|
After the presentation of the gift of Calavo stock to benefit the Santa Paula High School Agriculture Program, family members, school officials and FFA members posed for the camera. (Back row, l-r) Gordon Kimball, Nancy Kimball, Dorcas Thille, Superintendent Alfonso Gamino, Board President Michelle Kolbeck, Anne Thille, Peter Thille, SPHS Principal Elizabeth Garcia and SPHS Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor Alex Flores. (Front row, l-r) Gabby Chavez, Jessica Harvey, Alondra Valle and Hannah Freehauf. |
Santa Paula High School Ag program
receives donation from Thille family
May 08, 2015
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula News
The Santa Paula Education Foundation has been handed 15,000 shares of Calavo Growers stock to go towards the proposed Santa Paula High School Agriculture Facility.
The donation came from the Hardison-Kimball-Thille family and will go to the Foundation, designated for the 29-acre SPHS Agriculture Facility, planned for the Stewart Ranch property.
The current animal facility has been operating at the old Santa Paula Water Treatment Plant property. The estimated cost for three animal buildings and related facilities at the new site is $1.5 million dollars. This donation puts the district much closer to being able to start work. The 15,000 shares of stock is currently worth about $742,400. The Santa Paula Unified School District is also hoping for a state grant for the project.
Dorcas Thille made the official presentation at Wednesday’s board meeting. She said, “It is our hope that this will encourage others to support this effort. We trust that this board and future boards will continue to build an Ag program for today’s students and those in the years to come. Thank you for providing the opportunity for us to invest in the agricultural education for the students.”
Thille was born and raised in Santa Paula and went through the school system here. She told the packed board room that, years ago her father said, “One should invest in the community in which one lives.”
Thille said she first contacted SPUSD Board Member Chris Wilson about the idea after reading in the Santa Paula Times about the plans for the new facility and the financial difficulties in completing it anytime soon. He sent her the architectural plans and she met with Assistant Superintendent for Business Donna Rose to discuss the donation.
