Fix Athletic Fields, Parkway, Says Community

Community members came forward to ask the school board to bring the district's athletic fields up to par and make improvements to during a and Measure J bond update Thursday night.

"I'm coming today as a frustrated coach," said Kevin Truong, an track coach and alumnus. "I don't know how much longer I can do this without more help."

Truong said his students can't compete in all track events because they don't have the right equipment, and El Camino's inadequate facilities means the team can't host meets.

"I'm extremely proud of being from this district, but what I can't be proud of is our athletic facilities," said Eric Jacobson, an El Camino alumnus and football coach. "There are two dirt tracks at San Mateo County schools. One's here at South City; the other one's at El Camino."

Noting that El Camino's field is uneven, lacks bathrooms and water fountains and hasn't been updated in 50 years, the coaches called for more Measure J resources to be put toward El Camino's facilities.

Under a proposal from bond program manager Swinerton Management & Consulting, the district would spend $7.8 million to update field and $3.5 million to update El Camino's. This is because South San Francisco's field has concession stands, bleachers and restrooms that would have to be made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Swinerton.

"There is an inequity in the football fields; Why?" asked Trustee Liza Normandy.

"Right now, when you look at both fields, they are equitable. They both suck," said Trustee Maurice Goodman.

Swinerton also presented a variety of options for Parkway Middle School, expanding on the original proposal to spend a modest $1.7 million on building a science lab or replacing portable classrooms.

Swinerton projected that Parkway would have a student population of 680 in five years, and a new school would cost $36.1 million, leaving an "uncomfortable" reserve in bond funds of less than $1 million. A remodel would cost $27.6 million and leave a five percent reserve. Another option would be to do a remodel with a building provided by Green School House, a philanthropic organization. This would cost $25.4 million, according to Swinerton's projections.

Board members critiqued the Parkway enrollment projections as unrealistic.

"I wish enrollment at Parkway would be 680 in five years, but that's not going to happen as long as it's in Program Improvement," Goodman said. "The numbers that we're using are not accurate, and they're not based in fact." 

Parkway parents and volunteers asked the board to invest in serious upgrades to Parkway's campus, calling the $1.7 million initially earmarked for Parkway inadequate.

"That is the ultimate slap in the face to the community at Parkway," said Maria Gonzalez, a Parkway parent.