While construction plans are slowly progressing at San Juan and
Aromas schools, community members are afraid there won’t be enough
funding to finish the projects.
Even though the state is tightening its belt, Aromas-San Juan
Unified School District Superintendent Jackie Munoz confirmed that
all construction plans are moving forward.
While construction plans are slowly progressing at San Juan and Aromas schools, community members are afraid there won’t be enough funding to finish the projects.
Even though the state is tightening its belt, Aromas-San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Jackie Munoz confirmed that all construction plans are moving forward.
“There is enough money for these projects,” Munoz said. “The district has a construction budget and we’re keeping with that budget. We will complete what we promised the voters when they passed Measure S.”
The bulk of the construction is funded through Measure S, a $1.2-million bond measure passed in March 2002 by 63 percent of the voters.
Other revenue will come from deferred maintenance accounts and developer fees. Although Hollister has a building moratorium imposed, San Juan Bautista and Aromas do not, so money from developers still comes in, Munoz said. Also, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to put a state bond initiative on the March 2 ballot that would provide funding for school construction, Munoz said.
The first project – a district maintenance and transportation building – was finished in late November. It was budgeted for $959,200, but came in under budget. The building has two school bus garages and holds administrator offices. The district’s 14 buses are housed on the site as well.
The second project is in full swing as the district’s Board of Trustees approved a bid Dec. 3 for construction on the San Juan School campus. Dilbeck & Sons from Salinas bid $2.59 million to build the renovations – the lowest of four contractors.
At the meeting, Munoz urged trustees to be conservative and approve the $2.59-million base bid and hold off on two alternatives for a redesigned parking lot at the school. Those bids ran between $120,000 and $265,000 each.
Construction at San Juan School includes renovation of all classrooms except for the newer middle-school classes and the gym. The original buildings need handicap access, upgraded bathrooms and more storage space, Munoz said. Also, another kindergarten classroom will be built. Currently, there is one kindergarten classroom on campus.
“It’s taught in a portable with no (running) water. There are no bathrooms,” Munoz said in an earlier interview. “It’s distracting when the little ones have to walk outside to the bathrooms.”
Construction will begin at San Juan School during winter break. Already, a building of classrooms has been cleared out to prepare for renovations, Munoz said.
The updated, tentative timeline for Aromas School construction includes a bid by February with the trustees accepting it in March and construction starting in April, Munoz said.
Built in 1948, Aromas School is the oldest campus in the district. Currently, it has 11 permanent buildings and 14 portables, meaning the campus has more than doubled in size, Munoz pointed out.
Construction at Aromas includes renovating four wings and building a new gym and parking lot.
“Not enough can be said about adding a gym to that campus,” Munoz said in an earlier interview.
Munoz applied to the state for funding to help build the gym under a joint-use agreement with Monterey County. The Office of Public School Construction is reviewing the request.
The final project will be a vocational building at Anzar High School. Munoz will meet with the school site council and community members in January, but construction on that project isn’t expected until the end of the summer, she said.
To find out more about the projects, call the district at 623-4500. Also, the public can attend the next Citizens’ Oversight Committee meeting Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. at the district office, 2300 San Juan Highway.
