Alameda and Encinal High Schools Will Each Survive

News of Interest to Alamedans

Two Schools Alameda and Encinal high schools will remain distinct. The school board voted to rehab rather than merge the schools, which would have required buying land and building anew. Measure I funding of $90 million will go toward the renovations. The cost of building a new school was estimated at $275 million over 16 to 18 years.

 

Locked Down Edison Elementary was locked down in February after Kelandre Dunn of Vallejo allegedly attempted theft. Six officers were required to restrain Dunn, who rushed them. No one was injured. Dunn, described as “confused and agitated,” was arrested on suspicion of robbery, kidnapping, resisting arrest, and battery.

 

School Days Vandals broke into Bay Farm School on a weekend, wreaking havoc on a kindergarten classroom by upending tables, spray painting, emptying a fire extinguisher, and defacing students’ projects. This incident and the Edison event are prompting school officials to improve security.

 

Goo Update The mystery substance that hampered and killed Alameda shorebirds has been identified as a mixture of nonpetroleum-based fats and synthetic oils including silicone fluids, tung oils, resin, and edible and inedible seed oils from plants. But the source has not been determined.

 

Ferry Movement The Water Emergency Transportation Authority may build a maintenance center on West Hornet Avenue, the first construction project at Alameda Point. The City Council is considering a 60-year lease for WETA.

 

Senior Housing Oakmont of Mariner Point, a new 52-unit senior living community, began showing model homes in February and accepting reservations for move-ins this spring.

 

Finance Chief Alameda has a new finance director, Elena Adair. She was the assistant director for administrative services for Stockton and also worked for Vallejo as the assistant finance director, both of which declared bankruptcy. Adair will be responsible for overseeing the city’s $270 million budget.

 

Innovators Honored Abbott Diabetes Care and Deep Ocean Exploration & Research, two Alameda companies, were chosen respectively for separate awards in life sciences and engineering and design at the East Bay Innovation Awards Ceremony. A third local company, Natel Energy, was a finalist in the clean-tech category.

—Judith M. Gallman