GILROY
– San Ysidro was the county’s oldest school when the district
closed it two years ago among growing concern over busy traffic on
Pacheco Pass Highway.
By Lori Stuenkel
GILROY – San Ysidro was the county’s oldest school when the district closed it two years ago among growing concern over busy traffic on Pacheco Pass Highway.
Now, it looks like the historic site may once again house students.
The year-old Anchorpoint Christian High School of Gilroy is currently the sole bidder for the 8.3-acre campus.
If the small school remains the highest bidder at the end of today, the school board will be asked to approve the sale at its next regular meeting Aug. 5.
“If we’re successful in acquiring the property, we would like to start school there this fall,” said Steve White, Anchorpoint board member. “We’re just hoping for a successful bid, but at this point we really don’t know.”
Gilroy Unified School District’s Board of Trustees declared the San Ysidro campus surplus land this spring, a necessary step prior to selling it. The district has been performing basic maintenance on the campus since the students and staff moved out.
The board issued the required 60-day notice to public agencies, such as the city and county, of its intent to sell the site.
“If none of the 15 public agencies express a firm interest and we don’t receive other bids from the advertisement, … then we’re free to go ahead and make a deal with this private academy,” said Steve Brinkman, assistant superintendent of administrative services.
When the district sells land, it can use the money for facilities-related improvements, such as purchasing land and paying for upgrades.
“If they are the high bidder, I assume we would approve that they would get to buy it,” Trustee Jim Rogers said. “It probably would fit for their plans, as far as it’s a small school.”
When San Ysidro closed in 2002, it was the district’s smallest school, with slightly more than 200 students.
Anchorpoint opened last fall with about 30 students, mostly freshmen, holding classes in space rented from South Valley Community Church in Gilroy. If the school is able to purchase San Ysidro, White said he would like to see it open this fall with 75 students.
“Clearly, our size is being restricted by the space that we had, and so we’re looking just for larger quarters,” White said. “We would be delighted if we’re successful in acquiring the site. It certainly is a very unique property, being in the country and being alongside a very busy thoroughfare, but it has the space that we need to grow.”
It is precisely that location at 2220 Pacheco Pass Highway that prompted Gilroy Unified School District to move elementary students to other campuses in the city and away from increasing traffic on the windy, two-lane road.
“I still have the same worries, whether they’re public school kids or private school kids, one of the reasons we closed it was because there was a lot of traffic,” Rogers said. “I worry about it as a citizen of Gilroy, but maybe they can work on it.”
“We’re actually talking about ways to really minimize any danger,” White said. “We’re looking at different ways to enter and exit and, for example, we’re thinking of having a right-turn entrance and right exit. We’re actually talking about ways to really minimize any danger and of course, if we’re fortunate enough to be able to purchase the property, we would have teachers or administrators out there when kids come and go to make sure that they’re turning properly.”
San Ysidro first opened its doors in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln was in the White House and California celebrated its 13th year of statehood. It operated continuously for 139 years. The historic campus bears this city’s former name and contains a 150-year-old sycamore tree under which a Native American maiden is rumored to be buried.
“If they are the high bidder and are successful, frankly, I’m happy to see it stay a school,” Rogers said.
White agreed, saying Anchorpoint’s founder, longtime Gilroyan Stephen Malone Sr., 92, would be thrilled.
“We would hope the community would be excited about this site, which is a historic site, continue as a school in this community,” White said.
