San Benito High School District officials point to budget
problems in their rejection of contributing $20,000 toward the new
multi-agency gang coordinator role. If that is where finances
stand, we suggest trustees immediately conduct a detailed scrutiny
of spending
– such as travel costs and administrative overhead – and find
cuts elsewhere to make a real commitment to this high-priority
partnership.
San Benito High School District officials point to budget problems in their rejection of contributing $20,000 toward the new multi-agency gang coordinator role. If that is where finances stand, we suggest trustees immediately conduct a detailed scrutiny of spending – such as travel costs and administrative overhead – and find cuts elsewhere to make a real commitment to this high-priority partnership.
The new office is intended to oversee local agencies’ efforts to improve prevention and enforcement of gang activity and attempt to succeed where the Gang Task Force failed. The city, county, office of education and Hollister School District all have agreed to partially fund the position. SBHS officials, however, have shunned the partnership and offered an unneeded in-kind donation that amounts to an insult – a meeting venue.
Schools are the real front line in this effort, and we are glad to see the Hollister School District and San Benito County Office of Education recognize their roles.
Modern school leaders have a monumental challenge and obligation in attempting to curtail these poisonous, constant influences on the educational experience. Decreasing gang activity could directly lead to major advances in the district such as increased test scores, a higher graduation rate a lower level of delinquency.
Trustees would be hard-pressed to find a higher priority. We do not believe there is one considering the vast impact gang activity, which has amplified in recent years, has on education and public safety in San Benito County.
School leaders in responding to the funding rejection noted how the district has many anti-gang programs in place and that, aside from offering $20,000, they are on board with the partnership.
Hollister City Councilman Victor Gomez had it right in his assessment announced to the public last week – that school district leaders are not “putting their money where their mouth is” when it comes to gangs.
Without the funding help, district officials have signaled that they do not view the gang problem with nearly the same sense of urgency as other community leaders and the general public. Without it, they have proven they are out of touch on a prodigious matter.
