Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Some 4-H members protest LGHS plan to replace pens

By John Pancharian

Some members of local 4-H clubs are ready to let the fur fly over their eviction from Los Gatos High School, where the club has kept animal pens since about 1968. They are also angered because of interruptions in water service to the pens and plans by the school to stockpile soil near them.

In June 1997, the school administration announced its intention not to renew the 4-H clubs' lease. The clubs had leased the land for free through an arrangement with UC Extension since 1985, when LGHS discontinued its agricultural program. In May 1997, one month before 4-H's lease expired, LGHS received an offer from community members to donate work and materials to convert the area into playing fields. When 4-H members protested the eviction in July, the high school relented and allowed 4-H to stay through the end of the 1997 fair season. Later, the administration extended the grace period through the 1998 county fair. At a meeting on April 22 between school and 4-H officials, Aug. 22 was set as the termination date of the lease, with seven-day notice due after that date.

Facing impending eviction, some 4-H members have vowed to fight, claiming that the high school has also turned off water to the animal pens. Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District Superintendent Cindy Ranii and LGHS business manager Dorothy Deikman said, however, that the interruption in water is due to sprinkler repairs going on in nearby playing fields. They said one of two water spigots in the 4-H area is currently dry, but that was unintentional and the situation will be corrected as soon as possible.

"We're trying our best to sit around the table and deal with people in an up-front way," Ranii said. "We've extended plans two summers to give people time to make a Plan B."

Although some young 4-Hers say they plan to march with picket signs in front of the high school this wek, UC Extension 4-H secretary Jill Haggarty said she did not know of any specific plans to protest. Local 4-H coordinator Mary Bartlett had not returned calls by press time.

Because the proposed fields--including a utility field for soccer,a softball field and a shot put area--are near a creek, an environmental impact report will be required before work can begin.

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