PVUSD receives $5.6 million federal grant
WATSONVILLE — Congressman Jimmy Panetta recently announced that 30 school districts on the Central Coast have been awarded federal Title I grants totaling $28,935,678.61 for the 2017-2018 school year.
“Title I funds are the backstop to ensure all students receive an equitable education across our Central Coast schools,” Panetta said. “I am proud to represent a diverse region that values investments in our children to foster their future success.”
Five Santa Cruz County schools were awarded Title I funding, including:
• Pajaro Valley Unified School District: $5,652,591.16
• Live Oak Elementary School District: $410,187.60
• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District: $340,095.02
• Santa Cruz City High School District: $1,029,802.91
• Soquel Elementary School District: $238,417.12
In addition, 20 Monterey County schools were awarded Title I funding.
Aromas-San Juan Unified School District also received $152,391.
Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides financial assistance to local educational agencies and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families. Federal funds are currently allocated through four statutory formulas that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state.
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City manager joins Visit Santa Cruz County board
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Visit Santa Cruz County announced the election of new members to the Board of Directors.
Each member began their duties on July 1 and will sit on the 24-member board for two-year terms.
New Board members are: Charles Montoya, Watsonville city manager; Julie Baylor, general manager of Hyatt Place Santa Cruz; Lacey Lloyd-Jones, general manager of Best Western Plus – All Suites Inn; Ann Ostermann of Arts Council Santa Cruz County; Karley Pope, director of promotions and entertainment at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk; and Darren Pound, general manager of Dream Inn Santa Cruz.
Montoya brings more than 25 years of professional management experience at municipal, county, and state government level; including over a decade as an officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Business Administration/Management from New Mexico State University. He is a current board member for the Santa Cruz County Regional 911 and a board member for the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce.
For more than two decades, Baylor has worked in various roles within the hospitality industry, encompassing nearly all discipline of hotel operations: guest services, sales and marketing, banquets and catering, revenue management, accounting, safety and security, capital planning and execution, rooms management, training and human resources.
Lloyd-Jones has spent the past 12 years in hotel management and the past eight years with BPR Properties, a hospitality management company based out of Palo Alto where she has held a handful of titles and worked for both the Holiday Inn Express Santa Cruz and Best Western Plus All Suites in Santa Cruz.
Ostermann manages production of the annual Open Studios Art Tour and other events for Arts Council Santa Cruz County. In addition to her 15 years with the Council, Ostermann spent 14 years as a planner in high tech and 12 years as a Girl Scout leader.
For 12 years, Pope has been responsible for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s public discount programs, special events, promotions, and entertainment. Within her role, she has developed and marketed events such as Wednesday Night Movies, Free Friday Night Bands at the Beach and the Chili Cook-Off.
Pound brings with him to the VSCC board more than 29 years’ experience in luxury hospitality and hotel operations. Born and raised in Edmonton, Canada, he earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada and began his career as a restaurant assistant manager at the Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts, Chateau Lacombe.
VSCC board members determine policies which govern the agency, review and approve VSCC’s annual work plan and serve on committees that directly support tourism promotion for the county. The board also oversees the Tourism Marketing District budget and program of work.
