[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ZELLA GHARAT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Zella 
Gharat, who after 33 years as a member of the Stanislaus County Board 
of Education, has announced her plans to retire effective December 13, 
2011.
  A retired legal assistant, Gharat was first appointed to the County 
Board of Education on June 6, 1978. Throughout the years, she has 
worked with four county superintendents, including Neal Wade, John 
Allard, Martin Petersen and the current superintendent, Tom Changnon. 
She's seen many changes in education since 1978. ``Special education 
programs were fairly new when I started, and I've watched the Head 
Start program grow over the years,'' said Gharat. ``I was on the Board 
when we purchased our current Outdoor Education site and was there for 
our first county Academic Decathlon and our first Youth Entertainment 
Stage Company performance. I also remember the important vote to 
purchase SCOE's administration building at 1100 H Street,'' she said.
  Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Tom Changnon praised 
Gharat for her invaluable contributions to the Board. ``Zella always 
has the best interest of students in mind,'' said Changnon. ``She is an 
advocate for children and a valuable member of the Board. We will miss 
her.''
  ``I've seen a lot of changes over the past 33 years, and I've also 
seen opportunities for students expand,'' said Gharat. ``From charter 
schools to specialized academies, there are a multitude of programs in 
place to ensure that every student can succeed,'' she said. ``I'm proud 
of all that we've accomplished over the years.''
  Through its role of long-range policy development and other critical 
functions, the County Board works with the Stanislaus County 
Superintendent of Schools and staff to offer the most effective 
education programs and district support services. The County Board of 
Education has responsibility for approving the annual county office 
budget, adopting policies governing the operation of the Board, acting 
as the appeals board for student expulsions, acting as the appeals 
board for inter-district transfers, acting as the appeals board for 
Charter School petitions, establishing the County Superintendent's 
salary, and may serve as the landlord and owner of property.
  The Board also encourages the involvement of families and communities 
and is a vehicle for citizen access to communication about SCOE's 
programs and services. Regular meetings of the Stanislaus County Board 
of Education are open to the public and are held on the second Tuesday 
of each month beginning at 8:30 a.m. Meetings are generally held at the 
Stanislaus County Office of Education, unless otherwise announced.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Zella Gharat for her 33 years 
of dedicated service as a member of the Stanislaus County Board of 
Education.

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