From bond to buildings

Brian Deis, left, principal of the new Liberty Ranch High School, and Galt High Superintendent Thomas Gemma, discuss the ongoing construction at Liberty Ranch High School. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

From bond to buildings

Galt's Liberty Ranch High School still on target for August opening

By Jennifer Bonnett
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Thursday, November 13, 2008 5:43 AM PST

Comments (6 comment(s))

Principal Brian Deis leads visitors through the not-yet-completed halls of Liberty Ranch High School like someone who just had his first custom house built.

After months of studying the plans for Galt's first new high school since the early 1900s, Deis can point out even the tiniest room on campus, which may well be the lighting room for the cafeteria's indoor stage.

Although they all pretty much look the same right now, Deis knows each light brown building by name.

There's the science wing, the language arts building, the site of the future ag building. And, of course, the multi-use cafeteria which will not only serve as a spot to feed students, but will be the site of many theater and music performances.

Liberty Ranch High School is set to open in August as a comprehensive high school, meaning it will offer college-bound as well as technical curriculum for its students. Although construction is well underway and the facades are just about complete along Marengo Road in northeast Galt, there is more to opening a high school than just construction.

Deis, named principal last May, has led efforts to pick the school's staff as well as its colors; green, silver and white; and its mascot, the hawk.

The plans, but no money

Liberty Ranch High School at a glance

Located on Marengo Road, off Twin Cities Road, on approximately 45 acres.

Includes about 150,000 square feet of buildings.

Campus will open in August to ninth- and 10th-graders.

Full capacity will be at 1,400 when it is open to 11th- and 12th-graders in the coming years.

Grounds will include three sports fields, including a football field with bleachers and lighting.

Colors: green, silver and white.

Mascot: The hawk.

Source: Galt Joint Union High School District

When Superintendent Tom Gemma came on board three years ago, the district was waiting for funding for a new high school. It was apparent that's what was needed, as Galt High School was bursting at the seams.

"The plans for Liberty Ranch were already being formulated," Gemma said recently, adding that supporters had failed to pass several school bonds. "They had the plans, but no money. I made it my goal to get the funding."

In 2005, with Gemma and other supporters' public campaigning, voters passed a $29.5 million bond with two-thirds majority to construct a new high school. The remaining funding came from state grants and a unique lease-lease back program with the contractor. Construction started along Marengo Road, just off Twin Cities Road, in August 2007 and has progressed steadily.

Two weeks ago, workers poured the concrete that will become the campus quad area, and crews were just about ready to lay the carpet in several classrooms. Two have been pre-wired to use as computer labs and possibly a video lab. The pre-engineering lab is quite a bit bigger than other classrooms.

"They're well ahead of schedule," said Deis, leading three hard-hatted visitors around campus. "How often can you say that about a project this big?"

When it opens, Liberty Ranch High School's campus will have just one gym but space to add a second if money becomes available. New high schools typically have two gyms; one for physical education classes and one for athletic teams, Deis said.

There will be six state-of-the-art science labs, with half being outfitted with computers. Not only will the cafeteria double as an auditorium, but an outdoor stage is included for lunchtime drama productions.

Most wings have offices for joint use by teachers prepping for classes.

"I don't know anyone who will not be impressed," Deis said of the school's library. One wall will be lined with a bank of computers opposite a wall of windows overlooking the landscaped quad.

The school's art classrooms will share two outdoor firing kilns, and the band, choral and drama classrooms are appropriately in the same building.

The administration office will not only hold the obvious, but includes a large nurse's office and student body store. The oak trim runs throughout the campus.

Deis stops in the middle of the tour to point out the flagpole installed two weeks ago Tuesday. It's officially a school now.

One obvious thing missing from the high school campus is lockers; planners decided to nix the addition, figuring students will have a set of textbooks on campus and a set at home.

The courtyard at the new Liberty Ranch High School in Galt, along with the rest of the school, is still under construction. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Gemma said the district has held the costs to a minimum, partly through the lease-lease back agreement with F&H Construction of Stockton, which has retained its own sub-contractors at an agreed-upon price.

Under state education code, a school board may lease its property for $1 per year during construction for the purpose of building a school. The contractor, school district and architect can work together from the beginning.

Despite some public confusion as to what is included in the $65 million price tag for construction, the school's so-called "800 wing" and ag building have been put back into the plans due to available funding, and construction has commenced.

And, Deis said, the three fields for baseball, softball and football are on schedule to be ready on the first day of school. An eight-lane track made of decomposed granite will border the football field, where bleachers and lighting will be installed.

A chain-link fence surrounds the campus' tennis and volleyball courts, which will be used for both physical education and competitive use.

Overseeing construction

Deis has also been side by side with district officials as they have navigated sewer and right-of-way permits from the city and county, since the school is currently on county-owned land. There are future plans for city annexation.

When asked how it felt being part of a school literally from the ground up, Deis responded, "One word: sweet."

He has also been responsible for choosing curriculum, as well as the teachers who will teach it.

Since new students aren't being added to the district, there isn't a need to hire many new teachers. In most cases, Deis said, interested teachers will move from Galt High onto the new campus.

He started the interviews last month. The board did not vote on teachers who will be transferring over at Wednesday's regular board meeting. The new vice principal, Joe Saramago, will move from Galt High to the new campus. Also, kitchen staff and personnel were interviewed on Wednesday.

Deis, who has been with the district for 14 years, said the staff is coming together to develop the school with a joint mission: to take students into the 21st century.

He will also start organizing the school's booster clubs and Parent Teacher Student Association, and is encouraging interested participants to contact him at Galt High School, where he still serves as a vice principal.

As one of his last construction duties, the administration office furniture is being chosen by Deis to match the classroom desks. And the laminate on the cabinets will be uniform throughout the campus.

In the end, he wishes he could bring everyone onto the campus to show them around. He would take them in and out of what will become the science labs, through the music rooms and across the indoor stage.

"I want people to know what an amazing school they're getting for the price they're paying," Deis said, of the price, quite a bit lower than neighboring districts' new construction projects. "We're getting a very nice high school, a high school this city can be very proud of."

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Pat Maple wrote on Nov 16, 2008 6:25 AM:

" Have to agree with you on colors and mascot...there were a lot more costs due to egos and I wants than engineering problems. But don't get me started again. One thing you may not know is that I brought this to the table during the first bond campaign when the lease-lease back costs would have been closer to $38M with ALL of the amenities. At a cost to the community of much less. "

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Pat Maple wrote on Nov 16, 2008 6:24 AM:

" Have to agree with you on colors and mascot...there were a lot more costs due to egos and I wants than engineering problems. But don't get me started again. One thing you may not know is that this is that I brought this to the table during the first bond campaign when the lease-lease back costs would have been closer to $38M with ALL of the amenities. At a cost to the community of much less. "

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alf wrote on Nov 15, 2008 12:31 AM:

" the $80M price was for traditional bid process. $80M would have been closer than the $54M price that was brought by lease-lease. credit given, thanks for insisting on that process. however, price is somewhat higher due to CO's and revisions to plans for the engineering, ag and health academies buildings. still on budget and on time. we should be celebrating this accomplishment for our students, faculty and community. not too choked up about the colors and mascot, but will live with it. "

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Pat Maple wrote on Nov 13, 2008 3:40 PM:

" Exactly.Ek...it seems Gemma is trying to pad his resume. He forgets to mention it was under Dr Hoffman' term that Galt received a $6M grant to get the schools started, and to build EHS. It was also Dennis Richardson, Sue Roberts and I that forced the hand for the lease-lease back bidding. Gemma and the Oversight Committee said it would cost $80M. Actual bid was $54M with a reserve of over $1M. PLEASE give credit where credit is due. What about them test scores??? "

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loadeye wrote on Nov 13, 2008 12:00 PM:

" Whatever happened to the Nuestra charter school? "

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ekranoplan wrote on Nov 13, 2008 8:26 AM:

" galt is the only city i know with 2 high schools and no major retail outlets. i predict this school will soon head down the path of GHS. Nice new buildings do not equate to quality teachers in a district that does not care. If you do not have quality teachers you wind up like GHS. Deis, instead of worrying about matching furniture you should be focused on matching the State test scores. "

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