Hollister
– More than 35 percent fewer students will be taking summer
school classes at the high school this year than in years past,
primarily as a result of a decrease in state funding.
Hollister – More than 35 percent fewer students will be taking summer school classes at the high school this year than in years past, primarily as a result of a decrease in state funding.
Despite changes to the program, SBHS administrators are in the last stages of planning for summer school. The school is expecting around 890 students for each semester of summer school, said Director of Educational Services Cindy Cordova. This is 510 fewer students than in 2006, when around 1,400 students enrolled per semester.
The primary reason for the decrease is a change in state funding for summer school.
Funding used to be provided for all general remedial courses, but it is now primarily dedicated to supplemental instruction for students who have not passed the high school exit exam.
Despite these cuts, the school’s administration and school board decided to continue to fund all remedial courses (make-up classes for students who had previously failed). But because of increases in costs to the district, fewer enrichment courses, or courses that are not required, are being offered, and fewer students can take summer school classes.
“It’s different this year,” Cordova said. “We don’t have as many courses that will be reimbursed to us, so we’re just providing classes for those students who did not pass a class and those who did not pass or are at risk for not passing the (exit exam).”
The school will be providing some classes for students who wish to take summer school classes merely because of full academic schedules during the school year. The SBHS board of trustees agreed to fund 60 slots for each grade level for enrichment classes. Cordova said all of these slots have been filled.
The state is providing some money this year for general remedial classes, but the only uncapped funds are limited to courses that prepare students for the exit exam: English, language arts or mathematics courses. This funding also is exclusively for students who are failing or at risk of failing the exam.
The cost of providing all of the classes without the funding is currently unknown, although Jim Koenig, the director of finance and operations for the high school, previously estimated the school would have to pay around $100,000 out of its general funds budget.
The school will be providing 32 class sections per semester for summer school; eight of these classes fall under exit exam preparation and are covered through the state funding. The first semester of summer school will start on June 13.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or at [email protected].
