The Diocese of San Jose plans to purchase another 20 acres for a planned Catholic high school in southeast Morgan Hill that will accommodate about 1,600 students.
After nearly 10 years of planning, the Diocese purchased 20 acres on the northeastern corner of Tennant and Murphy avenues for an undisclosed amount of money in December.
George Chiala, chair of the 10-member Committee for a Catholic High School, said the Diocese is under contract to purchase another 20 acres. Chiala declined to say who owned either property, but did say it wasn't him. The Chialas are a well-known, longtime farming family which operates out of southeast Morgan Hill.
Land there is currently zoned for agricultural uses, but the Diocese hopes to annex its new property into the city and have it rezoned for the school, according to Chief Financial Officer Bob Serventi.
The city will soon begin three different studies for a package environmental impact report on what to do with the area. Possibilities include agricultural preservation, public facilities or other governmental uses, and a sports recreation and leisure zoning.
This area, generally more than 1,000 acres east and south of U.S. 101 and Tennant Avenue, is the last portion of the city's "greenbelt," or the open space surrounding the city, to be broken down into preservable or developable land. Because of the many landowners with differing opinions on what to do with the area, rezoning any of it has been an uphill battle.
Now, the city is at the stage of working through the Environmental Impact Report consultant selection process and negotiating cost-sharing for the EIR between the city and all applicants.
Molloy Previsich said after the study is completed, there will be public hearings at City Hall. Then, the document would go before the Local Agency Formation Commission, since some portions that are outside city limits, like the Diocese's land, might be recommended for annexation. All of this will take between 18 months and two years, Molloy Previsich said.
For the committee, it will be worth the wait.
The committee's first plan fell through in 2003 when a different location for the school, near Hale Avenue, "turned out to be not the best for us," Chiala said.
An advantage of the site the Diocese is purchasing now, Chiala said, is that they are negotiating with the city of Morgan Hill to share the city's nearby athletic fields.
Recreation Department Director Steve Rymer confirmed that the city has had preliminary discussions with the Diocese about possibly sharing the city's recreational facilities, including the Outdoor Sports Center and the Aquatics Center that are located on Condit Road, with the proposed high school.
"We're going to see if there are some opportunities there," he said.
If the deal works out, then "from day one we'll have athletics, a full curriculum from day one," Chiala said.
Chiala said the Catholic high school in Morgan Hill would be the first high school of its kind sanctioned by the Diocese in 50 years.
"It's going to be a first-class facility, with a full-curriculum high school," he said. "Of course, I think it's necessary, to have our children not driving up and down the road to San Jose and Salinas. I think the quality of education is very, very important."
While the full capacity of the high school is 1,600, the facility will be built in phases with the first phase accommodating about 600 students, Chiala said.
Serventi said having a regional Catholic school would benefit the whole area.
As it stands, the nearest Catholic high school is in downtown San Jose. There are also Catholic high schools in Watsonville and Salinas, Serventi said.
Fabienne Esparza, principal of Saint Catherine's School in Morgan Hill, which has about 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, said having a nearby private high school available to students would be great.
Esparza said enrollment has been steady and they are very close to maximum capacity for the campus on Peak Avenue. There are waiting lists for some grades.
Most Morgan Hill private schools are experiencing an up tick in enrollment and demand for their schools, which they say is fueled by the economy.
"For us, I can't speak for all private schools, (parents) are looking for value," said Brigitte Heiser, admissions director of the Carden Academy. "They see the results of our educational program for our students. They put out their money, especially (because of) all the cuts they're doing in public schools."
Morgan Hill city officials recently approved a use permit to bring Carden Academy to its full capacity of 200, from 135. Heiser said it was always in Carden's plans to have 200 students.
"We have 55 new students this year, and our registrations for next year are up," Heiser said.
Lara Kilpatrick, who oversees enrollment at Gilroy's Mount Madonna School, said enrollment for their 200-plus student body is steady as well.
"These days, it's the academics, the class sizes, not losing your arts, all the arts and the (physical education) program," Kilpatrick said of the benefits of private school over public school. "A lot of parents say 'We can't invest our money in the stock market, but we can invest it in our children's education.'"
According to a voice mail message from Oakwood School Executive Director Ted Helvey, enrollment there is down 2.5 percent over last year.
"Overall, considering the economy, we feel pretty good about that number," Helvey said. "Despite the high costs and challenging economy, we still have sufficient folks interested in this educational alternative to public schools."
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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