Community celebrates Gavilan's Coyote Valley grand opening
by Jan Janes on Mar 3, 2017A break in the parade of winter storms offered sunny skies and green hills as Gavilan College trustees and administrators, joined by stakeholders and community members, celebrated the grand opening of the Coyote Valley campus on February 14.
Coyote Valley campus entryway and parking lot was lined with dozens of flags
snapping in the brisk late afternoon breeze.
The first college classes started in January. Current classes include administration of justice, communications, economics, kinesiology and math.
Dr. Kathleen Rose, Gavilan College superintendent/president, welcomed the guests,
thanked supporters and shared the 14-month, fast-track timeline for campus completion.
The five-building campus is shared with the South Bay Regional Safety Training Consortium. All police academy and public safety classes will be held at the Coyote Valley campus. Initially a joint effort between Gavilan College and Evergreen Valley College, the partnership now includes Monterey Peninsula College, College of San Mateo, Lake Tahoe Community College, Cabrillo College, Mission College, Hartnell College, Foothill College, and Ohlone College.
Gavilan College Board of Trustees President Laura Perry cuts the red ribbon
as administrators, trustees and partners look on.
During the evening's festivities, before the regularly scheduled board of trustees meeting, visitors could test drive the vehicle training simulator and learn about fire safety. A classroom with a law enforcement "forced options" simulation was demonstrated, and participants had the opportunity to imagine what they would do next when inserted into the scenario of a vehicle stop that turns into a firefight.
The South Bay Regional Safety Training Consortium invited the evening's
guests to test drive the vehicle simulator, which trains law enforcement officers
in best practices for pursuit and apprehension using a range of public scenarios.