EASTERN PLUMAS HEALTH CARE held its regular meeting on Thursday, June 24th. Human Resources Director, Lori Tange stated they are continuing to focus on new hires and currently have eight new hires in the process.  
CEO, Doug McCoy reported for Chief Financial Officer, Katherine Parrish who was absent from the meeting. He said although patient revenue was under budget by $697,722 year-to-date through May 31, 2021, they managed to post net income in the amount of $3,013,884 as Intergovernmental Transfers came in over budget by $2,516,233 and have seen over the last three months a steady rise in patient revenues.
McCoy gave an executive summary to the Board and stated three-year financial performance trend report was presented at the recent annual Board retreat and reflected a 5.4% revenue increase and 13.4% net income improvement over the prior year. These improvements were inclusive of 800k in unplanned COVID related costs and various department hiring scale adjustments to improve access to staffing.
He reported EPHC completed contracting with Custom Learning Solutions for a three-year partnership for implementation of our ‘Ignite the Patient Experience’ initiative. A draft strategic implementation plan was initiated on June 10th and will be finalized to incorporate its activities during this process. Two key committees will be launched in July as part of their initiative. The Community Advisory Panel will provide operational recommendations from a seven-member team representing each of the EPHC service areas. The Service Excellence Committee will be comprised of both department and management staff across the organization to assist with strategy implementation, recommendations, and training to the organization on its 5-star initiative. Prior to their launch of this initiative in mid-May, they have seen a significant increase in customer satisfaction feedback through its new customer review process. The patient grievance rate has decreased by 90% in the second quarter of the calendar year versus the first quarter through the implementation of several initiatives including implementation of the Patient Experience Department.
McCoy said The Loyalton property purchase was completed at the beginning of June, and they are finalizing the design plans for the project. Contractor bidding will be initiated upon plan completion and they anticipate opening the project in June of 2022. Community feedback on the project has been extremely positive, and they look forward to continuing the relationship with the current tenants. The project will double the number of exam rooms and increase clinic offerings to the members of the community.
He added to meet additional community needs and position EPHC properly for the future they are also reviewing additional projects to include a permanent outpatient and wellness building, refurbishment of the IT/training area, and refurbishment plan for both the hospital and SNF units. Decisions on key legislation regarding the 2030 seismic requirements are expected during the summer legislative session, which will assist with their 3-year planning on these projects.
McCoy was happy to report in June all EPHC clinic locations initiated COVID vaccine distributions during business hours. All patients who have not been vaccinated are provided an opportunity to receive any of the three current vaccine offerings and receive education from the providers on the benefits of vaccinations in order to increase the community vaccination rate. EPHC has successfully vaccinated 2,249 individuals through 20 clinics held since the beginning of the year, and they anticipate these rates to continue increasing through the new RHC process.
Resolution 292 – Wellness and Therapy Building was approved unanimously. McCoy stated he hoped by the time they start construction there would be some stabilization in construction costs.  Net income is right at $400,000 stating they wanted to make sure they were fiscally responsible before moving forward with the building, adding they feel there will be a strong return. They are planning on utilizing grant funds to offset costs. Projections in revenue are based on current staffing and will have the opportunity to add two more full-time physical therapists. He stated they’d received 19 new referrals that week.  
Resolution 293 – EMR System Purchase was approved unanimously. McCoy stated the current system is sunsetting. The single solution product through Cerner continues to be the leading option based on the interoperability across all service lines. EPIC is a leading market system, however they continue to have challenges in identifying a third party organization to host the system for EPHC. Based on the required implantation requirement of a new EMR system (10-12 months), he recommended the Board approve the resolution to proceed with final review of the Cerner contract proposal by the legal department and sign an agreement to initiate the implementation plan.  

LOYALTON SKILLED NURSING RESIDENTS ATTEND THE PARADE!​

PHOTOS OF NERVINO AIRPORT ACTION - BY DEREK BEVERLY

FIRE ACTION AT SIERRAVILLE'S DEARWATER FIELD - PHOTOS BY SUSAN ROBERTS

As of 10 a.m. this morning, July 12, Plumas-Sierra crews are assessing wildfire damage and making repairs where it is safe to do so. Members should be prepared for additional power outages as repairs occur. Power outages could last multiple hours. We expect internet service restoration efforts to begin mid-week.
 

NOTE: As of 3:30 p.m. on July 11, we have been able to re-energize our transmission line and most North System members are back on, with the exception of the Doyle area where we are slowly re-energizing distribution lines as fire conditions allow.

Portola, Calif. (July 11, 2021) –As of 11 a.m. on July 11, Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative crews are assessing wildfire damage from the Beckwourth Complex Fire where it is safe to do so. PSREC members should be prepared for additional power outages as repairs occur. Power outages could last multiple hours. Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications experienced damage to its infrastructure and a minimum of three days is expected before internet service repairs can begin, depending on continued fire activity.
For additional information and resources, visit www.psrec.coop. To contact PSREC and update your contact information, visit www.psrec.coop or call 530-832-4261.
About Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative:
Founded in 1937, PSREC is a member-owned electric distribution, transmission and generation utility providing electrical power and related services to more than 7,000 member/owners in Plumas, Lassen, and Sierra counties in California, and parts of Washoe County, Nevada. The cooperative is controlled by the membership through an elected seven-person board of directors.
PSREC’s wholly-owned telecommunications subsidiary, Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications, offers high-speed Internet services.
Office headquarters are in Portola, California. More information is available at www.psrec.coop or by calling 530-832-4261.
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PHOTO BY DEREK BEVERLY
Looking north from Hallelujah Junction on July 9th. Doyle had to evacuate on July 10th as the fire ravaged homes and structures. Doyle Fire Protection District called the fire "devastating."  Winjes, the Buck Inn and the rest of Doyle Loop survived yet 3-4 homes were lost on Third Street. More information is coming.
There is a gofundme.com for Doyle Beckwourth Complex Victims Recovery fund organized by Amber Catron

 
(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued an additional statement on Governor Newsom’s executive order calling on all Californians to reduce water use by an additional 15%.
“During the fall, winter, and spring of an obvious water-short year, government chose to continue sending full allocations of water downstream for fish and other environmental purposes. While California’s water decision-makers claim these were necessary, hoping there would be enough precipitation in the winter and spring to cover these flows proved to be nothing more than a failed bet. Due to this gamble, residential water allocations have already been cut in many areas with the governor asking for another 15%. Many farms will receive nothing. Those that are currently farming cannot just simply cut 15% mid crop-year. Further, nearly the entire winter-run Chinook salmon population may die from a physical lack of available water.”
LaMalfa said, “The problems we face today are a failure of management and a failure to invest in new water storage before another inevitable drought. Governor Newsom failed our state by not calling for a statewide emergency early this spring. Urban household water use has seen mandatory cuts, agriculture has endured drastic cuts, to as low as zero in large acreages of our state. Allowing environmental water flows to go unscathed in meeting pre-drought goals when it could have been conserved for when and for who it was most needed is a colossal failure. It means we all suffer now, agriculture and urban people. It’s past time for Governor Newsom to spread the pain to his environmentalist friends and for them to bear their share of the shortage burden.”   
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
 
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COMMUNICATION from the City of Loyalton with regard to evaluating options for reforming a partnership for Building and Planning services was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Downieville on Tuesday, July 6th.
Planning Director Tim Beals stated he’d had discussions with the Mayor of the City and told her to send a letter to the Board to open up discussions. He didn’t know if the Board wanted to entertain the request, adding routine permits would be an additional level of staff commitment and time, and offered to set up a meeting. Supervisor Peter Huebner said Beals would be taking on more work without any additional staff and he wasn’t in favor of that. If the finance committee could allow an additional person to help he would be ok with it. Beals felt it would be half a position or less and wasn’t sure what the City was capable of paying.
Supervisor Terry LeBlanc felt it was worth talking about, stating a building inspector comes out of Portola when they can find him. He thought it would make for a smoother operation.
Supervisor Paul Roen didn’t want the County responsible for cleaning up messes created because of the lack of oversight. He didn’t have any problem with having a conversation, but added it will be frank.
Supervisor Sharon Dryden stated years ago as a business owner she spoke out against having the City do their own building process, adding they didn’t have the staff to handle that program. Her main concern was the capacity of the County’s building department to handle Loyalton’s problems. She felt they should put the situation on hold.
Board Chair Lee Adams appreciated LeBlanc’s comments and understands the City may have gone down a road it now apparently wished it hadn’t, but the County only has so much capacity and has mandatory things they have to do as a County. He would ask the City to look at other alternatives, like in Reno or Truckee. He hated saying no, but would prefer not doing it. LeBlanc felt with the new board member the City just voted in they could internally work this matter out. He suggested giving the City some education on it. Beals stated they get a lot of calls from Loyalton property owners who are frustrated and concerned about the permit process there. He said the property owners typically request the County to come out and will pay the cost to get records to show due diligence. He said the impacts affect resale, quality of the housing stock, and probably a revenue loss.
Beals called it a big picture item that comes to bear on the Board because of the request, but understood the concerns. Assessor Laura Marshall stated there’s quite a bit of construction going on without a permit, but added it does not require a permit to be assessed.
Adams suggested taking baby steps and have a conversation with the City knowing this may not happen. Dryden was sympathetic with the situation the City is in, but wasn’t willing to have a conversation about taking over their building permit process. She did feel they could help find other options and LeBlanc wanted to at least give them a little advice and ease the burden a bit.
Beals, LeBlanc and Adams will meet with the City.  ​

By Ted Gaines
Word count 593
 
Is California’s economy recovering from COVID or not? Recent jobs numbers don’t help answer that question. In May, California added nearly 105,000 jobs, the fourth straight month adding more than 100,000. That is certainly strong job growth by historic state standards. But California has gained back only about 52-percent of the jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, far below the national average of 66-percent.
 
What is clear, though, is that jobs themselves, more than the stock market or trade deficits or interest rates, are the primary measure of a healthy economy to most people. A surging NASDAQ stock exchange means little to those who can’t afford to put food on the table. As that 52-percent number indicates, California needs more jobs urgently and we should celebrate and support the entrepreneurs who will make that happen.
 
The Golden State has around 3.5-million businesses, many of them small, single-person operations. Our labor force comprises more than 15-million people, though. Almost everyone in the state depends on someone else for a job. In the private sector, that someone is an entrepreneur.
 
California has been blessed with some of the most creative and successful entrepreneurs in the nation, most notably in Silicon Valley, which is the unquestioned global leader in technology and has long been the source of high-paying jobs. Their stories are legendary, and we owe much of our prosperity to these world-changers.
 
But the magic of entrepreneurship doesn’t depend on innovation. You don’t need to build a better mousetrap, or a better search engine, to succeed in business. It doesn’t take a new idea; it takes courage, determination, and hard work. You can find donut shops and dry cleaners in strip mall after strip mall. There are nail salons and real estate offices everywhere. They are not providing anything new, but are providing something valuable. And by doing that, they survive, then grow, then hire, providing employment for others, too. I respect their efforts and congratulate their success.
 
Recently, super-entrepreneur Elon Musk announced he was leaving for Texas, and one California legislator publicly told him, in so many words, “good riddance.” That’s a heartless statement considering the hundreds of thousands of people looking for work in our state and Mr. Musk’s proven ability to create enterprises that provide tens of thousands of jobs. It shows a complete misunderstanding of the economy. It shows an unwarranted hostility towards businesses and the people who build them.
 
If we want to speed up our ascent from the depths of COVID-induced economic devastation, we should take this moment in time to recognize the vital importance the brave men and women who take the risks needed to start a new venture. Simply put, entrepreneurs are heroes and government should treat them as such. 
 
California must look right now to remove barriers to their success. That means lower taxes, lower fees, fewer stifling regulations that bury them in paperwork and take them away from their mission, and in too many cases, out of California.
 
COVID presented special challenges that call for special responses. The state that CEO Magazine rates the worst place to do business for more than a decade straight needs to look in the mirror and realize it can help its unemployed most by helping its employers. Governor Newsom, himself a private business owner, should call a special session this fall on jobs and economic development, specifically with our entrepreneurs and small business owners in mind.
 
Let’s put these heroes in a position to flourish – someone looking for a job right now is depending on their success.
 
Senator Ted Gaines (Ret.) was elected to represent the Board of Equalization’s First District. He is a leading taxpayer advocate, defender of Prop. 13, and is committed to providing trustworthy and transparent representation for nearly ten million constituents in 30 counties of northern, eastern, and southern California. For more information, visit boe.ca.gov/Gaines.
 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 1, 2021) – “What a sad reflection of the lack of leadership in California. At a time of record revenue, Gavin Newsom and the Sacramento political elite insist on raising the price of gas on working Californians. Newsom could easily delay this increase in everyone’s cost of living. He chooses not to because right now his elitist lifestyle continues to be paid for by special interests who are slopping at the trough of increased government spending.
"Sacramento is broken… Our schools are failing, small business is getting hammered, agriculture is being decimated, homelessness is out of control, crime is rising, and housing is unaffordable. It is clear that there is no limit to the amount of taxes that Newsom and his ilk want from us while they do nothing to solve any of the problems decimating our communities. It doesn’t have to be this way. Leadership matters. Time for a change.”

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The COVID pandemic spurred the growth of
computer use among seniors, says AMAC

WASHINGTON, DC, July 9 -- Before the pandemic seniors were gradually becoming Internet users; during the extended COVID lockdown use of computer technology among older Americans has been accelerating at a faster pace, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. “This is good news given the fact that more older citizens are now able to take advantage of benefits they were missing including, but not limited to, online help sites and an array of consumer discounts.”

Weber points out that www.amac.us, the association’s Website, is chock-full of information of use for its 50-plus membership offering an array of discount purchasing opportunities ranging from pharmaceuticals to travel services and insurance services.

There are sites that offer social engagement for seniors, allowing us to chat with each other and to attend virtual forums on a variety of topics. Seniors Only Club, for example, allows you to access specialty forums on a wide variety of topics. Signing up is free.

Meanwhile, you don’t have to be a patient to visit the Mayo Clinic Website where you can have “access to the knowledge and experience of Mayo Clinic.” The Suddenly Senior site also offers health and wellness information as well as senior trivia and senior jokes pages, just for a laugh.

At recipe Websites, such as the allrecipes site, you can look up ways of freely creating your own culinary masterpieces. And the Duolingo offers free language learning sessions, claiming that you’ll “learn a new language in five minutes a day.

The world became a lonely place for many seniors during the self-isolation days of the COVID pandemic and specialty Websites, such as that of the Institute on Aging, offered a modicum of relief. And if you are a senior citizen who is looking for activities you might enjoy, there is the Vive Health site, which boasts that it offers “110 Activities for Elderly & Seniors.”
 
If you’re in the mood for a road trip, long or short, perhaps you can get some help at Websites such as Roadtrippers or Outdoors.org.

Here some additional sites you might want to explore:

-https://elder-one-stop.com/ focuses on health and well being

-https://www.seniorchatz.com/ is a free chat room that lets you schmooze with new pals and old

-ageinplacetech.com offers news and information for seniors

And, of course, if you feel your computer skills are lacking in some way, you might want to visit the seniorsguidetocomputers.com, which boasts it offers “the ins and outs of personal computers using simplified terms, examples, pictures and videos actually described in easy-to-understand English.” In other words, you won’t have to deal with “Geek Speak.”

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The 2.3 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. 
AMAC | Washington DC | 917-846-8485 | Email | Website
Association of Mature American Citizens | 17th Street N.W., Washington , DC 20036

​AN ORDINANCE amending 8.050.040 of the Sierra County Code to allow for delinquent county water service charges to be placed on the annual county tax roll for collection was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Downieville Tuesday, July 6th. County Counsel David Prentice stated this was the first step in a longer more complicated ordinance. He said this would allow the auditor to collect through the property owner’s tax bill, adding they can’t clear their tax bill until they pay everything. Supervisor Sharon Dryden was happy to sit in on one of these meetings and stated other special districts use this avenue. She wanted to make sure people to get notice so they could get current before it goes on their tax bill. Planning Director Tim Beals said letters would be sent out to each property owner that is two or more months behind on their water bill. He stated if they don’t pay by August 20th they would be charged penalties and interest. Dryden added they’ve been getting bills every month. The motion was made to introduce and waive the first reading and passed unanimously. Board Chair Lee Adams said he appreciated them using this process and it protects everybody else who is paying their bills. 


FOREST SERVICE UPDATE was given during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held in Downieville open to the public on Tuesday, July 6th. Sierraville District Ranger Quentin Youngblood said they had had some interesting weather with lightning and luckily some precipitation with it. He was thankful they only had one small lightning fire. 
Youngblood stated they didn’t see the level of dispersed camping as they did last year during the 4th of July weekend. 
Yuba District Ranger Lon Henderson reported they are currently in fire restrictions on the Tahoe. Only developed campgrounds can have an open flame in the fire pit. He was relieved the Yuba Ranger District was much quieter this year over the 4th of July weekend. Supervisor Sharon Dryden stated she didn’t hear or see one firework and was glad people are taking restrictions seriously. Henderson said they only had one firework incident on the entire Tahoe Forest and took care of it.

Teachers Overwhelmingly Vote “No Confidence” in Superintendent Carmen Ghysels

TRUCKEE – Teachers with the Tahoe Truckee Education Association (TTEA) have overwhelmingly voted to give their district’s Superintendent and Director of Human Resources a “failing grade” following a year in which pandemic challenges were compounded by unprecedented friction and a breakdown in labor negotiations.An overwhelming majority of teachers recently gave a vote of “no confidence” to Superintendent Carmen Ghysels, who is in her first year with the district, and TTUSD Lead Negotiator and Director of Human Resources Joan Zappettini. The vote shows how significantly trust has eroded with district leadership after negotiations with TTEA reached an impasse and the possibility of a strike loomed until mid-June, when a settlement was reached.
“Our current superintendent has failed to operate in the best interest of students and teachers in managing our district,” said Jess DeLallo, TTEA President. “During one of the most difficult teaching years in our careers, we have had to navigate a relationship with district leadership that was underhanded, disrespectful and unnecessarily combative. Our students and school community deserve better than this. Much like a failing grade, this vote of no confidence is a way of showing how significantly concerned we are for the future of our district and that improvement is essential.” 
As they would with a student with failing grades, teachers with TTEA have developed an improvement plan for the upcoming year. Three key areas of improvement include the need to:

• Collaborate with teachers in decision-making. District decisions – including classroom learning and safety precautions – have been routinely made without the input of the almost 300 teachers districtwide who work with students, a continuation of behavior by the district since hiring Ghysels for the superintendent position last year without stakeholder involvement.
  
  
• Bargain in good faith. In the labor negotiation process, the district threatened members of the negotiating team – a clear violation of labor law – and disclosed salary offers on the district’s website prior to negotiations, an attempt to create division that also violates labor law. TTUSD has also shown that it has no plan to adequately address employee compensation, despite realizing historic and record levels of revenue once again this year.
  
  “Rather than passing on a fair share of this new money to employees to help them keep up with soaring inflation and the astronomical increase in living costs in the Tahoe-Truckee area, the district has stashed millions of additional dollars into its savings account,” DeLallo said.
  
  
• Acknowledge the expertise, professionalism, and contributions of teachers. During teacher appreciation week this year, the superintendent failed to recognize any teachers, despite it being one of the most challenging years in education.
  
  “A year from now, we hope to say we are in a better place with district leadership, that teachers have felt respected for the education experts that they are and that they feel fairly compensated for the hard work they do,” said DeLallo. “As we look toward what is a two-year negotiating process for us, we need our district leadership to commit to a collaborative, positive and respectful relationship with teachers for the benefit of our students and school community. As educators, it is our responsibility to hold Superintendent Ghysels and Director of Human Resources, Joan Zappettini, accountable for their poor performance and help them direct a plan to become the leaders our TTUSD community needs and deserves.”

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The Tahoe Truckee Education Association is affiliated with the 310,000-member
California Teachers Association and the 3 million-member National Education Association.

SIERRA VALLEY HOME CENTER handed out popcorn to the crowd.

LOYALTON'S OWN Skilled Nursing Facility Residents have a reserved spot!

Every kids' entry received a well-deserved trophy!  Good job!

​FIRE INFORMATION UPDATE
7/2/2021 5:40 PM
SUGAR FIRE
A thunder cell passing over the east side of the forest has ignited a fire near Sugarloaf Peak. The fire is currently moving south across the flats and the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office has evacuated several structures that are immediately threatened. CHP will be closing Hwy 70 in Sierra Valley from Nervino Airport east 5 miles to the Buttes. Please avoid the area.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks is proud to announce the availability of a new mobile app that will make it easier for visitors to connect with nature and enhance access for all to the nation’s largest state park system. Powered by OuterSpatial, the mobile app is free and provides visitors with real-time updates about on-the-ground conditions and access to a library of park and trail information, including directions to parks, interactive maps, visitor guidelines, park brochures, points of interest, events and more.  
“During the pandemic, public lands provided an incredible sanctuary for humans around the world. Californians visited our iconic state parks in large numbers, with many visiting the outdoors for the first time,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “We’re excited that many people discovered the benefits of the outdoors. With the OuterSpatial-powered app, new and avid outdoor enthusiasts will be more prepared for their outdoor experiences by being able to view real-time updates, such as trail closures or parking restrictions, at home or while exploring the outdoors.”
Below are some of the things visitors can do with the new app:

• Get transit, biking, walking and driving directions to their favorite state park and trails.
• Navigate safely while on trails by knowing which trails are suitable for hikers, bikers, equestrians and their furry friends.
• Locate parking, restrooms, picnic areas and other park amenities.
• Access information about natural, cultural and historical points of interest.
• Share experiences and photos and connect with others who love the outdoors using a social feature.
• Engage with park staff to show their appreciation and letting them know about maintenance and other issues.
• Discover other regional, state and national outdoor public spaces nearby.

To get started, visitors can follow this link: outerspatial.link/csp. If on an iOS or Android device, following this link will download the OuterSpatial app and take the visitor directly to the California State Parks community. If on a desktop device, following this link will take the visitor to the California State Parks community on the OuterSpatial website, where they can then seamlessly transition into the app using tooling on the website.
As a reminder, it is always helpful for visitors to have a solid understanding of the terrain prior to visiting, and it is even more helpful when that knowledge is augmented by tools to help keep them oriented and safe. A physical map, compass, GPS-enabled device or phone with plenty of battery life and previously loaded with apps and maps is essential to navigation in the remote parts of California.
As a reminder, it is always helpful for visitors to have a solid understanding of the terrain prior to visiting, and it is even more helpful when that knowledge is augmented by tools to help keep them oriented and safe. A physical map, compass, GPS-enabled device or phone with plenty of battery life and previously loaded with apps and maps is essential to navigation in the remote parts of California.

​

​A SPECIAL MEETING of the Governing Board of the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District was held Thursday, June 24th regarding approval of assignment of Megan Meschery, Principal/Site Administrator for Loyalton High School. With Board President Mike Moore absent, Board Vice President, Alan Wright opened up the public comment for many in attendance. From the audience, retired teacher Janet McHenry spoke on behalf of her family stating as a conservative Christian she was in support of Meschery. She said Meschery created Sierra Schools Foundation and raised hundreds of thousands for Sierra County kids. Meschery is a workhorse, and local, adding Meschery understands this community.  
Katie Campbell is a Staff member at Loyalton High School who has worked with Meschery. Campbell stated Meschery has encouraged and strengthened her, adding she is a great leader. Campbell said as a parent she had three of her four kids go through LHS and were taught by Meschery. Campbell said Meschery strengthens students, and great with parents and teachers. 
Jenna Holland, Sierra Schools Foundation President, read a letter in support of Meschery, urging the Board not to squander this opportunity. Holland stated Meschery has given so much to this District and asked the Board to affirm the Adhoc committee’s recommendation. 
Victoria Fisher, submitted a letter read by Blaine Donnelly in support of Meschery. Stating in part that Meschery leads by intuitive inspiration and has core leadership values. 
Laurie Petterson, a teacher spoke as a former colleague of Meschery and a parent of students at the High School. She said Meshery helped her become the teacher she has become, adding Meschery has all the qualities you want in a leader and will do what is best for the kids. Petterson told the Board the recommendation of the committee needed to be listened to.  
Former First 5 Director and past Principal of Loyalton Middle School Mike Filippini and Former Superintendent Stan Hardeman also spoke in favor of Meschery. 
Wright stated he’d received 18 letters all in favor of Meschery. He said he knew the committee did their due process in selecting Meschery. He wanted to ask questions of a site administrator before making the decision, adding he wanted to make the best decision for this school. Wright felt it was important for him to have some time with Meschery in closed session and there were things he wanted to talk about.  
Holland wanted the Board to hone their process, so this doesn’t happen again.  
After closed session in which no reportable action was reported, the approval of  
Meschery was unanimous.