HOLLISTER
Just seven residents had applied for an 11-member panel being formed to take on major decisions over potential school district changes as of Friday, a week after the deadline, while county Superintendent Mike Sanchez remains optimistic officials could have the full committee appointed by month’s end.
The county office of education has worked with leaders from the 11 districts here toward getting the Committee on School District Organization reestablished after years of dormancy. Its members would have voting powers over proposals related to such changes as mergers, annexations, transfers of territory and the formation of new districts.
The panel’s votes can be appealed to the State Board of Education.
Officials say there had not been a necessity for the panel in previous years because few if any proposals were coming forward. School leaders saw the need to reestablish the committee in anticipation of possible growth-related issues that might come up.
The deadline to apply was May 1, but just six residents put their hats in the ring while Sanchez noted another citizen was added to the list by the end of a meeting Thursday at which school officials touched base on how to proceed. Sanchez said officials “suggested some names” during the meeting and that representatives from area districts are set to “seek people out.”
By a May 28 meeting, he expects to have a new list of names presented.
“If it all works well, we actually could be doing appointments on the 28th,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez when interviewed Friday first heard about a major change – DMB’s withdrawal of the El Rancho San Benito proposal – which likely alters the scope of potential proposals the committee will face.
One trustee with the high school district, President William Tiffany, had noted how the previously proposed El Rancho San Benito development largely motivated officials to revive the panel because the project area was within the boundaries of three separate districts.
DMB had proposed the 6,800-unit planned community off Highway 25 northwest of Hollister. Last week, the company announced it was withdrawing the development application.
As to what effect it has on the committee, Sanchez reiterated the need to have such a panel in place with or without DMB’s project on the table.
“From our side, from the county office of education side, we’re moving forward business as usual,” Sanchez said.
He said he believes the committee’s re-formation was “outside of DMB.”
“It was really going through and making sure we have a committee in place,” he said.
For a prior story on the committee’s reestablishment in The Weekend Pinnacle, go here.
