Parents, staff and teachers tell Petaluma City Schools board merger harmed Valley Vista community, question principal’s departure

Members of the Valley Vista school community told the Petaluma City Schools Board of Education at its meeting that a recent merger with Live Oak charter programs and the departure of longtime Valley Vista principal Jamie Bushman have damaged trust and left families without clear information about the transition.

Teachers, office staff, parents and parent‑advisory groups described shock and frustration over district communications and asked the board to prioritize support for the roughly 85 students who will remain at Valley Vista next year. Speakers also raised concerns that English learners and other vulnerable students could be sidelined as the schools transition to a combined campus.

Dana Levy, education specialist at Valley Vista and a Live Oak parent, said the change “has left a huge gap in the community.” Levy told the board that she had supported the merger in good faith but that the decision not to have Jamie Bushman return as principal has required staff to “navigate the…