Ygnacio Valley High Alumni React To Patch Stories About Their School

Ygnacio Valley High alums are defending and coming to the aid of their alma mater after a three-part Patch series on the decline of the school.

After the series was posted in late May, the Ygnacio Valley High alumni’s Facebook page lit up with comments.

Some people commented on the article. Others talked about what alumni could do to help their former school, which was once considered one the top high schools in the area but now has a graduation rate of 81 percent.

“This is a defining moment for the school,” wrote Dan Leahy, a 2000 graduate, “and we have to decide if we are OK with the status quo or if we are willing to do something about it.”

James Perrin, a 1977 graduate who is an administrator for the Facebook page, said the site got about 50 new members in each of the two weeks following the posting of the series.

He said he wasn’t surprised by some of the statistics mentioned in the stories, but he was surprised by the response on the Facebook page.

“I was overwhelmed. I was glad to see it,” he said. “I think all of us wanted to do something, but we didn’t know how to do it.”

Some of the Facebook members pointed out there is an Ygnacio Valley Alumni Association. Others talked about what kind of volunteer or fund-raising efforts they could organize.

Debbie Mendell, a 1977 graduate, has started a campaign to help Leahy rebuild the Ygnacio Valley High speech team because eight members of the squad graduated this year.

She has been encouraging others to get involved.

“OK team,  let get busy,” she wrote. “Time to help them raise the bar back up. Plug me in wherever you need me. I’m down.”

Julie Kirkeeng, another alum, met with YVHS Principal Sue Brothers a few days after the Patch series was posted. She said she will try to organize ways for former students to help.

“If you don’t like what’s going on at YVHS, then please start showing your love for YV by stepping up to the plate,” she wrote, “by volunteering your time, energy, giving gifts of things that are much needed, and financially contributing.”

Ron Schwab, a 1976 graduate, informed the Facebook members the YVHS Alumni Association hosts a golf tournament every year to raise money for the school.

Kelly Krauss Cooper, a 1993 graduate who has taught at YVHS since 2001, was one person who was critical of the articles. On the Facebook site, she called them “one-sided” stories that quoted people who hadn’t been on the campus in years.

Cooper, who teaches physiology, dance and sports medicine, told Patch the statistics aren’t the entire picture.

“The numbers don’t tell the whole story,” she said. “The numbers don’t tell the success stories.”

Cooper said “first generation” graduates at YVHS are increasing. The school has had Gates Millennium Scholars recipients in three of the past four years.

The school’s Health Academy, which has been in existence for 21 years, have been receiving awards at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference since it began participating.

The Education Academy has been bringing its senior students into classrooms as interns for years. The student government has also received accolades as has the marching band.

Cooper said the school also maintains dance, art and theater curriculum.

“We still have programs where kids can express themselves,” she said.

Cooper added today’s YVHS students are supportive and understanding of each other.

“One of my favorite things is their tolerance,” she said.

She added they are thankful for the help they receive.

“They are grateful for our time and for our support,” she noted.

Cooper hopes the enthusiasm she has seen recently on Facebook continues through the summer and into next school year.

She urged alumni to contribute financially when they can and to volunteer their time. She said, most importantly, they should help make sure school bond measures pass when they are on the ballot.

“Money never hurts,” she said.