Samohi awards parents, helpers for service By Daily Press staff
By Daily Press staff
While the Santa Monica and Malibu communities are still celebrating the victory of Measure S, a school funding measure that will replace about half of the funds lost by an expected $13 million cut in state education funding, education advocates are looking to the cities to do their part to help further close the funding gap.
A wide coalition of city voters are urging the City Council to double its current contribution to schools. The City Council, which is not obligated to give any money to the school district, normally gives $3 million. Last year, it gave $4.5 million for a similar budget crisis.
The City Council is expected to make a decision about school funding at its June 17 meeting, when hundreds of school supporters plan to rally at City Hall. The rally will take place immediately prior to the Santa Monica City Council voting on its final 2003-2004 budget. Organizers hope the rally will send the message that more than two-thirds of Santa Monica voters approved taxing themselves with a new parcel tax that will generate $6.5 million annually for the next six years for the district. School supporters are asking City Council members to help close the funding gap caused by devastating state budget cuts.
“The citizens of Santa Monica recently reaffirmed their unwavering support for excellent public schools by approving Measure S,” said school board vice president José Escarse. “It has been evident for some time that most of these citizens also expect the city to do its part by contributing more money to the schools.”
The “Rally for Education” begins at 6 p.m., on Tuesday at Santa Monica City Hall, located at 1685 Main Street.
Superintendent John Deasy and entertainer Jackson Browne will speak at the rally.
Santa Monica High School PTSA presented Honorary Service Awards to parents and community members at the final PTSA meeting of the year on June 10. Faculty and staff recipients were announced April 10.
This year seven parents were honored with awards. They represent many other parents and adults who give of themselves to make Samohi a better place. All students are enriched by parent participation.
The Samohi PTSA is pleased to announce the 2003 Parent and Community Honorary Service Award recipients. ■Very Special Person Award: Carolyn Beug — In Memoriam. Carolyn was the quintessential sport “mom” at Samohi. Cheering for the entire track and cross-country teams, bringing snacks and water, purchasing team sweats, hosting end-of-the year awards banquets at her home.
She was heading home, after settling her twin daughters, Lindsey and Lauren (Samohi ’01) back East in colleges, when the world changed on Sept. 11, 2001. She was on one of the planes that hit the Word Trade Center, personalizing the event for many who never knew her.
Her nurturing spirit and generosity benefited many at Samohi. Her husband, John Beug, accepted the award. He continues to support many programs at Samohi, honoring Carolyn’s memory and benefiting students.
Individual Honorary Service Awards: ■ Paige Coleman. Paige has been instrumental in co-chairing the Grad Nite celebration at Samohi for the past two years. If a call goes out for volunteers, Paige will be there with a ready smile, calm manner and supportive word. She is the master of the possible and often behind the scenes. She and her husband, Woody, have done much for the continued success and growth of Grad Nite. While she is stepping down as co-chair, she will continue behind the scenes before her granddaughter comes to Samohi in a few years. ■ Sharon Hall Johnson. Sharon has been an active PTSA Board member as well as serving as president of the African-American Parent Student Staff Support Group, helping give voice to the many concerns of parents and students of color, while embracing the entire Samohi community. She is supportive of student leadership opportunities, helping guide our youth to greater potential by organizing events that showcase and expand their experiences and help them grow. In April, she coor-dinated the first-ever PTSA-sponsored Student Health Fair, along with senior parent Cynthia Oredugba.
Continuing Service Awards: ■ Colleen O’Beirne Brydon. Colleen is incredibly active in PTSA at varying levels and at many schools. She has been PTA president at Webster (in Malibu). She has been (and is) on the PTA Council in membership and other capacities. At Samohi she has spear-headed the development of the PTSA “Viking Voice” parent newsletter for the past two years, elevating it to the vital communication link for all parents. With the PTSA co-presidents, she cultivates stories and information that, along with the other means of communicating information to the parents of the over 3400 students, enhances a sense of community. ■ Vala Glick. Val is well known to probably every swim team and water polo participant and parent. If fundraising is needed, she will be there. She is an energetic, well-respected parent voice on committees and she is not shy. Val has served on the Prop. X committee at Samohi for four years, overseeing the complex capital improvements, including the new music building, the new cafeteria and the renovated quads. Her sense of humor and clear, no-nonsense manner is well suited for decision making. Along with Paige, she has been co-chair of Grad Nite for the past two years.
Gold Oak Service Awards: ■ Gretchen Goetz. Gretchen has been a co-president of the Samohi PTSA for the past two years. Always gracious, with a welcoming smile, she attends numerous meetings with administration, planning, doing work behind the scenes as well as cleaning up after meetings, finding chairpersons for committees and doing crisis intervention with committee chairs. The amount of work she does is impressive and all this on top of running her own graphics art business full time and attending both girls and boys water polo and swim meets and choir concerts. She will be stepping down from her presidency, but taking on other important roles to benefit all students. ■ Jean Sedillos. Jean is amazing. She has been on the district fine arts advisory committee since its beginning in 1997. She had a dream: To turn a dilapidated, badly damaged, unsafe Barnum Hall into a showcase and its rightful central position on the campus. There was no money, but that did not stop her. Now, six years later, two years after her last daughter graduated from Samohi, she is still fundraising and overseeing the details. But this year saw the much-awaited re-opening of Barnum — and this is the lady we have to thank. Her tenacity and effort are rare. While her daughter, Holly (’01), did not get to make music with her classmates in the “new and improved” Barnum, current students have had that opportunity and they love it.
Funds are donated in the name of the honorees to the HSA Program at the California state PTA, providing resources for the scholarship and grant programs of the state PTA, which further benefit youth.
The Honorary Service Awards recognize service and dedication of both individuals and organizations for outstanding service to children and youth. They are awarded only by PTA districts, councils, units and the state PTA. Nominations are sought from all members of the community, including parents, students, faculty, staff and administrators. A committee determines the winners.
For more information, contact Louise Jaffe or Cheri Orgel, PTSA co-presidents, at 310-395-3204.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 16, 2003. Read the original PDF.