June 2003 News Archive

Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Personnel Changes in the Santa Barbara School Districts

At their June 24, 2003 meeting, the Board of Education announced two personnel changes in the Santa Barbara School Districts: David Hetyonk, interim director of facilities and operations, was appointed director of that department; J. Craig Morgan was selected to be the new principal of San Marcos High School.

David Hetyonk
David Hetyonk, joined the district on May 15, 2000, as project manager for the Santa Barbara High School District’s Measure V bond projects. Prior to joining the district, he had more than a decade of experience in modernization and rehabilitation of facilities in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV. Mr. Hetyonk is a former high school and community college teacher of mathematics and vocational data processing. He was educated at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics (1974), master of business administration (1975), and a California teaching credential (1978).

Since mid-February, David Hetyonk has served as the interim director of facilities and operations. He replaces Robert Gonzalez.

The director of facilities and operations is responsible for multiple departments in the Santa Barbara Elementary and High School Districts: facilities and planning, purchasing, food service, warehouse, data processing and technology support. His duties include works with architects, consultants, public agencies, building inspectors, school administrators, contractors and environmental agencies on the design, construction or alteration of schools.

Mr. Hetyonk will continue to be employed on a 12-month contract. His annual salary will be $101,944.

J. Craig Morgan
When Interim Principal Moe Claydon announced his retirement, the search began for a new principal at San Marcos High School. Following a two-month recruitment process, which yielded more than 20 applicants, J. Craig Morgan, principal of Temple City High School in the Temple City Unified School District, was selected.

Mr. Morgan received a bachelor of science degree in biology from California Polytechnic University in Pomona. He has a master’s degree in educational administration from California State University in Los Angeles.

From 1973-2000, Mr. Morgan worked in various positions in the El Monte City School District: science teacher, Rio Hondo and Potero Elementary School (1973-1979); science teacher and varsity athletic coach, El Monte High School (1979-1986); counselor, Rosemead High School (1986-1990); assistant principal of student services, Rosemead High School (1992-1996); assistant principal of instruction, Rosemead and Mountain View High Schools (1996-2000); and principal of Temple City High School (2000-present).

Dr. Flores noted, "Craig Morgan has successfully lead a high school comparable in size to San Marcos. At Temple City High, he directed the WASC review process that resulted in that school achieving a six-year accreditation. Under his tenure, his Temple City High increased its Academic Performance Index ranking by 34 points one year and was also selected as a California Blue Ribbon School. He’s going to provide excellent leadership at San Marcos High School." She continued, "As we welcome Craig, we also take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of Moe Claydon. Moe has served San Marcos well, first as a teacher (1970-1987), then as an assistant principal (1987-2002), and an interim principal (2002-2003). In his well-deserved retirement, he plans to enjoy more time with his family."

To ensure a smooth transition, Interim Principal Claydon will work with Mr. Morgan during the weeks ahead.

Mr. Morgan’s 12-month contract, in the amount of $106,167, will begin July 1, 2003.

San Marcos High School, which serves almost 2,000 students, is located at 4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara.

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Brent Millhollen to Lead Monroe Elementary School

Brent Millhollen will be the new principal of Monroe Elementary School. Currently, Mr. Millhollen is the principal of Oakdale Elementary School in the Rio Linda Union School District.

Mr. Millhollen has been with the Rio Linda Union School District since 1986. He began his service as a sixth-grade teacher, working with students in a high poverty, urban setting. In 1992, he taught sheltered English to fifth- and sixth-grade students. In 1997, he moved in to a vice-principal position at Aero Haven Elementary School. Then, in 1998, he became the principal of Oakdale Elementary, the position he will be leaving to join the staff at Monroe Elementary School. As principal of Aero Haven, Mr. Millhollen led staff and students through a 100-point increase in the Academic Performance Index. At various points in his teaching/administrative career, Mr. Millhollen has served as a contract negotiator for the teacher’s association, chaired the language arts adoption committee, worked as a mentor teacher, written grants, coordinated staff development

"It is an honor to follow Stan Zaletel. I am looking forward to bringing my skills to Monroe, matching them with the skills that are already there, and working with a staff that is so strong," said Principal Millhollen. Superintendent Deborah Flores stated, "It’s hard to think of Monroe without Stan Zaletel. He has done an exceptional job serving the school and this district. He and his wife Anna Rae, who just retired from her longtime teaching position at Adams Elementary School, have great plans for their retirement. Following a candidate search, we know we have found the person who will do an excellent job at Monroe. Brent Millhollen brings outstanding credentials and experience to this assignment and we welcome him to this community."

Mr. Millhollen’s 12-month contract, in the amount of $89,825, begins July 1, 2003.

Monroe Elementary School serves 575 students. It is located at 431 Flora Vista Drive, Santa Barbara.

Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Personnel Changes in the Santa Barbara School Districts

At their June 24, 2003 meeting, the Board of Education announced two personnel changes in the Santa Barbara School Districts | David Hetyonk, interim director of facilities and operations, was appointed director of that department; J. Craig Morgan was selected to be the new principal of San Marcos High School.

Since mid-February, David Hetyonk has served as the interim director of facilities and operations. He replaces Robert Gonzalez.

Mr. Hetyonk will continue to be employed on a 12-month contract. His annual salary will be $101,944.

Friday, June 6, 2003

Father’s (or Mother’s) Day Takes on New Meaning for Parents of Washington’s Flour Babies

In a two-week experience that focuses on personal responsibility, Washington 6th graders quickly learn what 24-hour parenting is all about. The stork doesn’t deliver these babies: Teachers Marsha Honnold, Margaret Griffin, and Jean Rogers-O’Reilly scour the supermarkets for more than 80 five-pound bags of flour. Today, at 11:30 a.m., as part of a health education study unit, 83 sixth-grade students will receive their own five-pound flour baby. At least one lucky "student parent" will be responsible for twins.During the next two weeks, the students will be the caregivers of their newly issued "infants." Students aren’t informed of the gender until the infant is "born" (when they turn in a ticket and see the color code assigned to the bag of flour they select).

In keeping with their responsibilities, students will:

receive a baby announcement card to herald the arrival of their "responsibility";
maintain a baby journal to record the daily events that occur with their baby(ies);
name and clothe their "infant";
provide 24-hour care for the duration of the study, including responsibility for monetary/or some exchange payment if someone else baby sits (the parents of the students have been known to "set the clock" for the nightly feeding and changing);
be responsible if their "infant" is left unattended (an unattended "infant" will be taken into custody, and the "student parent" will be held accountable for the action).

Of course, teachers and administrators have duct tape on hand for babies who need a little extra support as this project goes on.

At the close of the two-week period, on June 16, students will turn in their journal, which contains their feelings about the experience.

According to teacher Marsha Honnold, this activity has been very successful during the past several years. After a short time, students inevitably comment that it is "hard work" to provide 24-hour care or find someone to babysit when they want to participate in other activities.

Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Dos Pueblos and San Marcos Make Newsweek’s List of Top High Schools in the Nation

Two schools in the Santa Barbara High School District, Dos Pueblos and San Marcos, are included in Newsweek Magazine’s list of top high schools in the nation. The list is part of the magazine’s June 2, 2003 "America’s Best High Schools" cover story.

Newsweek’s Jay Mathews ranked schools according to a ratio called the Challenge Index. The Challenge Index is based on the number of Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken by all students at a school in 2002 divided by the number of graduating seniors. Seven hundred thirty seven schools with a Challenge Index score of 1.000 or above are cited. In presenting the list, Newsweek notes "The schools ranked below have the strongest AP or IB programs in the country. Each of them is in the top four percent of all American high schools measured this way." San Marcos High School is ranked 542 (index ratio 1.230) and Dos Pueblos High School was ranked 716 on the list (index ratio 1.018).

The three traditional high schools in the Santa Barbara High School District all offer a comprehensive AP program. Established by the College Board in the 1950s, the program is predicated on the belief that motivated high school students benefit from challenging college-level courses. Among the benefits to students are:

Depth of coursework.
Academic challenges that meet national and international standards.
College admissions personnel look favorably on the Advanced Placement experience.
Advanced Placement credit can exempt a student from college introductory courses, thus providing time for the study of other subjects.

The AP program is open to all students who feel that a rigorous program meets their educational needs. AP classes are offered in 18 subject areas, such as language, the arts, science, math, history, and social science. Schools differ in the selection of AP courses available at their site.

While at Duke University, one former San Marcos High School student remarked, "The benefits of coming into college with AP credit ... can be realized in different ways. First of all, it allowed me to jump right into higher level courses as a freshman ... In addition, having the AP experience can be beneficial even if you elect to retake the course in college. By having seen the coursework in high school, you come into the class with some knowledge of what is going on and it is much easier to keep up with the more hurried pace of college classes."