Carissa Plains students, parents travel to request middle-school-level teacher

ATASCADERO — Two weeks after backing away from its candidate of choice for the next superintendent, the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees announced that Dr. Tom Bennett will be the person to replace retiring Superintendent Tom Butler.

The board unanimously approved the appointment of Bennett, currently the interim superintendent of the Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union Elementary School District in Lake Hughes, an unincorporated community in northern Los Angeles County. Before that, he spent several years as an educator in San Diego County, teaching math at El Cajon Valley High School, and serving as head of school at Santa Fe Christian Schools in Solana Beach, and superintendent of the Rancho Santa Fe School District.

Bennett will begin his term with AUSD on July 1. He is on a three-year contract (until June 30, 2028) with a base annual salary of $233,188.

His hiring comes a month after word got out that the district was going to promote E.J. Rossi, AUSD’s current assistant superintendent of educational services, a choice many AUSD parents and faculty members protested at the March 4 board meeting. Those speaking at that meeting said Rossi was difficult to work with, and had concerns about allegations of financial misappropriation at a previous school district. Rossi’s potential appointment to the position was put on the agenda for the March 18 meeting, but at the start, the board announced it would continue the search.

“It is an honor to welcome Dr. Tom Bennett as the next superintendent of Atascadero Unified,” stated Acting Board President Denise McGrew-Kane. “Dr. Bennett has extensive experience as an educational leader. The board is honored that he will be joining our district on July 1.”

Bill Banning of Leadership Associates, the firm that conducted the search for the superintendent’s position also had praise for the next superintendent.

“Dr. Bennett brings strong leadership experience, collaborative mindset, and student-centered vision to this position,” he said. “I believe he’s a great match for the values and aspirations of this district.”

Banning also took some time to compliment Rossi as a candidate.

“I also want to respectfully acknowledge E.J. Rossi, who expressed his aspirations to become superintendent,” he said. “He continues to serve this district with professionalism and commitment as head of educational services.”

Bennett was present at the meeting and said a few words after his official hiring.

He began by offering condolences to the family of Jose Guttierez, the 11-year-old student killed in a hit-and-run incident March 14, and praised the contingent from Carissa Plains Elementary School who came to speak earlier before expressing his appreciation at being selected.

“Let me say I’m humble and honored,” said Bennett. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this community. Thank you for your trust in me, and I look forward to working with every one of you.”

Earlier in the meeting, in Public Comment, a group of students and parents from Carissa Plains Elementary School, the most remote location in the district, made a request for a middle-school-level teacher on the campus.

“Two years ago, we were here, and you granted us a second teacher, for which we’re very grateful,” said Pedro Ruiz, whose son goes to CPES. “Tonight, we make another request: We’re here to ask for another teacher for sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students.”

Currently, once the CPES students graduate from elementary, they are bussed into Atascadero for middle school, a trip that takes more than an hour each way.

“My son has to get up at 5 a.m. and meet the bus at 6:20,” Ruiz said. “It’s a long day for these kids. If you could bring [an extra teacher], we’d be grateful.”

McKinley Twisselman, a fourth-grade student at CPES who came with her mother, said middle-school students being bused spend an estimated 55 hours away from home, counting school and travel time.

“I have to leave my school after another year, I don’t want to attend school in town,” she said. “It’s an hour-long bus ride each way, and I have other activities I need to do. Please consider hiring a [middle school] teacher.”

McKinley’s mom, Adrienne Twisselman, said the commute for older students is too hard for them.

“I’m the mother of two who have attended Carissa Plains. We love our little school here,” she said. “Children should not have to get up at 4:30 or 4:45 in the morning to get ready for school. My husband went to the school through eighth and said it was great.

“We value our rural life; please let us maintain that.”

No action was taken on the request as it was raised during public comment on non-agenda items, preventing the board from responding.

The AUSD board will next meet on Tuesday, April 22. Closed session will start at 5 p.m., with the regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Feature Image: Dr. Tom Bennett speaks before the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees after being named the new superintendent of the district during the board meeting on Tuesday, April 1. Screenshot from YouTube