A forum on the Borello Elementary School property, a presentation by City of Morgan Hill staff on its Below Market Rate Housing Program, a Measure G quarterly report and Charter School of Morgan Hill’s annual update are all on the Oct. 4 docket for Morgan Hill Unified School District’s board of education meeting.
The public forum on the district’s future elementary school site, which is located on Peet Road at Mission Avenida in northeast Morgan Hill, comes on the heels of two previous discussions regarding the proposed soil contamination cleanup plan for that property.
The item was submitted by community member Melissa Hartley and Board President Gino Borgioli, according to the Oct. 4 agenda posted on the district website, mhusd.org.
School officials, state environmental experts and other consultants have been assessing the 10-acre parcel of former farmland to find the best remedy to remove harmful toxins in the soil.
At the Sept. 20 meeting, district leadership insisted that off-hauling 38,000 tons of soil from the location was the most effective process and staff submitted that plan to the Department of Toxic Substances Control for its approval. The state has 30 days to review the submitted plans.
The forum will allow for more community feedback, after some residents expressed their concerns with the effectiveness of the site cleanup and the dangers it poses to neighbors during the process and to the future elementary school students.
A petition, titled “Stop the proposed site (Borello Property) on Toxic Land,” was started by “Non-toxic Morgan Hill” on change.org and has 64 supporters as of Oct. 3.
The board is not expected to take any action on the issue Tuesday night.
Following that discussion, city staff is scheduled to give an overview on its BMR program, which “provides an affordable home ownership option for working and middle income families,” according to the agenda item. BMR homes are owner occupied by first-time home buyers with specific income guidelines based on household size. For example, a family of four can make up to $128,500 to qualify.
As part of the $198 million capital improvements bond update, “staff is requesting approval of allocation of Measure G Series A Bond program contingency to fund the multi-use building and administration building at Paradise Valley Elementary School,” according to the agenda item. Casino Fajardo, the Director of Construction and Modernization, and Kirsten Perez, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, will handle those details and answer questions.
The CSMH annual update will then be presented by Executive Director Paige Cisewski, Principal Susan Pfefferlen and other staff. “Highlights will include the special education program and community outreach,” according to the Oct. 4 agenda.
Consent calendar
Items listed under consent are considered routine and are approved in one vote by the school board unless otherwise requested by a trustee or member of the public.
The Oct. 4 agenda includes:
• $10,000 contract (Routine Restricted Maintenance Fund) with Weston Miles “to assist in the structural repairs to the old Machado School House,” according to the item;
• Appointment of Kristen Schoepe to the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee;
• Authorize $320,000 in contracts (Routine Restricted Maintenance Fund) to lowest bids for Live Oak High School Roof Replacement;
• Authorize $326,000 in contract (One-time discretionary funds) for the “conversion of the existing multi-purpose room into classrooms at the Charter School of Morgan Hill,” according to that item; and
• $80,945 contract for special education services for 2016-17 for one student at the Morgan Autism Center.
