Think back 25 years ago to 2000: the first camera phone debuted (the J-SH04, with a ferocious 0.1-megapixel resolution); the clothing brand Hollister was introduced; the fourth book in the “Harry Potter” series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” was released, and Scotts Valley High School (SVHS) was born.
Now, 25 years later, the movers and shakers who helped to put the high school on the map are assembling to celebrate its silver anniversary.
“We’re thrilled to invite our community to an elegant SVHS 25th Anniversary Gala, a highlight of our yearlong celebration, honoring the remarkable journey of Scotts Valley High School,” said Tanya Krause, superintendent of Scotts Valley Unified School District. “This unforgettable event will pay tribute to some of the founding visionaries who helped establish the school back in the late 1990s. The gala is not only a celebration—it’s also a meaningful fundraiser. Proceeds will support the creation of a beautiful outdoor gazebo on campus, offering students a new space to gather while commemorating this important milestone in our school’s history. A huge thank you to our dedicated committee of parent volunteers who have worked tirelessly to bring this celebration to life.”
Mark Witzig was a school board trustee who served on the Scotts Valley School Board from 1990-2002.
“The idea of the high school was born long before it was built. The first thing we needed to do was reorganize the district from an elementary school district to a unified district, and to get the $22.7 million bond passed for the project,” Witzig said.
He added that one of the issues that arose was trying to find an appropriate location for the campus; the district had previously purchased a piece of land called Cupcake Hill in north Scotts Valley, and that ultimately became the home of SVHS.
“There was quite a bit of opposition to the high school, especially from neighboring homes in the vicinity of the new campus,” recalled Witzig.
However, a survey of local families in the 1990s found that over 70% were in favor of building a dedicated high school for Scotts Valley’s students, and the board charged ahead with its mission in clear view, but not before voters attempted to recall three board members for their support of the campus.
The build was not without its issues: the nail-biting proposal and passage of a bond measure to fund the school; an increase in taxes for Scotts Valley residents; a lawsuit that emerged around construction and an Environmental Impact Review (EIR) that found a beetle living on the property whose habitat would be disrupted by lights on the football field.
“The entire process was done in a small-town fashion,” Witzig said.
Pam Lawson was an involved parent volunteer of two Scotts Valley elementary school students when the concept of a local high school was being considered. Lawson recalled that in 1992, then-Mayor Peggie Lopez and councilperson Gina Koshland requested the idea of the high school be placed on the Scotts Valley City Council agenda. Shortly thereafter, “Citizens for a High School in Scotts Valley” was formed to work on the feasibility of reorganizing the Scotts Valley school district to include a high school.
In 1993, the Santa Cruz County Board of Education approved a proposal for the high school, and in 1997, construction crews broke ground on the project.
From there, it was a flurry of activity to get the school assembled. Al Montalbano was appointed as the first SVHS principal, and the first incoming freshman class stepped onto school grounds in September 1999.
“To say it took a village to build this school is a drastic understatement,” said Lawson, who went on to say that she is “fiercely proud of the work done by so many people to put the high school in place. It wasn’t easy, but we survived and the school is thriving.”
“Every time I read something in the paper about a win for the school’s sports teams or a student who’s accomplishing great things, I’m very happy and proud,” Witzig said. “It’s so wonderful to see those kids go to that high school and then graduate and go on with their lives—the community put that all together, and now, 25 years later, thousands of kids have graduated and the school has survived it all.”
Lawson added that the gala is going to be a celebration of the past, present and future of Scotts Valley High School.
“I’m incredibly grateful to an entire community that made our high school a reality,” Lawson said. “It includes the dedication of our entire Scotts Valley community, and that includes our amazing teachers and educators. Without them and their commitment to our children, we wouldn’t be here celebrating Scotts Valley High School’s 25th anniversary. As a parent, I’m so immensely grateful to so many.”
Witzig agreed: “It was a lot of hard work, but we persevered and it was certainly well worth it.”
The SVHS 25th Anniversary Gala is set for Saturday, April 26, from 6-10pm at the Inn at Pasatiempo. There will be appetizers with a no-host cocktail hour, buffet dinner, dessert, an auction, dancing and a formal program. Program speakers will include some of the visionary parents and community leaders who worked so hard to ensure that Scotts Valley had its own high school, as well as alumni, dedicated teachers and staff and elected officials.
As part of the gala, SVHS is also raising funds for current and future Falcons in the areas of
wellness programs, grants for students with financial need for senior activities, student
leadership conferences, college scholarships and campus beautification projects. The goal is to raise $25,000 for the SVHS 25th Anniversary Fund through a silent and live auction as well as sponsorships.
The gala is being planned by the SVHS 25th Anniversary Planning Team, which comprises representatives from Scotts Valley Unified School District; Scotts Valley High School, including students, teachers and administration; Falcon Club; and SVHS Parent Club.
Gala tickets are available at tinyurl.com/svhsgala.
