Consolidating for the Future

In these times of painfully slow economic growth and stretched public resources, it’s best to be fiscally conservative, consolidating what you have and providing a solid foundation on which to build for the future. Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley are fortunate to have educational and civic leaders who are working to preserve those qualities and institutions that make these communities unique.

In 2013, both the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley School District learned that they had the only two middle schools along the Central Coast to have ever been awarded distinction of the Schools to Watch–Taking Center Stage commendation. Since the first awards were presented in 2003, just 48 California schools have qualified with 12 schools awarded the Schools to Watch title for 2013.

Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson along with SVUSD Board President Art Bubb, SVUSD Superintendent Penny Weaver SVJHS Principal Mary Lonhart, and SLVMS Principal Jeff Calden took part in the award ceremonies at the schools. Banners that read “2013 Schools to Watch – Taking Center Stage” were unfurled and presented at the end of the ceremonies by Dr. Howard making the state designation official.

But that wasn’t all, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson also named Scotts Valley High School as a California Distinguished School. The 2013 California Distinguished Schools Program directly focuses on the right of California’s students to an equitable and rigorous education, and recognizes those schools that have made progress in narrowing the academic achievement gap.

Schools earning the Distinguished School title agree to share their signature practices with other schools and become a mentor to those seeking to replicate their work.

Planning for the future in 2013 the SVUSD prepared a facility needs assessment for all its school campuses (scottsvalleyusd.org/) to apply for schools facilities funding with the state Department of General Services. However, the state usually provides no more than half of the funding necessary to make such improvements. It is expected that the district will present a bond issue to the voters possibly in 2014 to partially fund the district’s most pressing needs.

On the civic side of events, the city voters passed Measure U, a one-half cent sales tax increase within the city of Scotts Valley that raises the sales tax from 8.25% to 8.75% for the next eight years starting April 1 2014 until March 31 2022. According to City Manager Steve Ando, passing Measure U will provide the city an additional $1.2 million per year for its general fund, which pays for City salaries, operations and services, which includes police, parks and street maintenance.

At the end of 2013, the fate of the polo barn built by Marion Hollins in 1930 remains up in the air. Florida-based Lennar Homes has offered the city of Scotts Valley $1 million for the right to raze the historic but dilapidated building. The money would be used by the city for its parks and recreation department. If the offer is not taken, the developer would be forced to renovate the structure at its own cost. Besides housing horses, the barn was home to Santa’s Reindeer during the halcyon days of the famous Santa’s Village for 20 years from 1957 to 1977.

When asked about the future of Scotts Valley’s economy Bustichi said, “The Town Center Project is starting to come together with a developer (Safeway-Property Development Centers) that has the resources to make it happen. With the sale of the former headquarters of Borland, which has almost 400,000 square feet of the 600,000 square feet of vacant commercial space in Scotts Valley, this provides a great opportunity for commercial growth.

The former Seagate campus is now the new headquarters of Bay Photo and several local companies such as Fox Shox, Zero Motorcycles and Universal Audio are expanding and increasing their hiring. All of this means that the long-term future of Scotts Valley is bright.”

With first class school systems and libraries, with interested citizens and responsible officials, the future does indeed look bright.