The Live Oak School District Board of Directors is scheduled to discuss a proposal from the Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market to make one of the district's Live Oak campuses the new home of the nonprofit Live Oak Market at its Wednesday meeting. (PK Hattis – Santa Cruz Sentinel Files)
LIVE OAK — With the Live Oak lease expiring at the end of April, the Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market has expressed interest in finding a new home with the Live Oak School District.
The nonprofit's board president, Sandra Ward, and executive director, Nesh Dhillon, will make the formal presentation at this week's board meeting, scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Green Acres Elementary School, 966 Bostwick Lane in Santa. Shared the proposal with the school district for discussion. cruise.
In the letter, Ward and Dillon said Shoreline Middle School, located at 855 17th Street, and Live Oak, located at 1916 Capitola Road, are for the board's consideration as deemed appropriate to the needs of the Live Oak market. Two elementary school locations are proposed.
The middle school is located approximately one-half mile inland from the current market location in the East Village Shopping Center, where the market has been home for approximately 22 years, and the elementary school is approximately one mile away in the same northeast direction.
“At this early stage, the (Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market) is encouraging the district to work with district staff to address issues that may impact district operations and to ensure that results are achieved. If possible, we ask that the district be allowed to develop a return-to-market process,” the letter to district Superintendent Daisy Morales said. has been written.
According to the meeting agenda, Morales and Dillon will bring the item to the trustees for consideration.
The market's current lease with San Jose-based development and construction company Swenson is scheduled to end April 30 after the parties were unable to reach an extension agreement. Swenson recently told the Sentinel that he plans to repurpose the front property, where the Sunday market is held, into a bakery and market, and move the market to the back of the property.
But Dillon told the Sentinel that the proposed new lease terms would cause “ongoing long-term effects” that would make continuation impossible.
Live Oak's Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market is held every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 15th Street and East Cliff Drive. Featuring organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy products, artisan products and live music.
The proposed partnership comes at a critical time for the district, which has been making dire financial projections in recent months. After budget projections revealed the district's budget deficit would reach millions of dollars within two years, district staff and leadership scrambled to develop a financial stabilization plan to right-size the school district. did.
But the plan details dozens of layoffs, including teachers, school psychologists and front-line staff, sparking uproar among parents, carers and staff who directly support students. He asked the Board of Directors to reduce the amount as much as possible. The conflict reached a climax, and Morales submitted his resignation in March, saying it was “the right decision for the district and its future.” Her last day is June 30th.
Morales said that although notices of layoffs have been issued, the layoffs will not be finalized until May 14, and district officials stressed that they will continue to cut jobs as much as possible until a plan is finalized.
While the partnership between the school district and the market is an important development for both groups, the two Live Oak entities have a history of cooperation. According to the letter, recent initiatives and projects include 2024 Dia De La Familia, Platos de Bienestar, or Healthy Plates, and farm-school partnerships. All projects focus on delivering fresh, healthy food and produce to local families and people with diet-related health conditions.
if you go
What: The Live Oak School District Board of Directors is considering a partnership with the Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market.
Date and time: Wednesday 6pm
Location: Green Acres Elementary School, 966 Bostwick Lane, Santa Cruz.
How: In person or virtually. Zoom links are available at losd.ca.
