Superintendent's Weekly Message

April 19, 2023

Dear Hollister High School parents, students, staff and community:

San Benito High School District’s Facilities Needs Committee last week held its second-to-last meeting of the year, discussing possible facility components that could be included in a new high school.

The Committee, composed of nearly 60 educators, parents, students, as well as community and business leaders, gathered in the Hollister High School Davis Library to hear presentations and hold breakout group discussions. At its final meeting next week, the FNC will review data from its previous meetings and develop findings and recommendations about a new high school that it will present to the San Benito High School District Board of Trustees on May 23.

Elaine Klauer, the district’s Director of Academics and Instructional Programs, along with Claire Grissom, the Coordinator of Career and College Readiness, discussed potential academic pathways and programs for the new high school, noting that pathways and Career Technical Education options would be determined by which industry sectors are in-demand for our area.

As a follow-up to their presentation at the March 22 Committee meeting, which addressed how educational programming can guide school facility decisions, they discussed project-based learning, cross-curricular collaboration and course sequencing options.

This was followed by architectural presentations about how facilities decisions need to be made with educational programming in mind. Committee members then went into breakout sessions to discuss how the new high school could support potential programs to be offered at the new school.

Educational Programming Preferences

During the Committee’s fifth meeting of the year, held on March 22, they participated in an activity in which they provided feedback on potential educational program options for a new high school. Those expressed preferences, among the 79 people voting, were as follows:

• (33 votes) Dual Enrollment, which allows students to take college courses while in high school.
• (32 votes) Academies, focused on technical education centered around a major industry theme.
• (14 votes) Early College High School, which gives students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and college credit concurrently.

Facilities Needs Committee Chairperson Betsey Lemay said the recent meeting, designed to “hone in on the types of educational programming and pathways that we may be offering at the new school,” was the next step in a process in which “we’ve really been dissecting the different components of a new high school. We’ve been in the abstract for a while, talking about what we could have, what we’d like, all these different parts of the high school. We’re now going to make decisions that will lead to recommendations to the board in May. It’s been a lot of discussion, a lot of learning, and a lot of input.”

Mrs. Lemay said the entire FNC meeting process, which began in October 2022, has been “very positive and respectful. We have many ideologies in the room: people thinking about the financial implications and those focused on the educational implications. Everyone’s been open-minded. It’s been really a positive experience.” 

Mrs. Lemay encourages those interested in hearing a recap of the committee’s efforts to attend the May 23 Board of Trustees meeting, at which she and other committee members will give a presentation “about the journey and the recommendations we’re making and why we’re making those. We’re going to present our recommendations knowing that the board will respect the time and effort the committee has put into their work.”

I appreciate the dozens of Facilities Needs Committee members who have offered their perspective, asked probing questions, and expressed their care and concern for the future of education in San Benito County throughout this school year. I look forward to hearing their recommendations about a new high school and am confident that the Board of Trustees will have plenty of information to help move the process forward. 

Sincerely,

San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum

The community is invited to the next campus tour of Hollister High School this Saturday, April 22 starting at 10 a.m. in front of the main administration building at 1220 Monterey St. Administrators and student leaders will lead the tours of campus in small groups, which will allow for questions and an up close look at the innovative learning spaces located on various parts of campus. The event is a wonderful opportunity for future Haybalers and their families to check out our facilities and we also welcome any community members who want to tour classrooms, labs, athletic facilities and other teaching and learning spaces. We encourage tour attendees to RSVP in advance to Carol Heiderich by phone at 831-637-5831, ext. 132 or by email at cheiderich@sbhsd.k12.ca.us.