(805) 963-4338
• EVERY STUDENT, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY •
Dr. David E. Cash, Superintendent • 720 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 • (805) 963-4338
July 1998 News Archive
Wednesday, July 15, 1998
San Marcos and Dos Pueblos High School Receive Accreditation
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted six-year accreditation terms to San Marcos and Dos Pueblos High Schools. The accreditation terms, which expire on June 30, 2004, are for the maximum period awarded by the Accrediting Commission For Schools.
The accreditation of San Marcos and Dos Pueblos High Schools reflects the hard work of each school’s teachers, staff, administrators, and parents in building a positive campus environment. Michelle Hughes, assistant principal, noted, "Dos Pueblos was delighted to learn that the accreditation review resulted in fourteen commendations and just five recommendations of work that needs to be done." In a letter to Principal Donna Stuart, Dr. Judith Endeman, commission chair, congratulated San Marcos on the "... stellar aspects of the school ... [and] on the quality of instruction being offered ..." Principal Stuart feels that the Commission’s comments acknowledge the school’s priority on addressing the unique needs of each student: "San Marcos High is very pleased with the final accreditation report. Students come to us with a multitude of interest areas and abilities and our skilled and energetic staff works diligently to offer a challenging academic program that meets those individual needs."
Now, with the full term accreditation of San Marcos and Dos Pueblos High Schools, all three comprehensive high schools in the Santa Barbara School District are recipients of the coveted six-year term. Last summer, Santa Barbara High School was granted that distinction.
Accreditation involves a rigorous self-study process where students, parents, and staff communicate on school goals and action plans. Representatives of the Accreditation Commission examine and evaluate school programs when they visit the site and observe classroom instruction; meet with parents, teachers, and administrators; review the school’s self-study; conference with focus groups; survey academic performance; and examine student work.
Annually, approximately 200-300 California high schools go through the accreditation process. During each of the past two years, approximately 30% of the schools that underwent the accreditation process received six-year terms. About 55% received a six-year term with the proviso that the school participate in a review during the third year of the term. Roughly 13-15% of those schools were accredited for a period of three years or less.
Rebuild Roosevelt, Update #1
The Rebuild Roosevelt School project began on Monday, June 15, 1998. With archeologists, soil engineers, and environmental consultants on site, the J.W. Bailey Construction crew began excavation work. A summary of site activities during the past month is as follows:
- Asbestos. Ecosphere Environmental Services, Inc. (EESI), an engineering, architectural, and industrial hygiene consulting firm, completed a thorough analysis of soil and rubble on the Roosevelt site. On July 10, 1998, Bob Davis, a certified hazardous materials manager, notified the Santa Barbara School Districts that "Sixty four samples of suspect asbestos-containing materials were taken during the excavation ... All samples were negative for asbestos content. There were no asbestos materials identified during the excavation process." The asbestos analysis was conducted at a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program certified lab. Select soil samples were tested using polarized light microscopy/dispersion staining.
- Lead. Soil samples were tested for lead content. The tests indicate that lead content is within acceptable limits.
- Underground Tank. An 1,200 gallon underground heating oil tank, installed at the site when Roosevelt was originally built in the 1920’s, was removed during the excavation. In addition to the tank, fuel oil contaminated soils and residual liquid product were disposed of by an on-site hazardous materials remediation team.
- Asphalt. Shortly after excavation began, the school’s asphalt playground was removed to make way for the new school building. The asphalt was transferred to a local recycling firm. The recycled asphalt will be used as road fill.
As of July 15, 1998, 75% of the excavation has been done. Once the excavation is complete, Phase II of this project, which is the construction phase, will begin.