Saratoga High breaks ground on Measure B project

By Leigh Ann Maze

A golden shovel bit into the ground at Saratoga High School on May 10, at the site where the new library's construction is set to start this summer. The groundbreaking signified the beginning of the school district's immense $79 million dollar, Measure B school bond project.

A representative from Assemblyman Jim Cunneen's office joined the small but enthusiastic crowd of Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board members, school administrators, teachers, parents, students, volunteers, builders and architects.

Before the groundbreaking, LG-SJUSD superintendent Cynthia Ranii handed out honorary hard hats to district board members, and to community volunteer Cindy Ruby, for their long volunteer hours in making the bond project happen. Ruby, who also sits on the Saratoga Union School District board, was co-chair of the measure B bond campaign. She had the honor of throwing the first shovelful of dirt.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of many Measure B construction projects at SHS. The Measure B bond campaign began in January 1998, and local voters passed the measure in June 1998, with an 81 percent majority.

This summer, construction will begin on the new 17,000 square foot library, which will give high school scholars, more elbow room by offering nearly twice the square footage and seating for 167 students.

The new single-level library, which will replace the storage portables in the southeast corner of campus, will feature extra stacks, two computer classrooms and a reading room. The old library will be converted into classrooms and staff offices.

Also slated to begin construction this summer is a 24,000 square-foot science building, which will be located in the south parking lot. It will replace the seven existing science classrooms with 10 larger ones and includes an office area for teachers and a storage area.

Science teacher Jenny Garcia said librarian Tibor Szalay and the library staff, the science faculty and principal Kevin Skelly began planning the new buildings shortly after the bond passed. They have visited high-school campuses throughout Northern California and worked with architects to tailor the designs to SHS and the needs of its faculty and its students.

Both the library and science building are expected to be complete by October 2001.

Already renovated at SHS are the bathrooms and the heating and air-conditioning systems.

Also planned for SHS is modernization of boys' and girls' locker rooms, the large and small gyms, cafeteria, music, wood shop and fitness rooms. Utilities on campus will be upgraded and a new multipurpose hall and storage/graduation night facility will be built. Parking circulation will be improved and the school will be painted.

"So far everything is running on schedule and under budget," said Geoffrey Teall, Assistant Superintendent of the district. The entire bond project is expected to be completed by September 2004.

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