Dear Editor:
The location choice for the new high school has been described
by those involved in Gilroy planning as
”
one of the most important land use decisions that will be made
in Gilroy for years to come.
”
Dear Editor:
The location choice for the new high school has been described by those involved in Gilroy planning as “one of the most important land use decisions that will be made in Gilroy for years to come.”
We have heard time and again from land use advocates, including the Citizens for Balanced Growth and the members of the General Plan Update Committee that the General Plan is the bible for land use and growth planning for the community … so why is the School Board not willing to work with that plan that calls for the new high school to be centrally located –just as did the recent school bond passed by the voters. Why is the School Board being rushed to choose the Day Road location?
The School Board has the opportunity to work with our city leaders and the community and consider the location decision jointly at the June 23 joint City Council-School Board workshop – and to benefit from the advice and counsel of the city who deals with land use planning and matters every day. So, why then has the School Board decided to make this decision on their own on June 19 just a few days before the already scheduled joint meeting? Are they snubbing the City Council because of the pressure that has been put on them by certain highly vocal members of the Board?
Could there be some benefit derived from making a less informed decision on June 19 instead of having a joint discussion on June 23? And if so … who would benefit? Is there some special deal to choose the Day Road location in order to “help” with the costs for the proposed church/school that is to go there? First it was a new housing project that would help with those costs then all of a sudden a front-page story in The Dispatch announced that the high school was going there after all previous discussions had focused on a north central option. What special deal was offered? Isn’t this the same process (and the same developers … ) that led to choosing to locate the new middle school down off of Santa Teresa where it has difficult access conditions? It wasn’t long ago that The Dispatch ran a front-page story about the traffic problems coming up on Santa Teresa in this area once the new middle school opens. Here we go again, only this time IT’S BIGGER!
I find it ironic that across the top of the GUSD meeting agenda reads their credo, “EXCELLENCE: THE PATH WORTH TAKING” when, in the meeting scheduled on May 28 to discuss the various sites being considered for the new high school with the public, all the board members seemed to agree that a more central location such as the Kern/Wren site would better serve all of Gilroy. However, in the interest of streamlining the process (dealing with a single property owner and a lower perceived cost per acre) the puppet masters, Bob Kraemer and Jim Rogers, made it clear that the Day Road site made the most sense. “Excellence: the path worth taking” really means only when it suits certain people.
I find it most disturbing that this most important land-use decision seems to be disintegrating into a battle of bruised egos. While the humor of pointing out a site in an industrial park may be a bit too subtle for many, the message is clear – the criteria for moving a site to the top of the list has to be more substantial than lower perceived initial cost, single owner and within the urban service area. The impact to the students and the city in terms of safety, convenience to get to and overall traffic impacts are of FAR greater consequence. In real estate it’s all about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. That should be THE factor in making the wisest decision for the new high school. The new high school should be located to serve ALL of the community.
While on the topic of the Day Road site Bob Kraemer said at the May 28 meeting: “An elementary school and a high school on the same road would be a disaster.” So why is that bad for the north central area, but GOOD for the Day Road location, Bob? I guess it’s OK when the two schools are located the farthest away from the center of the city, along a small country road …
Do Bob Kraemer, Jim Rogers and the rest of the School Board think the good people of Gilroy are so simple minded that they will forget come re-election time the School Board’s arrogance and inability to properly weigh the pros and cons of each potential site? Does the board think we will forget their unwillingness to look beyond the ease and favoritism of dealing with a single property owner instead of looking at the big picture that includes not only tangible costs like the THREE major road projects that the Day Road site will require, but the less obvious costs of dividing the city into the north and the south (new and the old, the haves and have-nots), the traffic nightmare that will be created on Santa Teresa, both at Sunrise Drive and Day Road and of course the safety of our children. What price can be put on the safety of our children? Will that be in the EIR, Bob, when it talks about how far they will have to walk, bike or drive to get to the new high school? Or is this school just to serve the northwest area?
Are they fairly and fully considering the three major road improvements that will be needed for the Silvera/Day Road site. Santa Teresa will have to be widened from Sunrise to north of Day, Day will have to be widened heading west from Santa Teresa and a new major signalized intersection at Santa Teresa and Day Road must be constructed not only to accommodate through traffic but major new turn lanes as well. This will be very expensive.
There is also the issue of the new road (the northerly extension of Ohlone Way) that has been approved as part of the development along the northern section of Sunrise Drive; this is only a two-lane residential street, and cannot be widened to serve as the secondary access road into the high school. Everyone who is familiar with the traffic problems around the current high school (can anyone say Johnson Way?) will quickly understand that history seems bent on repeating itself with this School Board. Just imagine all the traffic to and from the high school that will use this street. And since it crosses Sunrise Drive a lot of that traffic will probably follow it down to Saddle Drive and other neighborhoods. Anyone remember why the barrier was put up at Princevalle and 6th Street … to keep the high school kids from going up Princevalle and across 6th street and into that residential area … but here we go again … only it’s the northwest section of Gilroy that will experience these problems this time. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Gilroy residents are doomed to live with these mistakes made all over again … WHY?
WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!! The good folks of Gilroy will have an opportunity at the school board election next year to let the board members with such narrow vision know that their services are no longer required or desired.
But before then it’s not too late to stop this bad decision … PLEASE come to the school board meeting Thursday (June 19th) at 7 p.m. at the school board offices (7810 Arroyo Circle, next to Wal-Mart).
Come, listen and share your opinions. Let’s make sure the School Board understands that we are watching and that we will hold them accountable!
If the community lacks the resolve to pressure the School Board into doing the right thing, we will forever be able to cite no real reason for failure beyond our own unwillingness to get involved. Let’s get involved! Let’s STOP THE SPRAWL!!
Chris Messmer, Gilroy, Neighbors for Responsible Development
Submitted Thursday, June 12 to ed****@****ic.com
