Morgan Hill Community Adult School staff members are upset that their campus is being moved, despite their complaints.
But perhaps they're not complaining vocally enough, since none have come forward themselves to denounce the move, which received the stamp of approval from Superintendent Alan Nishino sometime between late May and mid July.
Via a letter read by San Jose wedding DJ Gary Dodds at Tuesday night's Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education meeting, staff members called the move an "unjust displacement."
The letter, signed "Grupo Masahua," also asked why other alternatives were not considered and questioned the "legality behind seizing their buildings, parking lot, landscaping, etc."
The adult school has been located on Monterey Road next to Morgan Hill Central Continuation High School since 1998. It will be moved to three portables and eventually a utilities building, all located at the Britton Middle School site on Central Avenue. The adult school offers classes to adults at the high school level and general continuing education.
Dodds couldn't identify the group's mission or members, other than that they were members of the adult school staff. Dodds later said he was friends with adult school staff members, who asked him to read the letter because he has public speaking experience. Before reading the group's letter, Dodds said his presentation might be too little, too late. This week, adult school staff was moving books, shelves and desks to the new location.
Trustee Bart Fisher said that although district staff told the board about their plans to move during a May meeting, the board wasn't required to give final approval on the move. The final go-ahead was given by Superintendent Alan Nishino, he said.
Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini said the move would allow the adult school and the continuation high school to expand. The adult school would have more room for hands-on classes and the continuation high school could accommodate 62 more students in the upcoming school year.
School board members were mystified by Dodds's presentation, and said the move sounded good to them.
Trustee Bart Fisher said he admired the passion around the issue and that the district could do a better job communicating.
"I would have greater concerns about this, if I had not heard full-throated support from both principals (at the adult and continuation schools)," Fisher said. "I took it with a grain of salt that the gentleman couldn't or wouldn't identify who he was speaking for. I appreciate the comments, but I take that for what it's worth."
Fisher said the comments were less forceful than they could have been if they had been presented by someone more directly involved with the adult school.
"It was a little weird," Trustee Peter Mandel said of Dodds's presentation. Mandel said he didn't know the particulars behind building the original Community Adult School, which Dodds had highlighted, but that he had a "gut feeling that whatever we're doing is beneficial."
Mandel pointed out that the new site at Britton Middle School is larger with more parking and more facilities.
Tognazzini said once the utilities building is completed, the adult school will have almost doubled in size, as well as have larger classrooms. To gear up for the move, the district painted the portables and put in new windows and flooring, Tognazzini said.
"It's looking really smart, quite honestly," she said.
Natalie Everett
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett is the education and city reporter for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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