Stockton offices may move out

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Stockton offices may move out

By Yasmin Assemi

Record Staff Writer

Published Sunday, May 1, 2005

Stockton, California

http://www.recordnet.com/daily/news/articles/050105-gn-9.php

STOCKTON -- The Stockton Unified School District is considering

moving about 50 administrative employees to the Stockton Waterfront

Warehouse, a move that would transfer the workers from an old

downtown building plagued with dust, mold and rotting wood.

" The district has closed in on its options and has a terrific site

in mind, " district spokeswoman Dianne Barth said last week.

No plans have been finalized, and the school board would have to

approve any move. But district officials say they are seriously

considering moving employees from the special-education building at

55 W. Flora St., which was built in 1873 as Weber Primary School.

That building is the oldest structure remaining in continuous use by

Stockton Unified. The red brick is now deteriorated, and the wood on

the south side of the old school, especially around the windows,

began rotting long ago.

The Flora Street building has undergone a lot of work over the years

but would need much more to make it a healthy place for employees,

said Harvey, a carpenter who has worked on the building. The

building is historic and should be turned into a museum, he

suggested.

In the past two years, the school district has deep-cleaned the

office several times, stretched the carpets, cleaned and painted the

basement, modified the roof and foundation, rerouted stormwater

runoff and added a wheelchair access ramp, said Art Hand, the

district's support services director. The district is also looking

at replacing the windows and carpeting.

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" Certainly, it is an aged building, " Hand said. " Generally, we've

done a good job of keeping the building in reasonable working

condition. "

Herrera's said her eyes used to burn when she retrieved

files from the basement. The district later cleaned the basement

after discovering a severe mold and water problem.

" They've been lagging, " the special-education technician said. " They

don't understand the seriousness of our illnesses that we're always

dealing with. "

In the past three years, she and other employees have suffered from

sinus infections, chronic fatigue, asthma, eye irritation, headaches

and other ailments, according to district documents.

" It's just awful, " Herrera said. " They have exposed cables in front

of my desk. The working conditions are just deplorable. "

She and two other employees took their concerns to Stockton Unified

trustees in March. For nearly a year, district officials considered

relocating the workers at the Flora Street building and other sites

scattered throughout the city, Hand said.

A report on the building and options on renovations and relocation

will be given to school board members at their next meeting,

scheduled for May 10.

Hand couldn't comment on what would happen to the Flora Street

building if the employees are relocated.

" That is one of the things the board will have to take up, " he said.

Contact reporter Yasmin Assemi at (209) 546-8272 or

yassemi@... " >yassemi@...