Who’s Who? What’s What at Pinehurst?

A whole lot of shaking going on over at the school as the staff begins Fall In-service week August 28th gearing up for September 5^th when the children come crashing through the doors. Every year brings change; this one more than most. Here’s what’s new that will bring us all up to speed:

Our school board welcomed retired administrator, Sam Alvord, to its ranks and selected him to succeed board chair, Alison Kling, whose term expired in June. The board also includes vice chair, Dianna Crary and member, Heidi Gehman. Long-time board vice chair, Ben Schumacher, has moved with his family to Ashland. He served on the board for nearly two terms and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2017 for his many contributions to the school. We will miss Ben dearly. The board must appoint a successor to fill out his term.
Holly Amann has assumed the reins as our district administrator after an eight-year apprenticeship. Along with head teacher, Kerry Fuller, she will take on duties Sam handled as principal and administrator.
Enrollment jumped by about one-third since June and almost half since December of 2016. It appears that our steep decline — which occurred over eight years and resulted two years ago with having to drop the middle-school grades—has ceased, as new families with young children move into the community.
The teaching staff consists of Kerry Fuller as our one full-time Highly Qualified teacher along with Ann Oliva who returns two-thirds time as co-teacher. Amy Schumacher, Sarah Fowler and Star Tarrant will all serve part time as instructional assistants. This team possesses the array of skills to meet the needs of our K-5 students and to perform tasks Pat Alvord filled before her retirement in June.
For nine good years, Glen Mitts kept the school clean and in order along with volunteering as our holiday play set designer and artist. Glen has taken another job and we say good-bye with regret. In his place the administration hired Patti Walters, a long-time Greensprings neighbor and seasoned housekeeper.
In their June meeting the Pinehurst School board voted to name the school annex after Don and Jean Rowlett. They had been the proprietors of the Box R Ranch for almost five decades and back in 1986 provided the funding which allowed Pinehurst to build the annex and establish a middle school which prospered for 30 years. The board is designing a plaque designating the building as The Rowlett Annex.
This just in! Please go to the school website (www.pinehurst.k12.or.us) and enjoy the promotional video the administrative team and school photographer and videographer, Deborah Thornton, produced to help the world see what an elementary education looks like at the only public school in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
Save the date! Pinehurst Foundation Annual Benefit Yard Sale: Saturday, Sept. 2, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Marsh-McGuire home, 696 Siskiyou Blvd. in Ashland. The enrollment eclipse seems to be over as our district continues– with the help of many volunteers, the Foundation and every taxpayer– not only to survive, but also to grow new shoots and thrive. Soon the school bell will ring in the 109^th first day of school in their neighborhood for our mountain kids!