Two San Benito County schools will soon receive $15,000 each
from the county for repairs and renovation.
Two San Benito County schools will soon receive $15,000 each from the county for repairs and renovation.
Spring Grove School needs the money to make safety improvements on its athletic fields, and San Juan School requested the funds for renovation of the school’s playground.
The Board of Supervisors approved the contributions at its Jan. 14 meeting. The money will not come from the county’s General Fund, but from the Developers Trust Account, which has sufficient funds available, according to the county’s administrative office.
Supervisors Ruth Kesler and Richard Scagliotti, who represent the schools’ respective districts, were approached by the schools’ superintendents about the grants.
Spring Grove’s athletic fields are in a state of disrepair because of earthquakes, erosion and lack of water, said Tom Guajardo, superintendent of the North County Joint Union School District. The three factors have caused wide crevices in the ground, which has led to numerous cases of twisted ankles, Guajardo said.
He said the funding was warranted since the school is only eight miles from downtown Hollister and other organizations share the fields, such as Hollister Heat softball, 4-H clubs and the YMCA.
“The school is a congregation point for the school and community,” he said. “… Improving the fields is necessary for the safety of our kids and our community.”
Spring Grove will use the money to buy materials to build a track around the athletic fields to help control erosion.
San Juan Elementary needs the $15,000 for the partial renovation of its playground. The renovations add up to $104,700 for sod and a new sprinkler system.
District Superintendent Jackie Munoz has contacted the district’s soccer and home and school clubs to see how to best raise the remainder of the money.
Prior to the distribution of funds, a contract will be drawn up between the school and the county that details the expectations of both parties.
