Longtime Yorba Linda resident Brett Barbre appointed water district assistant general manager; schools adopt suicide policy

Note: This is the full, original version of a column that had several edits in the print version. 

A couple of interesting actions to report this week: a significant new management hire in the Yorba Linda Water District and a first-ever suicide prevention policy ready for adoption in the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district.

First, Brett Barbre, a 48-year city resident and 20-year representative on the boards of three key water agencies, has been hired as the Yorba Linda district's assistant general manager.

Some residents active in last year's recall of two directors and defeat of a 12-year incumbent criticize Barbre's pay and benefits and what they see as a “conflict” due to his roles with other water agencies. Supporters point to Barbre's extensive knowledge of and experience with water-related issues.

Barbre's annual salary is $165,074, at the mid-point of an 11-step scale adopted at a July board meeting. The range for Barbre's position is $145,092 to $186,767.

The assistant general manager and an accountant position were added to the district's 80-employee payroll for 2018 at a May meeting on a 3-1 vote. Eliminated on the same motion were an office clerk and three conservation positions.

Recently elected directors Brooke Jones, Wayne Miller and Al Nederhood voted in favor, and seven-year director Phil Hawkins was opposed. Andy Hall was absent.

Barbre was elected a Yorba Linda director in 1998. He resigned after being elected in 2000 as one of seven directors for a newly minted Municipal Water District of Orange County for which he represents Yorba Linda and five other cities; his current term ends next year.

Barbre also is one of four Orange County directors on the 38-member Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board, named in 2009. Salary and benefits earned from the two boards totaled $77,010 in 2015-16, according to the municipal board website.

Barbre graduated from Glenknoll Elementary, Bernardo Yorba Middle and Esperanza High and George Fox University in Oregon. He also owns a political strategy and lobbying firm.

Second, a final reading and adoption of the local school district's first-ever suicide prevention policy is scheduled for a Sept. 12 meeting of trustees.

Of course, district employees who interact with students have long been trained to recognize warning signs for suicidal behavior and offer appropriate referrals and assistance.

But now, state law requires educational entities serving seventh through 12^th grade students to adopt a formal policy on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.

The policy outlines six strategies: staff development, providing risk factor information to parents and promoting a positive school environment to enhance student connectedness.

Others: encouraging students to notify school personnel if they experience thoughts of suicide or have suspicions of another student's suicidal intentions, crisis intervention procedures and counseling for students and staff in the aftermath of a suicide.