Galt takes next step toward enrollment boundaries

Superintendent Tom Gemma spoke to Galt High School District school board members last night about progress in defining enrollment boundaries for Liberty Ranch, Galt's new high school.

According to Gemma, so far the district has held three meetings open to the community to discuss different boundary plans. Two more meetings are scheduled, including one in Spanish on April 18 at Galt High School.

Although attendance at the meetings has been low, with each meeting averaging 30 attendees, Gemma said that he has received a fair amount of input from the community via phone and e-mail. Informational postcards were sent to every residence in the district's attendance area.

In May, Gemma said the district will present each boundary plan to the board along with community concerns. According to Gemma, the school board will discuss additional transportation and athletic costs for the second high school.

Gemma encouraged the board to consider a model adopted by a high school in Fresno. The school is divided into two campuses but shares an athletic program.

The district will hold one final public forum before making a final decision on the boundaries in June.

In other matters:

• A debate ensued over funding for hands-on training programs, such as agricultural, engineering and culinary arts education. School board member Pat Maple objected to the amount of funding going to the agricultural program, saying that the availability of agricultural jobs was likely to diminish over the next few years. Board member Sue Roberts called for more discussion on the subject at a later date.
• The board approved plans for restroom modernization at Galt High School.
• Plans to install new security cameras at Galt High School were approved. Cameras will cover a computer lab, two parking lots and the football stadium. The seven new cameras will cost approximately $21,000.
— News-Sentinel staff.

Meanwhile, consultant Darlene Waddle announced that bids for the construction of Liberty Ranch are set to close April 17. She noted that there had been a lot of interest in the project, making for more competition and lower prices.

Construction on Liberty Ranch High School is scheduled to start in June.

Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Joe Silva, Sr. wrote on Apr 10, 2007 5:45 PM:

" Mr. Maple, Ag jobs abound in state. Any student who participates in Galt's Ag program is headed in the right direction for an outstanding ag career. At least Galt High is known for something outside of serious educational miss management. Don't gut the program. "

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Pat Maple wrote on Apr 10, 2007 1:06 PM:

" The question is: when are the three Ag board members going to treat the rest of the 1800 students and their wants and needs with the same reverance? This is an issue of fairness in funding. "

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