Fallbrook Observer Vol. 4.27
Happy 4th!
Epoch Times CFO Charged in $67 Million Money Laundering Scheme
from CNBC
A few years ago, the local Fallbrook Village News expanded their paper, after they came out of bankruptcy. Readers noticed Epoch Times was suddenly featured prominently, authoring numerous far-right columns. Many Fallbrook readers said, “Whaaat?” Apparently, Epoch Times became an investor in Village News.
This month, the Chief Financial Officer of Epoch Times was arrested by federal agents in Manhattan for money laundering over several years.
“The alleged scheme by Weidong Guan and others involved cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits and stolen personal identification information, according to federal prosecutors.
The money laundering scheme caused tens of millions of dollars to be transferred to bank accounts linked to the media company, prosecutors alleged.”
Fallbrook High School Board Met
The Fallbrook High School District Board held their regular meeting on Wednesday, June 26th. Board President Eddie Jones was absent so Vice President Oscar Caralampio ran the meeting.
There was some discussion about the language of the upcoming Bond Measure on the November ballot. They are limited to 75 words, half of which are legally required. There can be a FAQ or Exhibit with additional words but not on the ballot itself. Trustee Rodarte wanted it to specifically say the state has no money to replace the pool. The other Board members were inclined to go along with the Superintendent and the consultant that it should be more general so as not to put the District in constraints. The consultant also pointed out that their proposed language had been vetted in public surveys and those were the words that the public would support.
The Bond will need 55% of votes to pass, not just 50% plus 1. The consultant said they are looking for Board direction on the amount of the Bond and they all agreed on the middle choice, $24 per $100,000 property valuation.
It will be due to the Registrar of Voters before August 9 in order to appear on the November ballot. Trustee Christenson said, “Don’t worry. We’ll with each other to get it done on time.” (?!) I assume, he knows Trustees don’t make decisions (or have private conferences) outside of public meetings!
There was one public comment from Jennie Montgomery. She supports the Bond measure but is concerned that there is nothing specific about aquatics.
Oasis School was honored to receive the highest accreditation, which is for 6 years.
The Board approved the new Ethnic Studies Course unanimously.
There was a presentation on the Proposition 28 Music and Education Plan. 80% of the funds go for staff and 20% for supplies. An annual report is required. For year 23/24 there were 1312 students enrolled and one additional arts teacher.
The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) passed unanimously as did the 24/25 Budget.
The July 10th meeting and the August meetings will be held in the library.
Fallbrook Elementary District Met
The Fallbrook Elementary District (FRHD) held their regular meeting on Thursday, June 27th at the District Administration Board Room on Ivy Street. President Ricardo Favela was absent so Vice President Suzanne Lundin ran the meeting.
There were no reports from closed session. There were 10 in the audience initially and 9 watching on live stream.
There was a presentation on the summer program. 3 schools are in the summer program.
There were no public comments.
The Base Liaison was in attendance. He reported that he had been at the Camp Pendleton Base change in command that day. Brigadier General Nick Brown is the new Commander.
Director Goldbeck reported that he had visited the DeLuz school and was very impressed. He called it a priceless asset.
Director Fish went to the Maie Ellis Art Walk. She was impressed with the enthusiasm and Power Point presentations the students had done.
Director McBride said she is thankful for the Summer Program.
Director Lundin is excited that they are focused on reading.
The Superintendent met with the new Director of the Fallbrook School of the Arts to renew the partnership with the District. There was a Rugby Summer Olympian that visited the Summer Program at the District.
Staff made an LCAP presentation. The Board adopted the plan.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) will roll out in September. Coaches will lead one day of curriculum per month while teachers are in training, rather than having substitutes. The day will be for art or music appreciation. Proposition 28 will pay for 1 full time art teacher for STEAM.
The 2024-25 Budget was approved with no discussion.
The Board voted to make several probationary teachers permanent.
Stewart Canyon Man Arrested with Small Arsenal
William Wallace of Rainbow was arrested with multiple guns in the 700 block of Stewart Canyon Road yesterday morning at 8 am. He’s a convicted felon who was being investigated on a domestic violence charge. “Deputies found two handguns, an assault rifle and two privately manufactured firearms, also commonly referred to as ghost guns,” according to a Fox 5 story.
Shrinking School Enrollment
from Axios
“San Diego and other large U.S. cities are grappling with too many underpopulated schools.
Why it matters: Public-school funding is tied to student populations and attendance, so declining enrollment (and chronic absenteeism) can result in school closures and cuts to classes, staffing, extracurriculars and sports.
By the numbers: San Diego Unified lost more than 8,200 students from the 2019 to 2022 school years — an 8.1% drop — according to recent data from the Brookings Institution.
That's more than double the U.S. average of 3.2%.
Zoom in: San Diego Unified's enrollment is falling by 2% on average each year, despite the flood of new students in transitional kindergarten classes, the Union-Tribune reported.Between the lines: A Brookings analysis released last month found parents have been turned off from traditional public schooling since COVID for reasons that include a desire for more learning flexibility.
More San Diego students are also attending private schools and being homeschooled.
Yes, but: Experts at the Public Policy Institute of California say the biggest factors in the enrollment declines are falling birth rates and population declines as people move out of the state.”
Fallbrook High School District is also seeing falling enrollment.
Pala Woman Died in Rollover Crash North of Escondido Last Week
from Fox 5 KUSI News and San Diego Union Tribune
A 51 year old Pala woman was killed on Tuesday night when the Lexus SUV she was driving went off the road and into a ravine on Old Highway 395 and Circle R. Drive near Hidden Meadows.
“The vehicle went 200 feet down a steep embankment. The woman was ejected from the wreckage, and both she and the vehicle were partially submerged, said Cal Fire Capt. Brent Pascua.”
Russia Bombs Ukrainian Book Factory, Burning 50,000 Books, Including Textbooks
from The Guardian
“Hryniuk said she did not know if the Russian military had deliberately targeted her workplace or had attempted to hit a train repair workshop next door. Three more S-300 missiles fell at the same time. One crashed on to an old railway line; another landed next to a perimeter wall. Whatever Moscow’s intentions, the result, Hryniuk said, was the same: “They destroyed Ukrainian history and culture.”
In occupied areas, the Kremlin has forbidden the Ukrainian language, removed books from schools and imposed a patriotic pro-Russian curriculum. Statues of the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko have been torn down. Vladimir Putin insists Ukraine does not exist. Its land, he says, is a part of “historical Russia”.
The strike on the factory wiped out 50,000 books. Among them were works of children’s literature and Ukrainian school textbooks – 40% of them were printed by Factor Druk – due to be sent to classrooms for the new September academic year. Also destroyed were young adult novels and bestsellers. They included a Ukrainian translation of The Marriage Portrait, a historical novel about an Italian duchess by Maggie O’Farrell.”
New Pho Place by Major Market
from Everything Fallbrook
“The new Vietnamese restaurant Pho’Tastic has opened in Major Market plaza, replacing Pho Bomb & Grill. A little bird told us that the management was different and the food was better — you’ll have to verify that for yourself.”
Panchita Acevedo, Beloved Fallbrook Woman Passed Away This Month
from San Diego Union Tribune and Obituary
“Francisca "Panchita" Acevedo, aged 72, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Wednesday, June 12th after a battle with illness over the past year.
She moved to Fallbrook in her 20’s, daughter of migrant farmworkers. She became a storyteller.
“Panchita was born in Arroyo Seco de Abajo, in the Municipio de Tepetongo, Zacatecas, Mexico. She spent parts of her childhood in Tijuana, Mexico and San Jose, California before settling with her family in San Diego county. Panchita spent many years as a community organizer, activist, and social worker. A bedrock to her community, she spent much of her adult life working to improve the lives of countless people in North County San Diego, working for Bonsall School, the Escondido Youth Encounter, Palomar Family Counseling, and Vista Townsite Community Partnership.
Panchita was a mentor to many and a friend to all whom she encountered. She was especially proud of her work leading a group of women through a Vista Townsite project called "Cambios Profundos" (Profound Changes), where the group focused on issues related to self-esteem, life challenges and hardships, professional and educational opportunities, and community resources. Among her most cherished roles was serving as a mentor and advisor to United Pride, a bottom-up organization of Mexican American youths who committed themselves to community service and education. Panchita also spent many years teaching classes for The Parent Project, a free course for parents of strong-willed children.”
Next Week
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District Special Board Meeting | Monday, July1, 2024 2:00 PM (Open)| Agenda | FUESD Office, Room 106, 321 Iowa St., Fallbrook, CA | On the agenda is the MOU with the Boys and Girls Club.