The Morgan Hill Board of Education took the only reasonable step
it could regarding Machado Elementary when it voted to
“temporarily suspend operations” at the school for the next
year.
The Morgan Hill Board of Education took the only reasonable step it could regarding Machado Elementary when it voted to “temporarily suspend operations” at the school for the next year. The current fiscal drought was the initial reason for the school to be on the chopping block; once the well pump failure led to an actual drought, then to the discovery of myriad problems with the building and the site, the responsibility of the board became clear.
The school had to be closed – temporarily – to address all the issues. Although a generous donation by Guardino Well Drilling, Jet Electric and Associated Concrete brought a water system back to the school, there are still pipes at the site made from copper with lead solder that need replacing. There is evidence of dry rot and termites in the classroom building, and the roof leaks. In short, water is not the only problem at Machado.
The Machado community, including the Machado Heritage Society, lobbied trustees to keep open the oldest school in the district. One of the parents even suggested the wording the board should use if it found it could not keep the school open next year – “temporary suspension of operations,” Susan Gabbard suggested, noting that parents, the society, the whole Machado community were not ready to accept a more permanent closure.
The board adopted her suggested language. And the trustees – one of whom is the father of potential Machado students – seem to have adopted also the determination to bring back this unique educational experience to the district.
But they need to stay on top of it. It is unlikely that the 2004-2005 budget will be less penurious than next year’s, and there could be a temptation to “suspend operations” yet again.
There is hope for Machado, however. The school is eligible for approximately $113,000 in renovation money from the state; it must be matched by School District funds in an 80/20 match and used only to renovate Machado, or the money reverts back to the state.
District staff has found $30,000 in a capital facilities fund that could be used for the $28,416 required from the district. Plans for the renovation were drawn up in order to qualify for the state funding. A construction contract must be awarded by June 18, 2004, for the district to receive the state’s share.
Trustees need to keep their eyes on the situation, remain committed, and the Machado community needs to help them do that by not relaxing their vigilance.
