SSFUSD Trustees Consider Future of Two Closed Schools

South San Francisco, CA   October 15, 2015    Submitted by John Horgan, SSFUSD

The South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees conducted a special meeting Oct. 12 to consider its options regarding two closed campuses.

The Trustees have expressed interest in, perhaps, having employee housing constructed on properties that once housed Sierra Vista and/or Foxridge elementary schools.

Sierra Vista is located between Interstate 280 and Junipero Serra Boulevard; Foxridge is situated just west of Gellert Boulevard not far from Westborough Boulevard.

Both schools, which opened in the 1960s as population surged in South San Francisco’s western hills, were closed decades later because of ensuing declining District enrollment and financial concerns.

The special meeting and surplus property workshop, presented in conjunction with a consulting firm, Atkinson, Andelson, Laya, Ruud and Romo, gave the Trustees a chance to consider procedures involved in going forward with an examination of possible uses at the two sites.

Board President Judy Bush said the explanations from the consultants, with an emphasis on extensive community involvement (including close contact with the city of South San Francisco), was “a great foundation” for the Trustees’ future deliberations, which could include a needs assessment, site analyses and discussions with officials of the San Mateo County Community College District.

The college district, which embraces three two-year colleges in Redwood City, San Mateo and San Bruno, has created employee housing on district-owned land.

No decisions were reached at the Oct. 12 meeting. The future of the closed schools’ properties is expected to be on the agenda of the Board’s November  meeting.