Extra Credit

School district needs Personnel Commission

Interact Club wheelchair marathon

Last weekend, three High School Interact Clubs – Live Oak, Sobrato and Central, participated in a 24-hour wheelchair marathon at the Live Oak track. At least two, and often three wheelchairs were kept moving at all times from noon Saturday until 11 a.m. Sunday. The youth signed up for shifts and many stayed all night. The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, which sponsors the Interact service clubs at the high schools, supported the event by providing a tri-tip barbecue in the evening and a pancake breakfast in the morning. Rotary Interact chairman David de la Cuesta stayed all night as chaperone and many other Rotarians supported the event by attending or by making a monetary pledge. 

The marathon raised funds for wheelchairs that will be distributed to poverty areas of Third World countries and help people with disabilities to become mobile. Every $75 raised is matched by the Wheelchair Foundation and the resulting $150 builds and delivers one chair. The Interact Wheelchair Marathon successfully raised enough money to supply more than 50 wheelchairs to previously immobile people around the world.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District is accepting applications for a three-year term on the Merit System Personnel Commission, effective Dec. 1. Commissioners must be registered voters, school district residents and be familiar with the merit system. Commissioners are paid $30 per monthly meeting attended. Interested persons should contact the district’s Human Resources Department, 15600 Concord Circle, Morgan Hill or call (408) 201-6015 for an application. Applications must be received by 5 p.m., Nov. 15.

Special education forum at El Toro Elementary School

A forum for parents of students with special needs will be held at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 13 at El Toro Elementary School, 455 East Main Ave. This is the second in a series of forums that seeks constructive solutions to perplexing issues in programming for special education students. Spanish translation will be provided.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education and Superintendent Alan Nishino implemented the forums to help parents work collaboratively with the district to better serve students with disabilities.

Parents are also invited to attend two informal coffees, one, 8-10 a.m., Nov. 9, at the school district office, 15600 Concord Circle, and the other, 8-10 a.m., Nov. 10, at Starbucks on Walnut Grove Drive at East Dunne Avenue.

Details: www.spedinformation.blogspot.com.

Thanksgiving canned food drive planned

It’s that festive time of the year – Thanksgiving – when food is plentiful on most of our tables. To give everyone this same spirit, the Live Oak High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is once again conducting its annual Thanksgiving canned food drive to serve 125 underprivileged families in the Morgan Hill Unified School District.

The public can donate money, canned foods or staples to fill the huge boxes, not just for one meal, but for approximately a week’s supply for each family. Students will be collecting the donations in front of several grocery stores this weekend. Donations may also be dropped off at Live Oak High School’s office or given to students to bring to one of the classes.

FBLA members and friends will be sorting and packing boxes Nov. 19-20 and delivering the food on Thanksgiving eve, Nov. 21, with the help of Lions Club members.

Details: (408) 201-6100.