WATSONVILLE — If a plan approved Wednesday by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees comes to fruition, the district could soon own its headquarters also known as The Towers.
In two unanimous votes, the trustees allowed PVUSD staff to look for ways to finance the estimated $10.4 million purchase price. The district will also negotiate a final price with the building’s owners, a process that will include considering deferred maintenance costs, said Chief Business Officer Joe Dominguez.
As part of the agreement with RBC Capital Markets LLC, the district has until Dec. 4 to make a final decision on the purchase.
Adding to the purchase price is about $5.6 million in deferred maintenance costs, Dominguez said.
“We do not foresee it to exceed $17.5 million, he said.
PVUSD officials say that the purchase will save about $1.3 million in annual rental costs. In all, the district will save more than $28.6 million over a 30-year period, Dominguez said.
Trustee Jeff Ursino, who works during the day as a banker, said the purchase would be cost-neutral for the district.
“We’re not paying a rent, we’re paying a mortgage,” he said of the potential deal. “So this is really net zero in our budget.”
The district currently pays about $108,000 per month, which is funded by district programs such as Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education and Pacific Coast Charter School.
“To not to have to pay rent anymore and to buy the building makes a lot of sense to me,” Trustee Willie Yahiro said.
Watsonville Towers, LLC — the company that owns the building at 294 Green Valley Road — announced plans in January to sell it.
The four-story, 134,422-square-foot building was assessed in 2017 at $10.9 million.
Built in 1968, the property includes a 7.79-acre lot.
•••
In other action, the district approved three new classes geared to prepare students for the workforce.
Auto Body Repair will be offered at Watsonville High School in partnership with Fix Auto, a new local business.
IT Essentials Plus will be offered at Pajaro Valley and Watsonville high schools, and is the first course in a computer science and information technologies career pathway, PVUSD spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez said.
The third course, computer science principles, builds on the computer science and information technology pathway at Aptos High School.
PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said the new courses will prepare students for post-secondary education, or for immediate immersion in the workforce.
“These courses, which will be offered starting in the year 2019-20, are representative of robust college and career pathways and we are thrilled that our students will have the option to take these courses,” Rodriguez said.
Yahiro, who has long been an advocate for vocational courses, called the decision “wonderful.”
Trustee Karen Osmundson said the classes will prepare students for a rapidly growing workforce increasingly reliant on technology.
“There are thousands of computer jobs out there, with no one to take them,” she said.
•••
The trustees also approved the contract for the district’s newest Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education.
Kristen Shouse fills the spot vacated in August by Mark Brewer after three years on the job.
Shouse will oversee the district’s nine middle and high schools. She will earn a salary of $155,028, in addition to a $3,995 stipend for having a master’s degree.
