Hollister
– Several new faces will be running for spots on the governing
boards for two of the county’s biggest school districts this fall,
according to the most recent lists available from the County
Elections office.
Hollister – Several new faces will be running for spots on the governing boards for two of the county’s biggest school districts this fall, according to the most recent lists available from the County Elections office.
Seven candidates will be running for the three seats up for grabs on the San Benito High School Board of Trustees this year. Earlier in the month, incumbent Bill Tiffany announced his intent to run again, in addition to challengers Ardyss Golden and Steve DeLay. Golden currently serves as pastor for the Untied Methodist Church of Hollister and DeLay worked at San Benito High School for 30 years before retiring in 2005.
Current Board President Jan Joseph pulled papers to seek a second term on the board but Judith Rider, who has served for a number of years, did not. Neither could be reached for comment Friday.
Mary Encinias, who recently retired from teaching at San Benito High School, pulled papers to run but is currently out of the country.
Terry Hill, a longtime resident who has had four children graduate from SBHS and has three currently attending, announced his candidacy yesterday. Hill’s priorities for SBHS include campus safety and examining the school’s dropout rate.
“I thought this would be a really great way for me to serve my community,” he said. “And I think we need to take a really good look at the direction the district is headed.”
Current North County School District Trustee Bob Bernosky also announced his intent to run for the SBHS school board. His decision was prompted by the fact that one of his children graduated from Spring Grove and will be a freshman in the fall, and he says that regardless of the election outcome he intends to remain on the North County board. Bernosky says that safety and school finances are two issues that he thinks the district must deal with in the near future.
“I think I have a lot to offer this district,” he said. “I’m not the kind of person who makes up their mind based off what other people are talking about, so I want to get involved and be a part of the process.”
The race for seats on the Hollister School District Board of Trustees will be decidedly less competitive. Three candidates are running for the three available seats. Trustee Dee Brown announced earlier in the month that she would not be seeking a third term on the board, opting instead to run for a seat on the Gavilan College Board.
Newcomer Ron Hatchett, who pulled papers earlier in the month, currently works for the Valley Transportation Authority in Santa Clara County and has served as a educator in years past.
“We really need to focus on hiring quality teachers, quality administrators and making our schools better places to be all-around,” he said.
Incumbent Alice Flores announced that she would be seeking a fifth term on the school board this fall, saying she was particularly pleased with the direction HSD is taking.
“The district is better off this year than it has been in the past,” she said. “We’re looking at establishing a foundation for the district, and I want to be involved in spearheading that, and I want to continue working with the YMCA to get those facilities developed.”
Lifelong resident Bea Gonzales-Ramirez announced her candidacy as well. Gonzales-Ramirez went through the San Benito County school system, was a member of CSU Monterey Bay’s first graduating class and earned her law degree in 2001. She has substituted locally and taught at Gavilan College, CSUMB and Heald College.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes in this community, some good and some bad,” she said. “And I want to be a part of the good changes.”
Current Board President Eugenia Sanchez announced that she would not be seeking a second term with HSD, focusing her energies instead on her decision to run for the District 2 City Council seat. She listed tackling the city’s water and sewer issues, gang presence and improving communication with constituents as her priorities.
“I’m really excited that this opportunity presented itself,” she said. “I’ve been very involved with this community, and I really want to work on a level that will benefit everyone here.”
Sanchez wished her successors at HSD good luck.
“It’s a rewarding position,” she said. “I wish them luck. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
