Principal
Raupp enjoys the challenges of his job
Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp
MALISSA TRENHOLM
“I
don't think of it as work,” comments Yosemite High School Principal
Steve Raupp. He came to the school with a “desire to teach and
coach” in 1978, which was the third year in which it had been
running. Now the principal of the school, Raupp states that even after
five years in that position he enjoys the “challenging aspects”
of his job as well as it being “exciting and different everyday.”
Raupp greatly appreciates seeing students achieve as well.
In a press conference with the YHS Journalism class, Raupp stated that
the challenging aspects of his job can range anywhere from making decisions
on numerous construction projects that are being done to the school,
the High School Exit Exam, No Child Left Behind,off campus lunch hour
complaints from non-senior students, viewing new programs to be incorporated
into the school such as Lift America, as well as having to release a
teacher, or remove a student from school.
The construction projects that are on their way to being completed include
the pool, the new track and football stadium and the 23-classroom building.
Raupp states he hopes to have the pool project completed by this fall
semester so that there will be an opportunity for students to join a
swimming program.
Raupp explained that the construction on the track program is presenting
challenges. They were holding off all major construction until after
the soccer season, which ended in late February. The construction schedule
for the track has to also accommodate the track and football seasons,
as well as the graduation ceremony dates. Raupp says the goal is to
start on the evacuation on the track, complete the field drainage process,
take out and replace the old press box and concession stand, and lay
in an 8-12 inch road base, all before graduation this spring. Then,
the all weather surface made of recycled tires will be put in.
The greatest problem concerning this is that according to the grant
YHS received in order to install the multi purpose track, it has to
be completed by April of 2005. Raupp says the weather may make it a
problem to obtain the goals he has set and because of this, next year's
early football games may have to be scheduled on the road.
The 23-classroom building is “a plus,” says Raupp. It will
standard sized, 900 square feet, classrooms, yet four will be oversized.
Some classes currently being held in portable buildings will be moved
into the permanent classrooms. Some of the portables will be returned
to the state under a lease agreement and others will be available for
other uses.
When a student had asked Raupp what his opinions and views were on No
Child Left Behind, the principal stated, “I think the goal of
the present education initiative is good.” NCLB is formatted on
a 13-year timeline. President George W. Bush created the legislation
in 2002 with a target goal of completion in 2013. The goal to achieve
is to have all students testing at or above the proficiency level, says
Raupp. There is also pre-targets already made for schools to meet.
Commenting on the size of the campus, Raupp said that he had spoken
to a woman who was a principal in Los Angeles. She said she has 5,000
students who attend her school, yet the campus consists of only 17 acres.
The YHS campus consists of 100 acres with only 1,100 students attending.
YHS is looking into a grant called Lift America, says Raupp. The grant
will supply $250,000 worth of high-tech exercise equipment to the school.
The physical education teachers have been looking into this and they
feel the program is great, commented Raupp.
With all these things Raupp has to consider, ponder and pursue, most
students don't realize the fact that high school principals have very
complicated, challenging and stressful jobs. These are just a few of
the challenging aspects Raupp has to face everyday. Despite all the
pressure Raupp faces, it's a good thing to know he doesn't consider
his job “work.”
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