CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - After a two-week application period, the Citrus Heights City Council reviewed applications from community members interested in joining the Citrus Heights Education Committee (CHEC), which will examine the feasibility of Citrus Heights creating its own school district. During the June 22 meeting, two applicants spoke during public comment.

Karen Mix, a resident of Citrus Heights for 18 years, said her background makes her well-suited for a position on the committee. She has worked various roles in education, from an elementary school teacher, to principal, to superintendent. She is currently a consultant with the Small School District Association, working with small, rural districts across northern California. Mix said part of her role has always been “looking for problems and providing solutions.” She said her skills give her “the unique talent of working with this team to look at and analyze data in order to see if Citrus Heights should make its own school district.”

Thomas Scheeler, a 40-year resident of Citrus Heights, said, “I look at the examination of the Citrus Heights school district as the next logical step in the growth of Citrus Heights as a strong and vibrant city.” Scheeler said he expects the work of the committee will be a “broad, fact-based analysis, looking at the issues of financial viability, physical facilities, teachers and administrative support staff, and other issues, that is free of preconceived outcomes or political or ideological influence.”

Scheeler also pointed out that, regardless of the outcome of the committee’s analysis, the community must remember that student success depends on many factors. While he acknowledged that the quality of teachers and curriculum are important, he said, “support, at home and in the community, is essential” for student success. Students who experience food insecurity, mental or physical abuse, or other unstable situations at home will have a difficult time focusing and succeeding at school. “And we, the community, must strive to support our students in this regard. … Let us recognize this and not put the onus of test scores only on the teachers. Responsibility is both on the students and the adults of the community.”

There were 10 applicants for the committee: former councilmember Jeannie Bruins, Trish Dawson, Jessica Fork, John Kane, Karen Mix, Katherine Morash, James Remick, Thomas Scheeler, Robin Stout, and Laura Wilbur.

Each member of the City Council nominated one committee member, and then the Council voted on two at-large committee members, for a total of seven. Councilmember Porsche Middleton nominated Jeannie Bruins. Councilmember MariJane Lopez-Taff nominated Karen Mix. Vice Mayor Bret Daniels nominated John Kane. Councilmember Jayna Karpinski-Costa said her “top two are taken,” so she nominated Jessica Fork. Mayor Tim Schaefer nominated Thomas Scheeler.  

For the at-large nominations, each councilmember nominated two people, and Robin Stout had four nominations, which secured her spot on the committee. There were two nominations each for Katherine Morash and Laura Wilbur. In the tie-breaking vote, Wilbur secured the final spot with votes from Councilmember Lopez-Taff, Vice Mayor Daniels, and Mayor Schaefer.

Next, the City Manager’s office will find and hire a consultant to facilitate the work of the education committee, which will meet from July through October and provide their recommendation to Council at the November 9 meeting.

The Council also heard a presentation about plans for the upcoming Citrus Heights Stars and Stripes Celebration, which will be held on Saturday, July 1, at Van Maren Park.

Regina Cave of the General Services Department said, “We’ve heard from the community over the last couple of years, especially coming out of COVID, there’s just dire need and desire to have more events here in Citrus Heights.” Cave said the goal is to provide “opportunities for our community to engage with each other,” so Council previously approved the funding for an Independence Day celebration for the community, with food, fun, and fireworks.

From 6:00–7:00 PM, there will be radio and DJ music, and then a live band—CC Seger—will play from 7:00–9:30 PM. The Kids Zone will be open from 6:00–9:00 PM, offering face painting, coloring, flower planting, bike decorating, and games.   

Various food trucks will be onsite from 6:00–9:00 PM with food available for purchase: Dubb’s Lunchbox, Hefty’s Gyros, Kado’s Asian Grill, Kiki’s Chicken, Santacos, Daisy’s Desserts, Kona Ice, and Forney’s Kettle Corn.

The professional fireworks display, designed especially for this event, will start at 9:45 PM and last for 20 minutes. The fireworks will launch from multiple locations on site and will be viewable from many areas around the event. Attendees can bring blankets or chairs and watch from the lawn areas.

To ensure a safe event space, several streets will be closed to through-traffic starting at 4:00 PM: Stock Ranch Rd. from Sol Way to the westerly limit near the pedestrian bridge, and Fountain Square Dr. from the Aspen Ranch Court gate to Woodside and Thalia.

General parking will be available at The Heights Church, Citrus Heights Surgery Center, Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD), Dignity Medical Center, and Citrus Heights Community Center. There will also be a shuttle service picking people up and bringing them to the event area.

The City is setting up hydration stations, as well as misters to keep people cool. There will be a first aid station, and metro fire will be on site.

As the City gears up for the official fireworks show this weekend, the CHPD told the Council their plans for enhanced enforcement against illegal fireworks for the upcoming holiday. One major tactic is education and prevention, with social media reminders to only celebrate with legal fireworks. Warning letters were also sent out to neighborhoods with previous complaints of illegal fireworks, letting citizens know CHPD has a zero-tolerance policy for the use of any illegal fireworks and about the fines imposed for violations.

CHPD is also working with Rancho Cordova Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department on an amnesty program, through which people can voluntarily surrender illegal fireworks without fear of legal consequences. However, none had been received so far.  

CHPD also reminded residents to report any instances of illegal fireworks to the non-emergency line at 916-727-5500.