The Long School Year Winding Down
The Long School Year Winding Down
Retirements and new hires bookend the last meeting before graduation
Meeting on May 8 at the former El Molino library in Forestville, the WSCUHSD school board held its last regular session during the current school year. The agenda began with a recognition of retiring teachers along with District staff and ended with the approval of two new Vice Principals for next year. At the start of the meeting, the Board seemed like it would breeze through the agenda, but the meeting dragged on for five plus hours.
With graduation coming up and the school year ending on June 6, the meeting started out like a cyclist happily gaining momentum going downhill on a long stretch only to have to brake suddenly for an upcoming intersection — the summer approaching summer is also a busy time.
Teacher and Staff Retirements
Of all the retirements, Mia Del Prete’s stands out. She is retiring after 23 years with 17 as Human Resources Director. In the comments about her central role on campus, Mia Del Prete was referred to as “Momma Mia” and “Mayor Mia” and it was said that “everyone knows her name.” Superintendent Chris Meredith said that “she leaves a West County legacy that will live on.”
The teachers and staff who are retiring at the end of year were recognized at the meeting:
Michelle Larkin, Teacher, 26.5 years (24 at El Molino; 3 at Analy)
Matt Kristensen, Analy, 25 years
Walt Hayes, Analy teacher, 19.5 years
Merry McElroy, Sp. Ed, 4.5 years
Lorrie Horner, Teacher at Laguna, 32 years
Cathy Ferland, school nurse, 12.5 years
Sue Taggard, Laguna Teacher, 3.5 years
The following slideshow/video was created by Jennie Bruneman, Director of Facilities, to celebrate the people who were retiring. Board members posed for photos with those who attended the meeting.
New Hires
The board also approved the hiring of two new Vice Principals. There will be three Vice Principals for the school year 2024-2025, one more than for the current year. Each of them has a common connection through Cloverdale High School with Superintendent Chris Meredith.
Kirsten Sanft, Vice Principal
Special Education Teacher, Extensive Support Needs, West County Consortium (August 2023-present)
Principal, Piner-Olivet Charter Middle School, Piner-Olivet Union School District, Santa Rosa (2019-June 2021)
Principal, West County Charter Middle School, West Sonoma County Union High School District, Forestville (July 2017-June 2019)
Principal, Cloverdale High School and Johanna Echols-Hansen Continuation School, Cloverdale Unified School District, Cloverdale (July 2015-2017)
Christi Calson, Vice Principal
CTE Pathway Coordinator, Sonoma County Office of Education (July 2020 - Present)
High School Spanish, Digital Photography, Multimedia, Computers, Maker Teacher, Cloverdale Unified School District, Cloverdale (August 2013 to June 2020)
CTE Coordinator, Cloverdale High School (October 2018 to June 2020 )
I invited Superintendent Meredith to talk about these new hires: “We are thrilled to have both of these amazing educational leaders join principal Chuck Wade and Vice Principal Gianna De Persiis Vona in leading Analy High School into the future. Our rapidly changing student population calls for some reimagination of our current educational programs, (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and initiatives to promote future readiness. Both Kirsten and Christi are equity champions who bring experiences that will support our current students, preparing ALL for postsecondary success in their futures. In addition, they are both able to promote high standards for academic achievement. As versatile educators themselves, Kirsten and Christi will also be valuable assets to the current staff at Analy High School as they are both true collaborators and believe in the value of inclusive leadership.”
Sarah Zils’s position as the Consortium Special Education Director was also approved.
Other items
Laguna High School Principal Greg Alexander returned from a day-trip to Stockton where he learned that Laguna had its accreditation renewed for six years —until 2030.
Student Karis Morasch was recognized for her two years of serving as the Student Representative on the Board. (Karis is the guest on Sebastopol City Limits podcast, linked below.)
Student Aziza Greer was recognized for receiving the youth services award from the Press Democrat. Aziza was one of the student leaders behind efforts to gain approval for raising the Pride Flag on campus (see below) and was featured in our podcast episode, “The Point of Pride.”
Analy’s Culinary Arts class won first place in the student showcase, Spark the Future, sponsored by the CTE Foundation.
Two District board seats will be open in the November 2024 election for four-year terms (2024-2028) in Trustee Areas 2 and 4. The period for candidates to submit nomination runs from July 15, 2024 – August 9, 2024.
The Board approved hiring a consultant to conduct a poll of a representative sample of West County voters to gauge interest in a new school bond in the future. The last bond for $91M was approved in 2018.
Jesica Lyons, Food Services Coordinator, gave a presentation on the changes made to improve the food in Analy’s cafeteria and use social media to let students know about the changes. There are two serving lines: the Entree of the Day cafe and the Pizza and Grill window. They are also offering a breakfast/brunch menu.
Sheila Richman provided an update on the Community School Program. (Presentation is linked below.) This program is in its initial stage of community mapping. Ms. Richman presented feedback from interviews with students and families from Laguna High School.
The Board approved (4-1) the lease of several rooms on the Forestville campus for use as a community workshop and makerspace that excluded the wood shop area. This lease is in support of a proposal of mine, linked below, for a Maker Learning Hub. In partnership with the District, the non-profit Maker Education will equip and staff a new makerspace to provide afterschool, weekend and summer workshops and experiential learning for students and possibly adults. The hope is to pilot a new community-based learning space that can eventually become an alternative high school in West County with a focus on hands-on technology and the creative arts. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more.
Graduation will place on June 6th with the ceremony for Laguna High School starting at 10am and the ceremony for Analy High School at 5:30pm.
The Progress Pride flag will fly in June
At a February board meeting, Aziza Greer and Sabine Wolpert, both student members of the West County Activists club, presented a proposal to the Board for flying the Pride flag on campus at certain times of year. While there was misunderstanding on both sides that created some drama, eventually the Board decided to turn the issue over to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee for review and to make a recommendation. It took several months but a recommendation was presented at the May 8th meeting by the District’s DEI Coordinator Anita Sandwina.
The Board accepted the direction that they were given by Ms. Sandwina and Superintendent Meredith said he would draft a resolution that the Board could vote on at a special Board meeting on Monday, May 13. The resolution proclaims that “June 2024 (to be) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month and will fly a Progress Pride Flag at each school and student center campus” in the District. The resolution passed unanimously on Monday.
Senior Aziza Greer, who had earlier received the Press Democrat Youth Award, had hoped to stay for this item on the agenda but had to leave before it came up. Aziza and peers, who had already bought the flags, will be able see the tangible result of their organizing efforts before the school year ends.
Aziza wrote in email: “I know that the process was rough, but being on the other side, it’s so important to recognize that this is a huge step for students and a huge acknowledgment of student voices and their power. I hope that the school’s raising of the flag can be a catalyst for other movements and simultaneous support for LGBTQ+ students. I’ll be graduating Analy this June while the Pride flag is flying, and I’m tremendously grateful for it.”
