CONTRA COSTA TIMES
As a beginning teacher in the San Ramon Valley school district 30 years ago, Donna Yokomizo would drive up Interstate 680 with only a few cars as company. It was said the area had more horses than students back then.
"I used to wonder why they needed such a big freeway," said Yokomizo. "Now I know."
And she will be right in the middle of the growth. This fall, among the growing Dougherty Valley housing developments east of San Ramon, Yokomizo -- still with the district -- will start her new job as principal of the new Hidden Hills Elementary School.
And an open house for the campus, featuring a park built in partnership with the city that the public can use after hours, takes place Saturday.
It is the second of seven schools planned in the area. The first, Coyote Creek Elementary, opened in 2000. That school filled quickly, and during the past year about 50 students in that school's attendance area were diverted to other schools, mainly to Montevideo Elementary, district spokesman Terry Koehne said. Coyote Creek will still be at capacity this year.
The opening of a new middle school, originally planned for the same time as Hidden Hills, has been postponed until the 2005-06 school year, as there aren't yet enough students there, he said. Another elementary school is planned to open for the 2006-07 school year, and Dougherty Valley High School is planned for the year after that. The other two schools are a middle and elementary school.
Developers Windemere BLC Land Co. provided the land and construction for Hidden Hills, in lieu of fees developers normally pay for schools to be built.
Yokomizo said the school, with a 720-student capacity, will probably open with about 400 students. About 100 will be kindergartners.
She said about 200 will come from Coyote Creek Elementary. Students living within the Hidden Hills attendance boundaries will attend immediately, moving over from other schools they attended last year.
Along with classrooms, the school has a computer lab with 30 computers, a science lab and a kiln for art projects. The library has a small computer lab, which Yokomizo hopes to eventually fill with 20 computers. There is a multipurpose room, with a stage, a basketball court and a kitchen. Outside the room there is an amphitheater for more performances.
On Wednesday, parents came to help out in the morning, putting together information packets for the new students. Teachers were also unpacking boxes and setting up their rooms.
Kristina Baham, a fifth-year teacher who taught at Antioch's Lone Tree Elementary last year, had applied to the San Ramon Valley district because of its good reputation. Having been at other first-year schools before, she was hoping to work at Hidden Hills.
"The community comes together to build another part of the community," said Baham, who will teach third grade. Staff already has had picnics and other events with parents and students for introductions, Yokomizo said.
"Everyone kind of comes in at ground zero and we get to build the culture together," Baham said.
Reach Eric Louie at 925-847-2123 or elouie@cctimes.com.