A large crowd attended the Ukiah Unified School District board meeting on August 8 to enthusiastically support the idea of converting the abandoned Redwood Valley School into the Redwood Valley Recreation Center. First District Superintendent-elect Madeline Cline and other community leaders were in the audience.
This agenda item was discussed in advance, and time was set aside for presentations and public comment. Outgoing board chair Megan Van Sant laid out the ground rules for the meeting, saying the board would “take no action tonight” but agreed to hear from speakers and public commenters who filled out a card in advance.
Marybeth Kelly introduced herself as a former science teacher who taught at Eagle Peak for 12 years. Kelly gave a brief overview of the school’s history, beginning with the donation of land for a school by JM and Florence Woolley in 1921 (see our earlier report linked at the end for a detailed history).
For years, Woolley’s descendants have wondered what happened to the brass plaque commemorating the donation. Kelly found the cement base the plaque hangs on, but it is buried deep in an overgrown firethorn bush, so she could not confirm that the plaque is attached.
Kelly said there are about 15 people on the steering committee of this group and that over 300 individuals and businesses have signed their support for the idea. The board of directors of the Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center in Ukiah has agreed to take the Redwood Valley Recreation Center under its wing as a nonprofit organization.
The group’s vision includes three phases of renovation. First, work will begin on the athletic and tennis courts. Then, the gymnasium and recreation room will be renovated. And third, the classroom buildings will be renovated. Local donors have already pledged $120,000. Kelly concluded, “So I’m asking you to do the right thing. It’s not necessarily easy, but I think morally, the right thing to do is to think about the value of this property in more than just dollars and cents.”
Dr. Marvin Trotter spoke about the epidemic of alcohol and drug use among youth and the loneliness and social isolation that often comes from staying home and watching social media on a small screen. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has declared this a public crisis. Ukiah’s ARRC is used seven days a week for the Boys and Girls Club, sports and other activities. “I believe the children and families in Redwood Valley and Calpella deserve a similar opportunity for fun, friendship, family and education.”
Sandra Berman Khankhanian, a member of the steering committee, told the board, “We will find a way to raise the money. … We will apply for grants that are listed in our statement of action. … This will add value to our community and pay dividends for years to come. … This seems like the perfect time since the other ideas for the site have not panned out.” Redwood Valley is recovering from the 2017 fire and the pandemic. The Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council has provided an opportunity for citizens to come together to recover from these events and plan for the future. Berman Khankhanian concluded by asking the board, “What do you need from us? Can we get a commitment from the board so we can get started?”
UUSD teacher Deb Phenicie read letters from herself and from Woolley family descendants who stood with Phenicie at the podium.
Excerpts from Phenicie’s letter:
Honorable Board members, I stand before you as I did 14 years ago, when we were faced with the closing of Redwood Valley School. We were told that the school was no longer needed because of declining enrollment. Yet, we were so large and at capacity, that our 5th graders had to be sent to Eagle Peak. It was not lack of interest or lack of passion or lack of love for our historical school, but we were told that is the situation.We are asking you not to look at the short term financial gains for the district, but at the long term community service for Redwood Valley. We are asking you not to look at the profit for the District, but for the repurposing of the donated land site. We are asking for the R.V. site to continue serving our community, which was what the Woolley family’s intention was over 100 years ago.
Excerpt from the Woolley family letter:
Our great-grandparents donated this property to be utilized by and for the community of Redwood Valley and we are in favor of the new proposed use as the Redwood Valley Community Recreation Center where this can again be a space created where families can bond, individuals can thrive, and everyone can feel a sense of belonging.Three 14-year old girls who are active in sports spoke next. These girls were unbelievably poised and confident speaking to a roomful of adults, teachers and UUSD Board members.
Zinnia Everson has lived in Redwood Valley for five years. “I think a recreation center would have a positive impact on the health and well-being of our community.” She participates in athletics and it has improved her life tremendously, but there is no place in Redwood Valley where she can exercise. “Over the last decade, we have lost amenities for youth. For example, the roller skating rink and the bowling alley. I think it’s time to expand the community.”
Kaci Maynard said: “Sport has played a very important role in my life. Not only has it helped me to expand my social circle and given me the opportunity to learn skills that will stay with me throughout my life, but it has also helped me to maintain a healthy lifestyle.” A leisure centre would encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Kamala Gardner said, “It is important to have a recreation center in Redwood Valley. A gym in Redwood Valley would open up new opportunities for young athletes of all ages and even those who do not yet consider themselves athletes.” She is a member of the Ukiah Dolphins swim team and is fortunate that her parents can drive her to practice. She acknowledged that “the burden and extra effort on the parents and guardians of the athletes” means driving their children to Ukiah.
Dr. Eric Bauer, a primary care physician at Adventist Health, said, “I can safely say that my involvement in extracurricular activities, sports and these educational activities helped me get to where I am today as a physician.” The majority of children he sees in his practice are overweight. “Unfortunately, this generation of children is the first to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.”
Estok Menton, a local contractor with “over half a century of experience,” is involved in the “education process around building and construction, at the Builders Exchange, the high schools, the sustainable building programs at Mendocino College.” He said, “We will get involved in that if we get the chance. … It should be part of the curriculum opportunities offered in our area. Renovating the campus can prepare young adults for real employment opportunities that will enable them to live good and enlightened lives in the world.”
Ken Steely is a former Redwood Valley School student who started kindergarten in 1966. Steely maintains a local history page on Facebook. His mother originally opposed the Ukiah Unified School District’s takeover of Redwood Valley School. She organized a protest march for mothers across Highway 101 that was featured on Bay Area television news. Steely said, “Now we have a chance for the Ukiah Unified School District to do something positive with this property.”
Speaking on behalf of Frey Vineyards, Eliza Frey said, “As a local business family, we really understand the importance of local involvement and investment in our community.” Since not all children in Redwood Valley go to the same school, holding sporting events at a community center can “be a bridge for kids who are from the same community” but go to different schools so they can get to know each other. “I’ve seen my child expand his social network and his confidence through sports and different programs.”
Van Sant thanked all the speakers and said, “I want to acknowledge how emotional this experience has been for you. I want to acknowledge that you lost your school 14 years ago.” During the closed session before the public meeting, the board met with attorneys to consult on next steps. The land is not owned by UUSD, it is property of the state. The laws to dispose of public school property were put in place because some school districts own very valuable land. The state wants to make sure board members “don’t enter into favor deals with developers.”
Van Sant acknowledged that previous attempts to sell the property had failed to generate commercial interest. “We went through that process… and didn’t get anywhere.”
The board has asked the state to allow the UUSD to put out a request for proposals to buy and/or lease the property. She expects that will happen after the state Board of Education meeting in November. “I’m really hopeful that the RVRC will submit a bid.” Once the request for proposals is issued, the board can no longer work with the community group because it is required to remain neutral and not work directly with any entity that submits a bid. “They’re asking our board to be a choke point. … We would love to see a wonderful, thriving recreation center at that location, but we still have to play by our rules.”
Kelly asked the board to confirm that the property would not be sold in the meantime. She also wanted to know if renovations to the athletic fields could begin. Kelly reminded the board that the district had promised to keep the campus in good condition when school closed and that the athletic fields would be open to the public. Is it possible to turn on irrigation water?
Superintendent Debra Kubin had no answer and replied that she would have to investigate and speak to the maintenance department.
Trustee Zoey Fernandez said, “I want to say it’s really wonderful to see such support for this idea here and it was a great choice by your speakers to have the children come.”
Trustee Bea Arkin said: “This is very exciting.”
Board secretary Carolyn Johnson said: “Thank you very much. Let’s hope we can get this done.”
Trustee Rebeca Orozco said, “Redwood Valley is such a small community and look, you filled this space. This really comes from the heart, thank you.”
Van Sant concluded, “We need your patience and understanding and need to work on a really great proposal for the RFP process.”
We will know more after we hear from the Department of Education in November.
