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The long awaited transfer of the old Garberville School to College of the Redwoods took place at the school on Thursday, Jan. 28.
Dennis O’Sullivan, president of the board of trustees of the Southern Humboldt Unified School District, was flanked by fellow board members Susan Thompson, Thomas Mulder, Jim Baker and Paulette Thiele as he handed the keys to CR president Dr. Jeff Marsee. Dr. Marsee was also presented an oversized deed to the property.
Former librarian Margaret Taylor, who lives next door to the property and has watched it deteriorate over the years, was present for the transfer, as was local realtor George Rolff, who arranged the sale of the property to CR for the school district.
”This is a great day,” O’Sullivan said before the ceremony. “This building was built in 1939 and has served this community for many years. The old Garberville School was right where Les Scher’s office is today and they built this school in ‘39 and it served us for more than 60 years, so it’s great to be able to save it and to be able to continue to use it for the adults in the community and for our own kids. We’re developing an education plan in cooperation with College of the Redwoods. We’re going to be partners for the benefit of our children. It’s a good time and a good day.”
Margaret Taylor said she was thrilled that the transfer had taken place.
”I think that both boards have made a courageous decision,” she said. “We are very lucky to have two boards that are pursuing a good long term goal for our community at this moment. I hope that people will join me in thanking our school district and making it a strong partner by donating to SOS or PULSE in gratitude and happiness.”
Superintendent Michael McKaskle thanked his predecessor, Clif Anderson and said that he was thrilled as well.
”This building is going to be put back in service for the benefit of the community and the students at South Fork High School,” he said. “Our students will be able to receive concurrent enrollment for high school and college credit. They can pursue their higher education goals at a local setting. They won’t have to do it online or drive up to Eureka or even Fortuna to take classes. It’s really a monumental occasion. We will work out a partnership that will allow kids to benefit from College of the Redwoods in the same fashion as is occurring at Redwood Academy in Fortuna.”
Dr. Marsee was all smiles as he handed out commemorative pins to everyone there. He said that the community will begin to notice improvements very soon.
”We have approved a one million-plus budget for renovation, effective immediately.” He said. “We’ll have bids out next month and we should see some construction work beginning by the beginning of March or April. Our target is to have this completed for fall classes. It’s exciting for us.
A temporary sign is up at the property now, signaling CR’s intention to bring college to Garberville.
Trustee Paulette Thiele, who was involved in trying to find a buyer who would preserve the building back when it was first declared surplus, said that it’s her understanding that it will be up to the community to raise the funds to restore the old theater at the school.
”CR will be doing classroom restoration and ADA compliance,” she said, “but I think the community will work on the theater. There’s a soft place in the heart of this community for this theater. A lot of people remember when it was a theater and there is a need for a theater here. It’s been my dream to have a theater where, when the kids spend three or four months rehearsing, that we can have a place where the play will be performed more than one weekend, a place all set up and left to be itself. We’ll see where we can go with that.”
Truett said in a press release that the local community has been “overwhelmingly enthusiastic.”
”We’re expecting significant student interest for fall 2010,” he said.
Currently, about 175 Southern Humboldt residents take classes at the CR Eureka campus.
REDWOOD TIMES PHOTO BY MARY ANDERSON
The transfer of the deed from the Southern Humboldt Unified School District to College of the Redwoods was celebrated on the steps of the theater at the old Garberville School. Shown left to right are (back row) Paul DeMark, Media Relations for CR, SHUSD Trustees Jim Baker, Susan Thompson and Dennis O’Sullivan, SHUSD Superintendent Michael McAllister, and Doug Edgmon, Assistant to the CR President. In the middle row are SHUSD Trustee Tom Mulder, Trustee Paulette Thiele and CR Trustee George Truett holding the deed, and Ahn Fielding, Director of Community Relations for CR. CR President Dr. Jeff Marsee and neighbor to the new CR campus, Margaret Taylor are in the front row.
