Tag: gavilan college

Hollister council members Monday expressed disappointment at the continued tone from Gavilan College leaders who are reluctant to build an educational center downtown, and broached the possibility of approaching California State, Monterey Bay or another institution about opening a site here.

Gavilan College trustees discussed education center sites for San Benito County but took no action, as the item was slated for just discussion at the March 8 board meeting.

In 2004, the voters of the Gavilan Joint Community College District passed Measure E, providing funds to renovate and expand the Gilroy campus and purchase land for future campuses at the northern and southern ends of the district. The work on the main campus was completed just this year. Land was purchased in both Coyote Valley and San Benito County for future campuses, and habitat mitigation is almost complete at both sites. Phase one of the Coyote Valley development is now under construction.

With longtime Gavilan College President Steve Kinsella planning to retire after the school year, loyal disciples will lead him to the Hollister Elks Lodge after graduation May 27. There, he will expect a brief honor from local Elk people and maybe some Folgers in a Styrofoam cup. Instead, he will face a coordinated roast.

Gavilan College’s broken promises for a San Benito Education Center amount to a watershed event for our future. The county’s political and community leadership have a critical decision to make. Are they going to fight to force Gavilan College to restore commitment of the $108 million, 2004 Measure E bond, or are they going to slink away and write off decades of the county’s future and the futures of many of its residents who must have more educational opportunities closer to home?

Gavilan College trustees held their first ad hoc educational site committee meeting in three years this week to look at possible partnerships that would bring more higher education opportunities to San Benito County.

More than 60 business leaders and heads of nonprofits, along with city and county officials, attended the Hollister Downtown Association’s quarterly breakfast meeting Wednesday at Running Rooster to share information about the school and hand out Community Spirit Awards.

With the retirement of longtime Gavilan College Superintendent Steve Kinsella set for June, San Benito County trustees expect to remember the man for a legacy of good financial leadership.