For thousands of Morgan Hill students, there is one more week of
summer left before they have to crack open textbooks as the
district’s schools open their doors for another school year.
Morgan Hill – For thousands of Morgan Hill students, there is one more week of summer left before they have to crack open textbooks as the district’s schools open their doors for another school year.
According to Morgan Hill Unified School District officials, nearly 9,000 students will start next Tuesday.
“We’re really looking forward to getting things off and running,” MHUSD Superintendent Alan NIshino said Monday. “We are anticipating a very good school year. Everyone has been working hard to get things ready for our students.”
There are two middle schools, two comprehensive high schools, one continuation high school, nine elementary schools and one charter school in the district.
As the school year begins, construction is continuing at several schools, including Britton Middle and Live Oak High. Three schools have new administrators, Sobrato High, Los Paseos Elementary and Jackson Elementary.
Sobrato’s Debbie Padilla replaces Rich Knapp, while Deborah Bennett-Hall replaces retiring Rhoda Wolfskehl of Los Paseos Elementary and Garry Dudley steps in for Karen Tavares, who is retiring from Jackson Elementary.
There are 73 new teachers and special education employees, according to Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers President Donna Foster.
“It’s exciting and challenging to have so many new people in the district,” she said Monday. “I’m also looking forward to changes in our staff development programs. I think we were heard. We requested more of an opportunity to come together and work in smaller groups … I think our contract negotiations are off to a good start and I expect that to continue … And I’m pleased that our enrollment appears to be up, which is a credit to our great staff, schools and community. People realize there are good things happening in our district.”
New high school graduation requirements for students will be in place for all but this year’s senior class, and district officials are making changes to the math and science curriculums.
District officials decided to move the opening day a week earlier two years ago, so that students at the secondary level could complete exams before the winter break in December. Last year was the first time the district’s students went back to school before the end of August.
Back-to-school displays are popping up in stores in Morgan Hill, and many parents have taken their kids to buy new shoes and clothes, have their hair cut and stock up on supplies.
Parent Janet Boyd said she is holding off on buying some supplies, but has stocked up on basics at the new Target store.
“I ran into several parents shopping for school while I was there,” she said. “I think my kids are excited about getting back into school. Andrew (a freshman) has been to Sobrato already with football, and my other two (Mary Beth, a junior, and P.J, a senior) are in ASB so they’ve been stuffing envelopes and participating in a leadership camp. I think they’re going to have a good year.”
To enroll a student, parents or guardians of the student should visit the enrollment center at the District Office, 15600 Concord Circle Monday-Friday between 8am-5pm. A copy of the student’s birth certificate, passport or baptismal certificate confirming the student was born on or before Dec. 2, 2002, is required. A physical is required for kindergarten and first grade, and proof of immunization is necessary at all grade levels, along with proof of residency in the district. The proof of district residency can be a utility bill, a valid driver’s license, escrow papers or a copy of a lease/rental agreement.
The district accepts students regardless of the legal residency status of their parents.
Information regarding transportation and student meals can be found on the district’s Web site, www.mhu.k12.ca.us.
