Even though numbers are down at San Andreas Continuation High
School, the school year started off busy and smoothly for the San
Benito County Office of Education.
While Pinnacles Community School, Santa Ana Opportunity School
and the County Juvenile Court School have enrollment numbers
similar to past years, San Andreas is down by 40 students, said
Mike Sanchez, principal of San Andreas and Santa Ana, at the county
Board of Education meeting Thursday night.
Even though numbers are down at San Andreas Continuation High School, the school year started off busy and smoothly for the San Benito County Office of Education.
While Pinnacles Community School, Santa Ana Opportunity School and the County Juvenile Court School have enrollment numbers similar to past years, San Andreas is down by 40 students, said Mike Sanchez, principal of San Andreas and Santa Ana, at the county Board of Education meeting Thursday night.
Sanchez attributed the decrease to San Benito High School’s new Independent Study Program. Sophomores at San Andreas were sent letters of invite into the program, Sanchez said.
The Board also heard a report from SBHS District Superintendent Jean Burns Slater. Slater discussed changes in the school including administrative reorganization and the Independent Study Program.
“We’re looking for stability in a time of change,” Slater said. “We have the same players, just different positions,” she said about the administration.
SBHS has 60 students enrolled in independent study, a program it has never offered for students who miss school for long periods of time. In the past, the district had over 30 students enrolled in independent study at North Monterey High School in Castroville.
Slater also mentioned the high potential of students and the community. The county has the 12th highest median income in the state, she said, and the area’s educational opportunities should mirror that. Although many people think the county is mainly agricultural, only 11.2 percent of people work in ag – 17.9 percent of the workforce are professionals, she said.
Board President Guadalupe Candelaria did not attend the meeting. Vice President Patricia Ward led the meeting.
The next Board meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. at the County Office of Education office, 460 Fifth St.
