Ripon continued to move forward in 2018.
Ripon Unified, for starters, finally completed the campus renovations at Colony Oak Elementary School, in turn, completing the promise of the $25.2 million bond measure also known as Measure G, as passed by the voters in 2012.
Colony Oak was primarily a campus consisting of aging portables prior to the finish product of a state-of-the-arts STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) school.
The remodeling of the K-8 school located just outside the city limits faced numerous challenges along the way – unlike that of Weston Elementary School, the other Measure G project, completed a few years earlier – including land acquisition, infrastructure (access road, water wells, leach field, etc.) and the rising cost for construction.
Prop. 51 and other district funds made possible of this renovation project to be completed in a single phase.
On one early October morning, the fruits of the labor were finally enjoyed by youngsters of two completed kindergarten classes – they were the first to occupy the new classrooms.
“I was exciting,” said Superintendent Ziggy Robeson, who shared this special occasion with Colony Oak Principal Cheryl Griffiths and her staff.
RUSD was looking at passing another bond measure for other district-wide needs. But $38.5 million Measure I failed to get the necessary 55 percent votes and was defeated during the November elections.
In other happenings during the past year:
School board change
Ernie Tyhurst spent three terms on the RUSD school board. He opted against another term, bowing out after more than a half century of civil service.
Tyhurst also served as Director of Planning and on the Economic Development Committee along with his years of service with Ripon Police Department.
“You will be missed,” Trustee Chad Huskey recently said of his colleague. “You brought a lot of experience and knowledge to the school board.”
Annette Vande Pol took over as Trustee Area 2 representative, going unchallenged in her bid for public office.
Ditto that for Huskey and Kit Oase.
Both were re-appointed to their respective board posts after also running unopposed.
Traffic woes
The City of Ripon recently hired the firm of Fehr & Peers to help remedy the evening commute traffic through town.
This came as a result of the high volume of cut-through traffic consisting of motorists opting for the city streets in order to avoid the congestion on the Highway 99 / Highway 120 Bypass interchange during commute hours.
“This large increase in commute traffic is beyond what Ripon city streets were designed for and is resulting in significant delays for residents along with the increase in moving violations [speeding, not stopping at stop signs, etc.],” Engineering Supervisor James Pease said in his report to City Council at the Dec. 11 meeting.
The cost for hiring of the transportation planning and engineering firm is not to exceed $6,900, and will be paid via the Streets and Road Fund.
“Fehr & Peers will help develop a plan to reduce the amount of traffic cutting through the city by evaluating a number of mitigation measures including signal timing adjustments, stop signs and a new traffic signal,” he added.
The firm was called on to evaluate options such as installing loops or road sensors to record the number of vehicles entering Ripon. The traffic loops would then provide information to the traffic control system, which, in turn, would be programmed to adjust the signal based on the real time data.
“This would allow the traffic signal timing to be adjusted to avoid unnecessary delays to our residents when the volume of commute cut-through traffic is minimal,” said Pease.
RHS stadium upgrades
The new bleachers and press box were finally installed at Stouffer Field.
Back in April, Stephanie Hobbs was among those who watched with much anticipation of the arrival of the press box as the key piece to the bleachers project at the Ripon High stadium.
She’s the president of the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation, which, for the better part of the past decade, spent countless time and effort in renovating this aging sports venue.
“One hundred percent of this phase was paid by RUSD,” Hobbs said. “They were kind to listen to (RCAF) input.
“But all the decisions and funding came from the school district.”
Continuing growth
The Mistlin Sports Park area continues to grow out with more homes in the offering.
The Vinyards, a subdivision of single-family dwellings located at the south / west corner of River Road and Fulton Avenue, were among the recent build out.
More growth is planned for the coming years in this area east of Highway 99.
RUSD, in addition, is keeping close tabs on the development planned by the City of Manteca.
This southeast area of town is inside the RUSD attendance boundaries – as of now, youngsters from that area would go to Ripon Unified schools rather than that of Manteca Unified.
