PUSD honors Santos, Nunez at emotional board meeting

It was an emotional board meeting for Porterville Unified School District Thursday afternoon as they commemorated the recent deaths of two principals from the district.

Joe Santos, former Sequoia Middle School principal, lost his battle to cancer on September 1. Isaac Nunez, former Olive Street Elementary School principal, passed away Monday Sept. 10 after complications from a fall at his home.

Santos and Nunez both worked for PUSD for many years, and both of them began as middle school principals together in the same year.

Normally PUSD board meetings begin open session with the consent agenda, but Thursday afternoon the governing board of trustees and superintendent spoke beforehand.

“I look around the room and see most of us here have been touched by these leaders,” said Nate Nelson, PUSD superintendent. “Each of them were very different regarding their leadership styles, but both were absolutely passionate about their education and committed to their students. They challenged themselves, they challenged their staff every day to find a way to do what was best for them.”

Nelson recognized

many of the staff from SMS and Olive Street School, who despite recent losses and tough times are staying strong at the beginning of the academic year.

“I think it’s a testament to the caliber of the leaders that we have here in this room and the district, and how they all have been supporting each other in the face of the tragedy the district is facing,” said Nelson, who thanked Assistant Superintendent Martha Stuemky for coordinating the formal support for staff and students these past weeks.

Nelson also thanked Liz Torres for stepping up at Olive Street and showing leadership in Nunez’s absence, and recognized Heather Bledsaw for showing great leadership at SMS.

“If there were ever two administrators where we knew what their vision would be as far as moving forward and continuing the business at the district, it was Nunez and Santos,”

explained Nelson. “With Santos we had an example. Week after week he pulled himself despite his health, he continued working for our children. Nunez in this same room last April — the day after another tragedy occurred at Olive — somehow pulled himself together and found a way to gather his staff and report to the board, and with that example we move forward today.”

Board President Pete Lara Jr. spoke on behalf of the governing board.

“We give our farewell to two great educators. We are all hurting in our own way, but with the love and affection that we have for our friends, we’ve come together to honor Santos and Nunez, each one of us in our own way,” said Lara. “I would like to thank every person who has helped us do this job [during this] ordeal. Everyone has done their part.”

Lara added they both left a legacy that will endure for generations to come. Lara mentioned Santos and Nunez both made positive impacts on thousands of students they helped educate, and

said the words of encouragement and hope will be passed to the students.

“They will be missed but never forgotten,” said Lara, with tears in his eyes following a moment of silence. “I know Nunez was big in technology, so from now on I’ll be using it a lot more to honor them both.”

Lara moved on to the consent agenda.

“Because I know both of the gentlemen would say, ‘teach on,’ we will continue on with the meeting,” he said.

PUSD reviewed and approved the consent agenda for minutes of regular and special meeting from Aug. 23, Sept. 4 and the ratification of purchase orders for August 2018 in the amount of $8,722,842.92, following up with the approval of gift donations to the school district, and out-of-county field trip requests.

New Santa Fe Elementary school Principal J.R. Ortiz gave a presentation on how to improve the school even though they are doing well thus far. Plans are to increase parent opportunities by establishing a stronger

connections and creating more volunteer opportunities.

Stuemky reported on the 2018-2019 compliance with education code section 60119, which requires all schools to check if they have sufficient textbooks and instructional materials for the academic year. Stuemky reported PUSD is confident that all students are well equipped for the academic year.

Brad Rohrbach reported on the final budget revision for review and consideration of

the 2017-2018 unaudited actual financial report. Rohrbach said the business office calculated the actual appropriations limits for the 20172018 year in the amount of $91,438,414.47, and it’s estimated for the 2018-2019 year to be $94.794,204.28 based on resolution Number 2 and calculations supporting these appropriations limits.

Stuemky talked about proclaiming September as Student Attendance Awareness Month for PUSD students to be acknowledged

for their attendance and to convey a message of the importance for student attendance.

Nelson recommended the board consider removing two upcoming board meetings due to holidays. The board decided that the second board meetings in November and December will be canceled. There will only be a meeting Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m. and the following on Dec. 13.

The next PUSD board meeting will be September 27 at 4:30 p.m.