SONIA FERNANDEZ, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
May 15, 2011 7:03 AM
The weather was cold but the atmosphere warm at the QAD campus Saturday evening as movers and shakers of Santa Barbara's education scene got together to honor two of their own.
Dr. Virgil Elings, philanthropist, and Dr. J. Brian Sarvis, outgoing superintendent of Santa Barbara School Districts, each received the 2011 Hope Award from the Santa Barbara Education Foundation.
"We couldn't honor two better people in a better way," said Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara.
Nothing is more important than providing a good education, said Mrs. Capps, who was herself once a school nurse.
The evening, emceed by 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal, started out with mixing and mingling, with entertainment provided by Dos Pueblos High School's robotics team. Team members demonstrated their latest robotic creation developed for this year's FIRST Robotics Challenge, an international robotics competition.
Another stellar Santa Barbara School Districts product, the San Marcos High School Madrigals, also came to wow the crowd.
Of the many things that could have described the state of California public school education, the scarcity of funding seems to have been the most prevalent on the minds of those who follow local education.
State funding cuts to public schools, part of an attempt to close the state's budget deficit, have resulted in larger class sizes, teacher layoffs and reduction of funding for school programs.
In the Santa Barbara area, much of the need for funding that maintains the quality in local public education comes from the community, including such organizations as the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, which once a year turns its attention to individuals and organizations who strive to improve the state of local education.
Dr. Elings was recognized for his support of Dos Pueblos in the form of state-of-the-art facilities, including its aquatic center and its new performing arts center, as well as soon-to-be facilities for the growing Engineering Academy.
"I can't tell you how much you helped to help me change Dos Pueblos," Amir Abo-Shaeer, director of the DP Engineering Academy, said to Dr. Elings.
Dr. Elings downplayed his efforts somewhat, saying that it was his way of giving back to the community.
A former UCSB physics professor turned businessman and currently a rancher and lavender farmer, Dr. Elings also has supported UCSB and gave the community park that was renamed Elings Park to Santa Barbara County.
"Santa Barbara has done a lot for me. ... What I try to do is not make things happen, but let things happen," he said.
Dr. Sarvis was lauded for his efforts to keep the Santa Barbara School Districts' education moving along, despite serious funding cuts, one of the worst economies California has encountered, and with aging facilities.
"In a profession whose hallmark is caring about others, no other person has exemplified this more than Brian Sarvis," said Craig Price, former trustee for the Montecito School District.
Dr. Sarvis was credited for his efforts at raising funds through bonds to rehabilitate and update school facilities, as well as for creating partnerships within the community to maintain and improve public school education.
"There's nothing richer in my life than raising children," said Dr. Sarvis, who has six children and 13 grandchildren.
Dr. Sarvis, who joined SBSD in 2001 and became superintendent in 2004, recently announced his retirement.
"I'm not worried about the school district. They'll find a great superintendent," said Dr. Sarvis, looking forward to the next phase in his life.
"My head is full of adventures. I've got books I need to write."
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