The newest toy tends to get people excited. That is what’s happening at San Benito High School in Hollister, where two successful bond measures and a host of hard work have the community — and more importantly the students — excited beyond expectations. In 2014, Hollister voters passed Measure G, which modernized classrooms, upgraded HVAC units and technology platforms, and led to the construction of a new Career Technical Education building at San Benito High, among nine total goals.  San Benito High School District Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum and his team put a focus on maximizing the school experience, being environmentally conscious, and managing expectations for the students, teachers and the community. “The board of trustees was instrumental in drafting a facilities master plan that had both short- and long-term goals,” he said. “As we began to materialize our projects, we tried not to bite off too much so we could maintain a learning environment for the students and a working environment for our teachers and staff.” In 2016, another bond, Measure U, passed. Among the six proposed projects in this bond is the most visual piece of San Benito’s leap into the future of on-campus athletic facilities: a new Haybalers aquatics complex, softball field and stadium.  The new stadium with a multi-purpose field will be home to the football, soccer and field hockey teams. It will also be used by every physical education class at the school.  It’s a far cry from what the Haybalers athletic facilities used to be like. “When we used to play on the grass field, to be honest, other schools would joke that they were coming to the mud pit,” said Becky Bonner-Leland, San Benito’s varsity girls soccer coach. Senior Iana Arreola plays on the varsity girls soccer team and says the previous fields were overused and in rough shape. “The ground was uneven and there were lumps and potholes,” she said. “I think people are going to be surprised because coming from lumps in the field to this is quite different.” Tennenbaum says the projects associated with Measure G launched a rapid culture change at San Benito that benefited all corners of the school. “We noticed the attendance rate going up and academic achievement was improving, and we were seeing more on-campus collaboration,” he said. “I think our students realized we were placing a value on the facilities and environment, and they would go out of their way to thank people for what they now have.” Junior varsity football coach Brian DeCarli believes the athletic facilities are much bigger than just a couple of new fields and a new pool. “This is the one high school in the county — the school where mom and dad went and brothers and sisters went to,” he said. “Everyone that is here is from here, and opening these types of facilities is different because the community understands it’s for them.” San Benito is steeped in tradition. You can see that in photos that line the corridors and hang in offices and classrooms. Tradition means a lot in Hollister and Tennenbaum believes the Haybalers alumni will be proud of what they see. “They are going to say, ‘Wow, you’ve done so much to improve the opportunities for today’s students,’” he said. “But we wanted to hold the value and traditions at San Benito High School and I think these projects and all future projects will have that same goal in mind.”