New construction, DEI discussed at September's High School District board meeting
Prioritizing future construction as well as reviewing a new DEI framework were the main topics for WSCUHSD trustees
Last week’s September board meeting for West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHD) was presided over by Vice President Lewis Buchner in place of Board President Julie Aiello, who was away. The second meeting of the 2024-25 school year, held in the Laguna High School Library in Forestville, was lightly attended. Laneyjah Hayden of Laguna and Alina Peterson of Analy were present as student representatives to the board.
The agenda for the meeting featured two rather lengthy items:
The board was asked to prioritize four future construction projects for the Analy and a beautification project for the former El Molino campus.
The DEI Committee presented a draft of the DEI framework for public review.
Current and Future Construction Plans
Jennie Bruneman, Director of Facilities, summarized the status of current improvement projects, which have been funded by Measure A.
Analy Main Building HVAC Project - COMPLETE
Analy Small Gym, L1, L2 HVAC / Roofing Project - IN DSA REVIEW
Analy Café HVAC / Roofing Project- COMPLETE
Analy Wood shop HVAC / Roofing Project -COMPLETE
Analy Main Gym HVAC / Roofing Project -IN DSA REVIEW
Analy East Wing HVAC / Roofing Project -COMPLETE
District Wide Doors and Security Locks - in progress
Analy NEW Building CTE Classroom Facilities - IN DSA REVIEW
Forestville Building F HVAC / Roofing Project - IN DESIGN
Forestville Gym HVAC - IN DESIGN
Sunset / Taft Pedestrian Enhancement Project - COMPLETE
Note: DSA is a state agency that reviews plans for construction.
At the end of last year, Quattrocchi Kwok Architects completed schematic designs of for four new projects and presented their estimated construction costs (as of July 2024). Those estimates are:
Analy East Wing Modernization including L1/L2 classrooms - ESTIMATE - $16,200,000
Analy Cafeteria/Kitchen modernization - ESTIMATE - $8,400,000
Analy Stadium Modernization - ESTIMATE - $5,500,000
Analy Main Gym Modernation - ESTIMATE Modernization $20,900,200
New Gym conceptual estimated at $40 Million
Kevin Chapman of QKA gave a presentation with the details for these projects. Below is a PDF of the presentation.
Here are some takeaways from Chapman’s presentation:
Stadium Modernization. The bleachers on the north side of the stadium need to be replaced. The southside bleachers have been replaced more recently. The artificial turf, which has about a ten-year lifespan, will need to be replaced. There are also some underground pipes, which have leaked and caused problems, and they will need to be fixed. Chapman also presented the design for a student area overlooking the field, and Analy student representative Alina Peterson expressed her support, saying “that’s cool.”
East Wing and L1/L2 Modernization. The improvements for the East Wing are aimed at creating new science classrooms and a digital studio. Trustee Jeanne Fernandes showed her support for this project by saying that “our chemistry classroom need to move; the room they have is despicable” — crammed and not enough light.
Cafeteria Modernization. The cafeteria has emerged as a more important feature of student life on campus. Student are now able to have a breakfast as well as eating lunch and grabbing a snack. It’s also a social gathering space. The improvements aim at increasing the capacity of the kitchen, which includes an area labelled the “scullery” (a nice word), a redesigned cafeteria line (now called the “servery”) and then a redeveloped indoor/outdoor dining area.
Gym Modernization and Addition. The concrete gym and buildings that surround it that contain lockers and storage present one of the biggest challenges, which Chapman described as: “What can we do without it triggering a full seismic upgrade?” The plan addressed that issue by replacing the surrounding buildings and replacing them with an addition that is “seismically separated from the gym.” Chapman didn’t present a plan for replacing the gym, but he indicated that it was difficult to design around it; in effect, any new construction locks in the footprint of the existing gym. He thought that replacing the gym would require a lot more money, but it should really be considered in the future.
Chapman also presented a “$1M beautification plan” for Laguna High School. This project, unlike the others, could be started in January. It would involve fixing the asphalt around the campus, repainting the exterior of all the buildings as well as the interior of classrooms (the exception being the Performing Arts Center) and removing some dilapidated portables.
Trustee Buchner stated: “We don’t have $75 million for these projects.” Then he asked “What exactly are we approving here?” Bruneman explained that they are approving the project priorities and then work will continue on preparing these projects so that they are ready for construction in the future. Superintendent Meredith, who recommended at the previous meeting that the board not move forward with a 2024 bond measure, said that he hopes that the District can do a bond measure by 2026 to finance these future projects. Chapman added that construction costs for these projects rises about 4% each year.
The board unanimously approved the prioritization of these projects.
Draft of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework
Let’s just say that sometimes the “D” in DEI seems to stand for “Drama.” Thankfully, there was little of it at this board meeting as the District’s DEI coordinator, Anita Sandwina, presented the first public draft of the DEI Framework produced by the boards’ DEI Committee.
Trustee Lewis Buchner gave some background on the DEI Framework as it has been a priority for him. “In April of 2022, a group of parents got together to support DEI at the school,” he explained. There had been widely reported incidents of racism on campus and students at Analy and 8th graders at feeder middle schools had their own stories of harassment and harm. When Superintendent Meredith was hired, he supported a DEI working group. In March 2023, the DEI committee began meeting. Buchner said the Committee came together “not to be a watchdog but to be a trusted advisor with the broader school community to support gradual and enduring progress.”
Sandwina said that the framework document was in process when she took over leadership of the committee. “I had conversations in empathy circles, in confidence, with students and staff,” she said. “I asked them what they like to see changed.”
Buchner described the effort as a “cultural change project.” He said that the DEI Framework is a “living document” and an “evolving document.” He asked that the community view the document “from the lens of those who have experienced harm or discrimination.” Superintendent Meredith said the Framework was a “high level document that presented goals for the school, not tactics.”
The Framework’s stated vision for the school is:
All students have access to a relevant and meaningful education within a school community that celebrates and ensures the safety of, and a sense of belonging for, all students and staff.
The challenge is in the details of how to achieve that goal. You can read the DEI Framework, linked below.
In a related matter, there was discussion of new federal Title IX regulations that went into effect in August that address sex-based discrimination. Administration and staff are required to go through training on the new regulations.
Additional items of interest
Trustee Debbie Ramirez responded to Lily Smedhammer’s comment that the school do a better job of pushing out information about board meetings to staff, students and public. Ramirez suggested that in addition to the formal agenda, a “brief narrative summary of agenda” be produced and distributed. It seems like a good idea. (There is a lot of boilerplate in the agenda and the substance of the meeting is found in supporting documents embedded in it.)
Shawn Chernila asked for prayers and support for Maisie Boland, a former Analy student who was left paralyzed after a rollover crash, which happened while she was starting her first year at Chico State.
The Analy Alumni Association donated $20,000 to improve theater lighting in support of drama, dance and theatre projects. Casey Jones of the Music Department said that teachers and students appreciated the support.
Loretta Castleberry of the Alumni Association mentioned that a music teacher had a request for guitars and she put it out to members. Soon, the teacher had 15-20 guitars and called her asking her to tell members that he had plenty of guitars.
Castleberry said that the proposed Vietnam Memorial plaque, which the Board approved at the previous meeting, would be installed next year because the plaque could not be produced in time for this year’s football season.
The Analy Football team of 2012, which finished with a 13-1-1 record, will be celebrated on October 26.
Laguna Principal Greg Alexander said that Laguna High School will host a three-school basketball tournament.
Analy Principal Chuck Wade expressed his administration’s goal that “all students are able to receive valuable credentials” that can help them after graduating from Analy. The examples he gave were obtaining early college credit for classes taken at Analy, dual enrollment classes where Analy instructors are able to teach SRJC classes, and work-based learning programs that provide students with work experience. He also mentioned professional certifications in areas such as Hospitality, where a number of students received the basic food safety certification.
Jeanne Fernandes mentioned that the California Legislature passed State bill (SB 98) that would look at changing the way schools are reimbursed by the State. California is only one of seven states that ties funding to average daily attendance (ADA), what she called “butts in seats.” The bill would direct that the State’s Legislative Analyst’s Office to prepare a study of changing funding tied to enrollment, not attendance. The bill awaits Gov Newsom’s signature.
Fernandes also brought up another perspective on banning student access to their cell phones. She said that she had five phone calls from parents after the recent Georgia school shooting. “Parents are worried about kids not having cellphones in their hands during an emergency such as a school shooting.”
Chief Business Official Andrew Soliz presented the interim budget, and there didn’t seem to be any concerns with actual or forecasted revenues or expenses.
The Board approved a resolution on something called the Gann Limit, which dates back to November 1979, when California voters approved an anti-tax Proposition 4 that placed limits on the growth of expenditures for publicly funded programs. (So many rules and regulations, one layer on top of another.) The Board had to approve a resolution saying that their appropriations did not exceed the Gann Limit.
Update on WSCUHSD’s August Community Information Session
On August 22, Superintendent Chris Meredith held a community meeting at the Performing Arts Center in Forestville to discuss future plans for the former El Molino campus. About 40-50 people were in the audience.
Meredith explained his vision for the former El Molino campus and said that he wanted feedback from the community. He described three components:
West County iAcademy, which launched in August, is a full-time independent study program. Meredith explained that the relocation, renaming and expansion of the independent study program was due to more demand from parents and students.
Laguna High School is a continuation school for junior and seniors who are seeking to complete graduation requirements. It serves about 60 students.
An (as yet unnamed) Innovation Academy that seeks to be a small, innovative high school program that focuses on project-based learning. The plans are for it to open with a freshman class in the next school year. He also mentioned that it would have two pathways, one for college and the other for career placement.
Meredith took questions and comments from the audience, some of whom clearly wanted “our high school back in our town,” lamenting the loss of El Molino High School. Meredith said that he wasn’t superintendent when those decisions were made, but he knows that the feelings about it still run strong. His job, he said, was to focus on what is possible to do now with the campus. Others expressed interest in using the campus for vocational studies.
Meredith said at the board meeting that he thought the information session went well and that he intends to others like it this year, reaching out to all parts of the District.
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$50 million, $75 million! Figures that blow the mind.
My initial reaction was "Good Lord, that's insane". And for that we get a high school that is ranked sixth best in Sonoma County, a school where only 39% of the students are performing at or above grade level in math (35% for the state), 72% in English (47% for state), and 48% in science (30% for state) - Great Schools.org. And a school where, in the past several years, only 23% of the students rated Analy H. S. positively re college and career readiness (the bottom 25% of all high schools nationally).
And then I thought that my reaction shows my age. These numbers are just the cost of doing business these days. But I still gag when I mention, in the same sentence, $75 million and only 39% of the students performing at grade level in math. Oh well.