Hollister School District Superintendent Dr. Lisa Andrews, along with district board members, held a meet-and-greet session on Sept. 13 at Sunnyslope Elementary School.
Andrews opened the meeting that was attended by more than 100 parents, teachers, and community members, by presenting the agenda, which included the bond results, Google certification plans, the changes needed to update LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan) and an invitation to give input into the school district’s direction.
“We want to meet here tonight, so we can do what is best for your children,” Andrews said.
Board president Elizabeth Martinez stated that gatherings like the meet-and-greet were vital. She said the ideas presented by the participants would be incorporated into the vision of the district.
Six questions were asked, and an opportunity was given for everyone to write an answer.
One parent’s answer centered on what can be done for special education, while third-grade teacher Jodie Hernandez said her answer had to do with the subject of uniforms.
“I’m for uniforms because it is a unifier,” Hernandez said. “It gets rid of gang colors and emblems and it’s much cheaper to purchase three pairs of pants and three shirts. It’s been proven that the results are better behavior.”
Another person requested more assistance with transportation for those who live outside of the transportation-served area.
Requirements of LCAP from two years ago made it necessary to gain input from parents, educators and employees at that time, and it is a current mandated requirement, as well.
LCAP has eight priorities that must be established, and ideas were generated to fulfill the requirement.
Plans for Measure M, the $28.5 million bond that was approved by voters in 2014, were put into action from a list of priorities. “We started in 2013 to put together a conglomeration of needs,” said Trustee Patricia Moore. Moore said they visited each school and got parents’ ideas, then put them all together for a grand list of priorities.
According to Moore, at the top of the list were student safety items, including entrances and exit sites during school hours.
A flyer distributed during the evening reported some of the accomplishments as the result of the 2014 bond election, including a $150 million master plan that included site-by-site school evaluations.
The elements put in place were the installation of air conditioning at Calaveras and Cerra Vista schools, the replacement of the chiller at Marguerite Maze Middle School and the expansion of the Hollister Dual Language Academy with a new administration building, five classroom buildings, a new fire alarm system and upgraded technology.
The bond money also paid for the installation of safety and security measures and controlled access structures at Calaveras, Cerra Vista, Gabilan Hills, HDLA, Ladd Lane, Sunnyslope, Marguerite Maze and R.O. Hardin schools.
The modernization of R.O. Hardin was celebrated during an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5:45 p.m.
There are continuing needs for the current schools for a projected $100 million, officials said.
Also, building a new school at the Santana Ranch development on Fairview Road is imminent, it was reported, and the facility will be near a new city park.
The district’s Director of Technology, J.R. Rayas, discussed upgrading systems so that all students will be able to access technology. This possibility is due to 10 times more bandwidth now existed two years ago.
“We have wireless for every school,” Rayas said.
Continuing the technology discussion, the audience learned that there are required, structured Google methods an educator must master to become certified for proficiency in the use of Google in the classroom.
Once this has been demonstrated, the Hollister School District will be the first Google Certified Educator in the state, according to Rayas. This announcement got the audience to clap.