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Saratoga Sampler
Wilcox presents challenges facing county educators
By Mary Ann Cook
DEMOGRAPHIC DRAMA: Nowhere have the demographic changes in this county made more dramatic an impact than in the field of education. County Superintendent Colleen Wilcox outlined these changes and the challenges they present in a talk at Saratoga High recently, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
The number of Hispanics and white students in Santa Clara County has reversed in the past few years, with Hispanic students now in the majority. Asian students, followed by white students, lead the pack in scholastic achievement, but their scores are barely over the acceptable achievement testing line as mandated by the state.
Hispanic and African-American students slip under the testing bar. And the gaps in achievement among the ethnic groups get wider every year. One of the reasons for that is the number of homes where English is not the first language. That number has also risen dramatically in the past five years, creating another significant flip.
Youngsters identified as handicapped, in need of special services, has risen alarmingly, as have those identified as overweight. Both factors lead to shakier skills and drops in performance. More and more students classified as handicapped shouldn't have that designation, Wilcox said. It's become a wastebasket approach for those with even minor learning difficulties.
What's a school district to do to keep pace? Training more teachers, well versed in special ed, is one obvious answer. But that takes money. And here, in a population that is one of the highest-earning pockets in the country, operational costs spent per child are the lowest in the country, charts accompanying her talk indicated.
Retaining teachers in this valley is also a losing proposition. Teachers here earn half what they need in order to buy a house in the Santa Clara County market. Those are the problems: it's up to us to solve them, said Wilcox.
OLYMPIAD WINNERS: These area students were winners in the Olympiad of the Arts, a competition coordinated by West Valley College. Taylor Purvis, a student at Saratoga High, won a first in traditional poetry, an honorable mention in classical vocal and a third in popular vocal.
Other multiple winners were Sarah Coty, who won a first for short story and an honorable mention for short short story; and Brian Ballard, who won an honorable mention in poetry and a third in short story. Both are Los Gatos students at West Valley.
Alexandra Mena, also of Los Gatos and West Valley, won a first for classical vocal. These Saratoga students won honorable mentions: Emily Miller for short short story; Connie Sung in free verse poetry; Lauren Workman, light verse poetry; and Azim Shivji, traditional poetry.
Alicia Saloman of Saratoga, a student at Lynbrook High, won honorable mention in visual art; Michael Schauf, Saratoga West Valley student, won second in short story; and Vanessa Abuabara of Saratoga and West Valley placed third in photography.
Winners will be honored May 7 at West Valley, and $8,000 in monetary prizes will be awarded. More than 600 students participated this year. Wendie Weisman is director of the Olympiad.
SYMPHONY SHOWCASE: Tours of the Blackwell house, a colonial near La Hacienda Inn, will be May 13-June 4 to benefit Symphony Silicon Valley. Some 28 designers will work their magic decorating 6,000 square feet of house, guest house and grounds. Tickets for $20 are on sale until May 12 at Linda Durnell Gallery, Los Gatos.
A shuttle from La Hacienda will operate during the week. On weekends, the shuttle starts at Sacred Heart Church. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Tickets cost $25 at the door: checks payable to Preludes and Encores League. Children over 9 are welcome. The contact is 408.354.0773.
FASHION SHOW: The West Valley College Fashion Design and Apparel Technology Club will hold its first spring fashion show May 27 in the college theater at 4 and 8 p.m. The show features a children's wear line and individual projects, particularly the work of 12 student designers.
Samples from three alumni designers will also be showcased. Tickets are available online at www.wvcfdatclub.org for $15, $20 and $55; at the door (cash only) they're each $5 more. A VIP reception for the 8 p.m. show will be held 6:30-7:30 p.m. and costs $55.
Designer Jaime Stephens of elyseREUBEN couture gowns, well known for garden bridal showcases, will be on hand. Raffle and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m.
PEERLESS POETS: The Peerless Poets will present a poetry reading May 7 at 2 p.m. in the Saratoga Library. The PPs are Ariel Smart, Elaine F. Kahn, Judith Oppenheimer, Bernis Terhune, Jean Lin, Kathie Isaac-Luke, Mary Ann Savage, Phyllis Williams, Mary Lou Taylor, Stephanie Pressman and Nancy Meyer.
Their anthology, Cotton and Spirit, was recently published, a testament to the collaborative spirit and quality work of this group, as they critiqued and encouraged each other. Most are published poets.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.
