Gavilan College has announced it will hold a forum for
interested residents to discuss the school’s plans for expansion in
San Benito County.
Gavilan College has announced it will hold a 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 forum at the Veterans Memorial Building in Room 218. It is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 19, according to a press 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.
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 using 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 – which is the new home of the YMCA of San Benito County – off of Tres Pinos Road.
Look for an expanded story in the Pinnacle.
