At first blush, it seems there are many reasons for concern
about the prospects of Eliot Elementary School being razed and
rebuilt in time for its planned August 2005 opening
– just 19 short months from now.
At first blush, it seems there are many reasons for concern about the prospects of Eliot Elementary School being razed and rebuilt in time for its planned August 2005 opening – just 19 short months from now.
Observers – including Eliot staff and parents and those at Ascension Solorsano Middle School, which currently houses Eliot students – have expressed concern that the empty school building hasn’t yet been demolished, even though the school was closed last June.
Given the potential for problems to creep up – higher-than-expected contractor bids, construction delays due to inclement weather, slow or withheld plan approval from the state, to name just a few, the sight of the still-empty school at 470 Seventh St. is disconcerting.
Because Solorsano Middle School is adding a grade each school year, if Eliot Elementary is not finished on time, Solorsano won’t have room to house both Eliot’s students and three grades in August 2005.
Gilroy Unified School District officials have assured the community that plans are proceeding according to schedule and promises that the two-story, $10-million new Eliot School will open in time for the start of the 2005-06 school year. District officials say the demolition of the old building will occur quickly and construction was always planned to start in spring of this year. They also say they have two to three months of wiggle room built into the construction schedule.
Given that the GUSD has an excellent track record of opening schools on time – Solorsano being the most recent example of that – we urge the community to trust that the district will do the same with Eliot’s demolition and construction.
At the same time, we offer a word of caution: The community’s trust is precious and that it shouldn’t squander it with a late finish for Eliot School.
The children and parents at the city’s only eastside elementary school are currently burdened with long bus rides and a school that’s across town.
Given the repercussions falling behind schedule could have for middle school students, we hope Charlie Van Meter, GUSD’s facilities director, Superintendent Edwin Diaz and the entire school board will keep a close eye and a tight rein on the construction process.
Although it seems to be in the distant future now, August 2005 will be here before we know it. Eliot School needs to be ready when it arrives.
