The Gavilan College Board of Trustees met April 12 on the Gilroy campus to continue the discussion of the planned Hollister campus that would be located at what is known as Fairview Corners, across Airline Highway and Ridgemark Golf and Country Club.
Vice President of Administrative Services Frederick E. Harris updated the board with a timeline of what would become the San Benito County Education Center. He said they were still in Phase 1 and once the land grant was approved they could work with architects to get an updated and accurate timeline of what the campus would look like.
Harris said it would take about 18 months for the permits to be approved and from there the campus would be built over a 20-year period.
“It makes sense to spend dollars if we already own the land to develop the site,” he said.
Board Vice President Mark Dover asked Harris what the community could start to see in the developing area.
Harris said they could start to see general education buildings but it would only be preliminary plans.
Dover suggested that the next meeting in San Benito in May would be a good opportunity for board members to hear from the community on what types of things they would like to see on the campus.
Arturo Rosette, Gavilan College Academic Senate president, agreed with Dover, saying, “I think it will be helpful to see what programs will be offered. It will be valuable information to share with the community, square footage is one thing but seeing something tangible would be helpful.”
Kent Child, a Gavilan trustee representing San Benito County, agreed with Dover and Rosette adding, “sooner would be better than later.”
Child said it would be important to see what classes would be offered at the Hollister campus, posing the tongue-in-cheek question that if classes were offered at different locations “would you have to become a road scholar?”
Child added that it would be an important step to figure out “what magnet programs are going to be held and where.”
The discussion ended with public comment from Hollister residents Keith Snow and Roy Lompa.
Lompa showed his frustration with the board saying, “I’ve lived out in the area for 88 years and I’ve watched people argue what you’re going to do out there.”
He added, “I see school boards building monuments to themselves instead of worrying about kids.”
Kids will learn just as much in building that is cheaper just as long as they have a place to learn, Lompa said. Adding that the board didn’t have to spend so much money as long as they get it done.
“I want something to happen in Hollister because that’s the home of the original (San Benito) junior college,” he concluded.
The next Gavilan College Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Hollister City Council Chambers 375 Fifth St.