Stony Creek board prexy very excited about '13

The Stony Creek Joint Unified School District board's fresh new look is already stirring new ideas and excitement for 2013.

Adrienne Haylor of Elk Creek, a two-year veteran on the board, was selected to serve as president on Jan. 9.

The remaining board is comprised of newcomers Anita McCabe, Ken Swearinger and Chonne Murphy, all elected on Nov. 6 and Sandy Corbin, who was appointed Jan. 9 to fill a vacant seat.

The board members live in the foothill communities of Stonyford and Elk Creek.

"I'm really excited about this new board," Haylor said. "We have the opportunity with new members for different perspectives and fresh ideas."

Stony Creek has had its share of problems in the past, mostly stemming from a lack of adequate communication between school officials, teachers and parents, school officials have said.

The Glenn County Office of Education assumed administrative responsibility of the district in June after the sudden resignation of Superintendent Debbie Blake in May.

The school board had already decided not to renew her contract for this year.

But with new direction, Haylor is convinced the school district is well on its way to making positive changes.

Haylor originally hails from Rhode Island, but has lived in Colusa or Glenn counties since 1978.

She has worked for Glenn County Office of Education in the Willowglenn Juvenile Court school for 12 years.

Haylor said she believes in providing educational opportunities for all students and takes a personal interest in literacy.

"I love real books," said Haylor, a literacy tutor and former manger of Stonyford Branch Library, "the ones that you can hold in your hand."

Haylor also represents the Elk Creek area on the Willows Library board and is the organization's past president.

Haylor will attend a board president workshop and the entire Stony Creek board will attend board training later this month.

"Educating our members and myself on the role of governance is primary to me," Haylor said.

Haylor said the board members share a similar focus: the first and foremost is the desire to implement the best programs for Stony Creek students, to ensure success and have the highest quality education available.

"It's time to roll up our selves and dig in," she said. "I welcome this."

Haylor said the district already has a lot of new things in the works for improving the schools.

With the retirement of the district's business officer, Stony Creek has contracted with Glenn County Office of Education for financial services and oversight.

Haylor said the cost savings from restructuring will allow the district to recruit and fill a part-time superintendent position.

The board also approved repairs and refurbishment of two buildings on the Elk Creek campus, which will give the district one more classroom at the elementary school and an upgrade to the technology storage building.

The school board is also looking at the advantages of technology in delivering curriculum to their students, and are in the process of public inspection and approval of the "Accelerate Education" credit recovery curriculum.

New principal Tim Drury and all of Stony Creek's kindergarten through eighth grade teachers we be attending the "No Excuses University" conference in San Diego later this month.

The No Excuses University is a network of elementary, middle and junior high schools across the country that actively promote a comprehensive model of college readiness to all students the moment they begin elementary school.

The new Stony Creek school board will also continue with its redistricting process for new trustee boundaries to reflect population changes reflected in the 2010 Census.

The process includes public discussions at district board meetings, after which the board will approve new trustee area maps and boundaries, Haylor said.

CONTACT Susan Meeker at 934-6800 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.