San Benito High School learned Wednesday it was one step closer
to a state grant that would allow the school to build a new
agriculture barn and update its auto shop.
San Benito High School learned Wednesday it was one step closer to a state grant that would allow the school to build a new agriculture barn and update its auto shop.
In early August, the high school applied for two competitive, matching grants from the state to progress on the building projects. The California Department of Education released various school projects’ scores this week. With high scores on both projects, administrators expect the grants will be awarded.
“Based on the fact that our projects were two of the top six (projects), it looks like we’re up there,” said Jim Koenig, director of finance and operations for the district.
The high school expects to get official notification next week.
The grants were part of $500 million for career technical programs approved by voters in 2006.
San Benito High School is competing with other high schools in the South Bay Area – including schools in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties – for $29.3 million of this grant, Koenig said.
To qualify, the district hired Annette Giacomazzi of the consulting firm RURALnomics. She sought community support for both projects. Giacomazzi went before the San Benito County Farm Bureau asking for help.
The district and Giacomazzi raised $59,250 in pledges from the community for the ag barn and $3,000 for the auto shop expansion.
Koenig and Giacomazzi both agreed it was probably this community support that earned the barn project many of its points with the California Department of Education.
“I think the contribution really set our ag barn apart from a lot of other projects,” Koenig said.
The board of trustees has agreed to match the grants, if awarded, so that the projects could move forward. The ag building is expected to cost $738,500. The automotive technology building update will cost $930,583. The community donations will offset the costs.
“When the grants are awarded, it will take the ag and auto shop departments to the next level,” Giacomazzi said.
The ag barn received the third highest score out of 23 projects, and the auto shop received the sixth highest. Koenig said he’s confident that when the district receives the letter, it will get approval for both grants.
“We’re looking forward to spending the money and using the facilities,” Koenig said.
