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In This IssueBRIDGES OFSUNOL, PG. 6WOMAN OF THEYEAR, PGS. 14-15LACK OF DECISION MAKINGON CBOC, PGS. 10-11A HOPPENINGEASTER, PGS. 16-17N.B. BURKE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTJERGENSEN ATTEMPTS, FAILS TO WIELD ATTORNEYSTO DIG UP RECALL PETITION SIGNATURES IN SECRETContinues on pages 8T H E S U N O L I A N n a revelatory Letter to the Editor published in Inform Sunol this past Sunday, April 21, Sunol GlenSchool Board Trustee Ted Romo shared a draftresolution requesting a censure on Board PresidentRyan Jergensen––originally intended for inclusion onthe April 23 board meeting agenda along withdocumentation to support the draft resolution. As ofthis writing, the posted agenda does not include theresolution nor the supporting documentation andinstead includes item 7i, which is to discuss thepossibility to include the resolution on a future Iagenda. Romo took to publishing the informationhimself, causing a shock to the small community ofvoters as it revealed that Jergensen made a directrequest to the school district’s attorney, LindsayMoore, to secretly obtain a copy of signed recallpetition signatures from the Alameda County Registrarof Voters––it also revealed that a previous attempt bySunol attorney Thomas Knutsen had been denied bythe ROV in early March.Above: Copy of email request from Board President Ryan Jergensen to the District’s lawyer, Lindsay Moore with KBLegal, originally published in Inform Sunol on April 21. School district’s attorney was second attempt made for petition signaturesThe law offices of KB Legal haveterminated their services withSunol Glen Unified SchoolDistrict as of 4/19/24.

This newsletter is published on or around the5th of each month and is available for sale inan online subscription format only, via ourpublishing platform, SimpleBooklet. Currentyear’s back issues, including previous year’sarchives, will also be available for a feethrough SimpleBooklet. The goal of thispublication was, is and will continue to be to“Promote a more informed Sunol.” Oursubscription fees cover our production costs,while our advertising fees are donatedannually to a local organization of ourchoosing. Our objective is to provide access toall Sunolians, both readers and writers. Allsubmissions and contributions are subject toethical fact checking and verification. Allgroups in town are invited to submit monthlycolumns for publication, and we invite stories,comments, letters, photos, inquiries and otherinformation that would be of interest to thecommunity, and all contributions are subjectto approval and/or correction, guidance,delay or refusal. This paper is dedicated toproviding all points of view within thefollowing guidelines: (1) All submissions are tobe respectful, supported by factualinformation (when applicable) and signed; (2)All submissions will be confirmed by theeditor; (3) Space for Letters to the Editor islimited to 250 words maximum. We reservethe right to accept or refuse submissions andedit for context and length. We also reservethe right to refuse advertising that in ouropinion does not reflect the standards orvalues of the newsletter and Managing Team.The opinions expressed, whether by paidadvertisement or editorial content does notnecessarily reflect the views of thisnewspaper. Content submitted may bereprinted and acknowledged without consentin future publications.T H E S U N O L I A NP A G E 2Seven years ago this month,I was preparing for aninterview that would resultin a new chapter of mycareer - an opportunity togrow and to lead in acommunity I would come tolove. Seven years later, I ampreparing to bring thischapter to a close - to headback to Southern Californiato see what I can contributethere and refocus myattention on my growingfamily. So, it is with abittersweet mix of emotionsthat I write to inform you ofmy departure from PUSDafter seven incrediblyrewarding years of serviceas your Superintendent,effective August 1, 2024.During my time of service tothe community ofPleasanton, I have had theprivilege of witnessing thededication and passion ofour students, staff, parents,and community members.Together, we have achievednumerous milestones andovercome significantchallenges, all whilemaintaining a steadfastcommitment to providing aworld class education forour students - each ofPLEASANTON ALSO INTHE MIX FOR NEWSUPERINTENDENT A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4Editor-in-ChiefCammie O’Connor,editor@thesunolian.comNeil Davies,Publisher-At-Largepublisher@thesunolian.comGeneral ManagerOpen until filled,manager@thesunolian.comIssue Contributors:Kristen Bobertz and Victoria CloutierContributing ReporterN.B. Burke,nb.burke@thesunolian.comGeneral Leads:nb_burke@proton.meSecure email:David Haglund stepping down at PUSDE D U C A T I O N N E W SDavid Haglund,SuperintendentPleasanton Unified School District whom is inspired andempowered to go out andmake a better world. Thatlegacy is fostered in ourclassrooms.Thinking back on these lastseven years fills me withboth pride and gratitude.Together, we haveimplemented innovativeeducational initiatives,funded constructionprojects to restore agedfacilities, expanded studentlearning opportunities,embraced the growingdiversity of our community,and fostered a culture ofinclusivity within ourschools. Theseaccomplishments would nothave been possible withoutyour unwavering support,collaboration, anddedication to our children.While I am excited toembark on the next chapterof my life and focus on myrole as a grandfather tothree incredible younghuman beings, I will deeplymiss the relationships andshared experiences thathave enriched my life whileliving and working here inContinues on pages 5

The opinions, views, and perspectives expressed in articles, editorials, and letters to the editor within The Sunolian are those of theindividual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official stance or opinions of the publication, its editorial board, or its staff. TheSunolian is committed to providing a platform for–and to seeking out–diverse voices and opinions, fostering open dialogue anddiscourse within the community. However, the publication does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of theviewpoints expressed by contributors. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the content and form their own informed opinions.T H E S U N O L I A NOPINIONEditor-in-ChiefCammie O’Connor,Neil Davies, Publisher-At-LargeT H E S U N O L I A NC O M M U N I T Y M E M B E RSubmit your request to join ourEditorial Board to help determine thispaper’s position on local issues:editor+board@thesunolian.comE D I T O R I A L B O A R DEditorial deadline & publication scheduleSubmission guidelines for Opinion (Guest) EssaysSubmission guidelines for Letters to the EditorT R U S T E E J E R G E N S E N S O U G H T T O C E N S O R F R E E S P E E C HLetters to the Editor“Brace for impact”, is what someone told me after Iinformed them of the Fox2 headline: The boardpresident of the Sunol Glen Unified School Districtfiled a restraining order against a woman alleging sheharassed and made threats against him and hisfamily. That was no exaggeration. The impact ofbrazenly false accusations leveled at me in the pressby elected school board president Ryan Jergensenwas targeted and painful. And that appears to havebeen the point: silence dissent and make an exampleout of me by creating a hostile environment forpolitical free speech, specifically criticism ofJergensen's policies and governance. The viciouscallousness with which Trustee Jergensen sought tocensor my free speech by working with a PublicAffairs firm to smear me, should be alarming andchilling to all. Thankfully, disinformation spread in thewild does not hold up in court and Jergensen hasbeen ordered to pay legal fees for having to defendmyself against his meritless TRO. Unfortunately, oncepublished, disinformation doesn’t disappear. I ask thecommunity to consider the impact of having this typeof punitive authoritarian leadership at Sunol Glen.The majority of the teachers and staff havepassionately expressed that a recall of Jergensen iswarranted and necessary. Many parents andcommunity members agree. Weary of “bracing forimpact” from dismal stewardship during Ryan'schaotic and destructive tenure on the board, it is timeto repair Sunol Glen. Recalling Jergensen willpositively impact the ability to restore trust inleadership.Denise Kent Romo / Sunol ResidentFormer Trustee, Sunol Glen Unified School DistrictP A G E 3A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

OPINIONT H E S U N O L I A NG U E S T E S S A YScott Chong and Anna Wang, ContributorsJERGENSEN, HURLEY ILL-PREPARED TO DEAL WITH DEROGATORY REMARKSWe were disappointed, but sadly not surprised by thelack of action taken by the Sunol Glen School Board inresponse to CBOC committee member DebbieFerrari’s behavior. When my wife filed a formalcomplaint, only Trustee Romo and Mrs. Barnes hadthe courtesy to respond. At the recent school boardmeeting, it was clear only Mr. Romo and Mrs. Barneshad done their homework and came prepared totake this issue seriously.To recap:Mrs. Barnes: Discussed in detail precedent andjurisdiction for the Board to remove a CBOC memberin violation of committee by-laws. Trustee Jergensen: “There’s clearly something behindall of this––we should look into it more.”Trustee Hurley: “We have no authority to remove aCBOC member. I need to talk to our lawyer.”Trustee Romo: Read by-laws to Jergensen and Hurleyestablishing the Board’s authority to remove a CBOCmember and the Board’s obligation to remove aCBOC member who had committed ethical violations.Motioned to have Debbie Ferrari removed fromCBOC. Both Trustees Jergensen/Hurley refused.With over a month since this incident occurred andplenty of advance notice, it is inexplicable that Jergensen and Hurley were not prepared to resolvethis issue.During her unlimited speaking time (everyone elserestricted to just two minutes), Debbie admittedgoing “overboard” because “she was angry.” Therewere some who questioned whether her raciallyinsensitive remarks constituted actual racism. Even ifone does not completely understand why her wordswere harmful, the hurt and outrage in my wife’s voiceshould still resonate. There is no one in Sunol whodeserves to be made to feel this way.Even if we give her the benefit of the doubt andassume that Ms. Ferrari’s statements were ignorantrather than malicious, I would hope we could allagree that researching my wife’s place of employmentand then sending an insulting and offensive email tomy wife’s workplace is crossing the line. As a private citizen, Ms. Ferrari is welcome to have herown opinion. But as an appointed member of acommunity oversight board, she is bound by thecommittee’s code of ethics which prohibits the exacttype of conduct she has shown.If this were an isolated incident, it could perhaps beexcused as a temporary lapse. But as a part of apattern of behavior where anyone who disagreeswith her gets attacked and insulted, this is not thedemeanor of someone well-suited to work withdiverse opinions on the Citizen’s Bond OversightCommittee. Put simply, if a letter to the editorprovokes Ms. Ferrari to rage-email at 3am, there is noway her judgement is suitable to oversee a ten milliondollar bond.Both Trustees Jergensen and Hurley indicated theywere going to further evaluate the matter. We willhold you to your word that this will be addressed at afuture meeting. If you truly wish to fulfill yourresponsibilities as elected Board members and toserve the community as you have repeatedlyprofessed, then this an opportunity for you to proveit. If swept under the rug, then it proves you condonepoor behavior provided it’s done by the right people. It will reveal an increasingly clear picture of whetheryou are willing or capable of enforcing accountability.Show us you can put the good of the community overblatant favoritism and make this right. Update: Trustee Jergensen replied afterwards asking forthe relevant emails be sent to him; ie. He came to themeeting unprepared and made a ruling withoutgathering background info. No response from TrusteeHurley.P A G E 4 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A Nthe community. I am grateful for thefriendships I have developed, thememories we created together, and theinvaluable lessons I have learned aboutmyself and my role as a leader. I ambetter because of your trust,encouragement, and confidence.A few years back, the Board of Trusteesand I collaborated in developing asuccession plan in order to be preparedfor this eventuality. This includedestablishing a role of DeputySuperintendent and intentional actions tobe sure the team was ready. I amconfident that with the support of ourBoard of Trustees, Mr. Diolazo, the PUSDgovernance team, district and siteleaders, and our faculty and staff willcontinue to invest in this organizationwith integrity, compassion, and adedication to excellence. Together, youwill inspire and empower future studentsto reach their fullest potential. You willalso, I am sure, continue to inspire andempower one another. That is whatstrong, purposeful communities do.As I prepare to wind things down, I wantto express my heartfelt appreciation toeach and every one of you for yoursupport of and dedication to the successof our students. It has been the honor ofa lifetime, and a great privilege for mepersonally, to serve as yourSuperintendent. I will carry with mememories of our time together - the highpoints, along with the challenging times -for years to come. Please know that while I may be leavingmy role and responsibilities here inPUSD, I will forever remain a proudmember of this extraordinary communityof character. I hope to stay in touch withthose of you who have walked alongsideme during my time here. And, to hear ofthose things that come from our effortsin the years ahead. Continued from page 2HAGLUND STEPPINGDOWN AT PUSDP A G E 5A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

VIC CLOUTIER, CONTRIBUTORCONNECTING ACROSS THE BRIDGES OF SUNOL T H E S U N O L I A N ven if you’re a lifelong Sunolian, chances are you don’t know about all the different bridges thatspan Sinbad Creek. There are beam bridges, arch bridges, slab bridges,footbridges, and derelict wooden suspensionbridges, too dangerous to cross. More than 43bridges criss-cross the 4-mile stretch of KilkareRoad. I’ve been counting them for the last fewweeks– so if you suffer from gephyrophobia (fear ofbridges) avoid Kilkare Road! Some of the most elaborate and quirky bridges arein upper Kilkare Woods, including a MadisonCounty-esque covered footbridge and the TomSawyer Bridge. How do we have a bridge namedafter a Mark Twain character? “Well, the original Tom Sawyer was a sort of localhero and fireman from San Francisco and MarkTwain’s friend,” explained Nathan Grant. A relativenewbie to Sunol, Grant went to the source: GabeVargas who explained that Tom Sawyer would visitSunol and in true Sunol fashion, somehow ended upwith a bridge named in his honor. (I have heard acouple of explanations all involving alcohol, but allpaths seem to lead back to the Gabe Vargasversion.)The crazy twists and turns of Kilkare Road followSinbad creek before it joins the Alameda creek. Thecreek, now ephemeral, used to flow year-round andwas full of steelhead trout. The Native Ohlone tribeprobably crossed Sinbad Creek for millennia usingsteppingstones, forming a type of bridge called aclapper bridge. The Tarr Steps bridge in England isthe longest and oldest clapper bridge of its kind, stillin use today. Neolithic Brits layered massive stoneslabs across the River Barle in Exmoor. According tolocal legend, the bridge was built by the devilhimself––so he could sunbathe and get drunk––untila disgruntled priest chased him away. Brits are pontists (bridge lovers). The word bridgecomes from the saxon word “brycy”. They are thecurrency of commerce, conquest and myth on ourElittle island. Richard McCulloch, a Missouri-borntycoon was so enamored by English bridges that hepaid over $2 million in 1968 to buy the decrepitLondon Bridge––becoming the owner of possiblythe world’s largest antique. After consuming largeamounts of whisky (he credited “booze and broads”for his success) McCulloch paid double the askingprice and rebuilt the bridge in Lake Havesu, Arizona. While I’d love a bridge, owning a bridge in Sunol isn’teasy or cheap. Bridges require constantmaintenance. The recent collapse of the FrancisScott Key Bridge in Baltimore shows just howvulnerable bridges can be. Many residents of KilkareRoad have had to spend thousands of dollarsrepairing bridges damaged by last year's floods. In amatter of hours, Sinbad Creek became a dangeroustorrent of mud and debris tearing down theconcrete abutments, pillars and siding of bridgesthroughout Sunol. And credit goes to locals in Sunollike Klay Kunkel, who with other volunteers, spenthours removing debris from bridges (whilesuspended upside down!) and doing in situ repairsfor bridges in the Kilkare Woods Association. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that everyonein Sunol is going to become a bit of a bridge expertin the next year. The Arroyo de la Laguna Bridge,built in 1939, is slated to be rebuilt sometime in2025. The bridge crosses Niles Canyon Road andconstruction will no doubt cause massive trafficsnarls and angst for even the most devoted pontist.Hop in your car, or take a stroll up Kilkare Woodsand experience the bridges of Sinbad Creek.Left: Klay Kunkel being heldby his feet upside-downand wielding a chainsaw tofree a tree beneath SolviegBridge at Cabin 88. NeilDavies (in plaid) isstabilizing the tree with anaxe. Several residents worked to clear bridges androadways after the stormand flood of January 2023.Photo by Stasia HylasP A G E 6 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

removing flammable vegetation to reduce wildfirerisks.“We thank Representative Swalwell for his supportand leadership in prioritizing the region’s wildfiremitigation work,” said Park District General ManagerSabrina Landreth. “This funding will allow the ParkDistrict to continue its interagency collaborativework at the local, state, and federal level.”The funding will help reduce the risk of acatastrophic wildfire and create fire-resilientlandscapes, which also lessen ongoing mitigationand maintenance costs. The Park District’svegetation management plan includes providingvaluable habitat for threatened plants and wildlifesuch as the pallid manzanita, monarch butterfly,and Alameda whipsnake. The Park District continues to work with its federal,state, and regional partners to secure additionalfunding for the project. he East Bay Regional Park District will receive $1,380,000 in federal funding secured by U.S.Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA14) for wildfiremitigation and safe, resilient forest work. On March23 of this year, President Biden signed bipartisanfunding legislation, which included the fundingrequest for East Bay Regional Park District’s wildfiremitigation work. “The federal funds secured by RepresentativeSwalwell will reduce wildfire risks by removinghazardous vegetation from the East Bay hills,” saidPark District Board President Elizabeth Echols. “ThePark District Board and staff are grateful toRepresentative Swalwell for his leadership andcontributions toward improving wildfire safety.”The new funding will help thin and removevegetation, specifically dead and dying trees inareas of Anthony Chabot Regional Park. In the fall of2020, while conducting ongoing vegetationmanagement work, Park District staff noticedsignificant tree die-off in its parks. Furtherinvestigation identified over 1,500 acres of deadand dying trees within Regional Parks, mostlyeucalyptus, but also bay and pine. “I was proud to secure nearly $1.4 million inCommunity Project Funding for the East BayRegional Park District,” said Congressman EricSwalwell (CA-14). “The Park District’s leadership invegetation management and wildfire mitigationprojects reduce the ongoing risk of catastrophicwildfire, keeping our homes safe throughout theEast Bay and California.”Wildfire safety is one of the Park District’s toppriorities. Year-round efforts include monitoring firedanger and weather, maintaining professionallytrained full-time and on-call firefighters, maintainingspecialized wildland firefighting equipment, andTT H E S U N O L I A NPARK DISTRICT SET TO RECEIVE $1.38MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDSF R O M E B P A R K S D I S T R I C TP A G E 7A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

Published by Trustee Romo in Inform Sunol onApril 19. Click here to read the all documents.Published by Trustee Jergensen in Inform Sunolon April 22. Click here to read the entire letter.T H E S U N O L I A NJERGENSEN RESPONDS TO ROMO VIA ‘INFORM SUNOL’.... In what may be a Brown Act violation in accordancewith AB 992 and serial meeting rules, Jergensenresponded directly to Romo regarding a matter withintheir subject-matter jurisdiction via the community e-newsletter Inform Sunol. While it remains unknown if aviolation occurred, community members respondeden masse on Facebook––where Jergensen alsocommented.In one comment, Jergensen stated he was not “tryingto function in secrecy.” Resident Laura Oka replied, “Ifyou aren’t trying to operate in secrecy, then why the‘...Don’t tell Ted [Romo] or Molly [Barnes]...’ I’m a littlestuck there. Because it sounds underhanded,unethical and secret still to me, and you haven’t yetexplained it.” Jergensen told Oka, “I am trying to do the trickybusiness of the board all while being attacked,provoked and seeing spin on partial truths against me.”Former Sunol school board member Victoria Cloutieradded a last word replying to Oka: “He really meansthe tricky business of being Ryan. Nothing about beingon the school board is tricky business unless you areanti-democratic and don’t want transparency.”Jergensen then posted a his entire Inform Sunol Letterto the Editor in the comments.TIMELINE OF RECENT EVENTSMarch 6: Alameda County Registrar of Voters’ SeniorDeputy County Counsel, Raymond Lara, responds toSunol resident and lawyer, Thomas Knutsen, stating“You are not entitled to receive a copy of, or to review,the petitions.” Definitions are provided outliningcircumstances in which petitions may be examined.March 12: Jergensen forwards Knutsen’s email to theschool district’s attorney, Lindsay Moore with KB Legal,asking if she would “request a copy of signed petitions”from the ROV and he also asks that she keep thisrequest a secret.March 13: Moore replies that she “represents theDistrict and not individual Board Members”, andexplains she cannot make the request under theconditions Jergensen has requested.April 19: KB Legal terminates their legal services withSunol Glen Unified School District..April 19: School Board agenda is published withoutRomo’s Censure Resolution.April 21: Romo publishes his draft Censure Resolutionand applicable documentation in Inform Sunol.Continued from coverContinues on next pageP A G E 8 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NAccording to Jergensen’s email, itis true that he made this requestof the school’s attorney–and he asked that his request be kept asecret from Trustee Romo andSuperintendent Barnes. AttorneyLindsay Moore deniedJergensen’s request, stating“Because I represent the Districtand not individual BoardMembers, I cannot make thatrequest under the conditionsthat you have requested.”Utilizing the school’s attorney toreview petition signatures hasnot been discussed in any priorboard meeting to date, whichwould have been the appropriateprocedure and would haveallowed Sunol residents tocomment and the entire boardto consider making the request.Instead, the remaining boardmembers and voters were left inthe dark that such a request hadeven been made, and it istherefore unclear how Jergensenexpected others to have aparticipatory voice in the matter.Except it was a single member ofthe board (Jergensen) who madea request on his own behalfwithout the knowledge,discussion or consent from anyother member of the board. Itstands to reason that the nowpublished communication wouldtherefore not be afforded anyconfidentiality. The email threadalso contains communicationfrom Sunol resident and lawyer,Tom Knutsen, whose ownprevious attempt at reviewing thepetition signatures was denied bythe ROV. Knutsen’s request waspresumably on behalf ofJergensen, whom he representsin a personal lawsuit against theROV.It has now been confirmed thatKB Legal has terminated theirservices with the District as ofApril 19 and will not be inattendance at the April 23 schoolboard meeting.....AND TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS VIA SOCIAL MEDIAPosted in Community Facebookgroups on April 22P A G E 9A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

N.B. BURKE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORT emoving a Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) member for unethical conduct is not anew process, although it can be a subjective one. Thedecision for a member’s removal (as is the case formany local area committees) is left up to an electedboard that oversees the committee’s governance andadherence to adopted bylaws. Bylaws for unethicalconduct––may and typically do––include derogatoryand threatening comments made both in public andonline; or, in lieu of a direct bylaw, there is an EthicsPolicy (as is the case for Sunol’s CBOC), which includesthe broad statement: “Not all ethical issues thatCommittee members face are covered in thisstatement.” This offers the most legal flexibility for aBoard to remove a member for ethical violations. When Sunol CBOC committee member, DebbieFerrari, made alleged derogatory statements via a Feb.4 email sent to another member of the community(see our Feb. 20 issue), those statements seemed totrot out the well-worn “model minority” mythregarding Asian-Americans––on the receiving end ofthat email was Anna Wang, a Sunol resident ofChinese descent.Other school districts in California have foundthemselves in similar situations with their oversightcommittees, and their school boards have actedswiftly to remove offending members––it stands toreason that Sunol’s School Board is not without aguide or precedent, and yet so far, no removal oraction has been taken.During public comments on item 7f at the March 12school board meeting, Board President RyanRIF ETHICAL ISSUES SUBJECTIVE, WHY NOTGIVE PRECEDENCE TOPUBLIC’S PLEA?Two School Board members, at theirown discretion, continue to allowharassing email sender to stay oncommittee ignoring public outrageT H E S U N O L I A NJergensen made an allowance for Ferrari to speakwithout a time limit––while limiting all other publiccommenters from the usual 3 minute speaking timeto 2 minutes, including Wang. Jergensen seemedunsure in his granting of extended time to Ferrari, aswitnessed by his stumbling over the words he choseto do so. However, he must have already beencertain in that decision since he called Ferrari’spublic comment card last, as she had requested onher public comment card (shown at right).The board majority in recent months have talked atlength about how to manage public comments inaddition to prioritizing ending meetings at areasonable time––now many are wondering howdecisions such as this one fit into that priority.So, she can be invited to speak bythe chair of the board, and I––please go ahead and speak,Debbie, um, and, we will, uh, we’lllisten and you can try and keepyour report as brief as you cansince it’s late. Thank you.— RYAN JERGENSEN, SUNOL SCHOOLBOARD PRESIDENT, GRANTING ANUNLIMITED AND UNDEFINED AMOUNT OFSPEAKING TIME TO PUBLIC COMMENTER &CBOC MEMBER DEBBIE FERRARIP A G E 1 0 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NAbove: Copy of Sunol Resident Debbie Ferrari’s comment card submitted at the March 12 school boardmeeting, stating “This I ask to present at end of comments so that I can respond to what has been saidabout me. It isn’t a comment for the public when I am defending myself. If I am not allowed due time atthe proper time, that is abuse.”For agenda item 7f, a total of 9 comment cards were submitted and numbered in order of receipt, as isthe process for public comments. Ferrari’s comment card was labeled as ‘Speaker #6’, however, she waspermitted by Jergensen to speak last, as she requested here.P A G E 1 1A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NA COMBINED TOTAL OF NEARLY 80 YEARS EXPERIENCEMolleen Barnes, Superintendent/Principal37 years of service to educationMark Barnes, Health & Wellness Coach12 years of service to educationSean Gabel, IT Manager7 years of service to educationElizabeth Harmuth, Computer Lab & IT Services22 years of service to educationWho’s next?After many contentious months that seemingly began in August 2023, and at onepoint included Board President Jergensen requesting Sunol Glen School’sSuperintendent/Principal Molleen Barnes to sit in the audience instead of with theBoard at the dais, Barnes submitted her notice of retirement at the tail end ofJanuary 2024. On April 8 this year, Assemblymember Alex Lee recognized Barnes asAssembly District 24's Woman of the Year.Also leaving is Mark Barnes, Sunol Glen’s Health & Wellness Coordinator, and spouseto Molleen. Both are set to retire, bringing an end to ongoing strife that made a blipon the tail end of Molleen’s career at the District. The Health & Wellness Coordinatorat Sunol Glen was procured through a grant with Alameda County Health CareServices Agency and their Center for Healthy Schools, and had allowed the District tocreate a robust physical education program for its K-8 students.After repeatedly being falsely accused by Trustee Linda Hurley of editing livestreamfootage of School Board meetings, Sean Gabel made a quick exit from the District lastNovember and is now the Director of Information Technology in Emery UnifiedSchool District.Enduring an ever-increasing stressful environment at Sunol Glen, Elizabeth Harmuthis the most recent employee to resign, intending to leave at the end of the schoolyear. President of Sunol Glen’s California School Employees Association (Chapter862), Harmuth, along with teacher Chris Wheeler, (President of the Sunol Federationof Teachers, AFT Local 1494) have been on the receiving end of verbal attacks aftereach union stood in staunch support of Trustees Jergensen and Hurley’s recall.As board majority seemingly targets school staff, parents and students lose outP A G E 1 2 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NThe information listed below is also located at:https://www.acvote.org/election-information/elections?id=256#Please review the AC Vote website periodically in case of updates and for polling center information. Allregistered voters in the Sunol Glen Unified School District will be sent a Vote By Mail Ballot.P A G E 1 3A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NMOLLEEN BARNES HONORED AS WOMAN OF THE YEARAssemblymember Alex Lee recognized Molleen Barnes asAssembly District 24’s Woman of the Year. She is currently theSunol Glen Unified School District Superintendent andPrincipal. Barnes, who will be retiring in June, has dedicated over 37years in education. She started her teaching career as anEnglish Teacher at Fremont Unified School District beforebecoming Vice Principal. She has also served as a Principal inBrentwood and the Director of Human Resources in AntiochUnified School District. “As a lifelong educator, Molly has demonstrated hercommitment to students, parents and staff,” saidAssemblymember Lee. “From overseeing recovery effortsafter the flooding of Sunol Glen School, to standing up for theLGBTQ+ community, Molly has gone above and beyond in herservice to her community. It is my honor to recognize her asAssembly District 24’s Woman of the Year.” Assemblymember Alex Lee awards Barnes in District 24NICHOLAS C HANCOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR,OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER ALEX LEETop Left: Sunol Glen parents and Sunol community members join Molleen Barnes in Sacramento at the State Assemblyon April 8. Top Right: Assemblymember Alex Lee and Barnes smile for the camera in Sacramento.Above: Barnes holds a framed copy of theresolution in her name, recognizing her asDistrict 24's Woman of the Year.Continues on next pageP A G E 1 4 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

Last year, like many communities in California,Sunol, including Sunol Glen School, was floodeddue to the heavy rains.Barnes was on the front lines to safeguard theschool. She joined forces with her community,local leaders, and Assemblymember Lee’s officeto ensure critical resources were available toprotect the school facility.Barnes worked with state and federal agenciesto oversee the flood recovery, and the FEMAapplication process to ensure the schools’facilities are preserved. She also oversaw thesuccessful passage of the Sunol Glen FacilityBond to improve the quality of educationfacilities. Barnes has also been a firm ally of LGBTQ+community members. She stood in strongsupport of the LGBTQ+ community when theSunol School Board voted to ban the display ofthe pride flag on school property. “Molly courageously spoke against the board'sdecision, so that LGBTQ+ students and theirfamilies feel welcomed at the school,” saidAssemblymember Lee. “I want to thank Molly forher hard work as an educator and her courageto stand with the LGBTQ+ community.” T H E S U N O L I A NContinues from previous pageLeft: Lee and Barnes point to the marquee above the speaker’s desk at the California State House in Sacramento. Middle:Lee and Barnes pose in front of the State Capitol. Right: Barnes and her sisters celebrate her award at the State Capitol.Above: Assemblymember Lee speaking to the State Legislature,welcoming Molleen Barnes and awarding her Woman of the Year.A view from above: Barnes’ supporters and family gathered insupport, with a great view of Assemblymember Lee as heannounced District 24's recognition.P A G E 1 5A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

C O M M U N I T Y C O R N E RB Y K R I S T E N B O B E R T Z he Sunol community came together for a delightful Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30th at the Sunol Parkdowntown. The event was organized by local families to makea fun-filled day for the kids in the community.Egg-citement Filled MorningA group of moms spent a night prior to the event at Bosco'sRoadhouse, stuffing about 600 eggs with candies and prizes.The morning of the egg hunt, these eggs were then hidden allover the park, from one end to the other, waiting to bediscovered by eager kids.At 10:00 am, approximately 30 excited kids - ages 3 months to13 years old - gathered at the park, ready to embark on theiregg-hunting adventure. Rowan Bobertz, a 10-year-old localSunolian, led the countdown for the kids before they sprintedoff to find the hidden treasures.Fun-filled Egg HuntThe kids scurried around the park, searching high and low for EASTER EGG HUNT IN SUNOL PARK WASA ‘HOPPING’ GOOD TIMETT H E S U N O L I A NContinues on next pageAbove: Sunol kids searched high and lowfor Easter eggs.Above: Chalk was one of the fun activities for kids after the hunt. All Photos by Pauline BergeronP A G E 1 6 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A Nthe hidden eggs. It was a sight to behold as theydashed from one spot to another, their faceslighting up with joy every time they found an egg.It took them about 30 minutes to find all the eggs,each one more exciting than the last.After the egg hunt, the kids engaged in variousactivities such as playing with bubbles, trying outstilts and getting creative with chalk. They alsoeagerly opened their eggs to unveil the goodieshidden inside.Community BondingThe Easter Egg Hunt was not just about the kidshaving a great time; it was also an opportunity forthe Sunol community to come together and bondover shared experiences. Local families pitched inby providing coffee and donuts for everyone,adding to the warm and inviting atmosphere ofthe event.A Tradition in the MakingThe success of this year's Easter Egg Hunt hassealed its fate as an annual tradition in the Sunolcommunity. It is sure to remain a highlight everyspring for Sunol families.One parent summed up the sentiment of all bysaying, "This is the best Easter Egg Hunt we'veever been to!" The smiles on the kids' faces andthe laughter that filled the park this past Easterwere a testament to the joy and happiness thatevents like these bring to a community.Starting above, moving clockwise:Over 30 kids came out to search forthe eggs, including sparkly gold eggs.Top middle: Who doesn’t love donuts?Coffee & donuts were provided bysome volunteers to share. Top right:Volunteers hid over 600 eggs anddecorated the park for Easter.Bottom, far right: Stilts was anotherfun activity brought from acommunity member to share witheveryone. Right: Olive (age 2)excitedly searched for eggs.Continued from previous pageP A G E 1 7A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

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T H E S U N O L I A NS U B M I T A R E C I P E& P H O T O :editor+recipes@thesunolian.comDeadline: 5/9/24P A G E 1 9A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NTRAFFIC CLOSURES ONCE AGAIN TO AFFECT SUNOLReminder for Sunol residents and travelers to Sunol area that Caltrans is scheduled to close southboundInterstate 680 between the I-580/I-680 connector in Pleasanton and Koopman Road in Sunol from 9 p.m.Friday, April 26 through 4 a.m. Monday morning, April 29, 2024. Northbound I-680 will remain open andwill not be affected by the closure.Please also note the full shutdown of southbound Foothill Road and southbound Pleasanton Sunol Roadat Castlewood Drive; Motorists on southbound Foothill can only turn left onto Castlewood Drive and onlyturn left again onto Pleasanton Sunol Road to northbound I-680.In the case of rain or unanticipated developments, the closures will be rescheduled and the public will benotified. For more details visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdcnr9azP A G E 2 0 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

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Be sure to alsofollow us onFacebook wherewe also announcethe publication ofour next issue.Click or scan below for our 2024 issues availableonline:T H E S U N O L I A NWE GOT ISSUES: CHECK IT OUT ONLINEOur 2024 issues are now available in print and online. Ouronline format includes interactive, multimedia andembedded videos, and is presented as an onscreen,digital, flippable booklet. Our digital version convenientlyincludes reference links throughout.February, Vol. 7, Special Issue https://midd.me/shLWMarch, Vol. 7, Iss. 2 https://midd.me/shLWFebruary, Vol. 7, Iss. 1https://midd.me/QAtZApril, Vol. 7, Iss. 3 CONTACT PUBLISHER TO ADVERTISEAdvertising Rates for the 2024 Feb, Mar, Apr and May editions are on the house during our inaugural re-launch. You may contact the Publisher, Neil Davies (publisher@thesunolian.com) regarding advertisingrates past the May issue. For advertising sizes and artwork requirements, contact the Editor & LayoutDesigner, Cammie O’Connor (editor@thesunolian.com) for specs and file types. P A G E 2 2 A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4 https://midd.me/lCLx

T H E S U N O L I A NGOT A NEWS TIP? If you have a lead on a newsworthy story, would like to have your county or town meeting covered, or other general interest story that includes or covers the town of Sunol or the unincorporated areas of Alameda County, please share your leads, ideas and information to: editor+leads@thesunolian.com. We always love to share stories about what are community members are up to and howthey are improving the local area and looking out for one another––so let us know!P A G E 2 3A P R . 2 3 , 2 0 2 4

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