DEAR EDITOR:
The Gilroy school district is alarmingly close to finalizing a
decision that will threaten the safety of our students and
residents, introduce severe traffic problems, divide Gilroy along
socio-economic lines, and encourage urban sprawl akin to that seen
in San Jose or Los Angeles.
DEAR EDITOR:
The Gilroy school district is alarmingly close to finalizing a decision that will threaten the safety of our students and residents, introduce severe traffic problems, divide Gilroy along socio-economic lines, and encourage urban sprawl akin to that seen in San Jose or Los Angeles.
Unless enough public outcry is raised, the school board is poised to approve their favored location for a new high school on the far northwest outskirts of town. The board is currently eyeing the 66-acre corner lot which is west of Santa Teresa and south of Day Road.
Because it is bound by Santa Teresa on one side and housing on two other sides, this location will have only ONE access road into the school – Day Road West. What if an emergency situation were to occur on the school grounds? How fast could emergency crews get to the furthest edge of town, and onto this SINGLE access road into the school? If there were panic at the school and the thousands of students were to try and flee at the same time, the results would be tragic. The current high school has multiple lines of access and in all four directions, and is ALREADY a traffic nightmare.
The Day Road location is not in walking distance for most of the students. This means more cars and busses, and since VTA is suffering badly because of budget cuts, it primarily means more cars. The traffic is not just in the morning and afternoon hours either. Consider the sporting event traffic, parent club meetings, after-school events, and weekend school events. Schools generate a LOT of traffic, around the clock.
Day Road west is already a dangerous road as it is. It meanders through rolling hills, with sections of long straights, and just beckons inexperienced drivers to push the limits of their abilities. The incidents of speeding and fatal accidents along this road will likely skyrocket with the influx of hundreds of student drivers looking for a cheap thrill or a fast exit away from the school, especially given the backlog of traffic that is bound to occur on Santa Teresa.
If the new high school is placed in the northwest edge of town, what happens to the bulk of the current student population in the south end of Gilroy? Are they all relegated to the old, possibly “second-rate” high school? Does it make sense to divide the student population in this manner? A more central location for the school would better serve the ENTIRE community, not just those on the northwest end of town.
Furthermore, schools are always a catalyst for nearby businesses. The introduction of a school on the outskirts of town will inevitably mean increased development of both businesses and housing in the far reaches as well. This is perfect recipe for urban sprawl and puts Gilroy on the fast track to looking like just another San Jose or L.A.
There are many more reasonable locations for the new high school. If the high school were to be built adjacent to the proposed Gilroy Sports Park, both the school and the sports facility could realize a huge cost savings by sharing the cost of the construction and maintenance of the playing fields. This would have the added benefit of allowing the school to earmark a larger percentage of their budget for teachers and educational supplies.
Another possibility is within the huge 660-acre parcel recently acquired by the city east of the outlets. Originally slated for high-tech companies, it will most likely remain sorely underutilized for many years to come given the current economic conditions. This location has EXCELLENT access with four- to six-lane roads in both east/west and north/south directions, is ideally situated to serve both the northern and southern areas of Gilroy, and provides convenient access to local businesses.
The north end of town is not ideal, but even there better choices are available. Rancho 101, which borders Monterey Highway and Day Road east, is a good candidate. Monterey Highway is currently an underutilized, four-lane highway, and would provide excellent access to the high school.
We owe it to our children and future generations to make the right decision now, for the long-term benefit of the ALL of Gilroy. Although choosing the right site for the high school may require a greater effort in the short term, we will all be the better off for it.
Ron Marianetti, Gilroy
Thursday, May 15 to ed****@****ic.com
