Various staff at San Benito High School were commended by SBHS
District Superintendent Jean Burns Slater at Wednesday night’s
board meeting for coming to the aid of assistant wrestling coach
Armando Quintana on Dec. 30 and for supporting his family after his
death.
”
These people were successful in assisting in all manners
possible,
”
Slater said.
”
I know they still feel badly because they couldn’t do something
more.
”
Various staff at San Benito High School were commended by SBHS District Superintendent Jean Burns Slater at Wednesday night’s board meeting for coming to the aid of assistant wrestling coach Armando Quintana on Dec. 30 and for supporting his family after his death.
“These people were successful in assisting in all manners possible,” Slater said. “I know they still feel badly because they couldn’t do something more.”
Those honored were maintenance supervisor Steve Greer, Athletic Director Randy Logue, Interim Principal Duane Morgan, Director of Personnel Evelyn Muro, wrestling coach Matt Olejnik and technician Rob Zimmerman. Logue went as far as immediately picking up Quintana’s son in San Francisco to bring him to Hollister.
Also during the meeting, Morgan presented information on the first semester enrollment and attendance. At the beginning of the year, total enrollment including the Independent Study Program was at 2,835. At the end of the first semester in December, enrollment was 2,776. Without the Independent Study Program, which was not available last year, enrollment was up by 100 students compared to last year.
Average Daily Attendance, which determines how much funding schools are given from the state, is down 0.5 percent from last year, Morgan said. ADA started out at 96 percent of enrollment and was down to 91 percent by December.
Although half of the school year is over, the district has spent 40 percent of its expected revenue, reported Steve DeLay, director of finance and operations. Not surprisingly with statewide budget problems, only about 24 percent of the district’s income has come in, according to the report.
The Board held a public hearing on the teachers union’s collective bargaining proposal for the 2003-04 school year. The union is asking for a 2-percent salary increase, and proposed discussing early retirement and teacher attendance incentives.
In other business:
– The Board looked at a revision to Board Policy that would allow students to co-enroll at a university, community college or vocational school while also attending classes at SBHS for part of the day. The policy is open to all students, not just seniors, Slater noted. Of the classes, students must be enrolled in three “academic solids” either at SBHS or their other school. This was just the first reading of the revision.
– DeLay updated the Board on the campus expansion construction east of the main campus on Nash Road. With rain delays, the construction should be completed by the end of March, he said.
– Assistant Principals Santiago Echaore and Krystal Lomanto are setting up a workshop to talk to faculty about the reasons for kicking students out of class and how to solve discipline issues.
– During her report, Slater presented information on the school’s graduation rates. Percentages of graduates are in the high 90s. Out of a possible 510 graduates last year, 496 graduated, or 97 percent. Slater did note that the “possible graduates” number reflects the number of seniors at the end of the school year, not the number of students who have left SBHS over the past four years.
– The Board directed Slater to look at starting the school year one to two weeks early. Slater will conduct fields tests with parents to evaluate how much the change would affect attendance. The district is looking at starting next year on Aug. 16 or Aug. 23 to help even out the length of the two semesters.
– SBHS student Patrick Thayer will be recognized as the Santa Clara Regional Occupation Program Student of the Year on Feb. 4 at the Santa Clara County Office of Education meeting.
– The Board voted to expel a student for the rest of the semester.
– Trustee Judy Rider was absent.
The next Board meeting is Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in room 172.
