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San Benito High School District’s Facilities Needs Committee, composed of nearly 60 members, including educators, parents, students, as well as community and business leaders, held its second meeting on November 30th to discuss school construction, funding, and the site selection process for a second high school.
Community input is crucial as the San Benito High School District works to serve current residents and a growing student population. The District hosted a panel of experts, including architects, construction project managers, school facility planners, and finance experts, to discuss school construction and funding with the Committee. Following a panel discussion, the Committee brainstormed about ways for the District to educate and inform the community about facilities needs and funding. Below are highlights of the discussion:
Panel Discussion on Funding a Second High School
The District is planning for a second high school that can serve 1,200 to 1,400 students, with the potential to expand over time. The potential first phase of the high school could include amenities such as classrooms and programs for science, art, and music as well as a gymnasium, library, and cafeteria/kitchen. It would not include all of the same amenities that currently exist at Hollister High School, such as a stadium, pool or Career Technical Education building. The potential cost estimate for the second high school is over $200 million.
Schools in California are funded in three ways: from developer fees and voluntary contributions from new construction; state matching funds; and from local revenues, such as general obligation bonds and joint use projects with other community partners.
Funding From Developers
The District currently collects developer fees of $2.98 per square foot from home builders. Based on estimates in today’s dollars, those fees could generate $23 million over time. Based on state funding guidelines, the District could expect to receive approximately $44 million in state matching funds for the new high school. However, the District has a track record of receiving greater state matching funds due to its active pursuit of all available state funding grants.
Developer fees and state funding is insufficient to fund the full cost of a second high school. The District is actively negotiating with developers to encourage them to make voluntary contributions above the legally-mandated amount per new home built. The development and homebuilding community recognize that Hollister High School is overcrowded and additional funding is necessary to sustain the current educational standard in our community.
The District recently signed a term sheet for supplemental funding with Bill Lee for the Land of Lee residential project. The term sheet provides funding beginning at $5 per square foot, and increasing over time. If approved, the District will have its first voluntary mitigation agreement, which could serve as a catalyst for future agreements with developers and homebuilders.
The City of Hollister and County of San Benito can support the District by asking applicants of proposed developments about the number of new students generated by their project and inquiring if they have met with the high school district about identifying funding options for a second high school.
The District monitors all residential development proposals and projects and regularly attends City and County Planning Commission meetings as well as meetings held by the Hollister City Council and Board of Supervisors.
The District continues to work closely with the development community, homebuilders and the Building Industry Association about the need for a second high school. Hollister High is operating over capacity, and the path to deliver a second high school requires a regional community partnership.
Funding From Bond Measures
In addition to funding from developer fees, mitigation agreements, and state matching funds, local funding from a general obligation bond would be necessary to provide a second high school that will maintain the current educational standard. The community approved San Benito High School District’s Measures G and U, which provided $100 million in general obligation bonds. The District was successful in leveraging that community support to secure an additional $36 million in state funding. That funding has been used for modernization and new construction projects on the Hollister High School campus, which include the new Visual and Performing Arts and Career Technical Education buildings, the Science and Robotics Building, and physical education and athletic facilities such as the multipurpose field and Andy Hardin Stadium.
The Cost of a New Campus
The Committee was told that community buy-in and clarity of purpose about a new high school from the District is key to the process, as is communication. Asked if the District could partner with other agencies for joint-use facilities to reduce construction costs, the panel said that was challenging, but not without precedent.
Damon Felice of Felice Consulting Services said that such an arrangement “in principle is a great idea,” though most entities don’t want to be the lead agency in such agreements.
Location of Second High School
Regarding the possible location of a new high school, the panel noted that current and future population trends should be considered. Equity is important when the location of a second high school is considered. A second high school needs to enhance, not split, the community. The school should be in an area where residential growth is occurring or planned.
The state of California will have to approve the site of a second high school.
Input from the Facilities Needs Committee
The Facilities Needs Committee discussed ways to educate and inform the community about the need for and funding of a second high school.
The community wants to know that the District has exhausted every option for funding. It is essential to show our constituents that the District has effectively maximized its resources and has expanded Hollister High School to reach maximum capacity.
Other ideas suggested by the Committee included:
- Continuing education on school funding options.
- Continued discussions about the District’s Best Road property, including a possible sale to generate funds that could offset the cost of a second high school.
- Sharing information about the educational program, possible location and the proposed facilities of a second high school.
- Informing the community about how congestion and crowded conditions are impacting students and staff at Hollister High School.
- Creating a pros and cons list addressing what would happen if a second high school was NOT built.
- Partnering with land use agencies responsible for approving development agreements and land use decision making concerning the approval or denial of new developments.
- Communicating with elementary school families, as they are the future students of San Benito High School District.
- Utilizing various ways of connecting with constituents, including going door-to-door and visiting local organizations.
Next Steps
Before their next meeting on Saturday, Jan. 21, during which they will discuss the vision for a new high school and take a tour of Hollister High, Facilities Needs Committee members were asked to each speak with up to four community members regarding the need for a second high school.
The Committee will continue its meetings in the new year, gathering on March 1 to discuss how an educational program drives school facilities decisions; March 22, when they will discuss possible facilities that could be included in a new campus, and April 26, when they will develop findings and recommendations that be presented to the Board of Trustees on May 23.
The participation and engagement of the Facilities Needs Committee is a reminder that it’s always a great day to be a Baler!
Sincerely,
San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum
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