A presentation about funding San Benito High School senior activities such as the parent night and graduation turned into a longer discussion about a possible executive committee that would give students and staff more of a leadership role in the graduation ceremony design process.
The report was informational and no action was taken at the board meeting last week.
Principal Todd Dearden proposed creating an executive committee to streamline the decision-making process. The proposed committee would include the activities director, the principal, four students and four parents, the principal explained. Previously, graduation was the responsibility of a parent graduation committee and the senior class.
“I would actually go as far as saying the majority of those members should be parents,” Trustee Juan Robledo said.
Robledo cautioned the board that forming such a committee might disfranchise parent volunteers, many of whom view the event as a gift to their graduating children.
In 2015, the cost of the graduation ceremony was $16,487.41, with $8,501.54—or 52 percent of the costs—coming from the district’s general fund, according to a report shared with trustees at the regularly scheduled board meeting. The senior parent night cost $9,726.61 and was funded with $6,784.48—or 70 percent of the costs—coming from the senior class, according to the same presentation.
Costs not covered by the district’s general fund or the senior class were funded by $10,578 in revenue brought in by the fees families pay for additional chairs at the graduation ceremony plus a $350 donation.
Possible cost-saving measures for the event included removing the funding for a staff member currently receiving 0.2 FTE to work the event, which the superintendent and principal said was an uncommon practice.
“That’s negotiated,” said Trustee Evelyn Muro. “You can’t reduce that. It’s in the contract.”
The district has also spent $1,000-1,500 a year on a backdrop for the stage, which is specific to that class and is not used at the ceremony the following year, the principal explained.
Issues to address before this graduation include replacing the stage; finding a way to involve the band; figuring out a way to include all the teachers, now required by contract to attend the ceremony; and polishing up the event program, the principal explained.
