Ever helpful Mater Dei custodian Victor Bautista was surprised with the new car he received as a special thanks for his more than two decades of mopping up messes, moving desks from here to there and generally contributing to an orderly campus.
The surprise gift came when English teacher Jill Cavotta beckoned Bautista onto a stage in the school’s courtyard and presented him car keys, according to an article in the Orange County Register.
Bautista, 55, has worked at the Catholic school since 2006. From the start, he won the hearts of staff, students and parents with his energy and positive attitude, the Register reported.
“His motto is: ‘No problems, only solutions,’” senior Tommy Brown, 18, told the newspaper. The new car’s license plate holder features the phrase.
Here are other news stories from across the region for the week ending March 9.
- Local law enforcement, OCDE and other agencies met this week at Canyon High in Anaheim Hills to offer information to parents and community members of how Orange County is responding to the recent rash of mass shootings in schools.
- This Sunday marks the 129th anniversary of Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education. The California Legislature divided Los Angeles County and created the County of Orange as a separate political entity.
- High school students interested in careers in the video game industry visited Blizzard Entertainment for valuable insight on gaining employment in the company.
- Excited students from Veeh Elementary in Tustin Unified were entertained by a cast of Cat in the Hat characters played by Tustin-Santa Ana Rotary Club members and treated to classic stories by Dr. Seuss on Read Across America Day.
- Newport-Mesa Unified board members met privately to review district goals, according to district officials, who dispelled rumors that the superintendent’s salary was on the closed-session agenda.
- Inside the Outdoors, OCDE’s popular environmental education program, has netted a grant of $946,558 to present standards-based lessons on the science of solid waste to nearly a million Orange County students.
- The Huntington Beach Union High School District unveiled a new compressed natural gas station that can refuel up to 30 school buses overnight and fast-fill buses that require immediate fueling.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking newsroom.ocde.us, subscribing for emailed updates or following us on the big three social media platforms.