Capritto wants to keep students in their seats

Zac Estrada Rosales
News Editor
Dr. Mark Capritto finds a lot to like at Santa Barbara High. So much in fact that he’s fully prepared to do what it takes to make SBHS even better. But the changes he’s enacted since he took the job earlier in the summer are already making waves in some circles.
Capritto replaces Paul Turnbull as SBHS’ principal. Coming from Calabasas High School where he served as an assistant principal, Capritto saw a lot to like in the students as they sat in their new classes on the first day of school. “The students are great,” he said. “I’m impressed with the manner in which they get started and get to class.”
He was equally impressed with the versatility of teachers and their ability to teach a variety of academic levels, from freshmen College Prep classes to AP sections. Capritto said that was uncommon in a number of other schools he had seen.
But Capritto wants to see improvements in SBHS and its students. “My goal is to look at the achievement gap and close it,” he said. “We have a pretty large gap between students.” In addition, he is seeking an increase in the school’s API score, based on standardized test results.
And to close that gap and increase the index score, Capritto is proposing changes that will force students into their seats. For him, it comes down to attendance. “We have a strong need to get our students to class,” he said. “A student won’t do well if they’re not in school every day.”
“If you can’t stay in class you can’t stay in school.” That’s Capritto’s belief when it comes to making the push for students to stay in class.
To do so, he’s proposing some sweeping changes not only for SBHS, but for the entire school district. Students who consistently skip out on class will ultimately be dropped from the class. No ifs, ands, or buts. “Interestingly enough it works,” said Capritto. He said students are looking for parameters and SBHS needs to make those boundaries a lot harder to cross.
In the short term however, Capritto has already signed detention and in-house suspension to the history books. He saw them as the most ineffective ways at discipline. “It was the 2007 version of ‘The Breakfast Club’,” he said, referring to students in the cafeteria during in-house suspension and lunch detention.
Instead, Capritto is looking to get delinquent students to beautify the campus on their own time instead of the school’s. Dons with discipline issues may be sent to pick up trash outside of class time. And in addition to Saturday School, the principal is looking to get the funding and a go-ahead to start a Saturday work program.
Seniors in particular will feel the heat from the tougher truancy policies. Capritto says every student must have a clean record to participate in senior activities, including the graduation ceremony. And he’s not holding back in threatening senior privileges. “There’s enough of a pride factor in this community to graduate from Santa Barbara High, that if it happens too late it’s very disappointing,”
Capritto said. “The tradition and culture of graduating from Santa Barbara High in this community is very strong. It’s the strongest I’ve ever seen.”
Nevertheless, Capritto acknowledges SBHS’ strong points, particularly its academies and ability for students to find a niche they’re comfortable with. He considers programs offered by MAD, VADA, and APPLe to be greater than what is offered in other schools of similar structure to SBHS. “The resources students are able to take advantage of is incredible,” he said.
Dr. Capritto doesn’t want to scare off students though. In his weeks as principal he’s learning what some Dons think of administration. “Students view administration as ogres and disciplinary figures,” he said. “We have to change that. We have to flatten the playing field and say we’re here to help them.”