The Los Banos School Board heard reports on facilities, approved a bid, received reports on community schools and recognized 13 new retirees from the district at their May 14 meeting.
According to Facilities and Special Projects Manager Sherry Munday, the Early Education Center (EEC) construction and Volta Elementary Modernization are coming to a close.
The EEC will have its ribbon-cutting on May 21 at 4 p.m. The grand opening at Volta Elementary will be on May 28 at 4 p.m. A $13,883.17 change order by the board finished off the Los Banos Junior High fire alarm upgrade.
At the Los Banos High modernization, the modular new admin building was finally delivered on May 12. Munday explained that electrical and plumbing still need to be done at the building before it is used. Further she said that the entire modernization project will continue throughout the year. Munday said the Pacheco Baseball field will go to bid on May 20 and finish within 90 days.
The board approved $232,800 for two portables at Grasslands Elementary. The bid was to American Modular Systems Inc. Munday said they were needed “so [that] we have [a] place for those kids at Grasslands to go after school.”
The board also authorized Munday to seek bids for a Special Education building for Grasslands Elementary.
Community Schools Director Heather Wheeler reported the progress of the program. She reported that in the past year they set up the Family Resource Center, gave away 1,500 backpacks, 2,700 glasses, held book parties, field trips and even a resource fair.
She also highlighted the winter enrichment camp that will be continued into summer. Camps will include STEM, welding, and even culinary arts. Wheeler also mentioned that food pantries and clothing closets have been set up throughout the district to help students.
“This has been our first full year together, and to see where we are compared to last year is pretty mind-blowing,” Wheeler said.
The current state budget outlook is “rosier than it was when the governor first introduced it in January,” Interim Superintendent Sean Richey said to the board in his report.
At the start of the meeting, outgoing student representative Layla Navarro was recognized. 13 district retirees were also recognized: Kimberly Baptista, Laura Barger, Janet Buckley, Timothy Burns, Rosario Carrasco, Jennifer Chapman, Karen Cluster, Tomas Flores, Kelli Hamilton, Christine Huff, Carole Kruger, Paul Montemurro and Barbara Severns.
The school district received $121,403 from the state to fund the Transition Partnership Program. The program helps juniors with disabilities transition from High School to employment, according to the Director of Special Services, Toney Henry’s report.
The board voted to raise the Level 1 Developer Fee rate. According to Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Sypher Lee’s written report, the new rates are $5.38 per foot for residential and $0.87 for commercial. Previously they were $5.17 and $0.84, respectively.
The board announced its intent to adopt 30 new policy changes at the next meeting.
