AUSD board says goodbye to 20-year member

By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun

     ALPINE — The Alpine Union School District board of trustees met on Wednesday, Nov. 8, to bid Mary Wiggins and Steve Hunyar a very fond farewell. Also, the new Excel program was explained and discussed at length.
     A cake in honor of Mary Wiggins, who has served on the AUSD school board for 20 years, was offered along with coffee as refreshments, before the meeting officially started.
     The many people who came to thank Wiggins and to see her off was a tribute to her service here in Alpine. Wiggins’ family as well as Jerry Ansel, former superintendent of AUSD, joined in the festivities to wish her well.
     As the meeting started, Wiggins asked all to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Then Greg Ryan, current superintendent, began the proceedings by telling all about when he first came to this district. He recalled Mary Wiggins being the person who called him and offered him his job as the superintendent of AUSD, and added that Wiggins has always offered a great stability to our school board.
     “Mary is a board member who keeps in mind what’s good for the kids,” Ryan said.
     Jerry Ansel then came forward and said he had the pleasure of working with Wiggins for 17 years, since 1986. Ansel said that Wiggins has the ability to do four things that are extraordinary.
     “Mary is a board member who can think like a parent, think like a teacher, think like a community member and think like a board member,” he said.

AUSD school board member Scott Barr, Superintendent Greg Ryan, and departing members Mary Wiggins and Steve Hunyar pose for a picture to honor Wiggins’ 20 years with the district.

     He went on to say that Wiggins brought a special charm, integrity, and honest elegance to the board.
     Anne Pierce, who could not be at the board meeting, wrote a letter to her friend Mary Wiggins. Greg Ryan read this letter aloud to Wiggins, whose emotions were in full view. The letter listed Wiggins’ true ability to listen and to reflect as one of Wiggins’ strengths, and Pierce ended her letter with love and respect to Wiggins.
     Scott Barr spoke next of the many years he has known Wiggins. He spoke then of her show of emotion and said that she wore her tears really well, as it shows her dedication and her passion. He then presented her with a beautiful bouquet of lavender roses and pink and white lilies.
     After all present had spoken on behalf of Wiggins, Ryan directed everyone’s attention to the AUSD’s resolution to name and dedicate the Alpine Elementary School library to Mary Wiggins. He showed the plaque that was made to cement the resolution, and presented it for Wiggins to see.
     Wiggins was clearly proud, happy, and sentimentally honored by this resolution, saying, “The nicest thing you could have done for me is to name this library after me. My kids have all attended this school, and I made my start here at Alpine Elementary.”
     After a brief pause, Wiggins got the meeting back to business.
     Danielle Pupa and her mother, Laura Pupa addressed the board. They made the request that Christian Youth Theater flyers be handed out in Wednesday packets.
     It is district policy that any flyers from any community or activities outside our own community, cannot distribute flyers or advertising to our students before the board has approved the action.
     Pupa spoke of how the CYT has helped her with her confidence, and ability to speak, and felt that the opportunity for any Alpine students who are interested in being a part of CYT would benefit them. Her mother ended the address saying that CYT has three sessions a year and the students perform in professionally produced shows.
     After clarification from Scott Barr that the CYT is a local program that benefits children and a non-profit organization, Ryan said he would review the criteria for adding its fliers into the Wednesday packets.
     Diane Anderson stood up next to thank Mary Wiggins, and also to add her thanks to the Special Education department. Gayle Malone also added her thanks to Wiggins for all that she has done for AUSD.
     Bill Cudog presented an in-depth look at the new EXCEL program. EXCEL stands for Excellence and Commitment to Every Learner and will be implemented school-wide in Kindergarten through fifth grade.
     This program has been designed as an ongoing process that addresses direct instruction, a higher level of questioning, and leveled material that is directed to a “teach, teach, teach principal”.
     “This is a major undertaking and overtaking for our district,” Cudog said. He gives credit to the administrators and teaching staff for taking this on for the benefit of all students.
     The board then accepted a donation of $40,000 from the Boulder Oaks Elementary PTA for the purchase of playground equipment.
     Steve Hunyar spoke at this time, saying that it has been an honor and a pleasure working on the board. Although he is leaving the service of the board, he will still be working hard on the Shadow Hills PTA.
     Barr’s closing statements were directed at Wiggins again, saying, “Mary, what a blessing for this district to have you on this board.”
     Then he directed condolences to Bill Weaver who narrowly missed the election to this year’s board appointments, adding that Weaver is still a very important part of this community, and a very important person to the board due to his great involvement with the school district.
     He also welcomed Eric Wray who won the election to the board and was also present at this meeting.
     Wiggins closed the meeting by thanking all for her 20 years.
     “It has been a pleasure working with all of you,” she said. “Our new board will continue to do the best and will continue to keep the kids best interests first. We will be fine!”

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