On September 19th, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm the superintendent as well as other Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) staff held a community workshop in Mt. Whitney High School’s gym. VUSD’s facilities were discussed in 9 different concepts.
By: Isabel Barycki
To many VUSD students and staff it may be no secret that their high school, elementary, and middle school facilities, are exceeding 90% capacity. Currently 16 sites in Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) are exceeding 90% capacity. This essentially means schools are holding more students than their facilities can handle. For Redwood, the current utilization is 124.2%, which can be seen from the strain of facilities like the gym, parking, and our long passing periods.
For years, this has been a consistent problem that has been tackled by different superintendents. With the 5th superintendent still tackling this, it seems to be a problem in desperate need of change. To take on the needs of VUSD schools, the district has sought community feedback through surveys. These were taken into account and an assessment on facilities was made. VUSD staff groups intend to create healthy learning environments for students were then created and followed by staff working group meetings.
VUSD on September 19th held a community workshop to go over the current and projected reality of our school district, and concepts planned to tackle different problems. During this meeting, community questions, comments, and concerns were considered through table talks at the end of each topic or concept discussed. These talks were guided by a VUSD staff member.
The outline of concepts were placed on each table to help guide conversations.
Where Have We Been?
As of 2018, Measure A was voted on by the Visalia community to improve the quality of public schools and protect quality education. Things like upgraded classrooms, labs and computer systems to support science, technology, English, arts and math, improve school saftey/ security, and prevent school/classroom overcrowding were planned to be achieved. Measure A was planned to be achieved through issuing $105,300,000 in bonds at legal rates.
The effects of Measure A can be seen throughout Houston Elementary, Green Acres Middle School, La Joya Middle School, and Mt. Whitney High school. Currently, $70 million of Measure A funds remain for future planning.
Today, there are currently 120+ portables leased across the district. The annual renting cost for portables across the district is $2.2 million.
4 elementary schools and 1 middle school are projected to be under 70% capacity.
16 sites are currently exceeding 90% capacity, 3 high schools, one middle school, and 12 out of 27 elementary schools.
Over 4,000 homes are projected to be built over the next 6 years.
Projections assume no boundary changes.
Some concepts presented suggest building new classrooms or schools, but building is undoubtedly expensive. Throughout the planning concepts you’ll notice an estimated total cost for each project. This funding comes from various sources like developer fees, the Measure A general obligation bond, state facility funds (reimbursements), certificates of participation(COPs), and General Obligation Bonds. About $128.6 million in funding is available to address current and future and facility needs through these funding sources.
Where Are We Going: Concepts
Two short term concepts, 1 to 3 years, were discussed during the meeting. These concepts mostly concern exceeding capacity, the residential development in the Northwest and Southeast, and transfers.
Concept 1 – Short term
Reduce transfers, which would impact Redwood by 175 students (387 transfer in currently), and would cost none.
New construction by adding 6 classrooms to Ridgeview. This would cost $7,200,420.
Adjust Elementary and Middle School boundaries: Boundaries are essentially borders around where houses are built. Each school has its own boundary of houses. Boundary adjustments in this concept would impact Elementary schools like: Riverway, Denton, Houston, Crowley, Mineral King, Oak Grove, Shannon Ranch, Manuel F. Hernandez, Pinkham, Annie R. Mitchell, and Ridgeview. This would cost nothing.
Total cost: $7,200,420
Concept 2 – Short term
Better utilization of facilities which would balance student population at the following schools and cost nothing: Global Learning Charter, Mineral King, Pinkham, Green Acres, Mt. Whitney.
New construction of 3 classrooms at Ridgeview and 3 and Green Acres to keep utilization at 90% for the next 3 years. This would cost 6,000,350.
Adjust Elementary, Middle, and High school boundaries to reduce overcrowding at the following schools: Redwood, Denton, Oak Grove, Annie R. Mitchell, Riverway. This would cost nothing.
Total Cost: $6,000,350
After short term, long term concepts were discussed. These planning concepts would take 4-10 years. These concepts concern exceeding capacity at schools, and growth in the Northwest and Southeast.
Concept 1 – Long term,
Build 1 new elementary school with 29 classrooms and add 39 classrooms to existing school, and adjust boundaries as needed. Also, 68 elementary classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%.
Adjust middle school and high school boundaries to reduce net classrooms needed, and 12 new classrooms built at Ridgeview. Along with the high school boundary adjustment, 38 new classrooms are added to keep utilization rates at 90% .
Total cost : $155,148,033
Concept 2 – Long term
Build 1 new elementary school with 29 classrooms, and add 32 classrooms to existing schools while adjusting boundaries as needed. A boundary area is assigned to Global Learning Charter (GLC) to increase utilization. A total of 61 elementary classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%.
Adjust middle school boundaries to reduce net classrooms needed, and add 9 new classrooms at Ridgeview.
Build a new Northwest high school with 56 classrooms, and adjust high school boundaries. 6 new classrooms are built at Golden West.
Total cost: $285,069,532
Concept 3a – Long term
Covert elementary schools to grades TK-5. Build 1 new elementary school with 29 classrooms, and add 3 classrooms to Annie R. Mitchell while adjusting boundaries as needed. A total of 32 new classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%.
Add 6th grade to middle schools, add 12 classroom to Ridgeview, 6 to La Joya and build 1 new middle school in the southeast area with 40 classrooms
Build a new Northwest high school with 56 classrooms and adjust high school boundaries. Also, 6 new classrooms added at Golden West.
Total Cost: $355,686,463
Concept 3b – Long term
Covert elementary schools to grades TK-5. Build 1 new elementary school with 29 classrooms, and add 3 classrooms to Annie R. Mitchell while adjusting boundaries as needed. A total of 32 new classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%.
Add 6th grade to middle schools, add 12 classroom to Ridgeview, 6 to La Joya and build 1 new middle school in the southeast area with 40 classrooms
Adjust high school boundaries to reduce net classrooms needed. 38 new classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%.
Total cost: $210,964,098
Concept 4 – Long term
Build 2 new elementary schools in the Northwest and Southeast. A total of 58 new classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%.
adjust middle school boundaries to better utilize facilities. Add 12 classrooms to Ridgeview.
Build 5th high school with design capacity of 1,800 students, and with 67 classrooms
Total cost: $327, 452,719
Concept 5a – Long term
Build 1 new elementary school with 29 classrooms, add classrooms to existing schools and adjust boundaries as need. A boundary area is also assigned to Global Learning Charter to increase utilization. 61 classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%
Redwood High school is converted to a middle school, and Ridgeview become a high school. Adjust middle school boundaries to maximize use of facilities. 50 classrooms used at Redwood Middle school.
Expand Ridgeview campus to convert it to a high school. Add 75 classrooms to Ridgeview campus, and 8 classrooms at Mt. Whitney while also adjusting boundaries.
Total Cost: $279,482,566
Lastly, Concept 5b – Long term
Convert elementary grades to TK-5. Build a new elementary school with 29 classrooms. Add 3 classrooms to Annie R. Mitchell and adjust boundaries as needed. A total of 32 classrooms are built to keep utilization rates at 90%
Add 6th grade to middle schools, add 8 classrooms to La Joya, add 9 classrooms to Valley Oak and use 77 classrooms at Redwood.
Expand Ridgeview campus to convert to a high school. Add 75 classrooms to Ridgeview campus and 8 classrooms at Mt. Whitney.
Total Cost: $270,762,057
More information on VUSD’s plan for facilities, and information on Measure A, can be found at engage.vusd.org.
The next community workshop will be October 3rd at Ivanhoe Elementary School at 6:00pm. More dates for community workshops can also be found at engage.vusd.org.
Editor’s note- this story was updated for clarity on 7:30 am on October 3rd, 2024.
Isabel Barycki
Isabel Barycki,´26 is a third year journalism member. Inside room 207 you can find her writing for the Features and Clubs and Lifestyles sections for the Redwood Gigantea.
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