Positive Places 1 and 2 are finally getting some good news.
Griffin Technology Academy and the four public schools it serves announced Thursday that they will begin construction on a new gymnasium after receiving approval from the Vallejo Unified School District and signing a construction contract with a local general contractor.
The new gym at Mare Island Technology Academy, which serves students in grades 6 through 12, will replace the gym at the former Omega Boys and Girls Club in Positive Place, which was banned as a “dangerous building” seven years ago and served an eviction notice.
The new $7.9 million gym will serve GTA students from MIT Academy and its sister school, Griffin Academy Junior and Senior High School.
Officials say the gym will rekindle a partnership with the Omega Boys & Girls Club to provide a venue and physical and academic education to the local Vallejo community.
“We are excited to finally be able to begin construction on our new gym,” said GTA Superintendent Nick Driver. “With two classrooms and office space in addition to the gym itself, this building will once again become a gathering place and hub for the community.”
GTA received its first state funding from the California Public Schools Construction Agency more than five years ago, which helped school officials move forward with the approval process and receive final approval for the OPSC project a few months ago. Since then, GTA has worked closely with the landowner, the school district, to secure the necessary local approvals.
The approval came at a district board meeting last month, allowing GTA to award a contract to local general contractor BHM Construction, which was the lowest bidder in a mandatory open bidding process completed in June. BHM will also be contracted to rebuild the entire Mare Island Technology Academy campus if the district approves it later this year.
“We are pleased to partner with GTA to build a new gymnasium for Vallejo students,” said Jeffery Mazet, CEO of BHM Construction. “The need for new construction work in Vallejo and GTA's commitment to working with local unions on construction is what attracted us to bid on this project.”
GTA has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. The community celebration will also include the announcement of dates for a fire drill by the Vallejo Fire Department.
