Thelma Bedell Wins Santa Paula’s 1st State ‘Distinguished School’ Award

Fast becoming a source of civic pride, Thelma Bedell has emerged as the first campus in the Santa Paula Elementary School District’s 124-year history to receive the California Distinguished School Award.

The state Department of Education notified the 422-student magnet school early last week that it received the highest honor for state public schools.

With the image of the city’s school district tarnished after much in-fighting among officials over the former superintendent’s salary and contract, community members expressed joy that achievements of the town’s schools were finally getting some recognition.

“I think the whole community could rally around [the award] because there has been a lot said--negative things about Santa Paula schools--when the reality is Santa Paula has some excellent schools,” City Councilwoman Laura Flores Espinosa said. “This flies in the face of those who knock our community.”

The state awarded the 32-year-old school for a magnet program begun in 1988 that focuses on environmental education and technology. Out of 700 schools that applied in January, Bedell was one of 225 to receive the honor.

Such an award means a lot to the town, because people often equate the quality of a city with the quality of its schools, said Mayor Robin Sullivan.

“When people come into a community, whether to live or work, one of the No. 1 things they ask is how good are the schools,” Sullivan said. “So if you can point to something like a Distinguished School award, it’s really good for our image.”

State officials base the award on the overall school environment, rather than on high test scores. Factors they take into consideration are the quality of the school’s curriculum and technology, as well as parent and community involvement.

Nestled among rolling mountains with California oaks gracing its playground, teachers say the school’s setting makes it ideal to conduct environmental studies.

In one classroom, students with a dozen soil samples taken from their school grounds observe which dirt is the best for growing marigold seeds.

At a portable classroom, students create works of art, using discarded or recycled material. In their garden, which parents and residents helped build, pupils learn how the Chumash used plants such as white sage and sugar bush.

“We always like to say we have Earth Day everyday,” said Leslie Borchard, the school’s environmental studies coordinator. “Our students really know what that means.”

The school also has a high computer-to-student ratio, with about seven computers for each of the 13 classrooms.

Upon hearing of the school’s victory over the campus intercom, some classrooms erupted into a roar of joyful shouts.

“We were excited,” said fourth-grader Jesus Perez. “We were like the first in Santa Paula.”