Four challengers facing two incumbents
Six candidates are contesting three open seats on the San Benito
High School Board of Trustees Nov. 7.
Four challengers facing two incumbents
Six candidates are contesting three open seats on the San Benito High School Board of Trustees Nov. 7.
The core issues revolve around catering to all the student constituencies and the need for a second high school.
Incumbents Bill Tiffany and Jan Joseph are joined by four challengers. A third incumbent, Judy Ryder, is not seeking re-election..
“It isn’t easy. I guess what schools have to concern themselves with is looking at programs and methods that work well and increasing student achievement and then instituting those programs into the classes where they are shown to produce results,” Tiffany said. “The new superintendent has some exciting ideas as well.”
Tiffany’s point is one of the concerns that newcomer Steve DeLay also holds.
“I think the problem that the high school currently has is that there is no clear vision or direction. The trustees need to give the high school some clear direction. I think the focus has gotten away in the last few years,” DeLay said.
Newcomer Terry Hill was influenced to run by the same issue.
“I was concerned that the direction the school was taking was one of providing a single avenue where toward advancement, where there should be multiple paths. School should challenge every student…I was afraid that the school was going in the direction of ‘let’s make everyone the same,'” Hill said.
For others, reaching out to every constituency isn’t just a concern, it’s an obligation.
“We don’t have a choice, we have to reach out to every constituency, but it’s a numbers game, because we’re never going to make 100 percent of the people happy. Still, resources have to be allocated fairly. It’s our responsibility to give every student a great education and extracurricular opportunities to make them whole human beings,” Robert Bernosky said.
Vocational education also emerges as an issue.
“Vocational education is very important. I think it has to have support from the administration. During the last four years the Future Farmers of America program has been revitalized and the auto shop program continues to be popular. In fact we’ve looked at improving the facilities of the auto shop,” Tiffany said. “I believe the vocational ed program is important because it reaches some of the young people that are less interested in core academics and still allows them to get into the job market.”
Mary Encinias, a retired San Benito High teacher, also feels very strongly about the importance of vocational education.
“I think every student wants to pursue an education that interests them. It’s important for every student to have career options, whether they go on to get a college education or not, it can always help you,” Encinias said.
Bernosky agreed with Encinias.
“Not every individual wants to go to college; however that doesn’t make them any less of a person. Therefore we need to help the students who choose that path and make them the same whole citizens as their classmates,” Bernosky said.
Perhaps the most important issue in the district currently is the question of when the time is right to begin discussions about a new high school. Currently the high school enrollment is nearly 3,000 students and all of the candidates agreed that serious discussions need to occur about when to build a new high school.
“I don’t think we can start talking about a new high school until the problems that currently exist have been resolved,” Encinias said. “Three thousand students at one school is too many, but if you create a new school before we have solved the problems at the old school you’ll create separatism. A system where there is the ‘good’ school and the ‘other’ school.”
Hill said that the district has been investigating the plausibility of a new school for some time, but they have to be cautious in pursuing it.
“I know it’s been something under consideration for some time. The current board has discussed the issue, they’ve even done field trips and own property, but there has been resistance from the community in the past. I know a lot of people like the idea of Hollister having one high school, but now is the time to start looking,” Hill said. “We have to remain concerned about how we do it, I think it needs to be an open process with plenty of public input.”
DeLay believes the issue is past due.
“Discussions about this should have already begun. We’re looking at a five-year timeframe if everything lands smoothly,” DeLay said.
Every candidate also had their own views of what a trustee should be and what he/she should bring to the job.
“As a trustee you have the role of representing the values and goals of the community in a general sense. You’re elected by the community and you get the general sense that you’re supposed to do your best to represent the community in dealing with all aspects of the school business. The school board’s primary obligation is to examine policy options for the district and the school, especially for students,” Tiffany said.
Bernosky saw the role of trustee as one person who along with many sets policy and oversees that policy.
“The role is that where you sit with your peers, on a board and then hire a great administration and monitor that administration and provide policies for them that meet the educational needs of the children,” Bernosky said. “Beyond that you also need to make sure that the district is financially responsible to the taxpayers.”
Hill saw the role of trustee as somebody who makes sure the school is achieving its objectives.
You need to make sure you’re in touch with the school. The previous board seemed to have a singular avenue for communicating with the school, I think they need to be proactive with getting feedback,” Hill said.
DeLay kept his answer short.
“The role of trustee is to be one community voice. They set policy and direction for the administration to follow.”
Encinias saw the role of trustee as a guide for the administration.
“They run the school, in order to have student success they have to have a positive relationship with the administration. They have to be knowledgeable and strong in their beliefs. They have to do what’s right, despite popular opinion. It’s also very important that trustees be involved in the school. They need to know the school,” Encinias said.
Name: Terry D. Hill
Age: 51
Education: Bachelor of science, economics and information management systems.
Career: Accountant, systems analyst, and software engineer.
Why are you running for the position of trustee?
I would like to help San Benito High School be the best school it can be for all of the students and families in our community. My wife and I have lived in Hollister for 22 years and have had at least one of our children attending the High School for the past 11 years and will have for the next seven years. Four of our children have graduated from San Benito High School and attend college or graduate school. Three currently attend the High School and two will attend in the future. I would like to apply the judgment gained over the years raising our children and working as a volunteer teacher and leader in youth groups to the issues that come before the Board – your parent-partner on the San Benito High School District Board.
What is the most important issue facing the San Benito High School district?
I believe the most important issue is how to maintain a safe, secure and respectful learning environment in which all students recognize their talents and are challenged and motivated to grow, develop and realize their potential as individuals – to become productive, responsible, and contributing members of society. We must find ways to reach out and help all students and their families experience success in learning.
What is this district’s greatest strength?
The district’s greatest strength is its people – its students and parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members. Hollister is a great place, and San Benito High School has served its students well for many years. We need to bring out the best in its people – provide them the resources, training, opportunities, encouragement, and support needed to continue doing a great job.
What is the district’s greatest challenge?
I believe the greatest challenge is maintaining and building upon the values that bring success to education – real respect for every person and recognizing the family as the fundamental unit of our society and parents’ preeminent role in directing the education of their children.
Name: Steve DeLay
Age: 55
Education: Bachelor’s industrial arts education
Master’s educational administration
Why are you running?
As a recently retired Director of Finance and former educator from San Benito High, I would like to provide realistic and responsible solutions to the issues currently facing the District. I am especially concerned about the reduction of academic and vocational opportunities and the decline of student expectations, academically and behaviorally. In addition, I would like to work to improve the student’s and staff’s moral.
What is the most important issue?
There are several major issues San Benito High School is facing at this time. There is a lack of a clear school-wide vision. The school needs fiscal stability and accountability. It is of the utmost importance to hire, retain and support quality staff.
What is this district’s greatest strength?
In the 32 years I was employed at San Benito High School, I found that its greatest strength has been and continues to be the community’s support and the student’s and staff’s pride in being a Baler.
What is the district’s greatest challenge?
Planning for future student growth and restoring confidence in the board and administration.
Name: Rob Bernosky
Age: 43
Education: University of Delaware, 1981-1986 Business Administration
Why are you running for the position of trustee?
I believe in public service and really enjoy working for today’s children to prepare them for the world. The successes that I have been part of while serving as a trustee of the North County Joint Union School District (Spring Grove) show that it is a good match of the responsibilities of a board member, skill set, and personality. It is my public service.
I also do things like this to set an example, most of all for my children, but also for the community, to get involved in government and those things that affect our lives. We live in a democracy and most everything in our lives is controlled by elected officials, and yet I would say the many people have complaints at one time or another about how our government is dealing with “things”. I am not one to complain about those things that are important to me, such as the quality of education and the safety of our school children, without the willingness to do something about it. I encourage everyone to get involved one way or another in the community, at any level.
I would also like to emphasize that I can think of no elected position that will impact any voter with children in their lives as much as that of a school board member. Vote this position wisely. Each day of a child’s education that goes by, is a day that can almost never be made up. I beg your readers to evaluate each candidate and ask the question “who has a vested interest in San Benito High?” With three children, Rob Bernosky certainly does. This is a district of 3,000 students, a multi-million dollar budget, and very significant issues. Vote for candidates with this in mind.
What is the most important issue facing the San Benito High School district?
Today it is probably the budget (as it is almost always). Where you get the most bangs for the buck is attendance; if you can keep that up high, you have more revenue to work with. If you let it slip, you still have the expenses, but not the revenue. The administration has the responsibility of promotion and providing for the right mix of resources to get the kids to school and keep them there. We have been very creative in North County (Spring Grove) and it has paid off.
What is this district’s greatest strength?
I have yet to meet a San Benito High teacher or staff member that did not impress me. The interaction I have had shows that they take their jobs seriously, are professional, friendly, and overall I think are doing a great job. I see attributes that seem to make them good role models for the children.
Although I realize that it can also be viewed as a negative, the sheer size of SBHS can be viewed as a strength because of the amount of resources the it can dedicate to programs. Just the fact that there is one administration for 3,000 children allows the school to dedicate more resources to education than if you had 3 schools of 1,000 students each with 3 administrations.
Naturally, the secret to success is having an administration that can be effective with such a large high school. However, I am not saying that if we could do it all over again, we would not have planned the school district differently.
What is the district’s greatest challenge?
It is the responsibility of the San Benito High School District to prepare all of its students for the world by providing the best education possible, in a safe environment, and hopefully provide those extracurricular activities that make the students well-rounded individuals and provide leadership opportunities. That is the challenge of the District, and it will always be the challenge.
Over time parameters and circumstances change, so we have to make adjustments and be creative. For example, educators and administrations are under this new paradigm of the quality of education being measured solely by standardized tests. We have no choice but to change to this new paradigm until another one comes along. Some may argue that measuring education by standardized tests is wrong because it will cause the district to teach to the test, but in reality that issue is simply an ancillary issue as to whether the kids are actually learning. The great thing about our form of government is that we get to openly debate whether programs work or not, and make changes. That change is never instantaneous, which has its own pluses and minuses.
Name: Bill Tiffany
Age: 56
Education: Attended local schools and graduated from San Benito High School in 1968. I Bachelor’s in history from Stanford University in 1972. Law degree from Hastings in 1976.
Why are you running for the position of trustee?
I am running for re-election as a trustee because I believe that education is vitally important in each of our lives; I think that my goals for the high school are fairly representative of those in our community; whether it is classic American literature, new computer technology, vocational training, or tutorials for English language learners, schools should offer students a wide range of opportunities and the tools to learn and succeed. The board has overseen positive changes at the high school over the last four years, but I certainly recognize that improving our school is an ongoing process. The actions of the governing board are important to that process, and I believe that my experience, along with an open minded and thoughtful approach to matters coming before the board, can help the board make good decisions in the future.
What is the most important issue facing the San Benito High School district?
Improving the achievement level of all students, particularly in English, math and social studies.
What is the district’s greatest strength?
Our many outstanding kids, their families, and the support that the school gets from our community; the school’s administrators, teachers, and support personnel who are truly dedicated to educating our students.
What is the district’s greatest challenge?
Managing the budget and our available resources in a manner that best meets the needs of the different groups comprising our school community.
Name: Mary Encinias
Age: 74
Education: Bachelor’s in secondary education and master’s in administration-education.
Why are you running for the position of trustee?
I am running for this position so that I can enhance communication between the parents, students and the administration.
What is the most important issue facing the San Benito High School district?
Consistency and communication.
What is the district’s greatest strength?
Excellent teaching faculty and excellent classified staff.
What is the district’s greatest challenge?
Raising the API and student attendance.
