Before a packed house at Tuesday night’s school board meeting, the “public comments” session lasted upward of 45 minutes as concerned parents, students and faculty expressed their views on Dolores Huerta’s discourse. Huerta, a renowned social activist and co-founder of the original National Farm Workers Association, delivered an impassioned address that — according to some observers — drifted into the realm of politics and patriotism.
Kathy Cleary took school administrators and board members to task, questioning the use of public school time for political rhetoric.
“Where does that stop?” said Cleary, president of Preservation of Los Olivos. School board president Holly Lindberg pointed out that school administrators, not board members, decide which guest speakers are welcome.
Santa Ynez High activities director David Bisbee said while he was certainly aware of Huerta’s background and agenda — primarily immigration, health care and American history — he was taken “a little off-guard” when the discourse veered toward politics. Even so, he added, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“You know what it led to with my students? It led to dialogue,” said Bisbee, a social studies teacher. “I’m pleased to have been a part of it.”
Weeklong conjecture about local taxpayers footing a $5,000 bill for Huerta proved unfounded; her payday of approximately $3,700 was covered by the Associated Student Body, private partners and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Said district superintendent Paul Turnbull: “The speech was student-funded and student-driven.”In any case, the price tag was irrelevant to Dick Smullen, Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club president.
“If the speech had been free, it was still a mistake,” he said. Cindy Adam was one of several parents who weren’t notified of Friday’s assembly beforehand. She contended high schools shouldn’t be political in any way and took particular offense at Huerta reportedly encouraging students to chant “Yes, we can!” in Spanish.
“My son (Clay) was mad as hell,” Adam said, addressing Santa Ynez High principal Suzanne Nicastro, Turnbull and board members. “Your job isn’t to promote individual or personal agendas.”
Another parent whose child was upset after the spotlighted speech is Michelle de Werd, who said she’s unconvinced Santa Ynez High is sufficiently focused on academics. She also wondered if students were given the choice not to attend the assembly.
“If the school was looking for someone to speak about community service, one does not have to look far; there are lots of young people doing great things,” she said. More than one student, however, considered Huerta’s discourse a worthwhile learning experience.
“We talked about stuff I’d normally never talk to friends about,” said senior Byron Cragg. “It was great.” Student Sarah Sanger, 16, who along with the UCSB Human Rights organization lobbied for two years to attract Huerta, said the speaker has inspired her and classmates to change the world.
“In the end, her message was to be more tolerant of each other,” Sanger said. In other developments Tuesday, members of the high school’s science department touched on test results, classroom dynamics and textbooks with an eye toward the future.
Although teacher Karen Nguyen said there has been considerable progress within science classes, there’s room — literally — for improvement. In labs, for instance, the number of stations must be proportionate to the number of students. “It’s not good to have some kids watching while others are participating,” said board member Jeff Little.
Teacher Chip Fenenga surmised that class sequencing and meeting the needs of students, parents and faculty has been a “constant challenge.”
In addition, Refugio High School principal Lori Tullis gave a presentation reflecting her students’ progress, based on the Alternative Schools Accountability Model.
Student Kyle Faulkner was also on hand to provide a brief summary from the students’ perspective.
Refugio students had a 96.9 percent graduation rate, outstanding for a continuation school, Tullis said.
What’s more, the suspension rate — which refers to how many kids get sent home — tumbled from 17 percent to 2.4 percent.
The only catch, she said, is some students don’t have conventional homes. “A number of our students are living on other people’s couches, so to keep them connected at school is major,” Tullis explained.
The diligent efforts of students such as Faulkner, who holds down a job outside the classroom, are inspiring. “I’m so proud of him,” she added.
jluksic@syvjournal.com