Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Board of Education unanimously approved more than $5 million in construction costs at its May 29 meeting for the nearly $7 million modernization project at the old Burnett Elementary School site on Tilton Avenue in northwest Morgan Hill.
The former elementary school campus is currently being renovated with funds from the $198 million voter-approved Measure G bond and converted into the new home for Central Continuation High School.
The list of approved lowest responsible bids, totaling $5,181,941, are:
-$86,244 to Pinguelo Construction for window replacement
-$325,600 to Southwest Hazard Control for abatement and demolition
-$1,199,607 to Ciari Plumbing & Heating for mechanical and plumbing
-$1,426,370 to Cupertino Electric for electrical work
-$1,596,400 to Calstate Construction for general construction
-$270,000 to DRYCO Construction for parking lot demolition and construction
-$277,720 to Petersen Dean Commercial for roofing
The Board also unanimously approved the hiring of McKim Design Group as the construction manager for the phase 1 Burnett modernization at a $216,112 price tag.
Interim Superintendent’s contract approved
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Steven Betando’s one-year contract to serve as MHUSD’s interim superintendent from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 was approved by the Board on Tuesday as well.
Betando’s annual salary will be $192,000 with a single annual stipend of $2,500 for holding an M.A. and/or an Ed.D. degree. Betando will replace departing Superintendent Wes Smith, who served in the role for 3.5 years before accepting an offer April 20 to serve as the Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators effective July 1.
LOHS wrestlers, parents want coaches back next season
Wearing white “Save Live Oak Wrestling” t-shirts and carrying small banners that stated, “Save Our Coaches Fernandez and Gonzalez,” current and past student-athletes from the Live Oak High School wrestling team were out in full force for Tuesday’s meeting.
The mission of the two dozen LOHS wrestling supporters was to persuade the Board and MHUSD administration to override LOHS principal Lloyd Webb’s decision to not renew the seasonal contract of nine-year coach Robert Fernandez and allow him, as well as assistant Armando Gonzalez, back for the 2013-14 season.
While LOHS principal Lloyd Webb refused to go into detail as to why Fernandez’s contract was not renewed, the wrestling program was put on a two-year probation by the Central Coast Section for a practice violation.
Under Fernandez, the Acorns won four straight league dual meet titles, as well as claiming the school’s first ever team tournament championship. He also produced three state wrestling champions from LOHS.
“I owe it to these coaches, Robert and Armando, for getting me to this point I’m at today,” said 2012 LOHS grad Amy Fernside, a CIF state champion and four-time All-American. “I worry for my younger teammates who might not get the opportunity to wrestle in college without the help of these amazing coaches.”
Approximately $1.5 million in Tier III categorical funds returned to general fund
The Board unanimously voted to recapture $1,548,110 million in funds, originally designated by the state for programs such as Adult Education, Gifted and Talented Education, Supplemental School Counseling and Remedial Supplemental Instruction among others, to the district’s general fund.
Of the list of 20 Tier III funded programs, totaling $4,033, 207 in available funds, nine were closed, five had funding reduced and six remained active.
The $1.5 million can now be used for “any educational purpose.”
“My opinion is that each of you should vote for the district to use the money for purposes designated by the state, especially those funds that will directly impact our high risk students,” urged Armando Benavidesl, an attorney and PACT member.
However, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Kirsten Perez reminded the Board that most of those help services are provided and funded in other ways by the district.
