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EARLENE WARD
A commitment
from the State of California to provide $7.8 million to the Yosemite Joint
Union High School District for its construction project has allowed the
board of trustees to authorize Superintendent Bill McCabe to go out to
bid for a 23-classroom complex and a swimming pool complex.
The state funds are coming from the bond measure voters passed statewide
two years ago. This is money YJUHSD has been entitled to as a match for
its $11.76 million bond passed in 1998. Until this funding commitment,
YJUHSD had only received $4 million from the state in matching funds.
“This will allow us to complete our construction project,” Mr. McCabe
says. “We are extremely pleased that we will be able to build everything
we promised when we asked the voters to pass the bond five years ago.”
The projected completion date for the classrooms and pool complex is August
1, 2004.
Other projects that will be completed in the next 18 months are a performing
arts center, completion of a soccer field and installation of an all-weather
nine-lane track. The football field will also be renovated.
In addition to the state funds, the district has a $1 million private
donation for the swimming complex and a $100,000 grant for the all-weather
track. Developer fees will also be used to complete the projects.
Work is currently underway on baseball and softball fields. Much of the
expense for the baseball field has been private donations.
Construction is underway on a music classroom building. This should be
completed and occupied before the end of 2003. After the new building
is in use, the current music/drama building will be converted into a 400-seat
performing arts center.
Two of the original buildings on the YHS campus were re-roofed this summer.
The buildings were constructed in the mid-1970s with wooden roofs. The
new roofs are metal.
A new access road to the school and parking area were completed. The area
where the parking in front of the district office had been located is
where the 23-classroom complex will begin.
At the completion of the planned construction project, just one building
on campus will not have been remodeled.
Mr. McCabe stresses that all of the money for construction is coming from
bonds the voters approved. “Some find it odd that we are building when
the state is in a budget crisis,” he says, “but none of this money could
be used for anything other than school construction.”
Mr. McCabe says the district has received this funding from the state
because of persistence in moving forward with plans even though money
was not available. “When they allocated funds from the bond, those districts
that had approved plans had priority. We were fortunate to be in that
position.”
The YJUHSD Board of Trustees also approved hiring KH Construction as the
construction manager for the classroom and pool complexes.
“This entire project has been a community effort,” Mr. McCabe said, “from
passing our bond measure in 1998 to the many private donations we have
received to help us with some of the projects. This facility belongs to
the public and all facilities will be available for public use.”
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