I take great pride that the Community of San Benito County has allowed me to serve them for the past eight years as a trustee of San Benito High School District. I am seeking re-election and would ask for your serious consideration.
I became an active advocate for students and families as my seven children started attending San Benito High School and through their friends and acquaintances I noticed that many were falling through the cracks and that some of their basic needs and/or rights seemed to be ignored. After several years of participating as a community member and educating myself by attending board meetings for years and participating as a parent/citizen on agenda item discussions, I decided that if I wanted to see a greater change for the better than I would have to participate in an official manner.
Over the years, I was the primary founder of The Baler Education Foundation which serves to enhance the educational experience for students while attending San Benito High School mostly achieved through making teacher classroom grants available. Through the Foundation, we established the Baler Hall of Fame. I served on the superintendent’s advisory panel (prior to becoming a trustee). While a trustee, this board has made some significant positive strides towards excellence:
- We implemented A-G University of California entrance requirements as our default graduation requirement so that each student would be exposed to the courses they would need to be considered for entrance into a U.C. or Cal State school.
- We increased Student Support Services expectations to support the A-G move and to provide students with the support needed to make decisions regarding their educational path forward.
- We have maintained a balanced budget through out the entire time including during the recession. This was done with little impact on the services that the students would directly receive, namely their teachers.
- In appreciation for working through the difficult times with us the board provided a two-year series of salary increases for our staff, 6 percent one year and 4 percent in another.
- Throughout the recession and the entire time that I have served, the board maintained our teachers compensation in the top three when compared to like districts.
- The board has tracked discipline rates and interventions strategies. The district’s suspension and expulsion rate is down over this time.
- The district’s college going rate is up over this time and still on the rise with goals to increase this each year.
- I believe that the trustees that have served with me would agree that I spearheaded the change in vision that allowed the board to move forward with much needed facility improvements specifically supported by Measure G.
- The board has provided as one the highest facilities priorities the air conditioning of all of our classrooms, allowing our teachers to focus on their students and the students to focus on their studies.
- This board has reached out to other government agencies to work to improve education, safety and sustainability over my term. This is exemplified in the work to address Nash Road safety issues, continued discussion on joint use of facilities such as our new tennis courts and the possibility of an Aquatics Center that no single entity can currently afford.
- One of our new superintendent’s earliest set of goals was to improve our staff morale. This displays a sense that the board cared and realized that poor morale would spill over to the work product and we asked Mr. Perales to address this as quickly as possible.
I cannot touch on everything in this short article but hopefully this gives you a flavor of the positive strides that San Benito High School District has taken in the last eight years while I served on the Board of Trustees. All of these with the best interest of our students, staff and community in mind. Hopefully, these points will help you, the community, while you consider whom to vote for in November.
I believe that I have always served the community with integrity and consideration for multiple points of view. Yes, I have at times had to ask difficult questions and have had to make decisions that might not directly serve me or my family, for instance, but would best serve the district and the community. I also consistently have made it a practice to ask staff members, specifically teaching staff what the board can do to help them achieve their goals. I hope to ask the you the voters to allow me to continue to work with this board.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate and thank the other six citizens who have placed their names on the ballot. This is a serious and difficult decision that will take away from your family time but is well worth it in the end. Too many of us complain without ever stepping forward as you six individuals have and I would personally wish you luck and say thank you.
Please consider casting your ballot for Ray Rodriguez this November.
With sincere hope for our children’s future, Ray Rodriguez.
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