There were smiles, even a few tears, and plenty of hugs and applause Wednesday night when Denair High School honored its top students in front of 300 family, friends and staff members in the gym.
An impressive $37,000 in combined scholarships were announced, money that will be important as the 52 members of the Class of 2024 continue their educations in college or trade schools.
The top scholarship recipients were:
Kaitlin Perez — $6,000
Landen Borges — $3,900
Lauren Pierce — $3,950
Iliany Contreras — $3,000
Avarey Corriea — $3,000
“At its core, the annual Denair High School Awards Night is a celebration of student achievement and a tribute to each student’s resilience and grit,” said Principal Breanne Aguiar. “In recognizing excellence, we inspire greatness, and in celebrating achievement, we pave the way for a brighter, more inspiring future.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to award students with over $37,000 in scholarships and thank our community partners for their unwavering support.”
What attracted you to Denair Unified? My boys were enrolled in Denair State Pre-School and Denair Elementary. The district needed subs. I decided to sub for the school. I ended up subbing at the elementary cafeteria. Denair is a small town. I knew many teachers and students. Everyone looked like they were having fun. I was already volunteering in my sons’ classrooms, so I figured, “Why not?”
What are your primary responsibilities? This year, I started a new position. I’ve been cooking from scratch for Denair Elementary Charter Academy. I was lead at DECA for two years prior and, before that, I prepared pre-cooked food and served lunch for DECA. DECA was my home for 14 years. I built many relationships with our students and staff.
What do you like best about your job? I like coming to work, cooking meals that the kids will enjoy. I love greeting the middle school kids at breakfast. I make sure their day gets started with a “hello” and a big smile. And I make sure I get one in return. (Even if they don’t want to!)
What would surprise people about your job? That I can cook! People who know me know I wasn’t crazy about cooking, actual cooking. Now, I’ve learned new cooking tricks! I’ve hosted family parties and prepared the food! Too bad my kids are already grown up. I didn’t have the confidence to cook from scratch like I do now.
Why is Denair Unified a great place to work? Denair is a small district. I know practically everyone in this town, even though I grew up in Hughson. I moved to Tennessee in 2022. I got a job as a manager at Martin Middle School. And even though I liked it, it was nothing like working at Denair. I missed the students, staff and all the families I built relationships with. I was so grateful I was given the opportunity to come back to this district.
What do you do for fun? I love going to the beach with my best friend, camping, being the photographer for my husband’s fishing trips, going to church and hanging out with my hens and dogs.
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Denair Unified is currently accepting applications for Classified substitutes. If you would like to gain experience in a variety of roles, subbing is a great way to do that. You can apply at https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1896889 or contact Daisy Flores at dflores@dusd.k12.ca.us.
Nearly 70% of potential voters in the Denair Unified School District say they would support a school bond as long as it doesn’t raise current property tax rates, according to a survey taken in April.
School board trustees are considering placing a $32 million bond measure on the November ballot that would pay to modernize, upgrade or build new facilities, including classrooms, libraries, kitchens and restrooms.
Earlier this year, the board hired Godbe Research of Burlingame and TeamCivX of Orinda to survey likely voters within the district’s boundaries about their support for a school bond. Pollsters contacted 203 people by phone or online between April 10-17. Results of the survey were reported at Thursday night’s school board meeting.
The poll found that 57.1% of respondents would definitely or probably support the bond measure, 30.7% would definitely or probably vote no and 12.3% were undecided.
More importantly, the level of support increased dramatically – to 69.8% saying they would definitely or probably vote to approve the bond – when it was explained that current property tax would not increase under the proposal. In that scenario, 17.9% would definitely or probably vote no and 12.3% were undecided.
“This is a critical piece of information for the type of bond measure you’re considering. It’s a very encouraging sign,” said pollster Brian Godbe in his Zoom presentation to trustees.
Added Charles Heath of TeamCivX: “When we introduce the information that this simply extends the current tax rate, the support is there. I think you have the makings of a successful bond measure, if you choose to move forward.”
It takes 55% to pass a school bond.
Trustees have until June 18 to determine whether to put the bond measure on this November’s ballot. They have a meeting scheduled June 13 to consider the matter. In the meantime, board members directed Superintendent Terry Metzger to continue to work with Heath and Godbe to educate potential voters about why the proposed bond is needed.
The $32 million measure would pay to:
Construct new classrooms, school library and cafeterias.
Modernize classrooms and improve learning technology.
Upgrade restrooms.
Improve student safety and school security.
Property owners would be taxed $30 annually per $100,000 of assessed value, raising an estimated $2.3 million per year. There would be a citizen oversight committee and annual audits. None of the money could go to administrative needs or salaries.
If it were to pass, the new bond would go into effect only after the current bond is paid off in 2026.
Here are some other key takeaways from the survey, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 6.7%:
54.7% of respondents were very favorable or somewhat favorable when asked if the district was providing a quality education. Only 17.6% were somewhat or very unfavorable. About a quarter didn’t know.
43.6% were very favorable or somewhat favorable when asked to rate the district’s management of public funds. Only 17.4% were somewhat or very unfavorable and 38.9% said they didn’t know.
64.2% agreed or strongly agreed that the district needs additional money. Only 16.6% disagreed or strongly disagreed and 19.2% didn’t know.
In other action Thursday, trustees:
Extended Metzger’s contract by two years through June 30, 2028. Metzger voluntarily asked for no salary increase for two years. She will continue to be paid $204,197 annually and may receive the cash value of up to 15 vacation days per year (she earns 30).
Honored five retiring employees: Food service worker Carole Harlan, DECA bilingual secretary Maria “Lupe” Delgadillo, DECA teacher Tamara Sondeno, DHS special education paraeducator Maria Nichols and DHS teacher Craig Cumberland.
Recognized four Denair High students who have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas — David Cervantes Martinez, Jonathan Coronel, Sherlyn Diaz and Eddie Verdugo. All have passed tests certifying they are fluent in English and Spanish.
Approved the construction of five shade structures – three at DECA and two at Denair Middle School – for a total cost of $1,041,263. One metal structure and two fabric awnings will be installed on DECA playgrounds for elementary and preschool students. Two metal shade structures will be built at DMS. All the work is expected to be completed before classes resume in August.
Accepted an impressive amount of grant money — $410,835 from the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program to support career readiness courses at the high school; $205,179 as a Teacher Residency Capacity Grant to help the district develop a local pipeline of teacher candidates; and $100,000 in equipment assistance grant funding to be used by the Food Service Department.
OK’d a five-year contract with California State University, Stanislaus to provide teaching experience to one or more students in the university’s Teacher Training Program. The training will be 16 weeks for multiple subject and education specialist programs and a full academic year for the single subject program.
Denair’s Ethan Gonsalves got off to a great start with birdies on two of his first three holes Monday, but it was a scrambling par on his fourth hole that kept his momentum going on his way to a 5-under-par 67 and first place for the second straight year at the Sac-Joaquin Section Small Schools Tournament.
The victory qualified Gonsalves into the Masters Tournament next week at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton for the third year in a row.
Gonsalves – a senior who was the Southern League MVP – played Monday at Cherry Island Golf Course north of Sacramento. Other than taking a virtual tour of the holes online, he had never seen the course, which is mostly flat but has plenty of water and other hazards the players must navigate and avoid.
Gonsalves started at hole No. 3, a 421-yard par 4 with a gentle dogleg to the left. He hit the fairway, knocked his second shot on and made the putt for birdie – a perfect start to his round. He made a nice two-putt par on the tough par-3 fourth hole, then rolled in his second birdie putt on No. 5 to go 2-under early in his round.
But on a day when Gonsalves made seven birdies, it was an unexpected par on the 550-yard par-5 sixth hole that really highlighted the day.
His drive went into the trees, forcing him to chip back into the fairway. He was still too far away to reach the green, so laid up with his third shot. A poor swing on his fourth shot left him on the green 40 feet from the cup. He took time to size up his putt, then stroked it firmly. A few feet from the hole, Gonsalves knew it was in. When it went dropped, he jumped up and gave a little fist bump – more emotion than he typically shows on the course.
“It electrified the guys playing with him and the coach who was following him. It really energized the group,” said Denair coach Greg Gaudio, who was on a different hole acting as a monitor for three other players. He heard about the reaction from people who were watching Gonsalves.
“He didn’t want to have a blow-up hole,” Gaudio said. “He was very conservative after he made a mistake. He just punched out to get the ball back in play. When he got on green, he walked around and took his time. He was trying to make the putt, but he didn’t want to race it by (the hole).”
The par-saving definitely was the highlight of a day when Gonsalves set a personal best with seven birdies and just two bogeys in his 67. It was the first time he ever has shot 5-under-par.
“I’d say it was just like playing a video game. Just point and shoot. I put myself in great spots to be aggressive and it paid off,” said Gonsalves, who already has accepted a scholarship to Cal State Stanislaus.
Gaudio said Gonsalves was “flipping out” after the round.
“He said, ‘I shot 67. I can’t believe it,’ ” the coach said. “He was really pumped.”
After winning the Small Schools Tournament for the second straight year, Gonsalves now moves on to the place he’s been the past two years – the Masters Tournament. From there, the top three teams and four players not on those teams will qualify for the NorCal Tournament on May 20 at Berkeley Country Club.
Making it to the NorCal Tournament has been Gonsalves’ goal since the season began.
Two years ago, he shot 78 at the Masters and it took 73 or better to qualify for NorCals. Last season, Gonsalves matched par on a calm day at Spanos Park, but “some guys went really low because there was no wind,” Gaudio said.
Gonsalves hopes this time is different. He’ll play a practice round at Spanos Park on Thursday. With his game seemingly in top form right now, he will attempt to become the first Denair player ever to reach the NorCals.
“That’s been Ethan’s goal from the beginning of the season,” Gaudio said. “He’s got a shot now.”
What attracted you to Denair Unified? It’s a small district that feels like family.
What are your primary responsibilities? I clean restrooms and make sure all trash is done in the whole school site. I also clean the cafeteria, kitchen, mop and other duties.
What do you like best about your job? I enjoy the people and staff that I work with. They are all very nice.
What would surprise people about your job? I feel that custodian positions are very important because behind the scenes a lot is going on to keep the school presentable.
Why is Denair Unified a great place to work? Denair Unified is a small district that has a family-oriented feel. Not to mention that I work with two great bosses who appreciate my work. They are Mark Hodges and Breanne Aguiar.
What do you do for fun? I love baking, camping, and gardening.
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Denair Unified is currently accepting applications for Classified substitutes. If you would like to gain experience in a variety of roles, subbing is a great way to do that. You can apply at https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1896889 or contact Daisy Flores at dflores@dusd.k12.ca.us.
