SHUSD Board Discusses Future of Old Miranda Junior High Campus

The Southern Humboldt Unified School District (SHUSD) met via Zoom for a Special Board Meeting on December 21st.

FORMER MIRANDA JUNIOR HIGH CAMPUS

Most noteworthy of the meeting was the possibility of transforming the old Miranda Junior High campus into a space that could, among other things, be utilized for temporary staff housing. SHUSD Superintendent, Stefanie Steffano-Davis, said the district had been approached by the Live Like Geno Foundation wanting to renovate the existing district property for youth and community development. The district is conducting preliminary outreach to see if incorporating temporary staff housing would be of benefit to the existing staff, as well as attracting qualified staff to the under-staffed district.

Steffano-Davis presented the board with a proposed survey for existing staff. Board Member Brandy Bremer requested additional questions regarding length of stay, wanting to cap the housing stay between 2 to 4 years.

Maia Steffano, daughter of the district’s superintendent, has volunteered her time to help research the project. She has met with one of two possible consultants for the project. Under the consultant’s advice, Steffano has requested a recommendation from Senator Mike McGuire’s office about possible state grants. The senator’s office is currently researching the possibility of grant funding through Governor Newsom’s historic, $100 billion-dollar California Comeback Plan. A large portion of the funds are earmarked for housing, particularly funding housing for the houseless according to Steffano, but hopefully some of that grant funding is available for projects like the one proposed. Steffano is awaiting recommendation from Senator McGuire’s office.

GRANTS AND FUNDING

-The board voted unanimously to approve the Educator Effectiveness Block Grant as submitted by Steffano-Davis. The grant, if awarded, will provide the district $2400 per educator for training and incentives as decided by the district. The grant would expire in 2026.

-The board also unanimously approved the update of the ESSER III Expenditure Plan. The superintendent must present the board with an update every December and June until 2024. Steffano-Davis reports that the budget is in line with the board and county approved plans.

The current project funded by ESSER III funds is the Wellness Center at the South Fork High School campus. The district is renovating the existing library structure. “I think we put sixty thousand in that plan for it, and I think we’re well within that sixty thousand. And that was really good that we had the chance to do that because the library was in a sad state before we began these… just little upgrades… just some carpet, some paint, some windows and the offices in there. So now we have some private offices in there as well,” explained Steffano-Davis.

Board Member Cinnamon O’Neill-Paula expressed gratitude that the structure was getting some much-needed attention.

The SHUSD Board consists of Board President, Jessica Willis and Board Members, Brandy Bremer, Collet Fenske, Christine Doyka, and Cinnamon O’Neill-Paula.

For information on future board meetings, visit the SHUSD website.