Sam Blom Takes Oath as Newest Member of Sedona School Board

Sam Blom officially joined the Sedona-Oak Creek School District (SOCSD) Governing Board on September 12, marking a new chapter in his commitment to education. Previously a soccer coach in the district, Blom expressed his desire to expand his influence on a larger scale.

“I want to be able to help the schools in a different way,” Blom noted. His coaching experience, working closely with 20 children, has provided him with a unique perspective, one he hopes to use to benefit the entire district.

During the same meeting, incumbent board member April Payne was appointed to a new four-year term by outgoing Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter. Governing Board President Randy Hawley is expected to be reappointed; however, a family emergency delayed his process.

The appointments come in the wake of the cancellation of the November board election, which resulted from the resignation of former board member David Price, who was also up for reelection.

In addition to his board responsibilities, Blom plans to continue volunteering in a second-grade classroom at West Sedona School. He highlighted the growing challenge of educating English language learners (ELL) in the district, mentioning an increase from 78 to 99 ELL students at West Sedona School since February.

Born in the Netherlands in 1950, Blom immigrated to New Jersey in 1957. His diverse background contributes to his understanding of the challenges faced by ELL students. Overall enrollment within SOCSD stood at 702 students as of September 10, with a noted fluctuation among middle and high school ELL students, decreasing from 101 to 93.

“There has been an upward trend in enrollment of ELL students in the district for some time,” pointed out SOCSD Director of Student Services Deana DeWitt. “The rate of new ELL students enrolling has been outpacing the number of students exiting ELL status, making progress toward proficiency a lengthy journey for many.”

At a board meeting on September 10, Price bid farewell, reflecting on his life and dedication to both his family and his role on the board. He reminisced about meeting his wife and the shared experiences that shaped their lives together.

“As much as it meant to me to be on this school board and be involved here in the community, I couldn’t say no,” Price stated, elaborating on the challenges of balancing family commitments with his public service.

Awards

In recognition of outstanding achievements within the district, several awards were presented:

• SRRHS Employee of the Month: Mariah McElrath
• High School Student of the Month: Karol Leija Velazquez
• Middle School Student of the Month: Kainoa Stimple
• Athlete of the Month: Colin Ledbetter
• West Sedona School Employees of the Month: Maria Ortega and Andrea Silven
• West Sedona Students of the Month: Carlos Davila Alvarez and Luna Bustos-Landa