Fundraiser Tomorrow! Plus Updates from the Joint City/School Meeting!

Join us tomorrow for our Founder’s Birthday Fundraiser and Annual Summer Party!

When: Sunday 8/21 from 4-6 pm

Where: InPasta Restaurant, 8099 Broadway, Lemon Grove

For those newer to the club, here is a little history for you.

Traditionally, our club has not met in July or August, but instead we have walked in the PRIDE Parade, attended the San Diego County Roosevelt Dinner, and had a party in August to celebrate the birthday of our founder and longest running member, George Gastil.

Our club was formed in 1994 as the Valley Grove Democratic Club. In 2006, our club adopted its current name. George has been there with us all along the way. He has served in every board position and has been crucial in making this club what it is today!

Join us for some pizza, politics and positive vibes. The suggested donation is $25. This is an opportunity to hang out with fellow club members and meet some of your local representatives and endorsed candidates in the Spring Valley and Lemon Grove areas.

Earlier this Week!

At the meeting, three topics were discussed.

1. A Joint Use Agreement between the City of Lemon Grove and the Lemon Grove School District

   School Board Trustees and City Councilmembers discussed the current joint use agreement for the Rec Center and both provided direction to staff to supplement the agreement by adding the San Altos Field in the near future.

   Other school sites were discussed, but due to work being done at some of these sites in the near future, San Altos was agreed upon as a good school to start with on a trial basis. When we have more information on this, we will get it out to you.

2. A Collaborative Project Between the City and the School District to Improve both the SAFETY and the TRAFFIC on San Miguel Ave in front of San Miguel Elementary School.

   The city and the school district came together and jointly applied for a $3.5 million CAL Trans Grant to improve our community and ensure Safe Routes to School. The grant awards will be announced in October, but the architect that they consulted to assist with the proposal, said that we had several unique variables that made us a really competitive contender.

   The city will be improving the safety and walkability of San Miguel Ave from Massachusetts Ave, all the way down to Jaynia Pl, where there will be a roundabout to slow traffic coming up the hill from Federal Blvd.

   The school district is adding a staff parking lot and bus drop off on Mercury Dr, significantly extending the pullout for drop off and pickup, and adding tons of green space to the school itself.

   Check out these plan screenshots!

3. Lemon Grove School District Facilities General Obligation Bond

   The Lemon Grove School District is seeking a new General Obligation Bond to address $60 million in major deferred maintenance and to build a $30 million Early Childhood Learning Center.

   This early learning school will be located between the Palm Campus and Mt. Vernon Elementary School. It will have classrooms for the expanding transitional kindergarten program, as well as our preschool program.

   The school district said the cost of retrofitting the current Palm Campus to meet the Early Learning Classroom requirements would actually exceed the cost of a new facility, which gives the district the opportunity to come up with an innovative facility to meet the needs of our youth.

   Because the Bond from 1998 is almost paid off, the school district is able to ask for additional bond funds without increasing our property taxes! Once the bond passes, they will be able to access matching funds from the State of California and hardship grants, thereby lowing the amount they are asking us to pay in property taxes. They are only asking for up to $30 million.

   We are certainly excited to see this bond measure move forward and for the Lemon Grove School District to provide such amazing early learning opportunities for our youth!