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The Kern High School District has announced it may cut JV sports next year.

At the Monday night board meeting June 22 many concerned parents and teachers spoke about how it would be a mistake to cut JV sports, for a number of reasons.
(JV sports: football, basketball, softball, baseball and volleyball)

Neither the board or district are likely to add $430,000 allotted to JV sports back to the budget, but at least two trustees were open to the idea of keeping JV sports running if money could be shifted around with athletic departments. Several speakers suggested the community would be more than willing to step up and support JV sports.

Read the story about Monday's board meeting and more about the $3.7 million in reductions the board is considering and will vote to approve July 2.

So how does the community step up? Ideas about how the community of Bakersfield could support JV sports? 

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School bullying can have serious repercussions. The recent settlement in a Bakersfield bullying case illustrates the degree to which students, including minors, and their parents can be held financially accountable for bullying allegations.

It also shows that students can be held financially responsible even if they are witnesses or simply know about such incidents, but don’t tell authorities.

Read the story: "Bullying case costs families thousands." 

National data shows an increase in bullying.

What adults should pay attention to, school violence expert Rick Philips said, is the increasing degree of meanness displayed by students today, and lower student accountability for their actions and their peers' actions.

To learn more about anti-bully training in local schools, read “Beating the school bullies."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Youth Violence information page

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89 educators retired from the Kern High School District this year. Their tenure represents over 2,000 years of education service.

Dozens of educators say goodbye
KHSD recognizes teachers' contributions at meeting
June 1
http://www.bakersfield.com/...

About the photo:  South High school science teacher Richard Giese works with students in class on a science project in 2001. Giese taught in classroom F55 at South High for 42 years. His wife Barbara Giese also retired from Golden Valley this year after 38 years of teaching. Photo credit: Casey Christie

The retirees: 

Donald Reed, Vista Continuation High School, 9, Custodian/Groundsworker
Lesli Anderson, Kern Valley High School, 10, Guidance Technician
Patricia Cassidy, North High School, 10, Instructional Assistant
Cheryl Everingham, Ridgeview High School, 10, Media Center Technician II
Joan Frank, Ridgeview High School, 10, Guidance Technician
Barbara Stafford, East Bakersfield High School, 10, Counselor
Jeri Cook Ridgeview High School, 11, Teacher
Rebecca Frey, PROP, 12, Teacher
Jean Nilssen, East Bakersfield High School, 13, Teacher
Josett Rockwood-Solano, District Office, 13, School Social Worker
Kenneth Gates, Kern Valley High School, 14, Teacher
Edmond Mortensen, District Office - Special Ed., 14, Teacher
Karin Alexander Stockdale High School, 15, Attendance Clerk
Dianna Anderson, East Bakersfield High School, 15, Teacher
Debra Banducci, District Office, 15, Teacher
Thomas Denison, Centennial High School, 15, Athletic Equipment Att/Trainer
William Cooper, Bakersfield High School, 16, Teacher
Dan Ketchen, Shafter High School, 16, Teacher
Marie Parks, Bakersfield Adult School , 16, Counselor
Gary Larson, Bakersfield Adult School , 17, Teacher
Paul Doepel, Ruggenberg Career Center, 17, Teacher
Ann Carey, Bakersfield Adult School , 18, Teacher
Raymond Adams, South High School, 19, Teacher
Caren Preston, Ridgeview High School, 19, Teacher
Gerald Goodell, South High School, 20, Teacher
Cherylanne Farley, Vista West Continuation High School, 21, Teacher
Steven Holland, Stockdale High School, 21, Teacher
Brenda Nixon, Centennial High School, 21, Food Service Supervisor II
Lelan Barker, Highland High School, 23, Teacher
David East, Bakersfield High School, 23, Teacher
Eva Patino, Frontier High School, 23, Teacher
Judy Anderson, Vista West Continuation High School, 24, Counselor
Thomas Porter, Bakersfield High School, 24, Teacher
Dennis Reyburn, North High School, 24, Teacher
Steven Turner, Shafter High School, 24, Teacher
Andrew Young, Bakersfield High School, 24, Teacher
Christine Dickson, North & East High School, 25, Teacher
Timothy Hartnett, Highland High School, 25, Teacher
Martha Lakin, Foothill High School, 25, Teacher
Janice Pourroy, East Bakersfield High School, 25, Food Service Supervisor II
Fredrick Gonzales, East Bakersfield High School, 26, Teacher
Dan Gregor, East Bakersfield High School, 26, Teacher
Glidden Madera, Arvin High School, 26, Teacher
Reyes Arreola, Centennial High School, 27, Campus Security
Rhonda James, Transportation, 28, Computer Route Planner
Beverly Galloway, District Office, 29, Psychologist
Nancy Thomas, Foothill High School, 29, Speech Therapist
Donna Yniguez, Nueva Continuation High School, 29, Teacher
Jose Agosto Jr., Bakersfield High School, 30, Athletic Equipment Att/Trainer
Susan James, Nueva Continuation High School, 30, Teacher
Delia Leal, Shafter High School, 30, School Community Specialist
Jessie Gordon, Nueva Cont. High School, 31, Infant Care Center Aide
Raymond Ayala Jr., East Bakersfield High School, 32, Teacher
Patricia Smith, Kern Valley High School, 32, Teacher
Roberta Parson, West High School, 33, Teacher
Charles Rosengard, District Office, Research & Planning, 33, Manager
Ann Sturdivant, District Office, 33, ESL Resource Teacher
Esther Armendariz, Shafter High School, 34, Bilingual Instructional Assistant
Henry Bernal, Stockdale High School, 34, Teacher
Arlene Muzinich, Vista West Continuation High School, 34, Teacher
James Thompson, Kern Valley High School, 34, Teacher
Charles Anderson, Highland High School, 35, Teacher
Marvin Bultman, Ridgeview High School, 35, Teacher
Essie Davis, South High School, 35, Assistant Principal
Linda Garone, Stockdale High School, 35, Counselor
Norma Henderson, Foothill High School/Transportation, 35, Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver
Barbara Kenney, Vista West Continuation High School, 35, Site Administrator
Rodman McClintock, Foothill High School, 35, Teacher
Michael Nichols, Shafter High School, 35, Teacher
Michael Spensko, PROP, 35, Teacher
Richard Stricker, Shafter High School, 35, Teacher
Marie Brumfield, Ridgeview High School, 36, Teacher
Thomas Estrada, Vista Continuation High School, 36, Teacher
Gary Johnson, Foothill High School , 36, Teacher
George Mawson, East Bakersfield High School, 36, Teacher
Barbara Giese, Golden Valley High School, 38, Teacher
Ronald McCraw, Discovery , 38, Teacher
Michael McQuerrey, Liberty High School, 38, Teacher
Frank Provensal, Ruggenberg Career Center, 38, Teacher
Katherine Smith, Bakersfield High School, 38, Teacher
Shirley Jensen, Highland High School, 39, Teacher
David Olds, District Office  , 39, School Community Liaison Officer
Paul Sanchez, Schuetz Career Center, 39, Teacher
Steve Moyer, District Office - Special Ed., 40, Manager
S. William Bruce, Frontier High School, 41, Principal
Darrell Cates, Bakersfield Adult School , 42, Counselor
Richard Giese, South High School, 42, Teacher
John Gibson, East Bakersfield High School, 43, Principal