Amador County - Pine Grove Elementary was almost completely evacuated Monday morning as part of a Disaster Preparedness Drill. Through a joint effort of the Amador County Office of Emergency Services, Sheriff’s Department, CHP and Pine Grove School, kids in grades 1 through 6 boarded about 5 buses at around 9 AM, and were transported to Jackson Elementary in Jackson. A short time later, a message about the drill went out to all emergency contact numbers and emails stating that “If this had been a real emergency you would have received information about the procedure for picking up your child.” The school tested those pickup procedures by simulating parents picking up their children and not following the correct procedure. “We asked one parent to try to pick up a child that wasn’t theirs,” reported Pine Grove Principal Tom Reed. School personnel “caught” the culprit, who would have been arrested if it had been a real emergency situation. Another test scenario was carried out by a parent attempting to take their child from the school without properly checking them out. Again, school staff responded accordingly, and barred the parent from removing the child from school grounds. Lynne Olson, Director of the Office of Emergency Services says the drill went very well. “It’s the first one that’s been done in the history of the school district, as far as I know.” Reed confirmed that it was the first drill of its type conducted for Pine Grove Elementary. Local mom Tracy Winton, whose son attends Pine Grove school, thought the drill was a great idea. “Now the kids know what to expect in a real emergency. I think it will help them not feel so freaked out (when and if a real disaster happens).” After about a half hour at Jackson Elementary, the kids returned to Pine Grove school at 10:30 AM, and, in short order, were back to their normal schedule. Story by Jen Wilson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

By Jim Reece - Child care and early education is worth a reported 5 Million dollars in Amador County, according to a recent report by the Amador Child Care Council. Joyce Stone, manager of Amador Child Care Council told the Amador County Board of Supervisors last week that the early childcare and education industry "enables parents to go to work or school or train to go into the workforce" and it also prepares children to be ready for life. She said the benefits of childhood education prepare kids for higher education and help ensure a future workforce. Studies show that children entering education at a young age increase worker productivity at a later age. The study estimated that the industry generates 5 million dollars in Amador County, Stone said, noting that 4.9 millions was a conservative estimate and 1.2 million dollars was spent in the county for family childcare. Stone told the board that "quality early care and education is critical to the economic health of Amador County," and that "demand greatly exceeds supply of quality child development opportunities for young children in the county." A shortage of facilities inhibits labor force participation and reduces opportunities for low-income residents seeking to upgrade their skills. The report recommended that business, government, the early childhood education industry, and the public work together to make early care and education part of the county's economic development. The report said that the industry provides 217 full-time equivalent workers in Amador County, more than are employed in construction in the county. The industry is a critical support for the current workforce. Anne Platt, CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital said in the report that "the availability of quality and affordable child care is very important to staff at Sutter Amador Hospital." Stone told Supervisors that through the study, the Amador Childcare Council hopes "we can expand the number of available child care facilities in the county through working with government and the business sector."

Amador County Unified School District Superintendent Dick Glock said last week the Back-To-School nights at several schools were well attended in the early school year, including ones he attended at Amador High, Pioneer Elementary and Jackson Junior High. He said schools will hear form a drug task force person before they begin the school drug testing program. Board member Pat Miller said he agreed about transportation. “We instituted fees this year and that seems to have gotten off to a good start,” Miller said. Board member P.J. Karnaze said he also attended open houses and noticed new teachers who seemed like some exciting and enthusiastic additions to the staff. Glock, first year superintendent for ACUSD, said the school year had gotten off to a running start, in part with high school principals, Amador’s Alan Van Velzen and Dave Vicari at Argonaut, who were around for the summer, “not getting paid but letting us know what they needed.”

The City of Jackson has just adopted a resolution that will make it safer for Argonaut High School students to walk to and from school. Earlier this year, the City Engineering Department applied for a “Safe Routes To School” grant, which was subsequently funded through CalTrans. The grant will cover most of the 688,400-dollar cost of upgrading the curbs, gutter and sidewalk along Argonaut Lane, from Mariposa Avenue to Hoffman Street. The city will contribute matching funds of 68,850, or 10%, from an Argonaut Lane mitigation fund. In addition, the city will install bike lanes on the west side of the street, and will improve the drainage on both sides of the street. Project construction will begin once the city has completed the design, environmental, and engineering processes.