When the original explorers and settlers of the Santa Ynez Valley founded our great school district in 1896, they couldn’t have imagined how radically different the learning environment would be for students in the 21st century. However, the founders of our school district – pioneers on many levels beyond the staking and settling of land – had much in common with the staff, students, and parents of today. They understood that constructing a rock-solid foundation for successive generations would take hard work and an unwavering commitment to building the ideal community.