Magnet School Attracts Critics

The 10th-graders in David Schmitt’s geography class this week are acting as employees of a travel agency that will send them to a country of their choice in exchange for designing slick, informative vacation brochures.

Later in the year, they will be reporters for National Geographic, putting together the latest edition of the magazine with articles on everything from tsunamis to volcanoes to tropical rain forest destruction.

Such exercises are part of the project-based learning at Ventura Unified School District’s Foothill Technology High School, which is wrapping up its debut year and celebrating a move into permanent buildings with an open house and ribbon-cutting event today.

The magnet high school--one of only a handful in the state focusing heavily on technology--has embraced a teaching method that has 15-year-olds conducting extensive Internet research, delivering Power-Point presentations and designing Web pages.

But the school--which requires its students to have a 2.5 grade point average in English and math to apply--also has generated some concern. Critics, mostly teachers and counselors at the district’s other two comprehensive high schools, worry that Foothill has strayed from its original mission of catering to the “middle-level” student.

Instead, critics say the small, nurturing environment and high-tech equipment are attracting too many high-achieving students and threatening the viability of Advanced Placement and honors programs at Buena and Ventura high schools. Though both schools will still offer the same honors classes next year, some sections will have to be cut because of dwindling enrollment, officials said.

“The type of student we were originally excited about servicing with Foothill was the middle of the road student,” said Gene Badstubner, a counselor at Buena. “With the GPA requirement and standardized test score requirement, a significant portion of those students have been excluded.”

District and Foothill officials dispute those claims, which were aired at a recent school board study session. Principal Judy Warner argues that Foothill is not exclusive at all, pointing out that more than 75% of current students had only average scores in reading and math on their last standardized tests. Besides, she adds, a 2.5 GPA is a C+ average.

One problem may be that community members initially misunderstood the goals for Foothill, she said.

“Maybe we made the mistake of putting ‘technology’ in our name,” Warner said, referring to a misconception by some that Foothill is a glorified vocational school. “We are not what they thought we were going to be.”

At Foothill, each classroom has dozens of computers on an interschool network, including DVD players for showing educational videos. Foothill’s “power school” system gives parents immediate access to their child’s grades and attendance reports through the Internet. A corner of the library is dedicated to the most cutting-edge computer equipment from major companies, including Hewlett-Packard.

Technology ‘a Good Hook With Kids’

As in Schmitt’s geography class, technology is a common theme throughout the curriculum, which offers two career paths--communications and health sciences.

In addition to the state-mandated math, English and history classes required at all public schools, every Foothill student must take one year of technology literacy, which teaches a variety of computer programs and skills.

“Technology is a good hook with kids, and by having it available, you can use it as a powerful learning tool,” said Diane Hammond, Foothill’s technology specialist.

But more than just new computers separates Foothill from the district’s other two comprehensive high schools.

The small number of students this year--284--means Warner and other administrators know the names of most students, and are more familiar with their academic histories and strengths and weaknesses.

Such close scrutiny doesn’t sound like a blessing, but it is, said student Jenna Hill, 16, whose family moved to Ventura from Simi Valley so she could attend Foothill. Getting a new car this year caused her grades to drop, but she was quickly guided back on track to avoid being retained a year.

“You get a lot more help from teachers,” she said.

As a magnet high school, Foothill takes enrollment applications each year. The student body will grow by 300 for two more years before reaching the eventual cap of 900. Incoming students must have at least a B in either English or math and at least a C in the other class to be eligible. Last year, the requirement was an overall 2.0 GPA, or a C average, although this requirement has some flexibility. If more students apply than there are spots available, which has yet to happen, a random lottery of eligible applicants will decide admittance, Warner said.

Foothill was built as part of an $81-million bond passed by Ventura voters in 1997 to relieve school overcrowding. Rather than build another similar-sized campus to accommodate 1,600 students, the school board decided on a smaller magnet school, meaning parents from throughout Ventura Unified could choose to send students there.

Since classes began last September, Foothill has gone through some changes, but that is the nature of any new school as it responds to its community’s needs, Warner said.

Seeking Balance for Admissions

Ventura Unified officials, however, admit the makeup of students coming to Foothill needs more balance. At Buena and Ventura high schools, for example, the percentage of incoming eighth-graders scoring below average in reading and math on the Stanford 9 is about twice as high as it is at Foothill. This year’s test scores--Foothill’s first--won’t be released until July or August.

Supt. Joseph P. Spirito, who retires next month, said he believes the solution is for Warner to continue reaching out to students who want to attend but may not meet the school’s entrance requirements. For the upcoming fall semester, Foothill admitted 44 students who normally wouldn’t have been eligible--after talking with the students’ individual teachers and counselors.

“We won’t make a decision based just on a test score or GPA,” Spirito said.

Sophomore Amber Botelho, 15, transferred to Foothill from Buena High School last year. Though she was nervous about leaving her friends, Amber said she loves her new school, particularly its focus on technology.

“You get to use your own creativity and express yourself more,” she said. “It’s opened up a whole other world.”

FYI

Foothill Technology High School moves into permanent buildings at 100 Day Road, Ventura. Campus tours begin at 10 a.m.; ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Parking is available at Wright Library, 57 Day Road. Information: (805) 289-0023.