 |
|
|
|
|
District is hesitant to set date for Broadway's Muir move
Alternate sites are considered 'Plan B' until school board makes decision
By Jessica Lyons
Although the Board of Education is expected to give the final go-ahead at its Nov. 4 meeting to moving Broadway High onto the John Muir Middle School campus, San Jose Unified School District officials are hesitant to pinpoint a groundbreaking date quite yet.
Only weeks ago, district officials said construction would start "as soon as possible," even as early as November. But as the board's meeting date approaches, district officials are giving a different, slightly coy answer to the question of Broadway's new home.
"We are indeed and have always been looking for alternate sites, but that doesn't mean we are not continuing to plan on the site at Speak Lane," says district spokeswoman Maureen Davidson. "The board has not made their decision, so therefore we are still seeking alternate sites."
While Davidson refused to name any specific potential homes for the district's continuation high school, she says that "we have looked at a number of sites that are Plan B. Those do not include any other school sites in the San Jose Unified School District, but we have talked about collaborating with other school districts, we have talked about purchasing new property and we have looked at other land that the district owns."
Until now, the district has been awaiting the results of a new traffic study, part of the California Environmental Quality Act review process. Results of the study, however, determine that moving Broadway to the corner of Speak and Branham lanes will have a "less than significant" impact on traffic. The CEQA study and public comments will be presented to the Board of Education on Nov. 4. At that time, the board will vote on the report.
Despite the district's inquiries about finding an alternate home for Broadway, Robertsville area residents aren't celebrating any victories yet.
"My assumption is that on [November] fourth, the board is going to rubber stamp this [CEQA] report," says Jim Chase, president of CAIR (Community Action in Robertsville), a community group founded in response to the district's decision to relocate Broadway onto John Muir's campus.
CAIR will continue to raise money to fund a legal team, should the board decide to approve the proposed Broadway move, Chase says. "It's sad that we are using our money to fight the people that we elected, and they are fighting back with our tax dollars," Chase says. "There's something wrong with this picture."
The board meeting will be held Nov. 4 .
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
