Dunbar School off and running
Enrollment at Dunbar is 256 students, up from last year’s 246. There are three new teachers on hand:
Laura Olsen is the new Resource Specialist teacher, coming over from Sonoma Charter School and Woodland Star Charter School. Kevin Webster is the new Physical Education teacher, moving from Adele Harrison Middle School. Alicia Sardoch comes from Flowery Elementary School to form a kindergarten teaching team with veteran teacher Sandi Everett.
In addition, there are new classified staffers this year. Roseanne Goertzen is the library media specialist, Cecilia Vasquez is the bilingual assistant, and Don Barrows is the network site technician.
Dunbar is part of the larger Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD), which encompasses seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one comprehensive high school, Sonoma Valley High School.
The State of California’s ongoing budget crisis has taken its toll on SVUSD, and the district has made over $3 million in cuts over the last several years. The district is currently facing a budget deficit of over $1.5 million for the next fiscal year.
This summer, the SVUSD Board of Trustees voted to put a $40 million general obligation bond measure on the Nov. 2 ballot. Targeted at improving energy efficiency at SVUSD facilities, district officials say that the measure, if approved, would save approximately $1 million a year, funds that would be put back into the classroom. The measure would not increase the school taxes for those living within SVUSD boundaries.
As for the impact of SVUSD budget challenges on Dunbar, Principal Melanie Blake, in her second year at the helm, said that the school is struggling to keep instructional assistants and to sustain its arts and garden programs. Help is always being sought from volunteers and outside sources.
“We are so fortunate to have so many supporters and partners in our community, such as Atwood Ranch, Sons of Norway, and so many others,” said Blake.
A number of programs at Dunbar are supported by fundraisers, such as the Halloween Carnival (Oct. 29) and the annual Moondance (Nov. 6).
A new hands-on science program is starting this year, led by parent Shannon Lee, who is working with Dunbar’s parent group, teachers, and garden coordinator Alissa Pearce. And, of course, the fifth grade begins work on the annual melodrama, which is performed in the spring.
For more information about Dunbar School, call 935-6070, or go to www.dunbarschool.org.
