thedrifter
03-06-07, 08:06 AM
Schools consider limiting recruiting
Armed services visits raise anti-war activists' hackles
By T.S. Mills-Faraudo, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 03/06/2007 02:34:31 AM PST
SAN MATEO — Military recruiters soon may be limited to visiting San Mateo Union High School District schools once a month after local anti-war activists complained about their presence on the campuses.
The school district's board could approve a policy at its Thursday meeting that would put a cap on how often representatives from the Army, Navy, National Guard, Marines and Air Force show up at the schools to find recruits.
If approved by the board, the rules would also require recruiters to sit in a certain area on each campus and not roam around the school; require them to check in with the school office and Career Center; and prohibit them from having private meetings with students.
This comes after officials from Peace Action of San Mateo County came to the board with a proposal in January for the visits to be limited to three times a year.
At that time, the trustees asked district administration to collect information on how often recruiters were visiting the schools.
At Aragon and Mills high schools, recruiters from the Army, Navy, National Guard and Marines are showing up twice a month, and officials from the Air Force are coming once a month, according to information the district provided. At Hillsdale and San Mateo high schools, the Army, Navy, National Guard and Marines recruiters visit once a month; they showed no information for the Air Force. Recruiters from all of the services except for the Air Force visit Capuchino High School
about five times per year. They go to Peninsula High School by appointment only. No information was available for Burlingame High School.
Board member Marcia Cohn-Lyle said twice a month is too often for military officials to visit campuses.
"I think once a month is right down the middle and fair to everyone involved," she said.
According to the district, the total number of students recruited from 2002-2006 as a result of military visits was 114.
"When you look at the number of times they come to the schools and the number of recruits they have over the last four years, it doesn't seem to affect student participation much," Superintendent Samuel Johnson Jr. said.
Don Havis, vice president of Peace Action of San Mateo County, said he's disappointed the board isn't going with his recommendation to limit visits to three times a year.
He said students have told him college representatives only visit the schools about three times per year, far less than military recruiters. But according to information collected by the district, college officials came to some campuses last school year between 15 and 30 times.
"I appreciate them looking into it," he said. "I have accomplished something, because at least they are coming up with a policy (for military recruiters)."
The board is also scheduled to vote on a plan Thursday night for repaying loans it borrowed nearly five years ago for construction projects.
The district recently discovered that it would have difficulties paying back the "Certificates of Participation" because the revenue stream it borrowed against wasn't bringing enough to pay them off.
As a result, it would have cost the district's general fund roughly $475,000 annually.
The plan for paying back the loans involves doing some restructuring in the special-education department, using money it receives from leases at the Crestmoor campus and paying for one of its employee's salaries out of the deferred maintenance fund instead of the general fund. District officials are anticipating this plan will have no impact on personnel.
The board meeting starts at
7 p.m. Thursday in the San Mateo Adult Resource and Technology Center at 789 E. Poplar.
Staff writer T.S. Mills-Faraudo covers education. She can be reached at (650)348-4338 or tmills@sanmateocountytimes.com.
Ellie
Armed services visits raise anti-war activists' hackles
By T.S. Mills-Faraudo, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 03/06/2007 02:34:31 AM PST
SAN MATEO — Military recruiters soon may be limited to visiting San Mateo Union High School District schools once a month after local anti-war activists complained about their presence on the campuses.
The school district's board could approve a policy at its Thursday meeting that would put a cap on how often representatives from the Army, Navy, National Guard, Marines and Air Force show up at the schools to find recruits.
If approved by the board, the rules would also require recruiters to sit in a certain area on each campus and not roam around the school; require them to check in with the school office and Career Center; and prohibit them from having private meetings with students.
This comes after officials from Peace Action of San Mateo County came to the board with a proposal in January for the visits to be limited to three times a year.
At that time, the trustees asked district administration to collect information on how often recruiters were visiting the schools.
At Aragon and Mills high schools, recruiters from the Army, Navy, National Guard and Marines are showing up twice a month, and officials from the Air Force are coming once a month, according to information the district provided. At Hillsdale and San Mateo high schools, the Army, Navy, National Guard and Marines recruiters visit once a month; they showed no information for the Air Force. Recruiters from all of the services except for the Air Force visit Capuchino High School
about five times per year. They go to Peninsula High School by appointment only. No information was available for Burlingame High School.
Board member Marcia Cohn-Lyle said twice a month is too often for military officials to visit campuses.
"I think once a month is right down the middle and fair to everyone involved," she said.
According to the district, the total number of students recruited from 2002-2006 as a result of military visits was 114.
"When you look at the number of times they come to the schools and the number of recruits they have over the last four years, it doesn't seem to affect student participation much," Superintendent Samuel Johnson Jr. said.
Don Havis, vice president of Peace Action of San Mateo County, said he's disappointed the board isn't going with his recommendation to limit visits to three times a year.
He said students have told him college representatives only visit the schools about three times per year, far less than military recruiters. But according to information collected by the district, college officials came to some campuses last school year between 15 and 30 times.
"I appreciate them looking into it," he said. "I have accomplished something, because at least they are coming up with a policy (for military recruiters)."
The board is also scheduled to vote on a plan Thursday night for repaying loans it borrowed nearly five years ago for construction projects.
The district recently discovered that it would have difficulties paying back the "Certificates of Participation" because the revenue stream it borrowed against wasn't bringing enough to pay them off.
As a result, it would have cost the district's general fund roughly $475,000 annually.
The plan for paying back the loans involves doing some restructuring in the special-education department, using money it receives from leases at the Crestmoor campus and paying for one of its employee's salaries out of the deferred maintenance fund instead of the general fund. District officials are anticipating this plan will have no impact on personnel.
The board meeting starts at
7 p.m. Thursday in the San Mateo Adult Resource and Technology Center at 789 E. Poplar.
Staff writer T.S. Mills-Faraudo covers education. She can be reached at (650)348-4338 or tmills@sanmateocountytimes.com.
Ellie