Schools

San Benito County and City of Hollister officials are taking it up a gear by adding bike paths and safer crosswalks near local schools.

In 2014, Hollister became what actor Mark Ruffalo called “ground zero” in California for the fierce debate over fracking. Ruffalo's tweet sent Oct. 14—in which he made the local fracking reference—underscored the broad reach of the debate in San Benito County over Measure J.

The San Benito High School District last week swore in incumbent trustees Bill Tiffany and Steve DeLay along with challenger Juan Robledo before discussing the health of the budget, the migrant education program and classified employee layoffs.

Southside School shut its doors Tuesday, forming the second closure in three school days due to mudslides on the road leading into the site.

Southside School will be closed Tuesday due to weather-related safety issues in the area, according to an announcement on the school's website.

Trustees unanimously approved district participation in a partnership with the Hollister Police Department and the City of Hollister to use grant funds to bring a school resource officer to the schools.

Southside School opened its doors to students Monday but only on an “hour-by-hour” basis following closures due to mudslides last week, said Superintendent and Principal Eric Johnson.

The end of agreements between Charter Communications and the cities of Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista may mean tens of thousands of dollars in extra costs for local school districts, the Hollister wastewater treatment plant, the San Juan Bautista library and other agencies.

Hollister School District Superintendent Gary McIntire has asked trustees to consider expanding the Hollister Dual Language Academy to include seventh and eighth grade classes and to possibly replace Gabilan Hills as the area’s neighborhood school.