Our first item this week came to us not through the Red Phone,
but through a Red E-mail, as it were. Our inquisitive epistler had
a question regarding private schools: Specifically, how do they
come to be? Public schools, of course, are subject to state
standards and accreditation, but who exactly is making sure that
our community’s private schools are up to snuff?
Making a Private School Legit
Our first item this week came to us not through the Red Phone, but through a Red E-mail, as it were. Our inquisitive epistler had a question regarding private schools: Specifically, how do they come to be? Public schools, of course, are subject to state standards and accreditation, but who exactly is making sure that our community’s private schools are up to snuff?
Our search for answers led us to Kathy O’Donnel, principal of Sacred Heart Parish School. All private schools, whether at the primary, high school or college level, are subject to accreditation by the National Association of Schools and Colleges, she says. In addition, because Sacred Heart is a private school, they are also accredited through the Western Catholic Educational Association.
In order to become accredited, schools must prepare a series of papers detailing how the school is run, from curriculum to fiscal resources. After this plan is accepted, a representative from NASC visits the school for three days to make sure that the school is being run in accordance with the plan. The representative then writes up a report with commendations and suggestions for improvement, and typically accredits the school for a period of six years.
So while private schools aren’t necessarily beholden to the government, like their public counterparts, strict standards are in place to make sure that not just any old Joe isn’t teaching history out of his garage and calling himself a private institution. Hope that clears things up for our reader.
More Caltrans
Maintenance
That pedestrian button at the corner of Third Street and San Benito is being a bit of a pest.
We reported last time that the button had been vandalized, causing it to stop San Benito traffic at a red light at odd hours, when there was no cross traffic on Third Street. Now a caller informs us that the covers on two of the pedestrian buttons are missing, and that his older father is afraid to use them for fear of getting shocked.
We’ve put Caltrans on the case and they’ve said they’ll get back to us on Monday. Watch this space next week for an update.
Bike too Light?
The same caller tells us that the signal sensors under the pavement at the corners of Fourth and San Benito, and also at the corner of Highway 156 and Business 156, are not adjusted properly to sense motorcycles and prompt the signal to change.
Let’s face it: In Hollister that’s a HUGE issue.
Caltrans, also the responsible party in this case, has been informed, and will, we hope, look into it next week. We will report the results as soon as possible.
Have a great weekend one and all, on your bike or otherwise, and call the Red Phone at 635-9219 when a problem has you bedeviled.
