Ann Cash, Napa County Board of Education member who opposed Mayacamas Countywide Charter School, resigns

Ann Cash, a Napa County Board of Education member for more than 20 years and one of two board members who voted against the Mayacamas Countywide Charter School, resigned this month.

Cash’s resignation, submitted July 10, creates a vacancy on the county board for Area 4, which includes much of eastern Napa and the unaffiliated area beyond, along with part of American Canyon and Lake Berryessa.

The board will appoint an individual to fill her position for Cash’s remaining four-year term, which ends December 9, 2026.

Cash declined to comment to The Press Democrat Tuesday morning.

Cash was appointed interim trustee on August 20, 2001, and was subsequently elected in November 2002. She most recently won re-election in 2022, defeating challenger Bridgette Kannegiesser-Ruiz with 64% of the vote.

She was the only school administrator in the county that year to face a contested election.

Cash was born and raised in Limerick, Ireland. She had a chance meeting with then-Superintendent of Napa Schools Harry McPhearson — who would later found Napa Valley College — and his wife, author Jessamyn West, and they brought Cash and her sister to Napa, according to the county education office.

Cash later married Alan Cash, a fellow Napa High School student, and graduated from San Francisco State University.

Cash has served as director of the Napa Valley College Foundation and as a partner at Cash Malmgren Communications, a consultant to nonprofit organizations.

“We greatly appreciate Ann’s long tenure with the board and her dedication to supporting the students, families and staff of Napa County Public Schools,” Don Huffman, chairman of the county school board, said in a statement.

In recent months, Cash — along with board member Sindy Biederman — voted against Mayacamas Countywide Middle School, which the board approved in a 5-2 vote in March.

Cash questioned the financial aspects of the proposed school, saying she opposed it in part because of the financial impact it would have on the Napa Valley Unified School District, as it would undermine enrollment-based funding.

Potential applicants can verify whether they live in Trustee Area 4 using a Napa County search tool at bit.ly/NCBOElookup. Applications can be submitted online at napacoe.org/board-of-education.

According to the board, applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on August 21. Interviews will be held during the board meeting on September 3.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

You can contact Editor Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or [email protected].