Superintendent's Weekly Message

May 8, 2024

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

The San Benito High School District is proud to continue offering our community the opportunity to participate in discussions and ask questions about plans for a second high school, as we work to relieve overcrowding at Hollister High School while maintaining a commitment to providing high-quality education to all students in our county.

With enrollment at HHS above its maximum capacity of 3,400 students and projected to reach 3,900 students in the next five years, our District is pursuing all available funding opportunities for a second high school that would relieve overcrowding and provide access to career pathways and job skills for all students.

Tomorrow -- Thursday, May 9 -- we are expecting more than 100 people in the Davis Library as the District and Hollister High School's Migrant Education Program host a bilingual Parent Advisory Council and District English Language Advisory Committee meeting to gather input and feedback regarding the planned second high school. 

On April 25, we hosted a parent information night at Calaveras School, welcoming parents and students who wanted to learn more about plans for the second campus while getting a look at preliminary designs of the school. The bilingual event featured thoughtful questions from families and an interactive presentation led by HMC Architects, which is designing the second campus on land the District purchased in northwest Hollister.

Also on the 25th, we kicked off the day welcoming retired teachers to campus for a breakfast information session to learn about San Benito High School District's plans to build a second high school. Each one of these events follow up on our pledge to involve our community in discussions about the need for and plans for a second high school. Last Fall, District leaders met with our community at a series of 10 K-8 listening and awareness sessions at local elementary schools.

We appreciate the hundreds of responses we received regarding the visual identity of the new high school. In addition to surveying current students, we opened the survey to our community, promoting it through social media, our newsletter, and setting up a booth at the downtown Farmers Market for three weeks to solicit input. 

Next week, our community is invited to a campus tour of Hollister High School on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Whether you've never been to campus or it's been a few years (or more), we encourage you to RSVP to Carol Heiderich by email or by calling 831-637-5831, ext. 1132 and join us for a guided tour, led by ASB students and district administrators.

Then in June, we’ll host two community town halls regarding a second high school. These start with a Spanish-language session on Wednesday, June 12 in the school library, followed by an English-language event on Thursday, June 13th, during which participants can learn more about plans for a second high school, see preliminary designs for the second high school, receive a summary of the feedback gathered on the new school’s visual identity, and learn more about the financial plan for the second campus.

We hope you can join us for one of these town halls, during which dinner will be provided. Turnout was impressive at the two town halls we held back in August, which built upon the meetings of the Facilities Needs Committee back in 2022 and 2023.

As we continue to move forward, community input remains an important part of our planning process. More than 250 community members have shared their perspectives through our community survey, which is available here. We are grateful that our parents, students, businesses, community members, organizations and law enforcement partners are so invested in the success of our current and future students. You are all a reminder that every day is a great day to be a Baler!

Sincerely,

San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum

Second High School Will Maintain a Focus On High-Quality Education

Hollister High School senior Gabriel Mendez, who is a member of the Communications Special Projects class and a participant in the Superintendent's Advisory Council, said, "A second high school in the San Benito High School District is imperative for maintaining the high-quality education we deserve. With the current overcrowding, we have to make sure all students receive the individualized attention and support they need. Investing in a second high school isn't just about addressing present challenges; it's an investment in our future and the future of our community." As a regular participant at meetings discussing the need for a second high school, Gabriel said, "It's clear to me that this new high school will not only provide much-needed relief four our current overcrowding issues, but also offer students an modern and innovative learning environment."

Sixty local community members volunteered for a Facilities Needs Committee (FNC) and spent many months reviewing facts, providing input and making recommendations. The FNC found that a second high school is needed to address the high and growing enrollment at Hollister High School and to protect high-quality education for all students. To learn more, please visit SBHSD.org/Building-a-Brighter-Future.

As the San Benito High School District explores options to build new local school facilities, we value your input. To make your voice heard, scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/SurveySBHSD. For more information, please contact our public information communications officer, Adam Breen at abreen@sbhsd.k12.ca.us.

Planificar el futuro de nuestras escuelas es un esfuerzo de toda la comunidad. Haga oír su voz y comparta sus opiniones visitando nuestro sitio web en tinyurl.com/SurveySBHSD-Sp para realizar nuestra encuesta. ¡Escanee el código QR o haga clic en el enlace de arriba para realizar la encuesta.