The Turlock Unified School District held its first Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday at the district’s new Professional Development Center located at the eCademy Charter at Crane campus.

Trustee Loren Holt complimented the new facility. “This is a very nice building and it’s going to be great for staff training, it has plenty of room,” he said.

Holt also noted that Turlock High School Performing Arts Building, where the board previously held its meetings, can now be used solely for students.

A ribbon cutting ceremony time and date will be announced in the coming weeks. The new facility is two portable rooms joined together. It features state-of-the-art electronics and also provides a more intimate environment while maintaining enough seating for over 100 audience members.

In other TUSD Board of Trustee notes: The Harvest Christian Center in Turlock donated more than 450 pairs of shoes to students at Julien, Osborn, Crowell, Cunningham and Wakefield schools. The estimated cost of a single pair of shoes was between $15 and $20.

“This is another example of more and more support and collaboration we are seeing with the community. This kind of support is crucial for our students,” said Board President Frank Lima.

Additionally, Superintendent Sonny Da Marto announced that he has directed Information Systems Manager Judi Green to conduct a study and plan of action in the coming months in order to determine “what a 21st century classroom looks like.” The goal of the study will be to update the district’s technology plan for the future. Green will be compiling information such as cost and equipment needs to meet future technological classroom and student needs district wide. Green will make her report to the board in coming months.

To contact Jonathan McCorkell, e-mail jmccorkell@turlockjournal.com, or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.