$1 • Friday, August 18, 2017 • Vol. 123, No. 33 • morganhilltimes.com • Serving Morgan Hill since 1894
Change coming to OSC? SPORTS FIELDS COMPLEX FAILS TO MEET CITY’S FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS Michael Moore Editor
➝ CARE, 15
➝ OSC, 15
Scott Hinrichs
opportunity to start the school year on a level playing field to succeed, the organization is doing its part to help families in need.” In addition to shoes and gift cards, the CARE team received 60 backpacks for students from the Jubilee Bridge Church. Other
The City of Morgan Hill is considering a new operator for the popular Outdoor Sports Center after the facility’s current nonprofit management group has fallen into significant debt. The Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance, which has operated the 38-acre soccer and sports field completed located on Condit Road since 2010, was in debt by more than $150,000 as of May, according to city staff. MHYSA's contract is up in 2019, and the city is hoping the next OSC contractor will will meet the ongoing challenge of finding the right balance between ample local access to the sports fields versus upgrading and promoting the facility as a major revenue generator. A centerpiece of this effort will be to send out a Request For Proposals from interested thirdparty vendors to run the OSC. The Morgan Hill City Council voted unanimously July 19 to begin this RFP process, which will last several months beginning in September. MHYSA is not ruled out from competing for the new contract. But the organization has been slow in making its quarterly payments to the city as spelled out in their contract, and has seen diminishing funds for upkeep of the OSC’s grass soccer fields. The current agreement between the city and MHYSA requires the nonprofit to pay the city
GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL From left, brothers Agustin Ruiz, 8; Omar Ruiz, 10; Miguel Angel Ruiz, 4; and Jose Francisco Ruiz, 2, enjoy the
coloring station set up for families who were invited to Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Community Advocacy and Resources for Education event Aug. 12.
Because they CARE MHUSD GIVES 400 PAIRS OF SHOES TO STUDENTS IN NEED
There were hundreds of grateful families and smiling faces inside the Morgan Hill Unified School District board room Aug.
AUGUST 18, 2017
STUDENTS DEMAND CHANGE; ADMINS DEFEND PROGRAM Music Legends Perform Gilroy brings big talent to downtown
Inside this issue: American Classic Hit Makers
WINE FAUX PAS P8 | VEGGIE SURPLUS P16 | REALTOR TAMARA LUCACHIN P19
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The first day of school for MHUSD was Aug. 17. The Redwood Citybased nonprofit My New Red Shoes “is dedicated to boosting self-confidence, educational experiences and quality of life for Bay Area low-income and homeless children,” according to MHUSD staff. “Believing that all students should have the
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Scott Forstner Reporter
A brewing discord between students and educators at Ann Sobrato High School over mathematics played out during a public discussion at the Aug. 15 school board meeting. While students contend that their struggles in learning the material are real and will continue unless there are changes
to the curriculum delivery, grading system and support mechanisms, Sobrato’s site leader, flanked by the district’s data czar, defended their math practices as second to none in an airtight defense backed by statistical accolades. For once, it was the Morgan Hill Unified School District board of education trustees acting as mediators trying to find a common ground that the two factions could work with going into the 2017-18 school year.
“I sense there’s a need for a bridge,” said Trustee David Gerard to begin the school board’s injection into the conversation of how to mend fences between frustrated students and prideful teachers. “There has to be a connection with the students,” added Trustee Teresa Murillo as the board members each gave their own take on the situation, which was brought into their purview by a ➝ Sobrato Math, 12
Scott Hinrichs
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the 2017-18 school year. “Back-to-school time can be incredibly stressful for parents when money is tight,” said Linda Row, MHUSD Director of Student Services and Enrollment. “Donations like the one we received from ‘My New Red Shoes’ allow us to help hundreds of students start the year off with new clothes and confidence.”
Seeking a common denominator
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
A section of the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
12 as they received free back-to-school goodie bags that included a new pair of shoes and a $50 Old Navy gift card. MHUSD’s Community Advocacy and Resources for Education team, known as CARE, secured a grant from the nonprofit agency “My New Red Shoes” to be able to treat 400 local children in need before the start of
FIGHT FOR CHANGE Lauren Buckley, a senior at Ann Sobrato High School who has led the fight for change within the math department, addresses the school board Aug. 15.