Liberty Ranch construction at standstill as state pulls funds

State funds for the construction of a building at Liberty Ranch High School will not be released as anticipated, according to Galt high school board officials.

Interim Superintendent Audrey Kilpatrick made the announcement during her regular report at Tuesday's Galt high school board meeting. Trustees plan to meet after Thanksgiving to decide on other options, which could include taking out a small loan or possibly returning to voters with a bond measure.

In October, a board meeting on the topic was canceled when Kilpatrick learned some of the money frozen by the state last year for the project may have been freed up by a bond sale. In a "very unfortunately disappointing" decision, Kilpatrick said Tuesday she was informed that the state decided only to fund projects that had been approved by Dec. 17, 2008. The Galt project was scheduled to be approved by the state in April.

The anticipated $1.8 million in state funding had already been set aside for shop buildings at the new high school. They will house vocational-related programs, including pre-engineering.

"It looks like we need to continue on some sort of path to get the matching funds," Kilpatrick said Tuesday.

The board has already discussed borrowing the money to finish the construction project, but a decision had yet to be made. Financing plans could be approved as soon as Dec. 8.

During closed session, the board was scheduled to discuss hiring a new superintendent. There was no reportable action taken, president Terry Parker-Owning said when she adjourned the open session. Trustees planned to return to closed session following the regular meeting.

The district held its first round of interviews for the top district position in July — shortly after former Superintendent Tom Gemma resigned — but due to community input and a dissatisfaction with the four semi-final candidates, trustees decided to restart the search process and hire an outside firm to vet the process. Leadership Associates, Inc. was chosen the following month to handle the search and ultimately helped provide the five candidates.

The board was scheduled to interview the five semi-finalists during a special closed meeting on Wednesday. Kilpatrick has said that site visits, a final selection and offer of employment would soon follow.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.

Also on the agenda

In other action Tuesday, the board of trustees:

— Heard a report from Chief Business Official Audrey Kilpatrick on a budget advisory committee and set its first meeting for Dec. 16.

— Recognized a number of students, including Tim Marriott, Isaac Valencia and Dom Stellato, for their recent achievements.

— Listened to a service learning project presented by Galt High School's Advanced Placement government class lobbying for open campus.

— Set the annual organizational meeting date for the governing board.

News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

Pat Maple wrote on Nov 12, 2009 3:57 PM:

" alf: Couldn't have said it better...move it back to GHS where they already have the facilities...expand those instead.

Superintendent...won't last 2 years. NO public input...NO public scrutiny...NO public buy-in. Why is anyone leaving their post mid-year? What will the salary be? He? She? At least Dennis and Kat were involved this time. "

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alf wrote on Nov 12, 2009 11:21 AM:

" this building is for the Ag. Dept. plain & simple. you have cut auto/diesel at GHS, cut health at GHS. you will wait for ths funding to thaw. no loan. no new bond. Wait. "

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