Official says need arose due to proposed El Ranch project
School leaders are close to re-establishing a long-absent San
Benito County panel whose members make decisions over major changes
to the 11 districts here in a move to help keep education officials
prepared for possible growth-related alterations.
Official says need arose due to proposed El Ranch project
School leaders are close to re-establishing a long-absent San Benito County panel whose members make decisions over major changes to the 11 districts here in a move to help keep education officials prepared for possible growth-related alterations.
The committee’s pending revival carries potential to significantly alter the education system’s makeup. But leaders also have few if any expectations heading into the process, and county Superintendent Mike Sanchez stressed that “by no means” does its re-formation signal an overhaul of any kind is on the table.
Education leaders are progressing on the committee’s revival after years of dormancy and with few if any proposals for major change coming forward.
Longtime former Superintendent Tim Foley before he retired had started noticing an increased demand for having such a committee again. A local trustee also noted a major impetus for the panel’s reinstatement is the proposed El Rancho San Benito development and potential ramifications if it is approved.
Sanchez has worked with area education leaders in recent months toward reestablishing the County Committee on School District Organization. It was a major priority for the superintendent when he started Jan. 5.
Leaders from county districts came together in February to kick off discussions on the topic. There, they requested Sanchez tour all 11 districts. He has done so since then and said in an interview with The Pinnacle the visits were “something he wanted to do anyway.”
He called the 11-member panel’s reestablishment “our duty as a county office of education” and noted its members will respond to any and all proposals from the community.
“The idea is to be poised and ready in case a need arises in our county,” he said.
Sanchez’ office accepted applications for the committee through May 1. On Thursday, representatives from each district were set to meet and discuss how they plan to progress in choosing the panel members.
By law, the county superintendent has authority to pick eight of the 11 members. Sanchez, however, has decided to allow officials from each of the districts to make recommendations and get more involved in the process.
District organization tends to be a sensitive topic among school leaders here and elsewhere because one of the debates that inherently arises is over administrative overhead, whether a less-than-efficient number of top-paid education officials are employed countywide.
Of the debate over the district number, Sanchez said, “That’s something that’s been around forever.”
Sanchez stressed that he expects committee members to make quality of education a priority with every idea presented.
“Any proposal that comes through has to be in the best interest of families,” he said.
William Tiffany, president of the San Benito High School District Board of Trustees, agreed about the committee’s priorities.
“I would favor quality of education and equal service to all potential students,” Tiffany said.
He also surmised there will be a need to balance practical financial concerns in the equation.
Tiffany noted how the re-formed panel has gained some momentum due to the proposed El Rancho San Benito development off of Hwy. 25, with potential for 6,800 homes near the Santa Clara County line.
Tiffany pointed out that portions of the proposed development’s boundaries would fall into three separate districts, Aromas-San Juan, North County and San Benito High School.
“I believe that’s the impetus behind re-forming the committee,” he said, “the idea that the El Rancho San Benito development on Bolsa Road might go ahead.”
Committee responsibilities
According to a summary provided by Sanchez, the committee can respond to the following:
– Transfer of territory between/among school districts
– District unification or de-unification
– Dissolution or lapsation of a district
– Annexation of all or part of one district to another
– Establishment/abolishment of trustee areas and increase/decrease in the number of trustees
– Formation of new districts of all types from territory of existing districts
General information:
– It is an 11-member committee.
– There are two appointees from each supervisorial district and one member serving at large.
– The term of office is two or four years and begins upon selection.
– The members are elected by school board members from each of the 11 districts.
– The meeting schedule, determined by the committee, can be monthly, quarterly or yearly.
– The meetings are subject to Brown Act provisions.
– There is no pay, but members are reimbursed for travel expenses.
– Any decision by the committee can be appealed to the State Board of Education.
