View Article from the Vallejo Times-Herald

VALLEJO, CA – Griffin Technology Academies (GTA) and its four public schools are pleased to announce that they will soon be breaking ground on a new gymnasium, after receiving approval from Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) and signing a construction contract with a local general contractor.

The construction of a critically needed new gym at Mare Island Technology Academy, a 6-12th grade set of schools, will replace the former Omega Boys and Girls Club gymnasium, a building that was condemned as unsafe 10 years ago. The new $7.9 million gym will be used by GTA students from MIT Academy as well as its sister schools, Griffin Academy Middle and High School. Importantly, it will also provide a venue and physical and academic education for the local Vallejo community through a rekindled partnership with Omega Boys and Girls Club.

“We are extremely excited that we are finally able to start building a new gymnasium,” said GTA Superintendent Nick Driver. “And with two classrooms and office space in addition to the gym itself, this building is going to again become a gathering spot and hub for the community.” GTA received initial state funding from the State of California Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) more than five years ago, and that initial funding enabled the school administration to go through the complicated, painstaking design and approval processes that resulted in final OPSC project approval a
few months ago. Since then, GTA has been working closely with its landlord VCUSD to gain the required
local approval.

That approval was granted at a VCUSD board meeting last month, allowing GTA to sign a contract with local general contractor BHM Construction, the lowest bidder in the required public bidding process that was completed in June. BHM is also contracted to rebuild the entire Mare Island Technology Academy campus, once VCUSD grants that approval later this year.

“We are excited to partner with GTA to build a new gymnasium for Vallejo students,” said BHM Construction CEO Jeffery Mazet. “We were attracted to bid on this project because of the need for new construction in Vallejo, and GTA’s commitment to building with local unionized labor.”

“The release of state funding and an upcoming ground breaking ceremony will give us an opportunity to celebrate,” said Superintendent Driver. GTA is currently accepting transfer and new students at its two high schools and two middle schools.

“I’m particularly proud of our Board of Directors, and our entire administrative team for their tireless efforts to achieve this complex set of approvals,” said former Chief Operating Officer Brent Zionic, now the project manager for the entire permanent construction project.

GTA has scheduled a ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday September 19th at 10am at the building site, located at, 1 and 2 Positive Place. The community celebration will include the announcement of dates for a training exercise in fire fighting by Vallejo Fire Department, which is excited to use the demolition opportunity to showcase their skills.

About Griffin Technology Academies
GTA is a local network of four high-performing, tuition-free public charter schools dedicated to serving the Vallejo community's diverse, underserved student population. The four schools consist of: Mare Island Technology Academy (MIT MS 6-8), MIT Academy (MIT HS 9-12), MIT Griffin Academy Middle School (Griffin MS 6-8), and Griffin Academy High School (Griffin HS 9-12). Our mission is to prepare students to be ready for college, career, and life through diverse, innovative instructional programs that focus relentlessly on student academic achievement and social and emotional well-being. To learn more about GTA, please visit https://griffintechnologyacademies.org or gtaschools.org.