Although the state’s $34 billion budget deficit threatened to
reduce summer school programs, local schools will be able to carry
on with a full load of classes.
Although the state’s $34 billion budget deficit threatened to reduce summer school programs, local schools will be able to carry on with a full load of classes.
Since nearly two-thirds of San Benito High School students enroll in summer school, administrators were concerned about possible budget-cut effects, and even with cuts in allotted state money, the school will offer a “full array” of summer school classes, Superintendent Jean Burns Slater said.
“It’s important to provide a summer school program because it allows students more time for electives,” Slater said. “It gives students positive things to do during the summer. It also relieves pressure during the school year.”
An estimated 2,000 out of 2,700 students have already registered for classes, according to Duane Morgan, vice principal of student services, but the school will have space for only 1,800.
Administrators attribute the high number of students to the number of units needed to graduate. If a student takes six classes every semester and passes, they can earn 240 units. To graduate, students need 235 units, meaning they have room to fail one class for one semester before they will need to make up classes. Morgan said that 1,400 of the 1,800 students are taking classes for remediation.
Anzar High School student have not yet registered for summer school, but Director Charlene McKowen anticipates offering the same program that has been in place.
“For traditional high schools, summer school is the only way that students can catch up on their units if they’re behind,” McKowen said. “… For us, it’s great for students to get ahead on their exhibitions.”
Anzar students need 220 units to graduate. If students took six classes each semester, they could earn 240 units.
An addition to high school summer school programs across the state are classes for the California High School Exit Exam. Most of these classes will focus on seniors who have yet to pass one or both sections. Anzar and SBHS will offer the exit exam in July. McKowen said the preparation was a good idea.
Morgan said the exit exam classes are SBHS’s priority this summer.
“It’s our No. 1 concern right now, making sure we give the seniors all the opportunities to pass the exam,” he said. “We’re beefing up the teaching staff (for those classes).”
While Anzar isn’t having problems getting teachers to teach summer school, SBHS is. SBHS will need 42 teachers – the reason the school will have to turn away 200 students – and will hold interviews for teachers who are not currently at the school, Morgan said.
“Many teachers get involved in the education field to get their summers off,” he said. “They’re great teachers, but they just want summers off to do staff development or to take a break.”
Also, state funding for summer school students who want to get ahead in core classes has decreased from 7 percent to 5 percent, Slater said. SBHS has about 14 percent of that student population attending summer school this year.
