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Bailey Van Buren, who has served as the student representative on the Santa Paula Unified School District board for two years, was honored at last week’s board meeting. She is pictured above (l-r): Superintendent Alfonso Gamino, Van Buren and Board President Michelle Kolbeck.
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SPUSD school board honors student
board member and retirees
June 10, 2015
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula News
Senior Bailey Van Buren, who has served as the student representative on the Santa Paula Unified School District board for two years, was honored at last week’s board meeting.
Board member Kelsey Stewart had high praise for Van Buren. She said, “When I volunteered at Bedell, I would see Bailey almost daily as she would check in at the office for her student internship through the Human Services Academy. I was fortunate enough to have had the pleasure of working with her for both the book fairs and Gold Rush days. “I believe you have made a huge impact at SPHS, and in your time with the Board you HAVE displayed intelligence, kindness, great communication skills, determination, leadership, compassion, dedication and you have done it all with an incredible amount of grace.”
The board also handed out plaques to a number of retiring employees:
Anne Gibson (36 years), Socorro Aguirre (35 years), Sue Carpenter (32 years), Ann Dies (28 years), Carmen Medrano (27 years), Lupe Velasco (27 years), Linda Bean (25 years), Kathleen Bauer (21 years), Frances Alamillo (19 years), Steve Toston (16 years), Bobbie Socia (16 years), Candace Weston (15 years), Alfred Buenrostro (14 years), Doug Kandansky (10 years), Robert Perez (10 years), Deborah Rosique (8 years), Terri Renelli (4 years).
The Board also recognized Superintendent Alfonso Gamino for completing the California School Boards Association Masters in Governance Program.
In another matter, several people again appealed to the board to change their vote on the issue concerning St. Augustine Academy. On a 3-2 vote, board members have twice voted against allowing students from St. Augustine Academy to participate in Santa Paula High School (SPHS) athletics.
At last week’s board meeting SPHS athlete Noah Magana and other speakers urged the board to reconsider their action. SPHS student Matthew Ramirez said the argument that this would open a floodgate, said “I just do not believe this is so. Private or public school we are all part of the same community, which is Santa Paula and it is our duty to support each other.”
Michael Shaneyfelt, the St. Augustine student seeking to play sports at SPHS, thanked those who had stepped up in his support and told the board, “I am asking that you reconsider your decision that I may be able to play sports with my friends once again.”
St. Augustine is a catholic school located in Ventura and has no athletic program of its own. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) last year changed its constitution and bylaws to allow students from private schools who live in a public school district to take part in athletics at the public school.
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The SPUSD board handed out plaques to a number of retiring employees last week. (Left to right): Socorro Aguirre, Terri Renelli, Anne Gibson, Ann Dies, Bobbie Socia, Sue Carpenter, Alfred Buenrostro, and Robert Perez. |
