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After seemingly retreating during the summer and early fall months, thus allowing many economic sectors to resume hiring, the stubborn disease exploded with a vengeance in late November and Newsom has once again clamped down on businesses deemed to be infection hot spots, such as restaurants.

On June 27,  the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board voted yes to go forward with remediation on the Peet Road/Borello property, where the district plans to build a new elementary school. The vote was four in favor, three against. On June 28, an article was written in the MH Times that did not reflect some key concerns highlighted during the meeting that questioned the successful monitoring of the safe levels of the toxin dieldrin during the projected August remediation.I did an extensive research into the district’s Removal Action Plan (RAW), as I was concerned about several factors, namely: the placement of only three or four air monitoring units described; the environment unique to Morgan Hill, primarily our winds and gusts; the 24-hour turnaround for the actual results; and exceeding the fence line “stop work” number of .05 mg/m3.I spent a majority of my career working with designing/analyzing measurement and testing equipment. I saw a disconnect in the amount of air monitoring units proposed in the RAW, coupled with the lack of information about the accuracy of these units. These two factors alone are concerning. The RAW indicated prevailing winds in that region of Morgan Hill as 3 mph. This is incorrect; I have personally been monitoring winds and gusts in Morgan Hill on key meteorological sites for 60 days. The actual winds and gusts are in the area of 9 to 16 mph.I then called Thermo Fisher, the maker of the measuring unit. The technical expert indicated the accuracy is +/- 5 percent based on constant calibration (manual) of the temperature and humidity; this information was not indicated in the district’s RAW. The Thermo Fisher expert then indicated the diameter of the air chamber is only 1 inch wide by 3 inches long. This expert then asked the length and width of the area being measured. I replied, nine acres, and he suggested 91 units are needed to accomplish a 95 percent confidence level. I asked if we can reduce the number of units and he said you can halve the 91 units to 40 at a distance of about 5 feet apart, but the confidence/success level will be reduced. This information was not included in the RAW report.At the June 27 board meeting, I asked the consultant of the Peet Road project, with a Department Of Substances Control representative on the phone via teleconference, if he knew the accuracy of these measuring units and the answer was NO. I asked if he knew the diameter of the air chamber, and the answer again was NO.I expressed my concerns that the RAW is only recommending one-tenth of the air monitoring that the experts say we need to protect the surrounding community with a high degree of success. The consultant and DTSC were unable to answer my questions regarding the wind/gust factors relative to when dirt dries and becomes airborne given temperatures above 80 degrees.The district’s RAW raised many other questions that need answering including why the soil wasn’t retested in the area that encompasses the proposed grassy area that students will be playing on. This planned grassy/field area is almost 56 percent of the Borello property.Our children will be exposed to TOXINS on a daily basis unless DTSC initiates further testing to be absolutely sure of the level of toxicity/Dieldrin in this quadrant of the land. I have a duty of care as a Trustee, I voted not to proceed.Gino Borgioli is a Morgan Hill Unified School District Trustee. He was elected to the board of education in 2014. He can be reached at [email protected].

The first few months of this rainfall season were below average across California, with drought conditions evident statewide. Although the Golden State received a much-needed soaking in late January, moderate drought conditions remain across Santa Clara County.  Valley Water remains focused on preparing for future...

When I first entered high school four years ago, I thought I would drop out. I thought high school would be like it is in the movies: everyone fooling around, learning things that you would never need in life, hanging out with friends and going to class when you wanted, IF you wanted.High school was not what I thought it would be. My first two years were not my best, due to my actions of ditching, drinking, not caring for me or my peers’ education.We were on a road to dropping out.Midway into my sophomore year, I woke up and realized that to get where I wanted to be I needed to be present and trying to succeed in class.  Slowly, what I began to understand is that we all need to be present—not just physically, but also mentally in a classroom. Why? A classroom is where we are all connected and can make a better future for us and our family. We help each other out, we have our amazing teachers to help us in any situation we have.Coming to Central High is a blessing. It gives us a second opportunity for our education, and our teachers here are our family. They care for us not just in education but outside of school as well.I also began to understand that we all need to be present in life. We need to be willing to go into tough situations where we do not know everything, and be willing to accept the challenge to fight through and be OK with being uncomfortable.You do not have to be perfect in life to succeed. A close friend, a brother figure once said, “Success isn't measured by the position that one has reached in life, but by the obstacles they have overcome while trying to succeed.”I owe the biggest thank you and appreciation to some key adults who helped me realize I needed my education: Saul Gonzalez, Veronica Diaz and Dori Ann Prado as well my mother, all of whom help me change and grow. They never gave up on me.  I'm thankful for my teachers Mr. Lines & Ms. Charlebois for teaching me about Economics and Civics. I thought these subjects would not be a part of my life. I’m glad I got my education from them because now I know how to fill in my taxes and make a resume, and I know about politics and my rights as a citizen. I learned to speak my mind and make my ideas count by giving sound reasons for my thoughts, by defending my position and standing up for what I believe.Having skills like this has prepared me for college as well as for life and for my future. I am the first one in my family to graduate from high school. I will be the first one in my family to go to college. And I will be the first one to GRADUATE from college!High school was not what I thought it would be. High school is where I woke up and realized I need my education.So to all my fellow class members, remember education is the key to everything and may God be with you through the years no matter where life takes you.WE DID IT, SI SE PUEDE!Jerry Juarez, Class of 2016, delivered the commencement speech at Central High School’s June 2 graduation ceremony. This piece is a slightly edited version of his speech.

Measure I will allow MHUSD to attract high-quality teachers and keep them in our district. This bond will provide the necessary funds to update aging classrooms and schools to be equipped with the modern technologies essential to preparing students for their careers.