The San Benito High School board had its typical meeting
Wednesday night, addressing agendas, budgets, calendars and
attendance.
The San Benito High School board had its typical meeting Wednesday night, addressing agendas, budgets, calendars and attendance.
But it was another topic that raised the room temperature and caused a student to speak out – short skirts.
As Superintendent Jean Burns Slater addressed the board about potentially new sexual harassment polices, which take the previous guidelines, a group of students were gathered toward the back of the seating, and a hand shot up in the air.
“While we’re on the topic of sexual harassment, I wanted to talk about the way people, particularly the girls, have been dressing at school,” Senior Sarah Saunders said. “I know we have dress code policies about showing the midriff, but it’s the skirts you should be worried about.
“I mean there has been numerous occasions that I have seen girls’ underwear because their skirts are so short.”
Principal Duane Morgan was on hand.
“Yes, you’re right,” he said. “As the weather gets warmer, the girls dress more scampy. We need to tighten down on the dress code.”
Saunders wasn’t convinced.
“So how are you going to go about doing this then?” she said. “I just don’t think it’s fair that the boys aren’t allowed to wear long chains, yet the girls can walk around with their rears hanging out.”
Morgan said that the dress code is established, and with the warmer days, he will do his best to have it strongly enforced in the future.
– Also on the agenda, was a report on how the district is attacking truancy. Students who are excessively not attending school are receiving surprise visits from Resource Officer Leticia Horta. If the student doesn’t come to the door, a letter is left in a sealed envelope for the parent. The district was proud to announce the program is working well, and it has received 100-percent feedback from the parents they’ve contacted.
– Interviewing and photographing students raised a few parent eyebrows as the new policy was being discussed. The new proposal, which was only up for discussion and hasn’t been voted on yet, limits parents to only photographing their own child, and only from the stands. One wrestling parent commented that he takes photos from the side of the mats at matches. He also said he takes pictures of the entire team and gives them the prints when they’re developed. The board decided to continue to discuss and revise the proposal and re-address it in April.
– The Student Management Support Services presented activities they have planned for the school year. Highlights include: College campus trips to San Jose State and CSU Monterey Bay, Gangs Awareness Conference for parents and students in May, a men’s camping trip to Big Sur and a women’s retreat to Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Student Management Support Services works with at-risk students, offering them support and guidance.
– District employees who have completed the probationary year of employment were recognized and honored with plaques. The awards represent that the employee has demonstrated the skills and high performance standards values at the San Benito High School District. The following received awards: Irene Alfaro, Jesus DeLeon, Beverly Foster, Marline Fridman, Maria Garcia, Yvonne Garcia, Sharon Hopingardner, Melissa Johnson and Francisca Taluban.
