The accrediting commission recently certified San Benito High
School as a valid learning institution.
Hollister – The accrediting commission recently certified San Benito High School as a valid learning institution.
The school was accredited for three years, yet given areas of improvement to address before the next accreditation visit in 2010.
For high school diplomas to get recognized by most four-year colleges and higher education institutions, the school must be validated by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The association came in late spring and met with administrators, who had prepared a self-study and action plan detailing goals.
The committee analyzed the district’s action plan and goals and gave feedback before the school was accredited.
Superintendent Stan Rose said officials were pleased with the commission’s feedback.
“You do a self-study and then the committee comes out and, hopefully, affirms what you’re saying about yourself, and that’s what we found,” he said.
The high school took those improvement areas and identified solutions. Rose said all the areas – everything from student standards of achievement to staff development – will become priorities.
One of the areas to improve was student and teacher safety. The school is looking at a video surveillance and alarm system in the upcoming years.
Student discipline was also identified as an area needing improvement. Consistency in discipline policy was an identified weakness. The school is updating the policy and making sure all staff are informed of the specific discipline procedures.
The accreditation process also identified certain populations at the school whose needs were not being addressed. At-risk populations are currently not being adequately served by the high school, but school administrators say they are working to serve these groups better.
