Tehachapi School Board update

At the May 12 meeting of the Tehachapi School Board, Superintendant Susan Andreas-Berval had some exciting news to report. The Jacobson Middle School track team, under the direction of coach Amy Lang, did very well in the recent regional meet and will soon be headed to the state competition. Sixth grader Sara Heier set a new school record for the 800 meter race. The old record was set last year by an eighth grader.

The Association of California School Administrators (ASCA) for Kern County named Heather Richter of Golden Hills Elementary School the Elematary School Principal of the Year. The group also named Paul Kaminski of Jacobson Middle School the Junior High School Principal of the Year.

Tehachapi High School principal Scott Heitman presented the school board with an overview of the school's activities. He reviewed the accomplishments of the high school's impressive robotics team that recently returned from national competition in St Louis. Under the direction of Mrs. Evansic, the team has also been teaching coding to students in grades 3 through 5. He said the high school will be receiving a Pathways Grant that will amount to nearly $600,000 over the next five years. It is to be used in the areas of engineering, bio-medical and business.

Principal Heitman informed the board that the partnership with Cerro Coso is progressing.

One plan for the partnership is to provide for the possible dual enrollment of a student in order to receive graduation credit and college credit at the same time using high school classrooms and THS instructors.

He said that the school has also received a $50,000 grant to be used on the new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) center that is being developed on campus.

Board President Mary Graham announced that a letter of resignation had been received from Trustee Nylan Bender, creating a vacancy on the board.

The board decided to make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy as opposed to holding a very expensive election. The position will be advertised and applications accepted through June 6. Interviews will then be held and the new trustee appointed at the June 23, 2015 board meeting.