As a school counselor in the San Mateo Union High School District since 1986, I have encountered many educational reforms with the most recent being No Chld Left Behind. Ironically, with this legislature in place, the current San Mateo Union High School District's Superintendent, Samuel Johnson has proposed (at the Februray 10, 2005 Board Meeting) to realign resources within the district. Being a public entity, the board meetings are public, yet the Superintendent enclosed his proposal and remarks under "superintendents remark", rather than having it a delineated item as is typically done on the agenda. The Superintendent, in order to implement the board approved Academic Core (all students in the SMUHSD will satisfy a-g curriculum in the first two years of high school), has proposed a 7th period day. The 7th period day would cost the district 1.7 million dollars. The district does not have these resources to spend, so the Superintendent wants to board to approve a realignment of its resources. What does this mean? The proposal suggests the following: Elimination of Computer Applications as an elective, Funding for staffing Athletics be eliminated, Eliminate every School Librarian at each site and replace with a Clerk at each site with oversight by a District Librarian, Reduce Counseling Services to 2 counselors (@ BHS - 3 @ larger schools) and add 2 clerical positions, Eliminate overstaffing in the Distirct and increase class size from 20 in English and Algebra (9th grade courses) to approximately 30 students.
On February 24, 2005 the SMUHSD Board will be listening to all input regarding these adjustments. The meeting is a public meeting and all are welcome. I contend that the services currently provided to the families and students in the San Mateo Union High School District will be highly compromised. Burlingame High School has always provided high quality service to its families and students, but with this current proposal services will be compromised. To what extent, will only be determined at a later date. I, as one of the three counselors at BHS and one of the 18 in the SMUHSD will fight hard for our positions.
Please let your voice be heard! Come to the SMUHSD Board Meeting on February 24, 2005 @ 7 p.m. to share your input! The meetings are held in the SMART Center behind San Mateo High School. Feel free to e-mail members of the Board of Trustees, the District Administration and spread the word!!
- Written by jmbuckley
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