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April was filled with changes, compromises and celebrations.
The city of Santa Clarita created new campaigns and ordinances. Local school districts softened the impact of budget cuts.
And Easter, Passover and other holidays made April a festive month as church and temple congregations put on theatrical performances and held special services.
Meanwhile, the city saw major changes as officials approved a new 21-point business plan and cracked down on newly registered sex offenders. Officials also tried to improve communication between city departments and the City Council.
Local school districts continued working on plans to prevent layoffs of teachers and other staff members.
Study prods city officials to improve communication
April 7 — A study showed members of city departments felt the need for better communication with the City Council, more clarification of job roles, and more consistent administrative training, officials said.
The 27-page analysis resulted from a project that was conducted over several months.
The study reviewed the Planning Commission; the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission; the Arts Advisory Committee; and the Newhall Redevelopment Committee.
City officials said they were working to improve communication and the other areas of concern.
Temple congregations honor Jewish holidays
April 8 — Members of local temples, such as Congregation Beth Shalom and Temple Or Emet, celebrated the first night of Passover.
Santa Clarita Valley residents commemorated the Jews’ exodus from Egypt and their escape from slavery with community seders, or ritualized dinners that are open to everyone.
Also on that day, members of Temple Beth Ami and others gathered in Stevenson Ranch to watch the sun rise for a holiday celebrated by Jews only once every 28 years.
The “blessing of the sun” ceremony, or Birkat Hachamah in Hebrew, marked the position the sun occupied when it was created, according to Jewish tradition. The last time the holiday overlapped with Passover was in 1925, and before that in 1309.
Residents celebrate Easter with theatrical production and egg hunt
April 11 — Sunrise Service actors practiced a reenactment of the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection at Vasquez Rocks County Park. The service is organized each year by five evangelical Christian churches in Agua Dulce and Acton. The city of Santa Clarita also held its annual “Eggstravaganza” Easter egg hunt.
Hart district spares jobs of teachers, counselors
April 24 — William S. Hart Union High School District officials reversed a decision to lay off more than 90 teachers and counselors for the 2009-10 school year. In March, officials had issued the layoff notices to meet its March 15 legal deadline.
District officials were able to rescind the notices after analyzing the number of teachers it would lose through natural attrition and the district’s retirement incentive program for senior teachers.
City approves plan to boost business, ordinance to keep out sex offenders
April 28 — City officials approved their 21-point plan that called for the city to spend $5.2 million over a year to stimulate the local economy.
The funds would be used for things such as streamlining development projects and further implementing the city’s slogan “Think Santa Clarita Valley.”
The council also approved an ordinance that bars newly registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of child care centers, trails, parks, paseos, open spaces and other places within city limits where children regularly gather.
