More Peet Road discussion on Oct. 4 school board agenda
A forum on the Borello Elementary School property, a presentation by City of Morgan Hill staff on its Below Market Rate Housing Program, a Measure G quarterly report and Charter School of Morgan Hill’s annual update are all on the Oct. 4 docket for Morgan Hill Unified School District’s board of education meeting.
Crime and courts: Hearing on 2015 murder, domestic violence at the park
Hearing for 2015 murder suspects delayed againThe preliminary hearing for two young men accused of murdering Morgan Hill resident Cody Flores in 2015 was delayed yet again, according to authorities.Suspects Chase Benoit, 22, and Spencer Smith, 22—both of Morgan Hill—were scheduled to appear in court at the Hall of Justice in San Jose Sept. 19. However, the preliminary hearing—where the judge will determine if there is enough evidence against the suspects to go to trial—was continued to Oct. 3, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Pandori.Smith and Benoit are accused of stabbing Flores to death in a field in east Morgan Hill May 31, 2015, according to authorities. Both suspects were arrested shortly after Flores’ death, and have remained in custody on a murder charge since then.The stabbing happened near the intersection of Diana Avenue and Ringle Drive, according to police.The suspects pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing.The D.A.’s office and Sheriff’s investigators have revealed few details about the late-night stabbing incident and the suspects’ possible motive. The court file on the case, which is held at the clerk’s office in San Jose, does not contain police reports or other narrative of the incident.Pandori expects the Oct. 3 preliminary hearing to conclude as scheduled.Driver accidentally collides with post officeNobody was injured when an elderly woman accidentally drove her car into the front window of the Morgan Hill Post Office Sept. 23, according to police.The vehicle, a four-door sedan, was parked in a designated spot just in front of the front doors of the post office, located at 16600 Monterey Road, when the woman accidentally drove into the glass panels, MHPD Cpl. Scott Martin said. The vehicle was not moving at a high rate of speed at the time of the impact, which resulted in a shattered glass window panel and damage to a planter outside the post office.No injuries were reported, and there is no suspicion that drugs or alcohol were involved, Martin said.Woman, 30, arrested on suspicion of domestic violencePolice arrested a 30-year-old woman on suspicion of domestic violence after someone reported a couple fighting at the Morgan Hill Community Park Sept. 23, police said.Morgan Hill police officers responded to a call about 2 p.m. reporting a man and woman were involved in a scuffle at the public park on West Edmundson Avenue, MHPD Cpl. Scott Martin said. When officers arrived they located the couple in the parking lot next to the Community Park tennis courts.The male victim suffered non-life threatening injuries during the fight, and declined medical treatment, Martin said.The female suspect was booked at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence, police said.
Negotiations continue between teachers, district
Trustees Ron Woolf and Donna Ruebusch are retired teachers whose vast education careers, spanning a combined 60-plus years, were all spent with one district: Morgan Hill Unified.
School officials begin to analyze newest state test scores
Whether scores are up or down, good or bad, API or CAASPP, local school leaders have not put too much stock into state standardized test results in recent years.
Toxic soil remains a mystery at school site
How harmful soil toxins returned to a 10-acre plot of land in northeast Morgan Hill where local school officials plan to build a brand new $20 million elementary school remains a mystery.
New district policy requires fingerprinting for onsite school volunteers
Parent volunteers at all Morgan Hill Unified School District schools are now required to have fingerprinting and tuberculosis testing done prior to working on school grounds, according to local school officials.
MHUSD to serve displaced Flex students with new online school
By a 6-0 vote at an Aug. 16 special meeting, the local board of education approved school district leadership’s plan for developing an individualized learning secondary school to help lessen the blow for hundreds of former Silicon Valley Flex students hung out to dry.
School board races heat up with strong group of candidates
A switch to a trustee area election system for the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s board of education seats has brought out four first-time challengers in three districts up for grabs in November.
Still no board prez, VP for MHUSD
Trustee Bob Benevento will keep his interim president designation for at least another two weeks since the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s governing body tabled its reorganization vote Aug. 16 for a second straight meeting.
Enthusiastic return to school for local students
The first day of the 2016-17 school year for many Morgan Hill Unified School District schools came with transition—most notably for sixth graders making the leap to middle school for the first time.
















