Galt's new schools making progress

Galt Joint Union High School District Superintendent, Thomas Gemma, explains different aspects of the new Estrellita Continuation High School. The campus should be open for the next school year. (Whitney Ramirez/News-Sentinel)

Galt's new schools making progress

Construction ongoing at Estrellita Continuation; Liberty Ranch sorting out funding

By Kendyce Manguchei
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Thursday, October 12, 2006 6:52 AM PDT

Comments (No comments posted.)

The driveway leading to the new Estrellita Continuation High School is a winding, dusty trail, and Galt Joint Union High Superintendent Thomas Gemma said if construction continues on schedule, the road will be paved before the winter rains start.

Crews from Stockton-based F&H Construction were busy erecting wooden walls of school buildingson Wednesday, and Gemma said he is hopeful roofs will be in place before the weather turns. Otherwise, he said, construction could be set back due to rainy and muddy conditions.

Meanwhile, a committee made up of concerned citizens continues to trim the $82 million budget for Liberty Ranch High School, which will likely go to bid by the end of the year.

Both schools are located on a 56-acre parcel off Marengo and Twin Cities roads. About 135 students could enroll in Estrellita when the school opens at the beginning of next school year. Liberty Ranch is expected to open for freshmen and sophomores in fall 2009.

Estrellita's six classrooms will wrap around a small parking lot in a U-shaped pattern. Plans call for a main entry and bus stop to the north, basketball courts to the west, and volleyball and grass fields to the south. An industrial kitchen will be used for a culinary career program.

The continuation school is being funded by developer fees, Mello-Roos community facilities district fees and matching state funds.

Liberty Ranch will be funded with a $29 million school bond; $4 million in developer fees and interest; and $34 million from the state.

Liberty Ranch, which would handle a total of 1,400 students, shares its name with a proposed 1,300-home subdivision brought by YCH Communities LLC, formerly known as Young California Homes, a Pleasanton-based development company.

YCH has promised the school district nearly $7 million in development fees and an additional contribution of $4 million, if the Galt City Council annexes the development.

"We're not counting on the money; we have to progress on this," said Gemma.

But even if they get the $11 million, the school district must find ways to whittle down the Liberty Ranch budget.

Projected costs were about $71 million back in March but Gemma said that figure has jumped to about $82 million due to inflation and construction expenses.

Construction work is seen in progress at the site for the new Estrellita Continuation High School. The campus is projected to open for the next school year. (Whitney Ramirez/News-Sentinel)

Bond oversight commitee chairwoman Terry Parker-Owning said the group is trying to reduce costs by $10 million. Since March, they've cut almost half that amount, $5 million, in classroom improvements and extras.

One strategy is to ask school department heads to prioritize their needs and list items that could be removed, Parker-Owning said in an open letter to the community dated Sept. 5.

The school district might have to pay the city of Galt $2 million to use its sewers. The city's public works director was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.

"We're amenable to paying a fee, but we believe it's too high," Gemma said.

He has compared the estimated water use with that of Galt High School and also noted that the Galt Joint Union Elementary district paid $300,000 for sewer rights for McCaffrey Middle School. Gemma thinks the two new high schools should pay about half a million.

Contact reporter Kendyce Manguchei at kendycem@lodinews.com.

Recommended cost-cutters for Liberty Ranch High School

• Reusing furniture from Galt High ($1.2 million)
• Redesigning the walk-in freezer and refrigerator, and reducing the number of sinks in the kitchen ($250,000 to $1 million)
• A "phasing" program — construction on certain buildings would have to wait until, or if, YCH is annexed into the city of Galt and contributes $11 million
• Using a modular building for administration offices ($1 million)
• Replacing concrete with grass ($500,000)
• Removing eaves and roof overhangs
• A joint-use agreement with the City of Galt for parks and athletic fields
Source: Galt Joint Union High School District and Measure B bond oversight committee reports.

First published: Thursday, October 12, 2006

Reader Feedback

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes