New faces on Petaluma school board

The new year brings a new look to the Petaluma City Schools Board. The first order of business for the board this week was to formally seat new members Ellen Webster and Frank Lynch.

Both were chosen last November in a three-person race to fill two board seats. It will be the first time on the board for both.

As they assume their positions on the board of the second largest school district in Sonoma County, both stressed the need to learn more about the district and their new jobs before making any firm comments. However, both did express some concerns and priorities.

Ellen Webster

Webster has been a Petaluma resident for 40 years. Her two children both graduated from Petaluma schools, her son from Petaluma High School and her daughter from Valley Oaks. She has two grandchildren currently attending McNear Elementary School.

She has been an educator for 27 years at Tomales High School, teaching English and drama.

She indicated that among her concerns are a cost of living wage for teachers and gaining a clear understanding of the use of one-on-one technology in the classroom.

She says she is excited about serving on the board. “We really need someone who has been on the front lines as a teacher. I am hoping to bring my perspective to the board,” she said.

Among the major issues facing the school district this year are new contracts with all the district bargaining units, including the Petaluma Teachers Federation. Webster said she is “hoping everyone can come in fresh with better relations between the board, the district and the certificated staff.”

Noting the district’s policy of providing iPads to every student, she said, “There is a lot of concern about what effect this will have on the health of our students. I would like to get to know more about the health effects.”

Webster said she is already doing her homework, preparing for the issues the school district is expected to face. One of the biggest and most complicated is the budget.

“All budgets are based on assumptions,” she pointed out. “We have to budget three years out, not knowing what to expect. Anything can happen with the state.”

Much of the state funding is based on enrollment and Petaluma, like many school districts, has been faced with declining student population.

“The huge issue is that families can’t afford to live here,” she said. “There isn’t anything the school board can do about the cost of housing. We have to outreach to families outside our district. We have to market our district.”

Webster said her decision to run for the school board came about when she was approached by another teacher about the prospect.

“The idea appealed to me,” she said. “It is an opportunity to give back to the community and a way to stay involved in education.”

In a message posted on the Petaluma City Schools District website, she explained, “I decided to run for the governing board because I want to be involved in my community, and I want to provide the voice of an educator on the board. As a school board member I hope to make kids and classrooms my top priority, set a tone for openness and transparency within the district, and ensure that all employees get their fair share.”

Frank Lynch

Lynch is a former principal at Petaluma High School. He has 36 years service in Petaluma education. He left Petaluma to become superintendent of the King City Joint Union High School District in Monterey County. In 2011, he returned to Petaluma High School to serve as co-interim principal for one year.

He said the biggest issue facing Petaluma and other local schools is one they have very little opportunity to control. That is the proposed appointment of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education, an appointment that still needs Senate confirmation.

“She is a proponent of changing the school curriculum and for school choice,” he explained. “Common Core Standards, to me, are a very good thing. It is out best approach in the classroom. We have done a very good job implementing the Common Core Standards, and I hope the State of California will hold fast to them.”

Among the things the board can control, he said it was important that the district continue to wisely used the bond funds approved by the voters in 2015.

“We have to fulfill the promise we made to the voters,” he said. “The market really favors us doing our construction projects now. It is really important to get that done and keep our promises.”

He agrees that declining enrollment is a concern, and advocates for aggressive marketing.

“We have to do a better job marketing,” he said. “I would like to see people out there marketing our schools and telling what a good job they are doing with academics, sports, STEM, performing arts, music and our other programs.”

He said until he was seated on the board, he has had no real insights into how contract negotiations are going.

“I’m just hoping they are going well,” he said. “They call it negotiations for a reason.”

Lynch said he is joining the board of a strong school district. “We have a lot of good people in the administration and a lot of good people in the classroom,” he said.

He said that he, like Webster, wants to give back to the community and believes his experience will be an asset for the board.

“I’m lucky I have enough time to do it,” he said. “I know the other board members. Their heart is in the right place. They all want to do what is best for the kids.”

(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@arguscourier.com.)