failed to even give a floor hearing to SB 1130 and AB 570 which would have expanded broadband internet access in these times of online distance learning where we know that some families are struggling to connect with their teachers. Just another in a long list of questions that voters need to ask.

It's not often that I am excited about things coming out of our CA State Board of Education, but I'm pleased that they have approved a new initiative to encourage more teaching of civics and government in our schools. The new State Seal of Civic Engagement can be awarded to students who demonstrate competency in understanding our constitutions (federal and state), participate in one or more civic engagement projects, and exhibit character traits that reflect civic-mindedness and commitment to improving community.

President FDR said it well - "We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future."

I would like to see Panama-Buena Vista incorporate this new State Seal program into our history/social studies curriculum.

https://www.turnto23.com/lifestyle/education/panama-buena-vista-union-school-district-set-to-reopen

Panama-Buena Vista Union School District set to reopen The Panama-Buena Vista Union School District announced Friday that it would officially reopen starting on October 28th.

I don't remember it being this hot four years ago when walking neighborhoods! Please vote JP, Zack Bashirtash and Kelly Youngstrom. We're running to make our schools great and prepare students for life and citizenship.

Mail in ballots should be going out this week. Look for yours this coming week and don't forget to VOTE!

How about this groundbreaking photo for Actis Jr. High back in 1980! Located near Ming Avenue in the middle of metro Bakersfield, it's hard to imagine that there was so much open ground there just 40 years ago.

Our community is growing quickly and our schools must rise to the challenge of preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow (industrial automation/robotics, AI, software engineering, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and more).

When I checked in with parents at Actis today while they were picking up meals, one told me that online distance learning just plain "sucks". I know she was not directing that at our teachers. She was just expressing the frustration that we all feel in our heats which is that in-person instruction with dedicated, passionate teachers is needed now more than ever if we are to prepare our kids for the future.

Photo credit to the "Celebrating 125 Years of Excellence" book published by the Panama-Buena Vista School District in August 2000.

Governor Lucy (Newsom) is at it again, pulling the football not even one week after he arbitrarily makes up a new formula to adjust our testing statistics.

The argument for more testing is faulty when you consider that our community IS getting healthier (see the chart below). Isn't fewer cases the goal? The testing confirms our progress. Keep wearing masks, wash hands, and safely distance when indoors etc.

You cant trust a dishonest person to keep their word.

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/kern-county-employees-to-be-rewarded-for-covid-19-tests-with-paid-time-off/article_1ca49a96-f784-11ea-bd6b-d3be3174cd4f.html

Yard signs are in! Get yours by signing up at jplake.com/volunteer or by replying here and I will private message you for your address.

Governor Newsom is playing Lucy by pulling the football everytime we get ready to meet his ever changing rules for opening our schools.

https://www.turnto23.com/news/coronavirus/kern-county-officials-express-frustration-with-newest-covid-19-guidelines-from-the-governor