KKFX San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara - News-Righetti Celebrates Distinguished School Honors
Member Center:
Jack O'Connell
6/1/09
ORCUTT - Righetti High School in Orcutt is among only a couple of hundred schools across the state to be selected for California Distinguished School honors.
The beat of drums could be heard on campus Monday as students, faculty and staff packed the school's outdoor theater for a colorful rally to celebrate Righetti's selection as the only distinguished high school in Santa Barbara County.
"We've never had one of these before and I didn't know how the students would react", says Associated Student Body President Kevy Souza, "but they did real well."
"Quite diverse student population that really is focused on academics", says California Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell who was a special guest of honor for the rally, "it's focused on the arts, it's focused on closing the achievement gap."
O'Connell says it was harder this year to be named "distinguished" because of increased requirements and stricter criteria for student achievement, curriculum and career-oriented or "real-world" programs like Karen McConnell's class where Righetti students learn how to design and build their own websites.
"We are requiring the school districts, those particular schools, to narrow the achievement gap", O'Connell says, "in addition to making sure you meet all of your growth targets that both the state and federal government place on you."
O'Connell says budget cuts due to the state's growing financial crisis will make it more difficult for students to achieve as more teachers lose their jobs and classroom sizes grow.
"We're going to see fewer classes in the arts, music, and career technical education", O'Connell says, "Which is really going to present almost insurmountable challenges for public education."
Termed out of office next year, O'Connell, a former State Senator and Assemblyman, says he's considering a run for Governor.
"We need to grow this economy", O'Connell says, "I've been disappointed with the absence of discussion in terms of growth of this economy to create more jobs. We should really become the leaders for high-tech, bio-tech, nano-tech, and I really just don't see that happening."
For now though Righetti High School can wave its Distinguished School banner and bask in the glow of its success.
"You just don't look at the campus and see one type of student", says ASB President Souza, "we have many ethnicities, many students who like to do different things, we have a variety of things and that's why I think we're distinguished."
It's the second time in school history that Righetti High has earned the Distinguished School honor, the last time coming in 2002.
There are three other Central Coast recipients of Distinguished School honors: Jonata Middle School in Buellton, Santa Lucia Middle School in Cambria and Morro Bay High School.
