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Alternative High School in B’game?

Today's Daily Journal has a piece on where 

Peninsula Alternative High School is on track to move to Burlingame, following San Mateo Union High School District officials initially approving the continuation school relocating from its remote San Bruno setting.

The San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved Wednesday, Dec. 13, going ahead with a proposal to purchase 860 Hinckley Road in Burlingame for development of a new continuation school campus.

The proposal stands to end a yearslong search by officials to find a new site closer to the homes of most students than the school’s current isolation on the former Crestmoor High School campus.

With the board’s approval to move ahead, officials will begin negotiating with the Burlingame property owner to offer $5.6 million for the currently vacant commercial building. The district has set aside $20 million for property acquisition and construction of a school accommodating more than 200 students. Trustees also approved officials beginning environmental testing on the land.

Local Linda Lees Dwyer is now the Board prez and local Greg Land continues in his role as a Trustee of SMUHSD ("Smushed").  200 students going to school in the mostly light industrial district will add some complexity to police and fire coverage.  The last time I looked at the top addresses for dispatch of police, BHS was at or near the top of the list.  But all in all, it's a way better location than the old Crestmoor site which may still be in play for teacher housing as we noted here.  And is it the camel's nose under the tent for housing on the Bayfront as discussed here?

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25 responses to “Alternative High School in B’game?”

  1. HMB

    200 students being dropped off at that site on Hinckley? Parking? Do they think students will walk from Caltrain or BART? Take the Burlingame Trolley? Will the district offer a shuttle from the train stations?

  2. hollyroller

    I am sure that the “Gifted” Students will be able to figure something out.
    Otherwise, send them back to the “Regular” school.
    There is ZERO need to educate students that are unable to change a flat tire.
    Take a Bus or Walk.
    I wonder how many students are unable to even ride a Bike?

  3. Steve Kassel

    I lived right next to the Crestmoor campus of Peninsula High School for two years. There was NEVER any traffic whatsoever. NONE.
    I have no idea what HollyRoller has up his or her butt, but you’re a fool. These are troubled students who failed at their prior school. I interacted with quite a number of them and the vast majority are good kids that come from rough backgrounds.

  4. hillsider

    Don’t let the little burr get under your saddle. You are correct on your assessment.

  5. hollyroller

    I was unaware that instead of “Gifted Students” attending this educational experiment, they are Junior Criminals.
    I have a lot of experience working with Juvenal Delinquents in San Mateo County.
    Unless the children are removed from their dysfunctional homes, no matter what they take away from their lessons, it all goes to hell as soon as they walk in the front door.
    What is needed is a living space for these kids that disconnects them from their “families.”
    Therefore giving the children the ability to empower themselves.
    Obviously, Social Services continue to “throw stuff against the wall, to see what sticks.”
    It is surprising that with all the research, MFCC’s, and Think Tanks, the simplest, and most basic treatments are lost in all the “Red Tape.”

  6. hillsider

    I hope you are not a parent.

  7. amy Voy

    Mostly Gang Bangers running around Burlingame

  8. hollyroller

    Dear Hillsider!
    Merry Christmas to you,the contributors, and readers of the Burlingame Voice.
    Thank you for “Following me” Hillsider.
    It is great to know that you care.

  9. Bruce Dickinson

    As the poster above alluded to, Bruce Dickinson thinks that locating a continuation school in the 94010 zip code is not what you would, on the surface, consider to be “closer to students’ homes”. I’m assuming that they need a more central location to both N and S San Mateo County and not that it is actually serving many Burlingame and Hillsborough students. However, the decision to locate in Burlingame, given the cost of real estate, seems to be a high-priced choice for such an endeavor given alternatives.

  10. Steve Kassel

    SMH. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs no matter how screwed up those beliefs are.

  11. hollyroller

    Thanks for sharing-Nothing.
    Please share your beliefs Mr. Kassel.
    Can not do it, can you Mr. Kassel. Weakness.
    I am sorry for you.

  12. hollyroller

    Unfortunately, this will be Mr. Steve Kassel’s last post.

  13. Mattlower

    I wish the School Board would consider opening a vocational high school. Not everyone is on track to go to college. Wouldn’t it be great if there were some kind of a vocational school for students interested in computer repair, auto repair, plumbing, cooking, etc.
    They would start well above minimum-wage and be on track for a good career path. Tru dat!

  14. Peter Garrison

    Great idea.

  15. hollyroller

    That really is a great idea.
    I wonder why this issue has not been explored more.
    PS
    I do not care if Mr. Kassel posts or not.
    I hope he does, as well as have a Merry Christmas.

  16. Steve Kassel

    Why do you believe I was referring to you, HollyRoller? Why are you another one of those that refuse to post under their own name?

  17. hollyroller

    Because it allows me to post an insider’s point of view.
    There is no need to dialog with me anymore.
    Kind Regards,
    hollyroller

  18. Steve Kassel

    Insider? Bull. Just another malcontent.

  19. Vocational training instead of Gangs.

    Folks, the modern day vocational school is the “Design Tech” school that is being built by Oracle in Belmont-Redwood Shores. As you know, it was originally in Burlingame and Millbrae, but once Oracle decided to grant them a couple acres and money to build it, and even offer them shared use of the cafeteria and gym, it was an easy decision to head south.
    We met the Design Tech Executive Director at the Burlingame Rotary Club, and I was really impressed with his presence and philosophies.
    Regarding the Continuing High School, we all debated that one a few years ago on BV as they considered the ECC building. At the time, I thought that acquiring a building directly next to a police station would be a good fit for a school whose students have been expelled from the main stream schools.
    I have some unique insight to this topic because I just did a sublease for Santa Clara County Office of Education at a building in Mountain View that had been SCCOE’s Continuing High School that they shut down and merged back into a section of a main campus. And, I had previously been hired by the landlord of that set of buildings to lease up the other building as well, so I had some time observing the Continuing High School over a few years.
    Mountain View police regularly would park directly in front of the building, and yes they and the neighboring landlords and tenants did have some issues with the students causing problems, vandalizing, etc.
    I got the sense (I had a few conversations with the principal, teachers and SCCOE about it) that some of the students might have gang affiliations, but ultimately, it was a matter of lack of respect for main stream teachers and perhaps repeated fighting and violence on their main stream campuses.
    This new Hinckley project in Burlingame will probably work out fine, with new work for the Burlingame PD to do, and perhaps some occasional issues with the neighboring landlords and tenants.
    There are a few Union HQs in Burlingame and the surrounding communities, perhaps they could offer a program to help these students find a sense of purpose and belonging with trades instead of gangs.
    What do you think?

  20. Becca

    Design Tech is no vocational school, it is a tech school. I thought CSM was the place to go for vocational training?

  21. Steve Kassel

    It’s not the school I would have chosen for my sons, but we know several families that have chosen it. It seems to be working for them.

  22. Vocational training instead of Gangs.

    Becca, I’m not saying that Design Tech H.S. is literally a vocational school as we’ve seen Auto Repair etc high schools in the past, but rather, I said that it’s “the modern day vocational school” that teaches modern skills for modern, high-paying jobs in a publicly funded and accessible environment). http://www.designtechhighschool.org/
    I hope that our area schools have a no tolerance policy for gang activity and even for gang affiliation. This mostly imported gang culture needs to be catapulted out of our communities.

  23. Joe

    Things are apparently moving ahead per the DJ:
    San Mateo Union High School District officials took a sizable step ahead in moving the continuation high school from a remote San Bruno campus nearer to the homes of most students.
    The district Board of Trustees unanimously agreed Thursday, March 29, to proceed with plans to acquire a commercial building on the Burlingame Bayfront to build a new Peninsula Alternative High School campus.
    The approval also certifies the district’s right to use eminent domain for acquiring the site at 858 Hinkley Road, as officials believe the property east of Highway 101 is an ideal site for a new high school.
    https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/continuation-school-relocation-pushes-forward/article_a3718de0-36ed-11e8-8d08-33a0d1b87da3

  24. HMB

    Ideal site for a school? I suppose the idea IS to keep them off their regular campus, and with all the hotels and office buildings nearby, maybe the district can work with businesses in the area to have the kids get some job training and internship experience within walking distance of the school.

  25. hollyroller@gmail.com

    That really makes since.
    But why stop there? Get “these people” a “Compound-ala’ Coyote Point?
    It is almost like Alcatraz.
    Close to “Transportation” i.e. water, wind, Freeways, trains, Bus, etc.
    What we should be concerned about is asking/volunteering to invite/take care of a Bunch of, well you know…
    The word starts with an R, and ends with a D. Lets see what the BV community can come up with..
    PC responses’ only.

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