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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Tulare County Grand Jury • 2012-2013

Tulare County Grand Jury Report 2013-2014 Rowland, Cheryl Blevins

172 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings and Recommendations 32 findings

F1 Page 54
The Grand Jury found that Farmersville and Woodlake are the only two cities that have a Medical Marijuana Ordinance and permit requirement.
No recommendations for this finding
F2 Page 54
The Grand Jury also found that without a Medical Marijuana Ordinance and permit requirement, it was impossible for the cities to keep track of legal Medical Marijuana cultivation within their boundaries.
No recommendations for this finding
F3 Page 97
The Revenue Limit per ADA is $6,242 and the Total Revenue Limit is $932,492.
No recommendations for this finding
F4 Page 97
The Academic Performance Index is 682.
No recommendations for this finding
F5 Page 97
VTEC was created to give students the opportunity to complete the requirements for a high school diploma while pursuing an early college and career related program.
No recommendations for this finding
F6 Page 97
VTEC was created by members of the Visalia Unified School District and the community, along with representatives from local industries and the College of the Sequoias.
No recommendations for this finding
F7 Page 97
Students attend classes in specific career fields offering hands-on training in veterinary science, agricultural system technology, and environmental horticulture or food science.
No recommendations for this finding
F8 Page 97
As an early college program, VTEC works closely with the College of The Sequoias and requires students to enroll concurrently upon enrollment at VTEC.
No recommendations for this finding
F9 Page 97
Board meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
No recommendations for this finding
F10 Page 96
The Student Handbook is available in English only.
No recommendations for this finding
F11 Page 97
A Safe School Plan and Emergency Preparedness Plan are available.
No recommendations for this finding
F12 Page 96
The Tulare County Office of Education provides support services to the school.
No recommendations for this finding
F13 Page 97
VTEC is accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges.
No recommendations for this finding
F14 Page 97
The Visalia Unified School District sponsors VTEC.
No recommendations for this finding
F15 Page 97
The School Board Agenda is available on their web site.
No recommendations for this finding
F16 Page 97
A parent agreement is required to enroll their child in school.
No recommendations for this finding
F17 Page 97
The student graduation rate is 98%.
No recommendations for this finding
F18 Page 97
All classrooms at VTEC are equipped with computers.
No recommendations for this finding
F19 Page 97
Transportation is provided through Visalia City Coach.
No recommendations for this finding
F20 Page 97
The Tulare County Office of Education provides ongoing staff development training to VTEC employees. TULARE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT 2013-2014
No recommendations for this finding
F21 Page 98
Students are required to participate in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program.
No recommendations for this finding
F22
Student demographics consist of the following: a. Black – 1% b. Hispanic – 56% c. White – 39% d. American Indian or Alaskan Native – 1% e. Two or More Races – 1% f. Not Reported – 1% g. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander – 1% FINDINGS:
No recommendations for this finding
F23 Page 104
SCICON students learn about nature from nature itself. They are taught about a variety of subjects from composting to the mating habits of salamanders.
No recommendations for this finding
F24 Page 104
A recently expanded museum has wild animals preserved in their natural state by a taxidermist, in addition to natural stones/rocks, Native American displays, live insects and reptiles, and more. The museum houses a small planetarium that rotates the stars and planets. Students are able to use telescopes to study the night sky.
No recommendations for this finding
F25 Page 104
At one time, SCICON had a rehabilitation program for injured or sick wildlife. This program is no longer available; however, a birds of prey sanctuary continues to be maintained for those birds unable to be released back into the wild. Birds from this program are used to educate the students and are taken for visits to various schools. TULARE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT 2013-2014 FINDINGS:
No recommendations for this finding
F26 Page 154
As of August 2013 and at least two months before the first winter storms are due in the San Joaquin Valley, Lake Kaweah was at fifty-three percent of average water level and Lake Success was at sixty-four percent.
No recommendations for this finding
F27 Page 154
Approximately 200,000 acre-feet or 15% of the water is diverted for Salmon per year.
No recommendations for this finding
F28 Page 154
The depth of the water table beneath the City of Visalia has dropped an average of three feet per year over the past twenty-five years. The first ten months of 2013 have been the driest since 1895, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Water levels in many of the state’s big reservoirs remain below historical averages.
No recommendations for this finding
F29 Page 154
The Tulare Irrigation District manages 70,000 acres of water rights East of Visalia to Kings County which include the Kaweah Water Basin and the Friant Water Canals.
No recommendations for this finding
F30 Page 154
The Tulare Irrigation District intends to expand its recharge basin by four-thousand acres at a total cost of $130 million: $18,000 per acre for the land and $15,000 per acre for development. A recharge basin can be as small as twenty acres in size. The Tulare Irrigation District has applied for a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to build the basins, which may have to sit empty due to lack of rain. TULARE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT 2013-2014
No recommendations for this finding
F31 Page 155
Agricultural cropping patterns are intensifying. Farmers are planting row crops in the rows between fruit and nut trees in order to have year-round crops which consume more water than previously used by farmers.
No recommendations for this finding
F32 Page 155
The City of Lindsay proposes to construct a levee and excavating a basin at the treatment process plant. The levee and basin would cost the city an estimated $3.8 million, which is not available in their operating budget. FINDINGS:
No recommendations for this finding