At the June 26, 2008 meeting of the Board of Education, outgoing Superintendent Jane Smith was lauded by the Board, district administration, and members of the community for her leadership during her tenure as Superintendent and for her commitment to the students of Fontana.

Dr. Wayne Ruble, who is both a retired FUSD Board Member and administrator, set the tone for the evening when he spoke as a member of the community to thank Mrs. Smith for coming to Fontana and wishing her well on her retirement.  Those sentiments were echoed over and over again throughout the Board Meeting.

Board President Laura Abernathy-Mancha gave Mrs. Smith a membership to the National Cloud Appreciation Society so that after she retires she will be able to sit back and enjoy watching the clouds as an official card-carrying member.  The other Board Members joined in with their heartfelt thanks and best wishes:  Gus Hawthorn thanked Mrs. Smith for providing the leadership that our district needed to take us to the next level and for her lasting impact on the students of Fontana.  Julie Ramos thanked Mrs. Smith for taking the extra time to work with incoming Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks to ensure a smooth transition.  Larry Clark repeated this sentiment stressing the importance succession planning and in finding someone who knows the history of our organization and has an understanding of the community.

Cali Olsen-Binks, Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services, who will take over the reins as Superintendent on July 1, thanked Mrs. Smith on behalf of the Superintendent's Cabinet for helping them to remember that their main goal is to be here for kids.  She said that they had racked their brains to think of a fitting farewell gift, teasing Mrs. Smith that they didn't think she needed another plaque as she had accumulated well "over 5000 during the course of her career."  Instead, they felt what she would appreciate best was knowing that they would continue to do their best for the students of Fontana and by doing so they would be keeping her in their hearts.  Mrs. Olsen-Binks also thanked Mrs. Smith for mentoring her and said that she did indeed have big shoes to fill.

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For her part, Mrs. Smith said that following the tradition set forth by past Superintendent Karen Harshman, she was donating art to the district.  The drawing by retired FUSD drama teacher Eric Peavy depicts "learning to read" and will brighten the main hallway of the District Office.  She also challenged the Board and the district to revitalize Fontana's core schools, remembering what they have that is unique and that no new school will ever have again:  their great auditoriums.  She said that it is her hope that we will use future bonds to focus on renovating the Fontana Middle School and Fontana High School campuses and then use the schools' "strength" to build a Visual and Performing Arts magnet.

Mrs. Smith ended the evening by saying she is ready to give retirement another try and "thank you all for a great two years."

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