Positive tone runs through school board meeting

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

A large group of parents arrived Thursday night at the Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting to speak on behalf of Joe Henderson Elementary School Principal Carin Garton, whose resignation had earlier been accepted by the board.

They never got the chance. The board and Superintendent of Benicia Schools Janice Adams had already accepted the rescission of Garton’s resignation.

As Jacie Siino told the board before they went into their closed session meeting on Thursday night, “On behalf of the Joe Henderson community, I wanted to thank you for rescinding Ms. Carin Garton’s resignation letter.

“She has improved our schools in many ways. Test scores are up, discipline problems are down. And we look forward to having her around for years to come.”

At the close of Siino’s remarks, the assembled crowd broke into applause.

After the applause died down, board President Rosie Switzer asked if the audience planned to stick around for the 7 p.m. regular meeting. “We’re going to go home and celebrate!” somebody in the audience replied.

“We’re not allowed to do that here,” Switzer said, adding, “Thank you all for coming. I know that we all read your emails that were sent over the last couple weeks. We appreciate your involvement with your school.”

The rescission drama over before it started, the board got down to other business before a noticeably sparser crowd. But the night did not lose its positive tone.

Some of the evening’s highlights included recognition of Mrs. Pat Hall’s Benicia Middle School advanced art students. Angela Jennings, Jessica Orozco, Rockell Anderton, Grace Wildasin, Kimberly Nielsen, Naomi Luna and Brittney Brueland were recognized for their artwork that was accepted for the Solano County Office of Education 2012 calendar.

“I want to congratulate these students,” Adams said. “Thank you, students, for your excellent work. I want to also especially thank Mrs. Pat Hall from Benicia Middle School for her leadership and involvement in this project.”

“I’m so proud of them,” Hall said of her students. “These guys worked so hard. The ones that are in high school now were in my advanced art program last year. In that class we take extra risks and do a lot of experimentation, and they’re all willing to push themselves a little bit farther, and it pays off.”

Another Benicia Middle School student, Shane O’Brien, was recognized for being accepted into the 2012 California All-State Honor Band and Northern California Band Association Honor Band.

“Two hundred students were accepted after a recorded audition from 1,600 of the finest musicians from the state of California,” Adams said. “Shane will attend two days of concentrated rehearsals, and then perform in a formal concert program Feb. 18 and 19 in Fresno.”

While Shane was too shy to comment, his father, Don, was not. “The board is probably not aware that last year Shane qualified for All-State Honor Band as an 11-year-old. That’s never been done in California history, ever,” he said.

“He was the first 11-year-old to make top 10 California trumpet player. This year the only way to improve was to become first chair in all of California, and Shane got it.”

Trustee Dana Dean took advantage of the public comment period to acknowledge Adams for winning Superintendent of the Year for the Association of California School Administrators Region 4, which includes Solano, Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties.

“I just wanted to add that it doesn’t stop there, either,” said Dr. Michael Gardner, assistant superintendent. “Janice is now being considered for the honor of state Superintendent of the Year. She’s one of 19 superintendents to be considered. There’s well over 1,000 superintendents in our state.”