Agreements add up at the April School Board Meeting
Math teachers ask District to add back more math classes for Analy students in 2025-26
Up front
The Western Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) board meeting on April 9 was held on the El Molino Campus with all trustees present. There are usually several interesting items presented in public comment ahead of the formal agenda for the meeting.
Thomas Boag of the Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation announced three grants for programs in the district.
Analy CTE Sports Medicine Pathway - $50,000 - Certified Athletic Trainers for career-connected training opportunities, internships, job shadows, mentorships, and more for some 150 students enrolled in Sports Medicine Classes (and entire 1,500 school population) integrating with CTE Patient Care pathway.
Laguna Music Program - $5,000 - After school music program to support student engagement, creativity, and personal growth. The grant supports a one-day-per-week program under the instruction of Jack Chauvin, former Laguna High School music teacher, with extensive experience and a proven track record of fostering student success through music.
MakerEd Summer Program - $3,500 - One week summer camp on the El Molino campus utilizing the new Innovative Arts Makerspace. Open to middle school students and will focus on hands-on activities.
Separately, outside the meeting, Boag shared these additional SREF grants for other schools in West County.
All West County Challenge Day (Sebastopol Union School District) - $30,000 - Implements all-day workshops for all 7th and 8th-grade students to improve student engagement and attendance and skill development.
Guerneville Middle School Magnolia Project - $15,725 - Career exploration program designed for 7th and 8th-grade students, helping students learn about different career pathways in a four-day immersive career experience. This is the fourth year for the program.
Fort Ross Middle School Sweatshirt Program - $1,133. Collaborative sweatshirt design project between all Fort Ross middle school students in graphic art design for clothing.
The SREF grants total $105,358.
Music teacher Casey Jones came dressed in shako, bibs and a red-blue jacket that are part of new band uniforms funded by Prop 28. He explained that the red and blue feather in the hat he wore is typically worn by the drum major. The Analy band will be marching in these uniforms in the Apple Blossom parade on April 26. Jones also said that the school production of “Mamma Mia” was a success with 1000-1200 tickets sold.
Julie McClellan thanked the Russian River Rotary Club for providing books for the library on mental health. She provided the Rotary with a list of titles and the Rotary buys the books when they have the funds to do so.
Speaking of student health and well being, Analy Principal Chuck Wade said later in the Principal’s report that the school was actively enforcing its ban on cell phone use during school. Staff members are instructed to collect any phone that is being used by a student in class and turn it into the office. Student representative Alina Peterson said that “it was weird” to come back from spring break and have the school then begin enforcing the policy. She personally supported the ban and noted that she saw more students talking to each other instead of staring at their phones. (See our story “Analy cracks down on cell phones.”)
In Support of More Math, Not Less
Math teacher Rebecca Davenport and three other teachers presented a letter to the board that detailed the impact of the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year, which slashed four sections of math, down from 49 sections (courses) to 45. The District is not replacing a math teacher who had retired. The Math Department recommends that the district keep the four sections and also add one more section to total 50 sections of math.
The Math Department currently serves almost 1200 Analy students by offering courses in Math 1 & 2 up to AP Math (Stats, Pre-Calculus and Calculus) as well as four sections of a popular personal finance course. The biggest impact of the cuts would be increasing the average class size from about 24 students this year to almost 30 next year, a 22.5% increase. It would also reduce to three the number of personal finance sections offered, a course taught by Henry Atherley that Davenport said that every Analy student should take.
Davenport called the cuts “disappointing and depressing” given the increasing interest in math shown by Analy students. “Our greatest challenge as math teachers is meeting the needs of the diversity of learners in our classes, especially students who came to us with low skills, students with IEPs and 504 plans, and English-language learners,” said Davenport in the letter. “Smaller class sizes mean that every student gets more attention and support and we can better meet these goals.”
Davenport asked the board to “consider our amazing students who are turning the tables on old anti-math stereotypes. They need choices, challenge, and support.” Davenport’s letter stated: “We have been successful in creating a more positive mindset and culture, so that fewer students give up on math. And they realize how important taking higher math is to their futures, whether they plan to go into business, a trade, or on to college.” The letter added that a 22.5% increase in average class size “looks like a great way to lose the positive momentum we’ve been building.”
Lewis Buchner, Board President, thanked Davenport and the teachers for making their case and providing a lot of data to support their argument.
Safe Haven Resolution
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coordinator Anita Sandwina presented a safe haven resolution drafted by the DEI Committee in response to concerns that ICE agents could enter the school and remove students, staff or family members. They were asked to update a similar resolution that passed in 2017. Sandwina said that the group did extensive research on similar policies at other Sonoma County schools before drafting their own. “This safe haven resolution is for all students,” she said.
Some had worried about using the phrase “safe haven” and that it might catch the attention of ICE, but Sandwina said that in talking it over with community members, they felt strongly that the resolution should use the term “safe haven.” The trustees unanimously approved the resolution.
Perhaps the most significant part of the resolution is the following paragraph:
BE IT RESOLVED that the West Sonoma County Union High School District board reaffirms the authority of the Superintendent, site principal, or designee to protect any student family member, or school employee’s data, personal information and identity, to the fullest extent possible provided by the law. All other employees shall direct U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to said authorities to ensure compliance with the family educational rights and Privacy act (FERPA).
Update on Academy of Innovative Arts
Superintendent Chris Meredith gave an update on the new, specialized high school slated to open for the 2025-26 school year on the El Molino Campus.
There are twenty-four applicants of the thirty students for the first freshman class. These students come from eleven different schools in the greater West County area and thirteen schools countywide, including from charter schools and homeschooling programs.
A preview night was held for prospective students on Thursday, April 10. One more preview is set for Saturday, May 3rd from 10am to 12pm and coincides with the Fix-it Fair in Forestville.
Students will be able to compete as part of Analy High School’s athletic teams as well as participate in Analy clubs. Students will also be able to start clubs and activities at The Academy of Innovative Arts based on their interests.
Cole Smith, a teacher with 19 years of experience, has been hired. A Rio Nido resident, Smith has been teaching computer-aided design (CAD) at Rancho Cotati where he managed a large workshop/makerspace. Cole was also a founding teacher at Tech High in Cotati. In the summer, he works with students through the North Bay Builders Exchange Program. (See photo below). Interviews for a second teacher are underway.
Increasing the Reserve
At the previous board meeting in March, the district’s Chief Business Official Andrew Soliz and the trustees discussed whether the required 3% budget reserve provided enough dollars for future uncertainties. Soliz made the point that the current reserve would not cover one month of payroll expenses. This got the attention of the trustees at the last meeting and they continued the discussion at this meeting. Should the reserve stay the same, go up to 5% or even to 7%? The higher the reserve the less that the district has its budget to spend. Lily Smedsmammer in a public comment said that the district “should spend today’s funds on today’s students” and not increase the reserve for future needs. Trustees expressed concerns about the economy and possible changes in state or federal education funding. No decision was made to change the reserve but the baord agreed to put it back on the agenda for the next board meeting.
Tentative Agreement Reached Between the District and the Teachers Union
While no details were presented at the meeting, Superintendent Meredith said that the District had reached a tentative agreement with the West Sonoma County Teachers Association (WSCTA). Lily Smedshammer, WSCTA President, commented that she appreciated reaching the agreement with the district and thanked trustees Lewis Buchner and Jeanne Fernandes for meeting with teachers. Union members now must vote to accept or reject the tentative agreement. The result will be announced at the May board meeting.
The meeting lasted three hours. A video of the meeting has not yet been published on the district’s YouTube channel.
Note: I am a supporter of the Academy of Innovative Arts and I am working actively with the District on the new school and developing its makerspace.
As usual, comprehensive reporting! I especially like the part about the enrichment classes.
Excellent article, Dale. Interesting and informative. I appreciate the news about the new use of the El Molino campus as well as the update on the teacher’s union/district negotiations. Thank you for your continued commitment to transparency and truth.