Las Animas Elementary had barely reopened before southwest
Gilroy’s burgeoning student population outgrew the new school.
Las Animas Elementary had barely reopened before southwest Gilroy’s burgeoning student population outgrew the new school.
Addressing that need, Gilroy Unified School District trustees unanimously approved the addition of an eight-classroom wing to the campus, to open in March 2010, with the installation of up to three portables to cushion growth in the meantime. The two-story wing will cost $3.76 million – well over the $3 million building allowance trustees approved in January for a seven-classroom wing. Installing three portables will add an additional $60,000 onto the project, according to district documents.
After getting over the shock of tacking another classroom onto the new wing, trustees grudgingly approved the project, which had already been designed and approved by the necessary agencies. According to a letter from architect Peter Kasavan, the wing was upgraded from seven to eight classrooms because time constraints required the architect to use an already approved design of a two-story, 10-classroom wing as a base and make changes to suit the district’s needs. Eliminating two classrooms from the 10-classroom design was more efficient than eliminating three, Kasavan wrote.
“This would have complicated the redesign and created an eccentric structural condition that would have added design and calculation time as well as added costs to address this eccentricity,” Kasavan wrote.
Besides, Las Animas needs eight classrooms by 2013, the district reasoned. The project is “shovel ready,” explained Deputy Superintendent of Business Services Enrique Palacios, meaning that the district can break ground immediately.
“I wish it cost less,” said trustee Denise Apuzzo. “But if it costs what it says it will cost … I’ll be very happy. That will be a refreshing experience.”
In addition to eight classrooms, the 10,169-square foot wing includes student restrooms, but not staff restrooms or a work room.
Though Apuzzo approved the new wing, she and trustee Mark Good opposed the installation of portables on the campus to accommodate the school’s growth until the wing is complete, citing an inequity issue throughout the district.
“There are many other schools with many more serious needs,” Good said, reminding his fellow board members that the Las Animas improvements weren’t just taking the $60,000 for portables away from the other schools. The project’s amended price tag also came in $757,408 over the original approved budget.
“That’s $900,000 less of Measure P funds we have to spend on other school projects,” he estimated, referring to the $150 million facilities bond voters passed in November.
Puzzled as to why an increase of only 37 students next year warranted three portables, they approved “up to” three portables, which will come from Gilroy High School. Superintendent Deborah Flores explained that the numbers don’t always match up but that Las Animas Principal Silvia Reyes was adamant about needing three classrooms this upcoming school year.
“The parent community is very concerned about having a repeat of last year,” Flores said.
Last school year, Las Animas had to hold classes in the library and other non-classroom areas.
“I feel like we’re tripping over ourselves to make them very, very comfortable,” Apuzzo said of Las Animas. “I see the disparity in this district. If we’re going to spread the wealth, we need to spread the pain.”
