San Benito High School has a new set of watchdogs in the form of eight volunteers who are participating in a newly formed Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
Trustees approved the panel at the board meeting last week to meet state education code, which requires that the district form a committee to provide scrutiny and transparency as it spends bond money.
Voters passed Measure G––which called for a $42.5 million general obligation bond to upgrade the high school’s classrooms and facilities––in June.
The district has yet to find a member of a “bona fide taxpayers organization” for the committee, but Attorney Marilyn Cleveland said the district was not the first to struggle with this. She suggested the board continue its search and document efforts. The committee must have at least seven members representing specific segments of the community.
“I know the superintendent––being new to the community–– struggled to get a full committee,” said Board President Ray Rodriquez, as he spoke to the new members. “I do sincerely thank you for helping us provide this level of transparency with the community that we are doing with the (bond) money what they entrusted us to do.”
