BY SANDY PATTERSON
My name is Sandy Patterson, and I am a parent of a student at Willow Grove School in Paicines.
The Willow Grove School Board members – Carol Aldrich, Linda Naegle, Dorinda Rivera, and Joe VanOrder – recently did not reelect the upper-grade teacher, Cherub Berlanga, for the 2009-10 school year. This action had students, parents, teachers, staff, relatives and community members in tears.
Mrs. Berlanga teaches five grades, fourth through eighth, in the one classroom, with a total of 17 students. The last grading period, six of the 17 students had a 4.0 GPA and made the Honor Roll. The other 11 students were 3.5 and above.
Apparently Mrs. Berlanga has the students highly motivated to learn, and achieve academic excellence. My son who is in the seventh grade at Willow Grove School has had A’s, and A+’s for the last four grading periods. He was also on the Honor Roll. I took my son out of two previous schools due to the lack of motivation by the staff.
Mrs. Berlanga, along wit other staff members, is positive, caring, loving and highly motivating towards the students.
The Willow Grove School Board members that I mentioned also reclassified our Principal/Teacher Carol Brummet to just a teacher; taking her taking her principal status of 20 years away. What are their motives? It can’t be budget cuts. If the board members had researched the budget, they would have discovered enough funds to run the school for approximately three years without releasing staff.
Also, if these board members were so concerned, they would give back the $5,000 they gave themselves back in January 2009 for training, along with the $2,500 that had already been allocated, and the $8,124 that the school district spends to provide dental and vision for the five board members for a year. This totals $15,624.00, which is more than a classroom aid makes, which is $12,000 a year.
Over the weekend, prior to the Monday night board meeting on March 9, one of the aforementioned board members stated it was “time for a change,” with no other reason. I was always taught, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Carol Aldrich, Linda Naegle, Dorinda Rivera, and Joe VanOrder have no reason to let the excellent teacher go. They only have their own personal agendas and goals to obtain.
The voters, community members and concerned parents of the Willow Grove School District need to let these board members know that they are disgusted and angry with their actions.
The ultimate concern is the welfare and well-being of the students at Willow Grove School. Be a positive influence, not a negative one. Leave the past where it belongs.
The next Willow Grove School board meeting is Monday April 6 at 6 p.m. All interested and concerned parties are encouraged to attend. The students need your help to keep their school.
Sandy Patterson is a parent of a student at Willow Grove School.
