Two days after school started, parents were still upset at the
Hollister School District Board of Trustee’s decision to move about
70 sixth-graders from Ladd Lane School to Rancho San Justo Middle
School with less than two weeks before school started.
Two days after school started, parents were still upset at the Hollister School District Board of Trustee’s decision to move about 70 sixth-graders from Ladd Lane School to Rancho San Justo Middle School with less than two weeks before school started.
At the Board’s monthly meeting Tuesday night, parent Jennifer Coile spoke of her frustration during the public comment portion.
“I believe you should be aware that many of us believe that your decision-making process and timing was inappropriate and reeks of mismanagement and disregard for district staff and the families you serve,” Coile said.
Coile also alluded to next November’s elections, saying the Ladd Lane Parents Club helped get trustees elected and will work to “get (trustees) off the Board next time.”
Like many parents, Coile questioned how parents were reassured the sixth-graders would remain at Ladd Lane for months dating back to December 2002 and the district never happened across the education code violation until July. The California Ed Code states instructional time must be equal across each grade level in a district.
During public comment, the Board does not have to give a response and no action can be taken.
Also during public comment, Howard Madden, teacher and president of the Hollister Elementary School District Teachers Association, brought up inaccuracies in a Free Lance Citizens Voice submission that appeared in Monday’s paper. The submission accused the district’s technology department of incompetence and stated the district does not have updated firewalls, anti-virus software or trained professionals.
Madden spoke in support of the tech department, saying he has had nothing but good, professional experience with the staff.
“(The submission was) terrible. It makes fun of the technology department. It’s degrading and totally false,” Madden said.
In other business:
– The district handed Madden an initial contract proposal to HESTA for 2003-06. Board President Carol Cochran stressed the proposal was not a response to HESTA’s proposal.
– The Board heard a presentation on incorporating golf in schools from Sally Haydon from the Family Farm and Golf Park.
– The Board approved the R.O. Hardin School Plan Revision.
– The Board approved $10,700 from the district’s deferred maintenance fund to replace the roof on a house on the Calaveras School property. The district owns a house and rents it out. Someone lives in the house and provides security for the school for a reduction in rent. The work will include complete replacement of the old roof and gutters.
– The Board selected two new law firms. In the past, the district used Miller Brown & Dannis, but is currently unsatisfied with their representation. To cut down on traveling expenses and to take advantage of local knowledge, the district decided to enter into contracts with two law firms – Paxton-O’Brien from Hollister and Breon Shaeffer & Bryant out of San Francisco. The plan is to use Paxton-O’Brien for personnel, real estate and property issues and Breon Shaeffer & Bryant for special education and other issues.
– In her report, Superintendent Judith Barranti discussed enrollment numbers for the district. As of Tuesday afternoon, 6,184 students attended school. This time last year, the number was 6,175, Barranti said.
The next regular Board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. at the district office, 2690 Cienega Road.
