Casino Fajardo, 37, is the Director of Construction and Modernization for Morgan Hill Unified School District, heading up the $198 million Measure G capital improvements projects throughout the district. He currently resides in South San Jose (close to Martin Murphy Middle School). He attended Nordstrom Elementary School and Britton Middle School, and graduated from Live Oak High School. He has two young children: CJ, who is currently a kindergartener in MHUSD, and Benji, who will start pre-school in the area shortly.
Just how many projects and how many schools were impacted by the initial $55 million Series A bond issuance of the total $198 million Measure G funds?
The great news is that all of the district’s schools thus far have been touched by a bond program within this initial expenditure. One of the biggest projects that was applied to all schools was the district-wide technology infrastructure and student device implementation. This was also the largest single project expenditure, totaling well over $14 million.
What does the district have in store for the $80 million Series B bond issuance that is in the pipeline?
Currently, the facilities plan moving forward identifies Britton Middle School to receive a major overhaul, alongside a sizeable modernization for Nordstrom Elementary School and a new gymnasium with attached performing arts spaces for Jackson Academy of Math and Music. This series of expenditures will be rounded out with another technology update project toward the end of the $80 million.
Building a brand new Britton Middle School has been long overdue. What are some of the key aspects/details of that project that you’d like to share with the community?
This is quite an amazing project. The entirety of the classroom, administration and quad spaces are being built brand new from the ground up. In addition, we are adding a new student union building, new scratch cooking kitchen and a maker space which will support their robotics programs. This campus will be a “Net Zero” campus which means it will generate more energy than it consumes and will be certified through the U.S. Green Building Council to a “Gold” level in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
The new classrooms will be spacious, with plenty of natural daylight, solar panels to recoup energy from the sun, a new quad with landscaping and outdoor seating areas for lunch and other events, and a new administration building with support spaces such as a parent center and flex flexible counseling spaces.
Growing up in Morgan Hill yourself and graduating from Live Oak High School, how special has it been to lead these facilities projects and see the district transform?
I have to say that this is truly one of the greatest experiences of my career. When I graduated high school, I worked as a union carpenter improving schools and managing projects across the greater Bay Area to pay for my college tuition. To have a chance to come back to Morgan Hill and support the parents and families of my community and friends is a tremendous feeling. These children are the future of our community, and I’m honored I get to support them directly.
What are some of the improvements/enhancements that stand out for you as far as transforming schools?
I’d have to start with the technology upgrade. It is unfortunate that it can’t be seen from the outside, but the miles of new fiber optics and data infrastructure inside our walls is amazing. The data transfer speeds are so fast, especially when compared to what was existing. Additionally, it is great to see how engaged the children are with the new Chromebooks, display devices, tablets, etc. that were delivered to the various sites.
The new classroom wings that were built at Paradise Valley and San Martin Gwinn Academies are incredible; plenty of natural light, skylights, and quiet HVAC systems. Those buildings are certified through the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, and you can certainly feel the difference when you walk in. I encourage any local parent to ask the principal to take you on a tour of those facilities. They are incredible.
Of all the current completed projects though, I would say the San Martin Gwinn administration building (now located on Llagas Avenue) is probably my favorite. The transformation was incredible, and the impact touched students, parents, staff and the San Martin community This new area has a spacious layout with plenty of parent support spaces. It also includes private areas for meetings, counseling services and a large modern break room for the staff which exits out to their outdoor classrooms and landscaping. AP+I Design did an amazing job with the color and flow of the new space. The local contractor, DRP Builders, Inc. also provided some very professional work even against the tight time frame of getting the space up and running before school.
Roughly $63 million remains for a Series C bond issuance. Are there any additional projects the district is already eyeing for those funds?
While there are many projects identified, we do not have any specific ones targeted at this time. The Board of Education just adopted the new Facilities Master Plan, which we completed over this last year. This plan provides a detailed analysis of the current facilities, educational goals and framework for decision making to determine future projects.
In about two years, district staff will re-analyze the project list against the current state funding and program goals to ensure we maximize the value to the district with the use of those funds.
What do you see as some of the district’s biggest needs in the future as the community continues to grow?
We pride ourselves on our neighborhood schools, so ensuring that the locations of our current and new schools continue to provide the correct balance of capacity and proximity to homes is crucial. Neighborhood schools more easily foster friendships, help to keep communities together in and out of the classroom, and they cut down the cost of transportation for our parents.
Morgan Hill is a rapidly growing city. Families are moving here for the small town culture, the friendly atmosphere and the schools. It’s important that with all of this new growth, and in alignment with the City’s 2035 plan, that our neighborhood schools remain the central focus of future developments so that we can continue to provide the desired school walkability to our students and families.
Enrollment: About 8,700 students
Schools: 7 Elementary (K-5): Barrett, El Toro, Los Paseos, Nordstrom, Paradise Valley, P.A. Walsh; 2 Elementary/Middle (K-8) Jackson Academy of Math & Music, San Martin/Gwinn; 2 Middle (6-8) Britton, Martin Murphy, 2 High Schools (9-12) Live Oak, Ann Sobrato; 1 Continuation (9-12) Central; 1 Community Adult School.
2017-18 Adopted Budget: $89,022,922
Measure G
Capital improvements bond approved by local voters in Nov. 2012
Total: $198 million
Series A: $55 million (already allocated/projects completed)
Series B: $80 million (bond issuance in process)
Series C: $63,250,000 (scheduled for 2020)
“The proposed Britton Middle School renovation will offer the entire downtown neighborhood a state of the art facility, capable of engaging existing and many new residents choosing to live and thrive downtown, while adding to the many placemaking initiatives already underway. Downtown, with the addition of this new, modern, ‘model’ campus will leverage great educational and public space with new parks due to open in November, (as well as) trails and amenities. The city with the MHUSD partnership have collectively combined to further the goal of supporting the downtown neighborhood as a family-friendly place.” –
