Board of Education parts with two members

The Glenn County Board of Education said goodbye Wednesday to two members who were redistricted out of office.

Gene Massa of Willows and Gail Zimmerman of Hamilton City were elected in 2008.

Massa and Zimmerman were ousted from their positions after the Glenn County Board of Education formally adopted its new trustee areas in May.

The former district lines violated state and federal election laws for decades, officials said.

Zimmerman lives in the new trustee area that now includes Princeton, which is represented by Kathy Perez.

Although he has not indicated he plans to do so, Zimmerman will have to wait two years before he can run for reelection when Perez' term is up.

Massa lives in the district that now includes Elk Creek, which is represented by Janice Cannon.

Massa, however, was elected to the Butte-Glenn Community College District board on Nov. 6.

"It's gratifying to see kids grow up and go to college," joked Superintended of Schools Tracey Quarne, about Massa's move to the higher institution.

Two newly elected members of the board, Helen Duree of Orland and Adele Foley of Willows, will be sworn in on Dec. 12 to represent two new districts.

Board President Judy Holzapfel was also reelected, but to a newly formed district as well.

As the wife and mother of attorneys, Holzapfel said Wednesday that she knew exactly what to expect when Massa joined the board four years ago.

Massa was a stickler, she said, about demanding proof for every statement.

"He lived up to my expectations," she said.

Holzapfel said Zimmerman brought a wealth of knowledge about his area and the schools in his district.

His nephew was longtime Hamilton superintendent Ray Odom.

"Gail knew his constituents well," Holzapfel said. "He knew how to dig in and follow through."