State Superintendent Tony Thurmond visits Pajaro, Lakeview schools

PAJARO — The recent flooding of Pajaro prompted a visit by Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction, where he surveyed the damage to Pajaro Middle School’s campus, then went over to Lakeview Middle School where he gave out supplies to the Pajaro students temporarily taking classes there Friday. Following the breach of the Pajaro River levee March 11 that flooded the community of Pajaro and surrounding areas, all schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District reverted to distance learning the following Monday and Tuesday but returned to in-person classes that Wednesday. The exception was Pajaro Middle School, which not only remained under evacuation orders, but was also so heavily impacted by the flooding that students could not return to class.

Instead, they have been attending classes on the Lakeview Middle School campus where they will remain through at least the end of the school year. Thurmond paid a visit to both, to see the damage at Pajaro and meet with the students at Lakeview. He also went to the shelter at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds to distribute gift cards and supplies.

Thurmond was joined by a number of local officials, including PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez, Santa Cruz County Office of Education Superintendent Faris Sabbah, Monterey County Office of Education Superintendent Deneen Guss, Watsonville Mayor Eduardo Montesino, PVUSD Board trustees Daniel Dodge and Kim De Serpa and Board President Jennifer Holm. One area that has created difficulty for the recovery efforts in Pajaro has been the lack of a federal disaster declaration, which would allow for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding. Thurmond told officials ahead of the tour he has been pushing for it.

“Until that happens, we’re prepared to support thousands of families with whatever they need in terms of gift cards for food, water, clothes,” he said. “We raised this privately through our (California Department of Education) nonprofit foundation because we know how long it takes sometimes for the federal government to move.” One of the first things Thurmond did was tour the impacted areas of campus, including some classrooms. The quad was littered with dried mud and bark chips, one linoleum floor had clear evidence of water damage, and the floor of one English classroom was covered from wall to wall with wet mud.

An English classroom at Pajaro Middle School is completely covered in mud following the Pajaro Valley flooding. Students have been taking classes at Lakeview Middle School since. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Thurmond remarked afterward that Rodriguez even pointed out areas where mold was developing in the classrooms. “We don’t want there to be disaster on top of disaster,” he said. “We know that these create health conditions, and it needs to be addressed immediately.”

Thurmond held a short press conference afterward, where he thanked PVUSD staff for its work. “We’re grateful that learning can continue under these very difficult circumstances,” he said. Thurmond also thanked the efforts of both county superintendents, who also delivered short remarks.

“What has happened here has been tragic, and it also has been monumental how this community has come together to support each other,” said Sabbah. “This has been a labor of love.” Guss invoked the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.” “It takes counties, it takes state and local government — federal government as well — working together to support students and families when major emergencies like this happen,” she said. “I just feel so very grateful that Dr.

Sabbah and I are able to work so closely.” In response to a question on how many other schools are at risk for a high level of flooding, Thurmond said levels vary, but pinpointed about 500 schools in seven counties that were at risk for flooding. He also said every school was at some kind of risk, whether for flooding, wildfires or public safety power shutoffs.

“Sadly, it has become the new normal for there to be school disruption,” he said. “What we have to do is begin to work with our schools to learn how to work through those disruptions … When schools have to close, the first thing that we want them to be focused on is health and safety, then to make whatever reasonable accommodations that we can to assure that our students are still learning.” Rodriguez told the Sentinel that she was glad to have Thurmond on campus.

“I think it’s important as a state superintendent for him to see some of the impacts,” she said. “I’m also really excited for him to see the really quick work that we did at Lakeview Middle and just see the fact that we here understand that schools are an area of service and support and stability of students, and that’s how we were able to make that modification really quickly.” Rodriguez estimated that half of all classrooms were impacted. The bidding and contracting process will need to be completed and an evaluation of the true extent of the damage will need to be investigated before the campus can reopen.

“Because of the climate, we need to be really cautious and ensure that we’re investigating mold and air quality issues,” she said. “It’s not just about taking out the mud and changing the carpets, but it’s also about making sure that the walls and the floors have withstood any damage as well.” In the meantime, Pajaro Middle’s parking lot and basketball courts are one of two CalFIRE-designated sanitation centers, where residents whose homes were significantly damaged can have access to showers, toilets and laundry and even receive free packs of bottled water. “If this camp wasn’t into place, it wouldn’t have been able to cover the hygiene needs for the community,” said John Byrne, CalFIRE assistant battalion chief.

Over at Lakeview, Pajaro’s nearly 500 students gathered in the gym to hear from Thurmond and pick up supplies. Thurmond empathized with the students, as he reflected on growing up and struggling to get by. With his father fighting off in the Vietnam War, he was raised by his mother until she died when Thurmond was 6.

From there, he was raised by a cousin he had not previously met, with meals consisting of a free lunch program, items purchased with food stamps, and ingredients donated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including government cheese.

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond speaks in front of a crowd of Pajaro Middle School students at Lakeview Middle School, which students have been attending since the Pajaro Valley flood.

Thurmond later helped distribute gift cards and supplies to the students. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

“If you could get through the box, it would be the best grilled cheese or quesadilla you ever had,” he said. Thurmond credits education with turning his life around and advised students to stick with it. “It will take you wherever you want to go,” he said.

From there, students picked up supplies that had been collected through the CDE Foundation.

These included books, backpacks, Target gift cards and shirts, beanies and socks featuring either San Francisco 49ers or Lakeview Eagles logos.