FPA Blog
Save ElMo (Court Case, FUNdraiser) Hollydale, Vaccine
These posts first appear in the Sonoma County Gazette and then reprinted here on the FPA Blog.
by Vesta Copestakes
July 2021
All About the Effort to Save El Mo High School
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Forestville Farmers Market every Tuesday in our Downtown Park. 4 – 7pm.
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Whole Foods, Sebastopol Saturdays 12 – 3
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Saturdays at the Taco Truck in Guerneville 11 – 2
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ANYTIME they are open:
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Shear Pleasure Salon downtown Forestville
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Sequoia Properties, downtown Forestville
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La Rosa’s Taqueria, downtown Forestville
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General Store – downtown Cazadero
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The Court Case to stop the closure of El Molino High School is our greatest HOPE!
It looks promising since the first step has been accomplished. A judge has agreed to review our case for an injunction (STOP the closure and consolidation). Although a court date has been set for Sept. 22nd, a judge can stop the consolidation immediately in order to require the school board to meet CEQA law and conduct impact studies.
The lawsuit alleges that the school board violated CEQA rules directly related to impacts that consolidation has on our communities and our students. The school board said they qualify for an exemption to CEQA studies.
ALSO, this board did not follow a State guide on how to close a school that requires a district advisory committee comprised of citizens from both communities.
What impact studies are needed?
- Traffic studies for an increase in traffic to and from Sebastopol during school commute hours.
- Economic impacts from the loss of this vital campus in Forestville.
Parents are concerned that in a larger school fewer students will be able to participate in sports, performing arts, any extracurricular activity that has a limited number of people who can participate. This reduces opportunities for students.
Commute challenges for students living as far north as Fort Ross.
NCAA accreditation is impacted because schools deemed closed means ElMo students are in-eligible to play college sports.
Parents are enrolling their students in other school districts to avoid going to Analy.
We NEED this lawsuit to succeed, so please stay involved.
Many of us would like to see El Molino become a Charter School (yes, that’s possible) so it can evolve into a combined academic/career tech school that is supportive of our blue collar community where many students graduate and go straight into the job market rather than to college. This would attract students from outside our district who see the advantage of graduating with a certified skill ready for infrastructure-related jobs.
PLEASE DONATE to our legal fund, C.A.R.E., at www.SaveELMO.com
THANK YOU!! We raised $22,000 at the Gala on June 19th!!
Love to play Table Tennis? JOIN US every Thursday night between 7-10pm. We’re trying to play every Thursday evening (7-10pm) to see if a weekly play night will work. Opening night felt good to play, interact with fellow friends and stretch it out after a long hiatus!
Our Last Sunday breakfast is back! 9 am – noon. This is a great time to spend with fellow Forestvillians while enjoying a home-cooked breakfast!
10250 Field Lane (Corner of Old River Road & Frank St.) Forestville
707-887-0330
hollydaleclub.org
Get Your Vaccine Shot!
Forestville Pharmacy is making it EASY to get that shot in your arm! Call Mark Olson at Forestville Pharmacy (6652 Front St,). He has Moderna vaccines in stock. Appointments are appreciated (CALL 707-887-2268) but you can drop by in case he (6555 Front St,) for a FREE burrito! Last month more than 100 people came for their shots – THANK YOU!
NEWS around Forestville? Please don’t assume Vesta knows it! TELL her:
CALL 707-887-0253 – EMAIL vesta@sonic.net.