FUHSD bids goodbye to longtime board members

The Fallbrook Union High School District board of trustees bid farewell Monday, Nov. 9, to

board members Lee De Meo and Sharon Koehler.

Superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez conducted the recognition ceremony for De Meo and Koehler.

"First is trustee Lee De Meo who has served on the Fallbrook Union High School District board

of education for six years," she said. "During his time on the board, trustee De Meo has been an

advocate for civics education. He was supportive of bringing the Marine Corps Junior ROTC and

the International Baccalaureate program to our district. Trustee De Meo was part of the bond

passage, which will allow much needed infrastructure and safety and security improvements to

come to Fallbrook Union High School.

"I have been very pleased working with you. You are always a gentleman. I've been impressed

by that and appreciate all of the conversations that we've had," she said.

"As you heard, I have served on this board for six years," De Meo said. "I have decided not to

run for the next term due to personal reasons. I have been proud to serve these six years that I

did. It was probably one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, and I had no intentions of

doing it.

"We have such great in this community, the things that they accomplished, the things they

can accomplish, I would never have guessed before. On that basis, I say it's time to reopen soon

as we can to get our students back on campus. And I want to thank those who voted for me.

Thank those who served with me. It's been a great, a great time," De Meo said.

"Sharon Koehler has served the community of Fallbrook as a trustee on the Fallbrook Union

High School District board of education for the past 12 years," Garza-Gonzalez said. "Trustee

Koehler was the past board president and also served as vice president during her tenure. She has

advocated for arts education and was instrumental in getting the bond measure passed. Trustee

Koehler has served as the unofficial historian and has really assisted me in learning the Fallbrook

story."

"I've been in education my whole life, and I've taught everything from preschoolers to adults, but I have to say my favorites are teenagers," Koeher said. "I love teenagers and I liked my own

most of the time. When I joined the board in 2008, there was a huge downturn in the economy.

As many of you know, 2008 was not a good economic year and our campus, which was holding

over 3,000 students began to decline because of declining enrollment. We had to cut employees.

We had to cut programs. It was a very painful, difficult time to be on the board.

"I also had the pleasure of hiring and working with Dr. Hugo Pedroza. I learned a lot from him,

but the main thing that I will always recall about him is how he said, it's all about the kids," she said. "And now we have Ilsa ... she has certainly risen to the occasion and I respect her and I salute her. And I know that our school district is in good hands with Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez at the helm."

Oscar Caralampio in District 4 and Eddie Jones in District 5 will join the board after winning the

seats running unopposed.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].