SOLEDAD — The Soledad Unified School District Board of Trustees said farewell to Marie Berlanga, who retired from the school board Oct. 11.
Berlanga was honored by Monterey County Deputy Superintendent Deneen Newman Guss, who said that Berlanga embodied several traits of a good leader, such as honesty, communication, confidence, commitment, positive attitude and selflessness.
“I think all of us here in the room know that Marie Berlanga has been and will always be that type of person,” Newman Guss said. “She was always that board member that was selfless, that had that positive attitude, that always was committed to making anything that needed to happen, happen.”
According to Fabian Barrera, one of the first Soledad Unified School District Board Trustees, Soledad owes Berlanga a great deal of gratitude because she held a party to generate momentum to build Soledad High School.
“There were some concerned citizens that said, ‘When we moved to Soledad the developer promised parks on the corner, a shopping center over there and a high school over there,’” Barrera explained. “We said that was a lot of promises that developer made and we can’t keep those promises unless we get the community together.”
Barrera said because of the party and Berlanga, the school board went back to the city council to say that the high school needed to be built.
“Our deepest gratitude to Marie and her family for not only hosting that meeting but all her years of service, all the years of service of her family and just being committed,” said Barrera.
Berlanga has served on the Soledad Unified School District board since December 2002. Over her 15-year term, she served as board president, vice president, clerk and trustee.
“Her dedication and service to the students, staff and community has left a positive mark on Soledad,” said Board President Jodi Massa.
Berlanga and her husband Art are moving from Soledad to Salinas.
“It was a tough decision,” Berlanga said. “I prayed about it and God has answered my prayer. We’re moving to Salinas to get involved with our church.”
Berlanga will also be retiring from the Post Office next year.
