By Mary-Justine Lanyon
In their annual organization, the trustees of the Rim of the World Unified School District elected Jordan Zarate as president and Jordana Ridland as clerk (who serves as the vice president).
Outgoing president Bill Mellinger offered to continue as president. After thanking Mellinger for his service, Ridland said for the sake of having a different perspective, she thought Zarate would do a great job.
“I feel the same way,” Trustee Scott Craft said. “We wouldn’t have gotten through what we did without you,” he said to Mellinger. “I wouldn’t want to have a divisive vote. I’m comfortable with either one of you.”
Declining to nominate himself, Mellinger called for the vote, which was unanimous for Zarate as president. The vote for Ridland as clerk was also unanimous with no discussion.
In public testimony, Carol Kinzel told the board she had recently met with Dr. Jennifer Alford of Cal State San Bernardino. Dr. Alford has started the Institute for Watershed Resiliency. “She has funding,” Kinzel said, adding that Dr. Alford is seeking a place to operate, like a nature center.
“She would bring college-level geography and environmental studies to our students,” Kinzel noted. “This would be a marvelous thing for us to bring to our school district.”
Deborah Knowlton-Czarnecki shared some good news with the board. Noting that she has previously expressed concern about student achievement, she said that this year, for the first time, Rim students are improving. She focused on the Grade 11 scores.
In English language arts, 54 percent of Rim students met or exceeded the state goals. In California as a whole, the number decreased to just over 46 percent. Math scores also increased but the fact remains, Knowlton-Czarnecki said, that fewer than one in five students at Rim High can meet the standard.
“It is imperative these learning gaps be corrected,” she told the board.
Speaking for the Rim Teachers Association, President Amanda Markovich said they have a proposal on the table. “I hope you support it. We need to attract and retain teachers. New teachers are waiting for positions to open up in higher paying districts. They don’t feel they will work at Rim long enough to relocate their families.
“The perception is we would have to cut in other areas to increase salaries. Our reserve is way over what is required by the state. The district is in great financial shape. Now is the time to make our salaries competitive,” she said.
After thanking Mellinger for the “wonderful job you did leading us through a tough year,” Zarate said he would do his level best. Looking ahead, he said the district faces a lot of challenges: the search for a new superintendent and a projected $68 billion deficit.
“I hope the governor will preserve as much programming for our students as possible. As a rural school district, we get the short end of the stick. We get less funding. School districts like ours shouldn’t be left behind,” Zarate said.
“It’s scary,” Ridland said, “to know the state budget is facing challenges.” With new initiatives the district has to implement, they find themselves starting new programs and later finding out how much funding they will receive. “That puts us in a precarious position. We want to provide the best solutions possible for our students – we will do the best we can.”
Ridland noted what a rough year the district has been through, with Snowmageddon following years of COVID. “There has been lots of trauma. I’m worried about the staff and students. Staff has brought to my attention families where the kids have no beds to sleep in. Staff is trying to help. You have to take care of yourself first. If not, you won’t be in a position to help others.”
Trustee Cindy Gardner noted the late-start bill is an ongoing issue. Some districts, she said, are trying to reclassify themselves as rural so as to be exempt. “This is challenging to so many districts.”
She and Ridland both praised the bands and choir from the middle school and high school for their recent performances. “We have really talented kids,” Gardner said. “I appreciate all the work that goes into the productions.”
“Last week was tough for MPH and Rim High,” Craft said. “It was tough for the parents who sometimes feel like they don’t get their questions answered. The staff and leaders we have at every school are outstanding. I’m more confident that ever we have the right people.
“We’ll continue to work hard,” Craft added, “to get teachers and staff the pay raises they need and deserve. I want to support our staff and teachers.”
Saying it had been an honor and a privilege to serve as board president, Mellinger noted he had helped select three superintendents. He added he believes in the need for the bond. “We need to make our facilities secure. We need to make a better environment for the teachers and staff.
“Things that happened in the last couple of weeks remind us of the importance of security. We need 100 percent support of the school district for the bond.
“I am deeply concerned about the finances of the future,” Mellinger said. “The state is at a $68 billion deficit. The governor is talking about a $26 billion reduction for education. That will affect us in a serious way. I’m concerned about where we go financially.”
And, he said, “I am concerned about the teachers but know there is a limited amount of funds to do everything we need to do.”
Rim High Principal Brian Willemse updated the board on the renovations to the performing arts center and thanked community member Bill Hewlett for all of his help. The school district invested $60,000 in the upgrades to the lighting and sound systems. That was complemented by an $80,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
This, said Willemse, was the first investment of this size in the PAC since it opened in 1994.
“The capabilities of the lights are spectacular,” Willemse said. “They can be controlled digitally.” And, he added, they can be prebuilt in the new classroom lab prior to a show.
Bill Hewlett, who was unable to attend the board meeting, “went above and beyond,” Willemse said. “He wanted to help the community. And,” he added, “Bill’s help allowed us to stretch those dollars further than we ever imagined.”
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