The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Wednesday night, reflecting on the successes of Bowman High School throughout the year.

Wednesday’s meeting marked the last for William S. Hart Union High School District Board Area 1 Trustee Linda Storli, who lost her bid for re-election to Dr. Aakash Ahuja in the general election in November.

“The last day of my teaching, I sat in my classroom at Canyon High School and cried. I sat on the floor and cried for probably an hour and a half. So I’m not going to do that here. I’m just going to say that this has been the longest relationship I’ve ever had, except for my children,” Storli said. “I’m going to miss it. So that’s all I have to say right now because I’m going to cry.”

Storli taught at Canyon High School for 30 years before being elected directly to the board in 2015. The District will forever be close to her heart, as two of her children and all of her grandchildren so far have graduated from the district. Her daughter even met her future son-in-law while the two taught for the district.

Ahuja is set to be sworn in during the board’s annual re-organizational meeting.

The board received a presentation Wednesday updating them on the status of Bowman High School, a continuation school in the Hart School District.

Continuation high schools serve students who have struggled in traditional high school settings and face significant challenges in completing their education. These schools provide a smaller, more supportive environment, and offer personalized learning experiences to help students meet their unique needs and achieve their goals, according to the District.

“The reason why students feel so successful and cared for at Bowman is that there are really frequent, intentional and meaningful interactions with all of our students by all of our staff. It’s not just teachers, it’s everyone – from our campus supervisors to myself as principal –  I get to meet with all of our kids. I get to have conversations with them,” said Principal Nina Zamora. “All of us, every single person on our campus, has this incredible opportunity, because we believe that continuation school in particular is not just a second chance for students, but it’s also a second chance for us as a district to meet the needs of all of our students.”

The current enrollment for Bowman is 291 students, of which approximately one-third (95) are considered homeless, according to Zamora.

The student demographics include a majority Hispanic population (81%), with 14% white, 2.7% Black, and 1% Asian students. Zamora noted that in the current program, there has been an increase in female students compared to recent years, with a majority female student body as of the report.

Bowman has a 95% “save rate”, meaning the majority of their students continue and finish their education with the school.

“The goal of Bowman isn’t just to graduate students, it’s also to really prepare them,” Zamora said.

The school focuses on credit recovery, with students expected to earn 10-12 credits every 5-week grading period through direct instruction in the classroom.

Bowman offers a variety of CTE (Career Technical Education) courses and pathways, including culinary, STEM, digital photography, and video production, to prepare students for college and careers.

The school has implemented a “MIDAS Matters” program (Motivate, Inspire, Drive, Accomplish, Succeed) that tracks student attendance, credit earning, and positive behavior, with high student satisfaction and an increase in students who qualify for the reward.

“Mr. Haring, my assistant principal, and I walk to each classroom and provide them with gift cards and get to celebrate them in their classes, and talk about what it is that kids need to do to be successful the next time,” Zamora said.

Zamora proudly pointed out that there has not been a physical fight on campus in three years, which she attributes to the school’s focus on restorative practices and the strong relationship between staff and students.

“They’re supported academically. They feel like their teachers care about them. They feel physically safe,” Zamora said.

Bowman provides extensive social-emotional support for students, including a wellness pavilion, counselors, and partnerships with programs like Wolf Connection that incorporate therapy and outdoor activities.

The report highlights Bowman’s success in creating a supportive, engaging environment that helps continuing students get back on track academically and prepare for life after high school.

In other news, the board recognized six students from the Sister Cities 2024 Young Artists and Authors Showcase.

To watch the Dec. 11 meeting, click here.

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