In Passing

be effective.

“What we realized we were doing was gluing kids to their screens for eight hours a day and on top of that having them do homework, which was largely onscreen as well,” Hereford said.

In response the school limited class time to three hours a day, leaving afternoons open for students to either get help with classwork or homework or simply go outside and get some exercise or fresh air.

Upper school students included a lot of anxious juniors and their parents worried about college applications, as well as seniors who missed being around each other and felt like they were missing out on being able to celebrate their graduation around actual people.

“All that is gone now,” says Hereford. “We can try to recreate it in Zoom meetings, but it’s not the same as face-to-face, and frankly it’s exhausting to do.”

Hereford hopes that weather might help allow Laguna Blanca to re-open next fall, despite whatever social-distancing guidelines are still in place.

“One of the great things is we can move class outside,” he explains. “Ninety-five percent of days when the weather is good, we can move out into the quad or the field. We only have eighty kids in the lower campus and can try to spread them out.”

Yet Hereford admits he still has no idea what next year will look like.

“I’ve got a running list of questions I have to answer before we open school,” he says. “And that list is growing.”

Although his intention is to reopen as soon as possible, Hereford is prepared for the possibility that remote learning will continue after the summer.

“It’s possible we will be in and

• The Voice of the Village • MONTECITO JOURNAL 13 C arter Willis Hines, 78, passed away Friday evening, May 1, 2020, at his Montecito home with his beloved wife, Victoria, at his side.

Carter’s sudden death from a heart attack followed a prolonged illness of several years.

Carter was born in Long Beach, California to Martha and William Hines. In the fourth grade he and his mother moved to Santa Barbara where he became a well-known and muchloved figure in this community for his entire life.

Carter attended Jefferson School, Santa Barbara High School (class of 1959), and immediately after graduation he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Hawaii for two years where he served as the Company Commander’s driver.

He returned to Santa Barbara and attended Santa Barbara City College and later Long Beach State. He enjoyed playing football as a SBHS Don and also at SB City College where he made lifelong enduring friendships.

After college, Carter started his lifelong business, Carter Hines Drapery, which flourished for the next 55 years. He loved working with his clients and making their homes more beautiful. He will be best remembered for his exceptional customer service and special window coverings, a tradition to be carried on by his wife, Victoria.

Carter was loved by everyone. His friends relished visiting him tending bar at The Nugget in Summerland for their favorite cocktails! He was part of a special friends group (The Breakfast Club) who met every morning for breakfast at the San Ysidro Pharmacy. Carter played tennis with the Montecito Tennis Mafia for years, was a longtime member of Birnam Wood, and especially enjoyed all the years he spent as a member of The Coral Casino... working out, walking around the pool, and socializing with his numerous friends and acquaintances at Tydes.

He met the love of his life, Victoria, at the Pioneer Saloon in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were together for 40 years, during which time they traveled the world together, returning to Sun Valley many times, ocean cruising to Tahiti, skiing in Europe, and flying yearly to their favorite vacation spot at the Mauna Kea Hotel in Hawaii. He looked forward to his guy trips to Cabo, Cuba, and Costa Rica with his many wild-haired buddies.

Unlike other local schools struggling with how to adapt to remote learning, the Santa Barbara Middle School (SBMS) has a unique challenge because its curriculum leans so heavily on outdoor group activities, especially for graduating 9th graders. That’s not a typo: SBMS is one of the few remaining middle schools that prepare matriculating students for sophomore year of high school by providing them with a rigorous outdoor education program which lasts three weeks and includes surfing, kayaking, biking, and climbing mountains.

“We keep our ninth graders so they leave the school with some leadership experience,” says Brian McWilliams, head of school, who also teaches World History to 9th graders. “We don’t farm it out but do it all internally,” he says. “Eighty to ninety percent of the faculty does this, including me.”

The school’s major outdoor event each year is the so-called Rite of the Wheels, which involves a long-distance bike trek, whether in the Pacific Northwest, Marin County, or in the Arizona desert. Needless to say, neither that expedition nor the rest of the school’s outdoor curriculum is happening this year. “Thank god we at least had the beginning of the school year,” McWiliams says, “but we really miss this opportunity.”

Although the school has stuck with the letter grade system, it has relaxed the curriculum to three onehour classes per day so as not to exhaust students with screen time. “It’s working out pretty well,” says McWilliams. “We have academics but also fun, goofy things,” like the school’s celebrated Carpe Diem Bucket List. “The whole theme of the school is carpe diem,” he adds. “We encourage our kids to go outside and do something, whatever it is. It’s on them to select something.”

Carter Willis Hines: July 24, 1941 - May 1, 2020

ON THE RECORD Page 444 out of this remote-learning model next year depending on how testing goes,” he says. “We will need to be ready to flip a switch.” Outdoor No More

According to McWilliams, remote learning must be equally effective for both well-endowed private schools and budget-challenged public schools. “Seventy percent of our kids go on to public schools, so we have to make this work for public schools, too,” he argues. “You should be able to get good writing, reading, and discussion without this arms race of homework. The question we need to ask ourselves is how do we light these kids up, even if it’s through a darn computer.”

Carter had an abiding passion for fun and revelry. Known as “Mad Dog” and “Dukie” to his dearest friends, he never had an unkind word for anyone. His zest for life also endeared him to his Brazilian Familia. He was most fond of telling outrageous stories and regaling friends with his unbridled charm and mischievous nature. We will miss him madly.

Carter is survived by his wife Victoria, his three children from his first marriage to Gale Gill, Darrin, Damon, Danielle, and son-in-law Jim McKechnie and two grandchildren, Drake Carter (15) and Kendall (12).

The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the compassionate care by Dr. Babji Mesipam, Dr. Jeffrey Kupperman, and Dr. Harris Gelberg.

May Carter rest in peace and his spirit soar above his beloved Santa Barbara home and linger in the hearts and minds of his many cherished friends forever.

We look forward to a Celebration of Carter’s Life later this summer! Meanwhile, please toast Carter, who loved life and all his friends! •MJ

Despite the loss of the school’s outdoor learning program, McWilliams says he feels lucky compared to other local educators. “Where we are lucky is we are small and can be nimble and