The Del Norte Unified School District, in partnership with the Klamath Promise Neighborhood (KPN) and True North Organizing Network recently invited the community to discover the wonders of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) at the very first Community Science Festival, on May 3rd at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds.
Continue reading True North Organizing Network, KPN, and DNUSD Host the First Community Science FestivalCategory Archives: Youth
Seamless Summer Food Program Announces Locations and Times for Summer 2025
As the school year draws to a close, the Seamless Summer Food Program is gearing up to make sure youth throughout Del Norte still have access to free nutritious meals over summer vacation. The program, which is a collaboration between the Del Norte and Tribal Lands Community Food Council, Wild Rivers Community Foundation, Del Norte Unified School District, and Champions for Change, will provide breakfast and lunch for kids and teens ages 0-18 six days out of the week over a three month period.
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Contract Negotiations Between DNUSD, Teachers Union Commences; Board Approves AI Policy
Thumbnail photo: Members of Del Norte Unified School District’s AI Task Force discuss a draft policy with the Board of Trustees in this April photo. | Photo by Guiming Xiong
Superintendent Jeff Harris was absent. Among the items discussed at Thursday’s Del Norte Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting.
DNTA negotiations begin:
Del Norte Unified School District is not in a position to offer salary increases to teachers during the 2025-26 fiscal year, Superintendent of Business Jeff Napier told trustees.
Napier presented DNUSD’s first proposal for its 2025-26 contract with the Del Norte Teachers Association a little more than two months after a stalemate between the two parties concluded with help from state mediators.
Continue reading Contract Negotiations Between DNUSD, Teachers Union Commences; Board Approves AI Policy
Route Cancellations, Delays Prompt Parents To Take Bus Woes To School Board
Thumbnail photo by Persephone Rose
Melissa Endert went before the Del Norte Unified School District Board of Trustees two days after bus service to her children’s school was canceled.
Endert, who lives in Crescent City while her kids attend Smith River School to be near their father who is a special education teacher, said finding out at the last minute that the bus wouldn’t be showing up was a sacrifice for her and left many parents scrambling.
“That’s a hardship for community members who are not like myself, who don’t have a spare car or don’t have time set aside to get their kids to school,” she said. “The district stresses that students should come to school every day. If buses aren’t running they can’t attend school. If they come to school an hour late, they’re missing breakfast, they’re missing time and they’re stressed, they’re hungry, they’re anxious and they’re worried and it’s already a long bus route.”
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DNHS Music Department Turns Up The Heat This Memorial Day Weekend
Slideshow: Screenshots from the last Chili Pepper Fundraiser video | Courtesy Dan Sedgwick
Two years ago for Christmas the Del Norte High School music department attempted an unconventional fundraiser. Students from band and choir teamed up to play and sing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”… with a twist. Part way through the concert, participants were challenged to eat a chili pepper before continuing their musical fare. The event was a hit with students and donors alike, ultimately raising around $10,000.
This year, the school’s music department hopes to match that figure as they revive the chili challenge for a spicy take on “America The Beautiful” as part of a Memorial Day fundraising blitz.
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Del Norte’s Drug Problem
I recently accepted an invitation from Jermaine Brubaker to join Rx Safe Del Norte Coalition’s quarterly call. During the call, Michelle Greene from the Del Norte County Coroner’s Office presented opioid overdose data that challenged many of my own misconceptions.
Del Norte’s Drug Problem – 2024 By the Numbers:
- 198: calls to emergency services for suspected overdose
- 65: times Naloxone was administered to reverse a suspected overdose
- 24: drug-related deaths in Del Norte County
Meeting New Medi-Cal Requirements For Incarcerated Youth Is Challenging Even With A $1.5 Million Grant, Del Norte’s Chief Probation Officer Says
Though his office was awarded a $1.5 million grant that will allow youth in their care to either connect or reconnect with Medi-Cal upon release from a detention facility, Lonnie Reyman isn’t thrilled.
Reyman, Del Norte County’s chief probation officer, told supervisors on Tuesday that he’ll likely use the CalAIM PATH 3 grant to hire a consultant to help create a plan for implementing the state-mandated program. But having to suddenly navigate the nuances of the “healthcare world” while relying on technical assistance from those who are also still figuring the program out is irritating, he said.
Reyman used a conversation he had during an October technical assistance call with teams from the University of California, Davis who, he said, were working with the state to help guide him and other counties through the program.
Continue reading Meeting New Medi-Cal Requirements For Incarcerated Youth Is Challenging Even With A $1.5 Million Grant, Del Norte’s Chief Probation Officer Says
Del Norte Reads Aims To Expand Services To K12 Youth Despite Loss In State Funding; Coordinator Says She Hopes To Rejoin California Literacy Program
Thumbnail photo: Del Norte Reads Coordinator Terrin Musbach gives away books at the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation’s annual Dee-ni’ Day celebration last September. | Photo by Amanda Dockter
Del Norte Reads has lost its state funding, local library manager Phyllis Goodeill confirmed.
Citing an uncertain amount in unspent California Library Literacy Services dollars over two fiscal years, and no plan to spend those funds, the California State Library wants that money back, Goodeill told Redwood Voice Community News via email last week.
But Del Norte Reads Program Coordinator Terrin Musbach has a plan to outline for the state how the program has grown over the past nine months and how important CLLS support is for it to continue.
“This plan that I’ve made, it’s about advocating for our community,” Musbach said Monday.
Continue reading Del Norte Reads Aims To Expand Services To K12 Youth Despite Loss In State Funding; Coordinator Says She Hopes To Rejoin California Literacy Program
Warrior Wrestlers Will Continue Their Careers
Thumbnail: Pictured (from left to right) Curtis Bartley, Braydan Johnson, Colton Schaad, Alex Osborne, James Gensaw Jr.
This article is a guest submission. To submit your own work for consideration, send your piece to redwoodvoicedn@gmail.com.
Written and submitted by John Pritchett.
A fifth member of the powerhouse Del Norte High wrestling program has signed a college letter of intent to continue his grappling career.
Colton Schaad announced this week he will wrestle at the University of Jamestown, a NCAA Division II school located in North Dakota. This follows a standout career at Del Norte High, where he won a North Coast Section championship as a junior and finished third this past season.
Continue reading Warrior Wrestlers Will Continue Their Careers
The Child Abuse Prevention Council’s Candlelit Vigil & Flag-Raising Ceremony
Thumbnail Photo by Bryce Evans.
On Wednesday, April 9th, the Del Norte Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) gathered community members at the Family Resource Center for a candlelight vigil and flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony was focused on honoring the lives of those affected by child abuse, remembering those lost, and raising awareness of prevention efforts within the community. It also marked the beginning of Child Abuse Awareness month.
The ceremony started off with the introduction of council members, and opening remarks followed by the lighting of candles symbolizing the past, present, and future of child abuse prevention. Members of the audience were handed electric tea candles before two local youths took the stage to read a short speech while the real candles were lit. Next was the raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag by the Crescent City Police Department Explorers, accompanied by a moment of silence. The original flag was designed by a 16 year old student from Alameda County. According to the CAPC Facebook page, “The Children’s Memorial Flag honors each lost child and serves as a symbol for the protection of children and young people from all forms of violence.”
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