I attended the Gavilan College board meeting held at the San
Benito County Office of Education Thursday night. Many thanks to
the board, Tim Foley and his staff, and the 40-plus citizens who
convened to discuss the site selection process for the new Gavilan
Community College campus in San Benito County.
Editor,
I attended the Gavilan College board meeting held at the San Benito County Office of Education Thursday night. Many thanks to the board, Tim Foley and his staff, and the 40-plus citizens who convened to discuss the site selection process for the new Gavilan Community College campus in San Benito County. I was proud to participate in what I thought was logical dissent, debate and civil discourse about a topic that promises to shape our community for decades to come.
I would like to reiterate a few thoughts that I think are important.
First, we all want the best community college campus for San Benito County. Period! This is the big picture issue and one that we all agree on. No one came forward and said “My cows can’t read. Why should I support a community college campus!?” Let’s focus on the expected outcome and try to stay proactive and positive about the new campus.
Second, I think it is a huge mistake not to invite our youth to participate in this vision. There were no teenage kids present or represented at this meeting and yet these people are whom we are building the campus for. I believe, with some organizational effort, that kids throughout San Benito County should be participating in this process. In addition, community service credit could be offered to students who participate and a real sense of responsibility and ownership would follow for those youths who take a leadership role in helping to sculpt the future of education in our county.
Third, consider modeling this process in a way that is compelling and effective. Regardless of what one may think of the proposed El Rancho San Benito project, DMB has done a stellar job of reaching out to the community with workshops and open house meetings to understand the desires and concerns of the community it hopes to enjoin with its project. With some effort, similar workshops could be hosted at Veterans Memorial with the intent of including as many San Benito County citizens as possible in the site selection process.
Finally, I emphatically disagree with locating the new San Benito County Gavilan College campus at its proposed location near the airport. Our community college should be anchored in the community, as close to downtown as possible. Christine Breen is correct in alluding to Smart Growth strategies that will revitalize the downtown. And though it is still too early to make lofty claims, the new San Benito County Arts Council would one day like to partner with Gavilan College to use its facilities for open studios, concerts, performances, dance recitals, plays, musicals and to showcase local art. Such a partnership makes more sense in the downtown area than by the airport.
I think we have come through a dark period of local history subsequent to Measure G as was pointed out at the meeting. Our leaders need to listen to the concerns and desires of the electorate and try harder to represent the interests of their constituents on this matter. Please bring this issue back to the public who voted to support the new campus in San Benito County!
Mike Smith, Hollister
