COMMUNITY OPINION: The C word

This neighborhood opinion was contributed by Randy Logue. The opinions expressed don’t essentially characterize BenitoLink or different affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invitations all neighborhood members to share their concepts and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink consumer within the high proper nook of our dwelling web page and agreeing to observe our Terms of Use, you’ll be able to write counter opinions or share your insights on present points.

The San Benito Excessive College District has shaped a committee to start planning for a second highschool. As I’ve written many occasions I believe this might,  to place it properly, not be an excellent factor for the neighborhood. 

I’ve written beforehand itemizing many the reason why I believe this can be a dangerous thought, and in addition with a number of alternate options together with putting extra youngsters in Different Training, Lengthy Time period impartial research, ROP like applications with area people faculties, on-line studying and versatile scheduling to cut back the variety of youngsters on campus. It seems to me that the College board and administration are hellbent on constructing a brand new faculty.  

As I’ve said beforehand, I believe the largest downside with a second faculty is the division it is going to create in the neighborhood. So I’ll suggest another various. 

Once I was a child rising up in Northern California the town of Redding was going through the same downside with Shasta highschool.  The town was rising, the varsity was getting massive, however metropolis leaders didn’t need to divide the neighborhood so that they constructed Nova faculty. A big faculty which had solely ninth grade college students. All the feeder colleges within the space (and like us they’d many rural colleges) despatched their graduates to Nova faculty. 

Then Shasta Excessive College solely had 10-12 grades which alleviated the issues of overcrowding. The benefits included protecting the neighborhood intact, it was cheaper than constructing a second complete highschool and there have been extra extra-curricular alternatives as Nova faculty fielded three freshman groups, purple, gold and white. 

A ninth grade-only faculty in San Benito County might subject pink, white and black groups. The district owns property on Finest street, a great location for ninth graders.  There wouldn’t be a lot temptation to sneak out and go downtown as it will be an extended stroll. The enrollment at Tres Pinos faculty is such that there wouldn’t be an issue with site visitors dropping youngsters off and selecting them up. 

The board and committee might determine what amenities would have to be constructed on the faculty, however I’ve a couple of recommendations.  First, construct the varsity to have the ability to accommodate about 1,200 college students. That may be excessive at first, however would permit for progress, and in some unspecified time in the future in the event that they needed to transform it to a 4 12 months highschool the choice can be there.  Second, share athletic amenities with the present highschool with a couple of exceptions. There would have to be some follow and bodily training fields, and a cafegymatorium, (I do know this isn’t an actual phrase, however you already know what I imply), put locker rooms in, however not a separate soccer/soccer/lacrosse/subject hockey stadium, no monitor, and no baseball or softball stadium, or swimming pool. This might save a major amount of cash.

Third, focus plenty of the district, county workplace and behavioral well being psychological well being property on the faculty. Actually concentrate on getting the youngsters wholesome academically,  bodily, mentally, and emotionally earlier than going to the senior highschool, and lastly, align the schedule with the highschool in order that there can be an choice for teenagers to take industrial expertise, and agriculture courses at the highschool. Even perhaps bussing youngsters right down to the  highschool for these applications. You would have the perfect of each worlds: a brand new faculty, and a united neighborhood.  That is the C phrase, compromise, and to make the compromise full you can name the brand new faculty San Benito County Prep College. 

Respectfully submitted, Randy Logue