GILROY—The start of the school year marked the end of several major projects within the Gilroy Unified School District.
At the Aug. 21 meeting, the GUSD Board of Education discussed the seven construction projects which have been completed or are nearing completion, including Rucker Elementary School which underwent a massive overhaul over the past three years.
School board trustees also heard from Director of Student Services, Barbara Brown, who presented a progress update on the priorities and recommendations on the Special Education Opportunity Report which explores ways to reduce encroachment on GUSD’s general fund. Discussions about the impending labor negotiations were also held in closed session.
Completing projects
The renovation of Rucker Elementary School has wrapped up, completing three years of work. The project—which cost nearly $11 million—included a remodel of the main building that houses administration, a new library and staff work area. A new multipurpose room was built on campus as well as accompanying parking lot. A new kindergarten drop-off area was also added a couple years ago in addition to a new playground, yard and fencing.
“(We) completely modernized that campus,” GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores said. “It’s probably the nicest elementary MPR I’ve ever seen.”
Construction of the Gilroy Early College Academy (GECA), located at Gavilan College, is nearing completion. The GUSD essentially built a campus within a campus for GECA, using new and existing portables. The district is waiting on one final building to arrive to complete the campus which is expected in November.
The pathways around the Gilroy High campus received a facelift over the summer; the school also received new concrete and blacktop work. The bathrooms inside the gym have also been completely remodeled. It’s the second project completed in this building since the gym floor was replaced last summer.
The GUSD now has its sights fixed on renovating Gilroy High’s theater building, which has been completely gutted. The theater will receive new seats, curtains, sound and lighting systems, paint and flooring as well as its own entrance with lighting from the parking lot. Construction of the theater is expected to finish in October.
Glen View Elementary’s front main building—which housed administration, a computer lab and eight classrooms—is completely under construction. The GUSD is also in the process of adding a new kindergarten area—which will include classrooms—and several other buildings on campus. The districts anticipates completion of this project by December.
The renovations to the sidewalks at South Valley Middle School are now complete. The GUSD is currently working on improving the sidewalk around the campus.
Stadium updates
The home side bleachers at Gilroy High are open after being condemned more than a year ago. The GUSD went through an extensive review process with the Department of State Architecture before work on repairing the bleachers—which were deemed “not structurally sound” by San Jose-based Duquette Engineering in May 2013—could begin. Crews from San Luis Obispo-based PMSM Architects have spent the summer replacing the stairs on the bleachers, making it handicap accessible and adding support systems to the seating to ensure safety.
The board discussed moving up Gilroy High’s turf replacement date to next summer as the field is nearing the end of it’s 10-year life span. The turf was used by CHS, GHS and Gavilan football teams as well as other local private teams. Similarly, the board is exploring the possibility of replacing the track at the high school at the same time as the turf as it’s nearing the end of it’s 12- to 15-year life span. Both projects are expected to be completed in the next two summers, if not sooner.
Across town, the Don Christopher Sports Complex at Christopher High is nearing completion. The field, goal posts, scoreboard as well as the shot put and discuss rings have all been installed, but the bleachers and track are still in the works. Flores said the bleachers are going up now and will be completed in time for Christopher’s first game on Sept. 5 against Sobrato. The track will be installed after the bleachers and is expected to be finished in the next couple months. A grand opening celebration will be held at 7 p.m. before the Cougars take on the Bulldogs.
Update on Special Education Opportunity Report
Brown presented a progress update toward the 1st Round Priorities and Recommendations for the Special Education Opportunity Report by Rancho Cordova-based group School Innovations & Advocacy. The report reviews the entire special education program in an effort to reduce the encroachment costs on GUSD’s general fund. Flores said only 40 percent of the program’s costs are covered by state and federal funding and that last year, costs increased by $1 million.
The update touched on the progress of the group’s recommendation to hire one and a half full-time equivalent school psychologists, six speech and language therapists, three occupational therapists, two four-hour/day licensed vocational nurses/registered nurses as well as train 20 new behavioral support assistants and current health paraprofessionals—among other things—which could potentially save GUSD $517,600 by the end of next year.
Currently, two-and-a-half speech therapists have been hired, while three contracting for four occupational therapists is in the works as is a draft of district guidelines for them. Contracting with an agency for three LVNs is also underway.
“We’re trying to be very fiscally responsible, yet at the same time provide the services that are needed for our special education students,” Flores said.
Labor negotiations
Flores and the board had a conference with labor negotiators and legal counsel during closed session to develop a strategy for negotiations with the Gilroy Teachers Association on Sept. 9. The California School Employees Association, Gilroy Federation of Teachers & Paraprofessionals and GUSD Management Group will also meet for negotiations.
Flores said most of the articles in the contract are open for negotiation and the district hopes to move as quickly as it can to reach an agreement. Both parties are interested in a salary increase, Flores said. GTA was given a 4.5 percent salary increase last year.
The next GUSD meeting will be held Sept. 4 and will include several major budget reports.
