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Gavilan College Trustee Tony Ruiz is concerned San Benito County isn't getting its share of funding from the $108 million dollar bond meant to improve college facilities and secure land for satellite campuses in Coyote Valley and San Benito County. “They buy land to put a community college outside the city limit, across from a golf resort?” said Ruiz, who accused the college of running out of money to purchase good land. “It doesn't make any sense.”Ruiz, who represents San Benito County on the Gavilan board, is referring to the plot of land called Fairview Corners north of Highway 25 near the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club that the college purchased with Measure E funds several years ago. The school also purchased a piece of property in Coyote Valley.Trustees approved the purchase of Coyote Valley property for $21,124,060 – more than twice what had been allocated in the original master plan. In San Benito County, they spent $9,838,755 – roughly $2.9 million less than was outlined in the same plan.“The price difference is because land is quite a bit more expensive in San Jose,” said Steven Kinsella, Gavilan College's superintendent and president.The goal for both sites during the land acquisition process was the same: Get 80 acres – which is considered a full-size college campus by the state – in both areas, said Kinsella.The end result was not quite what had been envisioned originally. The school brought home 55 acres in Coyote Valley for a sum that was millions of dollars higher than originally anticipated and a full 80 acres outside the city limits of Hollister in a rural area where Ruiz worries students will need a car to get to class.“Before we did any of this, we had no idea what it would cost to get property in Santa Clara County,” said Trustee Tom Breen, who also represents San Benito County, as he reflected on the difference between what the college expected to spend and what it actually spent. “That was the best estimate at the time.”Ruiz is concerned the new 80-acre site is located on the opposite side of town from Hollister's lowest income residents and that students from this part of town would be the least likely to be able to afford the car they need to get to class.“The luxury of having a car that I grew up with in the 50s is not a luxury any more that many young people can achieve,” Ruiz said. “In today's world, you are really penalizing the poor when you put facilities that are only auto-dependent.”While Gavilan purchased the properties several years ago, the topic is emerging again because this year marks the period in which all bond projects must be completed or at least started.Gavilan College serves southern Santa Clara County – including Gilroy, San Martin and Morgan Hill – plus all of San Benito County, according to the General Information page of the college's Tentative Budget for the Fiscal Year of 2014-15. San Benito County typically has higher unemployment and lower income as compared with other parts of the Gavilan College service area, according to the same document.“I ran (for trustee) primarily because of my concern on this one issue and I felt that the poor students on the bottom half of the economic ladder would not be considered in terms of their cost,” Ruiz said.Before purchasing the San Benito County property, school board trustees assessed 18 sites over about three years, rejecting properties because they did not meet state guidelines or it was a struggle to find two sites that had 80 acres all in one place, Kinsella said.“It didn't happen overnight,” Kinsella said. “Some people aren't happy and I'm sorry they're not, but I can't help that.”Kinsella pointed to strict state requirements and added that the cost and the size of the property also factored into purchasing decisions.Ruiz had hoped the site of the future San Benito County campus would be within walking distance from downtown Hollister. He is part of a Hollister Independent New Urban Research Center group, which looks closely at city growth across the nation. “Everywhere we look, we see that they're building community colleges in places where there's access to transportation, where students can ride their bikes, where they can walk,” Ruiz said.For now, the college has purchased the properties, but construction is delayed pending the mitigation of some environmental issues at both sites, Kinsella said. The bond also did not set aside money for construction at the satellite sites, meaning the college will have to find another source of funding for its new campuses.“The money that we had from the bond wasn't to do anything more than buy the land,” Kinsella said.A Citizens' Oversight Committee made up of community members, businessmen, students and taxpayers is charged with ensuring that revenue from Measure E is spent as promised in the language of the bond. The committee’s next meeting will include an update on Measure E activities and will be held at 6 p.m. Monday June 23 in the Student Center at Gavilan College.

After being named Morgan Hill Unified School District’s 2014 Teacher of the Year during the May 27 school board meeting, Britton Middle School’s Vincent Gutierrez will be honored—along with top educators from local districts throughout the county—at the 45th annual Teacher Recognition Ceremony.

After 35 years in education, including 21 years in the Morgan Hill Unified School District and the last 10 years at Central High School, Principal Irene Macias-Morriss is ready to “decompress.”

There will be a brand new Britton Middle School campus by the fall of 2018, as the school district’s Board of Education approved an initial $750,000 allocation of bond money for architectural design fees for the project.

Fourteen students made up the Silicon Valley Flex Academy’s Class of 2014 as the group received their high school diplomas during a June 5 ceremony at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.The students represented the third graduating class for Morgan Hill-based Silicon Valley Flex Academy—a tuition-free, public charter school serving sixth through 12th grade students.Camille DeRome was the school’s Valedictorian, while classmate Shea Carrillo was the Salutatorian.Joining them in the Class of 2014 were Samreen Bhullar, William Cruz-Larios, Rajan Gagliardi, Ryan Green, Alyssa Greymont, Michael Kobashi, Donovan Loperena, Samantha McDonald, Stephanie Rand, Megan Rodenbeck, Brooke Schroeder, and Michael Wells.Silicon Valley Flex Academy, which opened in 2011, is one of the state’s first full-time, five-day-a-week hybrid schools combining the best of online education with traditional, onsite school practices, according to SV Flex Academy spokeswoman Monique Sadoff.Among the colleges the 2014 graduates will attend in the fall are Seattle University in Washington, CSU Monterey Bay, Weber State in Utah and San Francisco State, according to Sadoff.

Three public hearings and a decision on a major middle school construction project top the agenda items for the June 10 Board of Education meeting at the Morgan Hill Unified School District office at 15600 Concord Circle.

Wherever the 278 members of Sobrato High School’s graduating class of 2014 end up later in life, they shared one last timeless celebration together at their June 6 commencement ceremony.“Take a pause to take in this moment,” graduate Taylor Chan told her classmates while delivering the ceremony’s senior speech. “Because in this moment, I swear, we are infinite,” she added, paraphrasing a line from the Steven Chobsky novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”Hundreds of proud parents, relatives and friends crowded Sobrato High School’s athletic field, waving signs and banners in support of the new graduates during the ceremony. Balloons and flowers were scattered throughout the audience, and an occasional air horn or cow bell broke through cheers and whistles as graduates’ names were called by Assistant Principal Kevin Miller at the end of the ceremony. Morgan Hill Unified School District officials, including the seven trustees, joined Sobrato High Principal Deborah Padilla and other school staff on stage during the celebration. Padilla urged the class to remember the lessons of community kinship and support for their peers that they learned at Sobrato as they proceed into their adult lives. “Take our Sobrato Way beyond the high school walls, and not only show pride in yourselves, but also pride in your alma mater and in your community,” Padilla said. Pride was on display in the audience even before the graduating class made their procession to their prior to the ceremony.Valerie Farris, mother of Sobrato graduating senior Andrew Wilcox, 17, gushed about her son and his achievements.“He’s a great baseball player, he has good grades, he’s handsome,” Farris said warmly. “We’re very, very proud of him.”Wilcox, who his mother said “loves to learn,” will start attending classes at West Valley College later this month. He plans to transfer to a school in the University of California system after a couple years. The graduate played baseball and football, and tried to start a fishing club during his four years at Sobrato, Farris said. Like many graduates, Wilcox had a crowd of family members in the audience. Graduate Alejandra Kendrick’s grandparents and cousin traveled to Morgan Hill from Texas to see Friday evening’s graduation ceremony and celebrate for the weekend. Kendrick, 17, was a cheerleader at Sobrato. She plans to attend West Valley College in the fall, and eventually transfer to San Jose State University to study nursing, according to her family members.“I’m absolutely proud of Alejandra. She’s done really well,” said her father John Kendrick of Morgan Hill. “It’s been beautiful watching her grow up into a mature, intelligent young woman. We as a family are proud of her and will continue to support her.” Sobrato alumna Daisy Topete, graduate of the school’s inaugural class of 2007, was also in the audience to cheer on her “baby sister” Monica Topete, 17. Monica, an active member of FFA while at Sobrato, plans to study veterinary science in college in the fall.After the ceremony, excited graduates and their families could barely find words to describe their reactions as they took photographs and shared hugs in a courtyard outside a Sobrato academic building. Class of 2014 graduate Connor Atwood, 18, graduated with a Golden State Seal Merit Award. He said after spending almost every day for four years with his classmates that it’s “pretty crazy” to think the ceremony marks “the last hour we’re here.” Atwood also plans to attend West Valley College in the fall. Graduate Elizabeth Delgadillo, 18, said the graduation ceremony was “surreal.”“I didn’t expect it to be as emotional as it is. During the speeches, I started to tear up,” Delgadillo said. Specifically, she said the words of keynote speaker and Sobrato English teacher Jamie Simpson, and Valedictorian Michelle Luu—Delgadillo’s best friend—brought back fond memories dating back to freshman year. Delgadillo, who graduated in the top 10 percent of the class with a Golden State Seal Merit Award, plans to attend Santa Clara University in the fall, where she will study bioengineering. “I want to help improve existing medical technology,” she said. When asked how she feels now that she is a Sobrato graduate, Jessica Reid, 18, laughed, “I’m free!” Reid, like many of her classmates, clutched a bouquet of flowers and wore a lei of orchids while walking off the campus with her parents and other family members.Reid plans to attend Sonoma College and study business administration in the fall. During her four years at Sobrato, Reid said she and her friends learned the importance of supporting one’s community—in this case the Sobrato student body—and “banding together” in good and bad times. Class of 2014 member Anthony Jackson, 18, graduated with a Golden State Seal Merit Award and plans to begin studying mechanical engineering at Santa Clara University in the fall. He succinctly expressed fond memories and excitement for the future.“I’ve grown up with these people. I’ve known some of them since elementary school, and it’s great to see everyone do well,” Jackson said of his classmates. 

AAUW Gilroy Branch Scholarship/Jade Katen-Ynzunza/$1,000

Selecting students for the Morgan Hill Times’ annual senior spotlight honor is no enviable task. That’s why we make the principals do it (and they resent us for making them narrow it down to one!). These students have navigated the labyrinth of high school hurdles and we are inspired by their optimistic outlook, refreshing attitudes and heartfelt honesty. We celebrate them, their families, their mentors and all the graduating seniors in the Class of 2014.

There will be more than 1,000 students attending the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s 2014 summer school programs, but some will have to pay to catch up to grade level.While those students classified as migrant, English Learners or special education will attend free of cost, other high school-aged students who are deficient in their credits must pay a $148 per semester charge for a five-unit recovery, according to MHUSD staff.The 285 migrant students will be covered with Title I funds totaling $62,018, according to MHUSD staff. The 225 English Learners will be covered with Title III funds totaling $65,254. The 165 special education students will be covered with special ed funds of about $175,000.“I’m pleased to see that there’s more help for the high school students who may not be (English learners), special ed or migrant students. It looks like there’s a lot of progress made this year,” said Trustee Amy Porter Jensen of the 250-plus students signed up for credit recovery over the summer. “The number was much lower last year. That’s encouraging, but we need to find a way to get funding for the elementary and junior high kids because that just isn’t available right now.”Trustee Ron Woolf said the lack of funding for summer school courses for all students across the board is a statewide challenge.“I’m sure that every (unified school district) in the state of California is asking the same thing,” said Woolf, noting that years ago more than 3,000 students attended summer school in Morgan Hill for various reasons when funding was available.The May 27 MHUSD district staff report reads, “(The Summer School Plan) will target Kinder Readiness for young migrant students, as well as serve migrant students in K-12, English Learners, and all students eligible on their Individualized Education Plan for the extended school year.”When it comes to summer instruction for middle schoolers, only up to 90 students in those grade levels will be eligible, even if they don’t fall into one of the three funded subgroups, according to MHUSD staff. The Silicon Valley Foundation will fund free Elevated Math and Science programs (formerly called Step up to Algebra and Step up to Science) on the Britton Middle School campus, for these 90 seventh and eighth graders. Students in the Elevated Math and Science programs will focus on critical skills to prepare for success in Common Core standards in math and science, according to district staff. These classes do not provide credit recovery, but rather supplemental instruction. “These two programs support underrepresented students and prepare them for college and careers in the areas of math and science,” reads the May 27 staff report detailing the district’s summer school plan.Other students who are deficient in credits can seek financial assistance if they cannot afford summer school fees, according to the district.The summer school programs will be housed at two locations—Britton Middle School and the Loritta Bonfante Johnson Education Center (85 Tilton Ave. site). The summer school principal is Jennifer Smith. She is in charge of the program which runs from June 16 through July 17.The district is also offering a Seamless Summer Meals Program, served by Food Services, which is free to all students ages 18 and under from 10 a.m. to noon at both locations.Board approves two staff positionsBy a 6-0 vote (Trustee Rick Badillo was not present at the time of the vote), the board approved 15 consent items, including two positions totaling $230,000:—Student Information Systems Coordinator, paying approximately $90,000 and responsible for the accurate data collection and reporting of all student data and—Director Informational Technology and Enrollment, paying approximately $140,000 and responsible for leading the implementation of a district-wide instructional technology plan aligned with curriculum and instruction.Both positions will be paid through the general fund, according to MHUSD staffBefore the consent vote, the Board pulled two items from the list:—The revised job description and hours for the Community Liaison position estimated at $90,000 and—A $138,000 contract with Al Bana Construction for modernization of San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School phase one.More construction costs approvedBy unanimous 7-0 votes, the Board approved the following contracts:—$298,928 contract with Lewis and Tibbitts, Inc. for underground utilities for the technology projects;—$79,125 contract with Piana Construction & Painting for the interior painting of Martin Murphy Middle School;—$204,172 contract with Alcal Specialty Contracting, Inc. for Los Paseo roof replacement.These construction costs are funded by bond money.