Digital Days Will Bring Together Grade School Students with Students from California State University, Fullerton

(SACRAMENTO) – In further efforts to bring California tax dollars for Orange County, Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (Orange County) is pleased to announce that $19.8 million has officially been approved by the State Assembly in the 2018-19 California budget. The funds will be appropriated to a conservation program with the State. According to the bill language, the money will be used “to enhance public access and for other public purposes concerning the West Coyote Hills area in the County of Orange.” This has been the result of long-lasting efforts by Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva, dating back to her position as Mayor of the City of Fullerton, and the residents’ desire to open up West Coyote Hills for use as a natural preserve.

“It is vital that West Coyote Hills be saved as a park and educational resource for residents and children.  Its unique ecology and community history provide the perfect setting for an outdoor classroom. Children and college students will have a nearby place for field trips and field studies to learn about our local environment,” said Quirk-Silva. “Securing the Open Space will benefit all local residents, and will be widely regarded as a source of pride for the Fullerton community.”

Of the $19.8 million, $15 million has been secured in the Budget Act of 2018 to be used for the purchase of specified property in West Coyote Hills, with legislative oversight. The funding, under the bill language, will be to maintain and preserve West Coyote Hills, and to enhance public access and to keep the land as open space. The other $4.8 million dollars was secured with the voter-approved (June 5, 2018), Proposition 68 State Park Bond.

The California State Budget currently includes $15 million due to the efforts of Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva, and former Senator Josh Newman, for the purpose of acquiring, operating, and maintaining West Coyote Hills Open Space. Currently, the land is owned by Chevron’s subsidiary, Pacific Coast Homes. The budget bill (Senate Bill 862) will next be heard on the floor of the California State Senate.

(from left to right: Commander, Youth and Community Programs Task Force, Brigadier General (CA) James L. Gabrielli;  Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva; Youth and Community Programs Task Force Director of Starbase, Los Alamitos, Stacey Hendrickson; and  Sandra Sainz, Senior Enlisted NCOIC)

SACRAMENTO – In further efforts to bring California tax dollars to Orange County, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County) has secured a total of $1.7 million in funding for a critical Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education program to expand the STARBASE youth program at the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos Department. While the federal government pays for all operating costs associated with STARBASE, the Department of Defense looked to Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva and the State of California to help provide classrooms for the program. 

         STARBASE, Los Alamitos, serves schools from 5 counties in California; Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego. Although it is anticipated that STARBASE Los Alamitos will host 3000 students, from 105 fifth grade classes in the 2017-18 school year, there is a waiting list of 46 classes that cannot be accommodated. The budget augmentation in this request will allow for the construction of a new 3,500 square foot building at the National Guard Base at Los Alamitos which will include two STARBASE classrooms that will allow an additional 2,000 students to attend the program each year, eliminating the waiting list for potential students.

         “As a teacher of over 20 years, I am very familiar with the importance of investing in the future of our children, through education. Investing in STEM education is, and will continue to be, an imperative focus of our State” said Quirk-Silva. Investing in an education that is focused on these subjects is investing in the future of these inspired boys and girls, AND the workforce and economy of this nation.”