CA Superintendent visits Monterey High School

California’s superintendent for public instruction made a trip to the central coast Friday.

Superintendent Tom Torlakson made a stop at one of the area’s oldest high schools and they had plenty to show him.

There’s a lot of history inside the walls of Monterey High School. The school opened in 1905. Principal Marcie Plummer said with age comes issues.

“A little bit of flooding here and there every time we get rain, so we do need some kind of a drainage system overall in our school,” said Plummer.

Plummer showed Torlakson everything the school has to offer, and some of its most critical needs.

“We need labs, we need more wiring, and electrical capacities, technology, we are very much in need of technology and the structures that support it,” said Plummer.

She said the gym and other athletic facilities need a lot of updating. Torlakson said he has a plan for that.

Torlakson is pushing for a 2016 statewide facility bond measure where funds could not just help this school, but also many others with facility issues.

“The voters could vote yes and provide another 9 billion dollars which could match districts across the state who have similar old facilities that need upgrades,” said Torlakson.

One upgrade Monterey High has made is this newly redone cafe, which could be the first of its kind in the state.

This innovative school cafeteria feeds 1250 students. They serve healthy foods from right here on the central coast. Torlakson was impressed by the food set up.

“We need to use Monterey High School and Monterey Peninsula schools as a role model for the rest of California again making the environment where students eat attractive less institutional less sterile, more friendly more welcoming,” said Torlakson.

A campus more than a century old, taking steps to meet the needs of 21st century students.