If you want to share your thoughts with decision-makers about
the future of Gavilan College education in San Benito County,
you’ll get your chance at a forum later this month.
Gavilan College this week announced it will hold the forum for
interested residents to discuss the school’s plans for expansion in
San Benito County.
College leaders, including an ad-hoc committee of trustees
comprised of Elvira Robinson, Kent Child and Laura Perry, will host
the gathering at the Veterans Memorial Building in Room 218. It is
scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 19, according to a statement
from the college.
According to the college, the forum will focus on
”
plans for expansion of services in San Benito County, with the
goal of increasing San Benito County course offerings and gaining
state designation as an Educational Center.
”
If you want to share your thoughts with decision-makers about the future of Gavilan College education in San Benito County, you’ll get your chance at a forum later this month.
Gavilan College this week announced it will hold the forum for interested residents to discuss the school’s plans for expansion in San Benito County.
College leaders, including an ad-hoc committee of trustees comprised of Elvira Robinson, Kent Child and Laura Perry, will host the gathering at the Veterans Memorial Building in Room 218. It is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 19, according to a statement from the college.
According to the college, the forum will focus on “plans for expansion of services in San Benito County, with the goal of increasing San Benito County course offerings and gaining state designation as an Educational Center.”
To gain the “educational center” status from the state and qualify for construction funding, there must be 500 full-time equivalent students in San Benito County. Currently at the Briggs Building, the college serves 230 full-time equivalent students, according to the statement.
Gavilan has plans for a full satellite campus at Fairview Road and Airline Highway, but the college continues looking for an interim location that would be ideal for the next 15 to 20 years with at least 20,000 square feet and space for parking 500 cars, according to the college.
Gavilan’s spokeswoman Jan Bernstein-Chargin stressed how the forum is intended to discuss an interim site, which the college has sought for about a year in light of capacity issues at the Briggs Building.
“It’s not about revisiting the Fairview site,” she said. “That’s been purchased. That’s the long-term location.”
She said the college wants to ensure the public understands the process through which the board must work, while gaining feedback from the public about their desires for the interim location.
The college goes on to note in the announcement that the “building itself must meet the requirements of the Division of State Architects for educational facilities. It will need classrooms, wet laboratory space, computer lab space, student gathering space, and a safe, quiet environment for study. The ideal spot will be located near public transportation. Public input is desired on potential locations and services at the interim location.”
Local leaders and a group of developers earlier this year had proposed Gavilan use space at the former Leatherback Industries site near downtown, but Gavilan College declined on pursing the idea. Gavilan officials have examined other potential sites for temporary space, such as the old Pinnacle building at Fourth and San Benito streets and the former Fortino’s building – the new home of the YMCA of San Benito County – off of Tres Pinos Road.
