I pledge to fulfill…
EDITOR: My thanks to those whose votes elected me to the Palm Drive District board. I appreciate your confidence and look forward to serving. I pledge to fulfill my fiduciary obligations to you by focusing on the district’s financial obligations and how to repay them as quickly as possible. I do not believe that it is appropriate to incur new obligations or fund new projects, no matter how beneficial they may seem to be, before insuring that the district can meet its existing obligations and most particularly those owed to its former employees.
I expect that have a district email shortly. Since I believe that 80 percent of successful communication is non verbal, I will endeavor to call or meet with anyone who emails me who would like to discuss District affairs.
Thank you again.
Richard Power
Sebastopol
Proud, not poor, El Molino
EDITOR: After reading the recent article about changes in the intra-district transfer policy for WSCUHSD, I’m compelled to suggest we change the dialogue regarding El Molino High School. I am proud to be a part of this school’s community. I’m proud of the education my children have received there, spanning from 2008 to the present. And I’m proud of the work El Molino has done to define itself as a unique place where students feel cared for and safe. The students at El Molino are proud of their school, and this pride runs much deeper than a winning football team or arbitrary state standards. El Molino is a special place with staff and students who are there for each other, excelling in academics, arts, various sports and, most importantly, human kindness and acceptance. I would not want my child to be at any other school in all of Sonoma County. Let’s not be talking about “poor little El Molino” but reporting about the depth of Lion Pride.
Gaylynne Sword
Sebastopol
Thank you, El Molino
EDITOR: I was a high school teacher and community college instructor for 12 years. I moved to west county in large part because I was impressed with the reputation of Analy. When I got here, I did some research on El Molino, I also substitute taught at both schools to better familiarize myself with the strengths and weakness of both. In the end I decided to send my kids to El Molino. I feel with that with the right level of parent involvement El Molino is and has been a terrific school. My kids have done really well there and are on track to continue their education at an excellent university. Thank you, El Molino!
Hillel Posner
Forestville
This gem of a small school
EDITOR: I am writing in response to the featured article from Nov. 20 article, “Analy or El Molino? It’s your right to choose,” which, in my opinion, gave a very incomplete view of El Molino High School. Our daughter is a sophomore at El Molino, and our son will be a freshman next year. We have found the El Molino community to be one that is vibrant, collaborative, and diverse — and frankly, overflowing in school spirit. Our daughter and her friends, all of whom are college-bound, high-achieving students, are participating in the arts, sports, leadership and clubs and have been well supported along the way by the El Molino faculty and extended community. I wish more of this experience were shared about El Molino. We hope that those considering options for their children will take a closer look at this gem of a small school.
Eleanor Gorman
El Molino parent
Think of the consequences
EDITOR: An attorney has told our high school board of trustees that students who live in the West Sonoma County Union High School District can choose to go either to El Molino or Analy. If this interpretation of the law stands, and students move between the two schools at will, our educators will not be able to do the forward thinking and planning that it takes to develop rich educational programs, especially given today’s tight budget environment.
Usually high school educators can look at their feeder schools and plan ahead. Suddenly, that becomes impossible.
I have talked to superintendents in larger districts who refused to allow at-will intra-district transfers, for that very reason.
They also stressed to me that education at all schools in the district must be kept equal. When students transfer, resources can’t go with them if that leaves other children doing without.
These are the kinds of challenges that our school board understood when they adopted a strict intra-district transfer policy a few years ago.
We owe them a million thanks for their steadfast effort to prudently manage enrollment in our district. I know they were guided by a deep desire to provide equal educational opportunities for all of our students. Under their leadership, both El Molino and Analy are excellent schools, offering a broad range of classroom and extra-curricular activities. Families at each school love their school. My children and grandchildren went to El Molino. I’m so proud. And I’m proud of Analy, too. Our community is blessed.
Whatever happens, that must not change.
I respect every member of our school board, our new superintendent, and the leadership at each school. I know they will do the best they can for our kids. The rest is up to us.
Mary Fricker
Sebastopol
Learning to love El Molino
EDITOR: I was forwarded your recent article about making choices between Analy and El Molino High Schools and felt obligated to reach out to you … as I found myself once quite torn in this decision.
My son attended Twin Hills Middle School, which we understood from testimony and scores, to be the public middle school with a clear academic track that led to high school success. As my son played multiple sports and most of his community inhabited that realm, I was hesitant to break up the “crew.” Most of that crew lived in district that belonged to Analy, while we lived further west and within the El Mo district. So, I did the investigations/visits/shadowing necessary to attempt an intra-district transfer and ended up finding it remarkably difficult to obtain.
When my son started El Mo, neither one of us was thrilled. My son left 90 percent of his friend group behind for a school that felt small and uncompetitive. He began his freshman year acting out and against the decision, he ended up not playing much on his soccer team and getting suspended for a social media prank. Both behaviors were uncharacteristic to what had come before, and initially we wanted to blame contextual factors.
That was his freshman year … now he is a senior. He is a 4.0 scholar athlete that plays three school sports and one club sport. He is applying to several colleges and may be in the running for a few scholarships. I am the VP on the El Mo Education Fund for the second year running and founding member.
So, what happened? We both had a knee jerk reaction to the policies that made El Mo our only choice for public high as far west county residents … resulting in a knee jerk reaction to the school. However, we were met with a wonderful community, strong educators, tough and caring administration. They transformed our reluctance into solid support simply by doing what they do well — running a school and creating community.
Whether or not you are located in an area served by El Molino High School, whether or not you have opinions about what a smaller school has to offer, it is important to do the homework on the schools that serve your area. I was willing to believe a lot of things about El Mo before we had experienced it firsthand. What I came to find was a depth of mentorship, leadership, accountability, warmth, follow through, sincerity, inclusion, respect and transparency. There is a reason that so many of our El Mo alumni return home and start families and businesses to find that they are embraced by the same sense of community that we have found. And that so many El Mo grads go on to find successful careers elsewhere armed with the professional practice skills imparted during their high school careers … and the reason I will continue to serve on El Mo Ed Fund after my son graduates next year. El Mo is a school you can believe in. El Mo is a school that returns on any investment.
Victoria Wagner
El Molino parent
Not struggling
EDITOR: The recent article (“Analy or El Molino…” Nov 20) gave the impression that El Molino is “struggling.” That word when applied to schools typically conjures up images of crumbling facilities, low student achievement and a bad school culture. Nothing is further from the truth.
We were struggling in 2012, but it was with enrollment, not the above conditions! Our community and school board immediately rallied at that time, spreading the good word about our cool jewel of a school. Recognizing that weakening El Mo weakens the district as a whole, the school board tightened up on its transfer criteria. Since then we definitely are not struggling. The previous and current administrations and staff have done a tremendous job of providing big school opportunities AND a caring small school culture. El Molino has been designated a Gold Ribbon School in 2015!
I am a retired teacher and recognize an effective and consistent learning environment when I see it. My family moved to Forestville from SF, reassured about this big change due being impressed with this school. One telling detail that stayed with me was the dedication to both scholars and athletes, featuring a display of every year’s top scholars in the Library/Multi-use Room, and a display of every year’s top athletes in the gym!
My daughter’s 4 years here prepared her well to be the multi-faceted young woman she is now as a junior at Cal Berkeley. My son is currently a multi-faceted senior at El Molino and has been well-served for his experiences to come in life, and at one of the California State Universities.
To anyone who has any doubts about sending their kids to El Mo, I am sure you will be well served to visit this school yourselves amid any other choices open to you.
Go El Mo!
Steve Griffith
Forestville
Grand Jury thanks
EDITOR: We want to thank the press of Sonoma County for their support of the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury. The recent plea to the citizens of Sonoma County to apply for service with the Grand Jury met with “astounding” success. It was a hasty campaign, waged in November, and only through the press; over two dozen Sonoma County publications helped by printing letters or flyers. We are grateful.
Peter Andrews
President, Sonoma County Grand Jury Association
Monte Rio
