Amanda Morrell receives Endorsement from Dr. Fish, Retired SVUSD Superintendent!

Dear SVUSD Community Members,

During my five years as your SVUSD Superintendent, I had the pleasure of working with many community members to implement plans developed to improve our school facilities with Measure B, State Bond monies and local developer fees. One community member, largely responsible for helping secure major funding for the rebuilding of Portola Hills Elementary School, is now one of your SVUSD Board of Education Members, Mrs. Amanda Morrell.

Since the major builder of the Portola Hills community still owned property in the area and wished to develop that property in the future, Mrs. Morrell stepped forward and was persistent in asking questions, rallying community support, and pursuing our facilities department to negotiate on the community’s behalf to making repairs to Portola Hills Elementary part of the final developer agreement. With her persistence and “never take no” attitude, we were successful in obtaining an additional $2.9 million specifically for the repair of Portola Hills Elementary. This was beyond the regular development fees normally paid to the school district for new development. Without Amanda’s leadership, this never would have happened.

Mrs. Morrell is the kind of person you want leading your school district. She is professional, has school age children and is invested in what happens in her schools and school district, beyond just her children attending. She continued this community support with her strong advocacy for the development of the Stadium at El Toro High School. She asks the tough questions, demands answers and action and is open to speak to anyone about the issues facing public schools in California today. SVUSD needs a change and Mrs. Morrell can bring that change to the district.

Steven L. Fish Ed.D

Retired Superintendent, Saddleback Valley Unified School District