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THE RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 11, N0. 2
JAN. 23, 2015
After a lengthy debate at a recent school board meeting, RSF School Superintendent Lindy Delaney and the school board agree to take “no action” for the moment regarding a foreign language program. File photo
RSF School District discusses language program By Christina Macone-Greene “And that herein lies the Paula Besset, a Torrey Pines High School alum and Encinitas resident is helping train California Chrome. The horse was recently named 2014’s Horse of the Year Courtesy photo
Trainer’s career takes an unexpected turn By Jay Paris
It was a stretch drive, the likes not seen even in horse racing. That didn’t deter Paula Besset. Besset, of Encinitas, had a hankering to work for Sherman Racing Stables. But the local horse trainer didn’t know anyone associated with the crew. She didn’t have a formal interview, but informally, presented herself to California Chrome’s handlers. She did have gumption, motivation and a resume which revealed she knew her way around ponies. Still it was stretch in November when Besset climbed in her car and
drove to the Los Alamitos Race Track. She was determined to join the Sherman stable and if it didn’t happen, so be it. “I wasn’t sure where anything was,” Besset said, about roaming the Orange County oval where the Sherman bunch hangs its shingle. She sniffed a trail to the right area and found Art Sherman. Besset’s story was quick and to the point. “I told him I just wasn’t a California Chrome follower trying to get in,” she said. “I was a true, dedicated person that has a passion for thoroughbred race horses. I just introduced myself and that is kind of how it started.’’
It’s a start without a finish, and why would Besset want it to end? “They just scooped me up,’’ Besset said. That has Besset, 50, at the Sherman table in Florida for Saturday’s Eclipse Awards. California Chrome, a 3-year-old colt and winner of two legs of the Triple Crown, was named the 2014 Horse of the Year. Is this the spot Besset pinches herself? If Al Michaels wasn’t busy peddling his new book, he could deliver a nifty, “Do you believe in miracles?” “I had no expectations,” said BesTURN TO TRAINER ON 18
RSF Board resolution for golf club postponed By Christina Macone-Greene
RANCHO SANTA FE — The RSF Board of Directors heard and discussed at length a resolution for the RSF Golf Club. Acting manager, Ivan Holler, brought up the agenda item. From there, many stated their input. Holler first began by telling the board that it has adopted a resolution. And in the past years, one was related to the management of the golf club. “That resolution has been amended a couple of times over the years,” he said, adding how one agenda item was more of a clarification. “It would clarify the reporting relationship with the golf club manager and that the golf manager report goes to the board of governors and to the association manager. And that’s TURN TO GOLF CLUB ON 3
The RSF Board of Directors postpone adopting a resolution over the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. File photo
RANCHO SANTA FE — At length, Superintendent Lindy Delaney discussed her research for the potential of adding a foreign language curriculum to next year’s school year for grades K through 5. Parent, Linda Leong, had brought this topic to the school board’s attention last year. She gathered numerous signatures from parents who thought implementing foreign language to the younger children would be beneficial. Delaney told the board that over the years, the District has spent a lot of time discussing this. She mentioned there are pros such as stimulating academic achievement, offering cognitive benefits, and changing the way students view different languages and cultures. In her research, Delaney said, those were the three high points. “But we’re in a situation though, where our days are full,” she said, adding how she asked the K-5 teachers for feedback. In order to devise this program, Delaney assessed for grades K – 2 the program would take place 4 days a week for 30 minutes. For grades 3 – 5, it would increase to 40 minutes at four days per week. From Delaney’s research, this would be the minimum for foreign language retention. The estimated cost for the program was $200,000 to $250,000. “When I posed the question to the teachers about the benefit, I think there was a consensus that they thought it would be good for students. My next question was what would you take out of the schedule?” Delaney continued,
big dilemma for the teachers.” Delaney went on to say that the teachers feel as if they’re cast so hard with reading, writing, math, science, social studies and other electives. The teachers conveyed to Delaney that they thought foreign language was valuable, but they also didn’t feel as if they should remove anything from their current curriculum. “When you start pulling away, what do you pull away from?” Delaney asked the board. “We feel like we could take a look at the schedule for next year, and see if it’s possible, but there is something that’s going to have to come out.” As far as the approximate $250,000 program cost, it would be pulled from next year’s operating budget. One way, Delaney suggested, could come from the Education Foundation which raised 1.3 million. Additionally, Delaney asked the teachers if foreign language could be detrimental to any of their current students. Some teachers admitted it would affect a few students who may already be struggling with their set of courses. Delaney said with the boards’ direction, she could research the topic more and bring back other proposals. Board of trustee, Richard Burdge, said this topic has come up for years and stated that the academic wheel is quite full. “It’d be great if there was more time in the day and could offer more things,” Burdge said. He also wanted the other trustees to know TURN TO LANGUAGE ON 3