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Point of View »Bill Cirone: Making a Difference, One Student At a Time

Bill Cirone: Making a Difference, One Student At a Time

By Bill Cirone | Posted on 11/12/2008

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El Puente schools in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc have provided a path to success for students who struggle in a traditional setting.

“Cody” was on the wrong path. Like too many others, he was in trouble in school, behind in credits, unfocused and at a crossroads. The path he chose was El Puente Community School in Lompoc. His story is now decidedly different.

“Getting my diploma is making my family and friends proud of me,” he said, “and it also made me proud of myself. It’s a good feeling knowing that I’m not one of those high school dropouts. Because now I have something that is going to make life a lot easier. Hopefully, someone gets motivated by my success and does the same as what I did.”

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Bill Cirone
“Angelika” is the mother of a 1-year-old boy and works full time in a doctor’s office. High school was simply not working for her — too much competition for her time and energies. Then she enrolled in Peter B. FitzGerald Community School in Santa Maria, that city’s El Puente school. Her life turned around.

“I am grateful that I found this school,” she said. “I have really been able to learn and understand the subjects that I was not getting in high school. The staff at FitzGerald puts their energy into truly helping the students comprehend what they are studying.” Angelika is interested in the medical field and is well on her way to realizing that dream.

A parent whose child attends El Puente in Santa Barbara wrote, “Thank you for providing a safe and caring environment in which my child can successfully complete her high school education. This school has saved my daughter’s education. We had no other alternative.” Her daughter is making good strides.

El Puente schools are alternative settings for many young people who are not finding success in traditional high schools. Some have behavior issues; others have drug issues. Some have been involved with the juvenile justice system. Their stories are varied. Their situations are not positive when they arrive. Some are beyond our reach.

But for scores and scores of students, year after year, El Puente schools countywide, with their small classes, individualized instruction, counseling, special education services and targeted resources, have been lifelines to a new path. In several cases, they have literally saved lives.

Last year alone, our office graduated 65 students from El Puente schools — students who had not been on a path to reach that vital pass to a successful future.

There are three El Puente schools countywide, in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc, serving about 350 students. El Puente Santa Barbara graduated 28 last year, El Puente Lompoc graduated 16 and Peter B. FitzGerald School graduated 21.

Some students who catch up on their credits return to their home school so they can graduate with their class. Those students are not included in El Puente graduate numbers, but the goal is always to return the students to the traditional high school when possible, and their success is something we still look at with pride. At FitzGerald School, there was a 20 percent increase in midyear returns to the traditional high school last year, and at El Puente Santa Barbara, a 50 percent increase. We consider this a true success story.

We all know that graduation is just one step. What happens to these students after they graduate? Students from all three schools either enter the work force, seek enrollment in local community colleges or vocational technical schools, or enlist in the armed forces. Last year, 20 percent of El Puente Lompoc’s graduates enrolled in community college after graduation. Of the prior year’s graduates, 25 percent have requested transcripts for post-secondary enrollment or the military. At El Puente Santa Barbara and FitzGerald schools, 35 percent of recent graduates enrolled in local community colleges. Students receive scholarships from school PTAs to attend Alan Hancock in Santa Maria.

All told, in the past two years, students have completed 8,500 credits.

All three sites have developed strong partnerships with several community agencies to provide additional support services to students. Partners countywide include Fighting Back, Probation, the Community Action Commission, local school districts, Rotary Clubs, the Police Activities League, YMCAs and local recreation departments. In addition, local merchants and businesses provide support through the donation of goods or volunteer hours.

Success stories abound. At El Puente Lompoc, a former student who is now in management with a local bank provided a six-week course on banking skills for students. Another former student is pursing a nursing degree through a military career. Another is working in business management in Las Vegas, and another one is working on QVC in video production.

For El Puente Santa Barbara, former students have completed their associate of arts degrees at Santa Barbara City College and are now enrolled at UCSB. One former student is enrolled in the nursing program at SBCC, and another has started his own landscaping business.

At FitzGerald School in Santa Maria, former students are now working for Probation as officers. One former student is completing a bachelor of arts degree at Cal State Los Angeles. Another has a real estate license and is working full time in Santa Maria. Yet another is completing the auto tech program at Hancock College, thanks to a PTA scholarship. One former student is working in the school district, and another is employed with the county’s social services department in billing.

As one teacher said, “They’re really great kids. We are here to provide the extra guidance they need to be successful wherever they go. I wouldn’t trade my job for anything; it’s so rewarding.”

“Terry,” a student, is typical of others at El Puente schools. “I am very thankful to have received my education here,” she said, “and now I have goals of going to college and becoming an optometrist, and eventually exploring the rest of the world. I do not know where I would have been without FitzGerald and am so grateful that I did not have to find out.”

There are many ways to approach the problems facing our young people. El Puente is not the answer for all of them. But we are very proud that it is the answer for many of them. I really must salute the dedicated staff members, who deal with the most challenging of students, and make a difference every day, one young person at a time.

Bill Cirone is Santa Barbara County’s superintendent of schools.

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» William Munny wrote on 11/17/08 @ 03:00 PM

I can’t imagine these schools are any easy place to work.  All too often, people want to focus on those students who aren’t able to turn it around without ever acknowledging how many more young lives would be lost if it wasn’t for schools like El Puente and the dedicated staff that work there.  They are truly working miracles.

» Rachel wrote on 11/17/08 @ 03:34 PM

Given the current climate of violence that seems to be permeating the youth of Santa Barbara, programs like these are in great need of community support.  Kids need alternatives when typical environments aren’t working and it sounds like the El Puente programs are doing just that.

» David Velarde wrote on 11/18/08 @ 05:15 PM

A true tale of success from someone who knows. The good folks at the Community Schools have a tough job and don’t receive nearly the recognition they deserve. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the students from El Puente School in Santa Barbara, hearing where they came from and seeing where they were going. These schools reach out and have a positive affect on the students and their families. Our community is fortunate to have the teachers and staff of the Community Schools and such a dedicated leader in Bill Cirone.

» Amy wrote on 11/19/08 @ 08:17 AM

I have worked with a number of teens in our community, including those who attend El Puente Santa Barbara. It is apparent that the teachers and staff are committed to helping each individual student by meeting their specific needs.

Students who are not successful in a typical school setting often view school as a negative and punitive place. It seems that EPSB teachers and staff have developed a structured, yet warm and positive environment for these kids, potentially allowing the students to change their negative view of school. One student said to me “Did you know I can get a PhD?” The student said that his teacher told him it was possible, and that is exactly what he was going to do.

As a community member, I would like to extend my gratitude to the principal, teachers and staff at EPSB who have instilled hope in these students. They really make a difference in so many kids’ lives! I don’t know what our community would do without such an amazing place.

» Shereen Khatapoush wrote on 11/20/08 @ 03:13 PM

Santa Barbara Fighting Back and the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse have worked closely with the El Puente schools for many years.  It’s our priviledge and pleasure to work with such dedicated, caring educators, who work tirelessly to serve the needs of students. The committment El Puente has to providing students with counseling and other support services in order to help them deal with their life chaellenges so that they may succeed in school is truely exceptional.  Thank you El Puente for doing so much for so many students in our communities!

» Kristin wrote on 11/20/08 @ 06:25 PM

As someone new to the area (moved here just over a year ago), I was surprised to learn that so many young people were struggling to succeed in such a beautiful place like Santa Barbara. I’ve worked closely with Teen Court, the Council on Drug & Alcoholism, and working in the schools, and seen firsthand the challenges facing many members of the community, and the general lack of support and programming. Luckily, I quickly became familiar with El Puente as a place of second chances, offering help to children that others have all but given up on.

The school is amazing. Their staff are so dedicated and caring; they truly serve children who have been disadvantaged their whole lives and provide them with a path to a better life. I am fully convinced that without this school, the problems our community faces with violence and delinquency would be much worse.

The staff at El Puente are unsung heroes in our community and deserve much more support and recognition. Hopefully, influential members of the community will recognize this school’s contributions and provide more support, making Santa Barbara a better place for us all.

» Stephanie wrote on 11/21/08 @ 09:52 AM

I think that in general society doesn’t understand some of the circumstances and challenges that many kids face on a day to day basis.  Whether it be social pressures related to peers, or family circumstances.  Sometimes the traditional school environment just doesn’t work for that individual.  Having an alternative such as El Puente in a sense, gives students a second chance.  It allows them to continue their education and also opens the doors to many community resources that they may not otherwise had access to or knowledge of.  Santa Barbara is truly priviledged to have a school such as El Puente with a dedicated staff and countless resources to help these kids succeed in their journey.

» Penny Jenkins wrote on 11/22/08 @ 01:29 PM

Thank heavens for Puente Schools, they help so many youth. Cecelia Molina is the principal at the school in Santa Barbara and she is one the most wise, caring, individuals I have ever known.  Thanks too to Bill and his dedication to the youth of our County.


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