Human Remains Unearthed During School Construction Have Yet to be Properly Buried

Human remains unearthed during San Ramon Valley High School's gym construction a couple years ago are stored in boxes, still awaiting proper reburial.

Andrew Galvan – a Native American who curates Mission Dolores – reminded the board that 59 human remains were excavated during construction on San Ramon Valley High School’s new gymnasium in July 2009.

Those remains are from a Native American tribe’s burial ground and are now stored in 88 archive boxes.

The Native American Heritage Commission named Galvan the most likely descendant and gave him the task of removing the remains and taking them safely to Fremont's Ohlones Indian Cemetery.

Galvan said he's unhappy with how the remains are being treated and called for the board to review the situation and find a suitable location to place and bury the remains.

“This is the first I think I’ve heard, that I think the rest of the board has heard, that there is an issue revolving around the remains,” board member Greg Marvel said.

The board was under the impression that the remains were going to be buried in Santa Clara County, he said. 

“What the heck is going on?”

Marvel suggested that the issue be brought up as an action item or an information item at a future meeting so that the board can review the issue further.

Also at the meeting, two positions were reduced or eliminated because the district cannot afford to fund them.

The board unanimously agreed to lay off one 30-hour-week school tech instructional position and reduce the classroom paraeducator position from 15 hours per week to 10.

“These are two positions that we have not received confirmation that we have categorical funding, so we would ask the board to approve this resolution,” said Jessica Romeo, assistant superintendent of human resources.

Another issue the board addressed was naming the week of May 9 to 13 as the State of Emergency Week of Action.

The board agreed to observe that time to raise awareness about the potential budget impacts if the state were to adopt an “all cuts” budget.

The district estimates a reduction of $10 million to $25 million in funding for the district should the “all cuts” occur.

“I think that the most important thing that we can do right now is make more people aware to what’s happening, because I think overall there’s not enough awareness of how bad things are,” trustee Denise Jennison said.

The board also agreed to name May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month, which would encourage all schools in the district to provide appropriate instructional materials.