The Hollister School District Board of Trustees celebrated the
holiday season by recognizing donations as well as holding a
changing of the guard.
Most school districts elect board officers in December. At
Tuesday night’s meeting, Trustee Eugenia Sanchez nominated Trustee
Dee Brown for president to replace outgoing President Carol
Cochran. Trustee Margie Barrios seconded the motion and the Board
voted 5-0 in favor of Brown for president. Trustee Alice Flores
hesitated with her affirmation.
The Hollister School District Board of Trustees celebrated the holiday season by recognizing donations as well as holding a changing of the guard.
Most school districts elect board officers in December. At Tuesday night’s meeting, Trustee Eugenia Sanchez nominated Trustee Dee Brown for president to replace outgoing President Carol Cochran. Trustee Margie Barrios seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 in favor of Brown for president. Trustee Alice Flores hesitated with her affirmation.
“I’m shaking,” Brown said later as Cochran handed her the gavel.
Cochran nominated Barrios for clerk with Flores seconding the motion. The vote was 5-0. The clerk fills in for the president in the event that they cannot attend a meeting.
Before the re-organization, the trustees reported on closed session. The Board voted 5-0 “to direct the superintendent, pending legal advice, to withdraw” from the Joint Powers Authority. The JPA is the collective bargaining unit for health insurance for all county public schools. The HSD is the biggest participant in the JPA.
“We felt the JPA has been a little one-sided in regards to the amount of money the Hollister School District has to pay,” Flores said after the meeting. “Some things need to be made equitable. We’re looking at our options and possibilities.”
Also at the meeting, Wells Fargo Bank representative Terrie Fuentes presented the district with a $5,000 check. Also, a bank-wide campaign called “Team Up for Our Schools” yielded a donation for every checking account that was opened at the Hollister branch. Fuentes would present the unspecified donation at another time.
The HSD administration decided to use the $5,000 for its at-risk program, Cochran said.
In other business:
– Bill Jordan, director of human resources, introduced new staff, most notably Christina Palmer, the new vice principal at R.O. Hardin.
“We’ve waited a long time for this person,” Jordan said.
R.O. Hardin Principal Donald Knapp moved to principal at Rancho San Justo Middle School this school year and R.O. Hardin Vice Principal Linda Smith moved up to principal.
– During her Board report, Flores updated the Board and audience on the Hollister Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. The next meeting is Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. at City Hall. Thanks to help from the committee, Rancho San Justo Middle School now has a crosswalk directly in front of the school so students don’t have to go to the end of the street to cross the street.
– Superintendent Judith Barranti recognized Cerra Vista School for its eligibility to be nominated for a California Distinguished School Award. The nomination was sent in last week. Barranti reported that Sunnyslope School also received a donation of $1,053 from Washington Mutual.
– The district and teachers are forming a committee to develop a new teacher evaluation process for the district, Barranti announced.
– There were no public comments.
The next Board meeting is Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the district office, 2690 Cienega Road.
