Residents hear reports from BAC subcommittees’ first month of work

By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun

     EL CAJON — Many were impressed with the first reporting meeting of the Bond Advisory Commission that happened on Thursday, March 29, at the Grossmont Union High School District office.
     When this committee was formed, the members knew they were going to be in some hard work, and as they reported, they have already tackled some huge tasks, but they aren’t done yet. The committee members, at this meeting, provided reports from all four sub-committees, Facilities and Curriculum, Renovation and Repairs, Site, and Financial.
     Mark Price opened the meeting, reminding all that the BAC’s position was not to blame anyone, but to make recommendations on how the district can direct the spending of the remaining funds in the Proposition H Bond.
Pat Price, representing the Facilities and Curriculum sub-committee, reported that there is a projected figure of approximately 700 students from the Blossom Valley area, and 700 students from Joan Mac Queen Middle School, who would potentially use this high school site. Price maintained the idea that if we build this school, students will come.
     Mark Price offered the directive to look at the demographics for 2009. Pat Price finished his report by agreeing to check with potential feeder school principals for specific student numbers and demographics, and to determine what the overall curriculum would be for a future high school.
     The Repair and Renovations report was presented by Mendy Brant who notes that the top three priorities of the existing schools are: Air conditioning, bathroom repair and updates, and science labs. She states that the group’s next course of action is to meet with the finance sub-committee to have hard costs laid out for these items. Brant feels that by costing out the renovations that are being requested by the school sites, the sites themselves will be forced to tighten their lists further, resulting in a picking and choosing action from their available menus.
     Bill Garrett from the Site sub-committee was next to report. Garrett pointed out the GUHSD Board of Trustees was already moving forward in trying to identify a building site for the 12th high school. In fact, Essentia made a report to the board one day after this sub-committee had their first meeting. Essentia narrowed down the sites, and Garrett felt that when the board accepted Essentia’s recommendations, the Site sub-committee’s job was done, unless the final choice will need review.
     The Finance sub-committee was the last to give their report. This sub-committee was reported to be the hardest working of all the sub-committees bringing forth the most pertinent information. Jim Perkins, the chairman of this sub-committee, reported on the funding options for the 12th high school, the remaining repairs and renovations, a review of the ongoing bond expenditures, and all the State funding options that possible.
     Perkins pointed out the construction costs have increased 35-40 percent and because of this there seems to be a panic that surrounds the remaining funds and what is possible to do with them. Perkins presented in-depth explanations on the management of the bond monies as well as possible solutions to identified bond program problems. Perkins feels that the GUHSD board should adopt a “we can make it happen” mentality, and as a show of good faith in this regard and establish a “High School Reserve Sinking Fund,” made with an initial deposit of $65 million. As expenditures for the High School are made, the fund would be decreased by the expenditure amount.
     Perkins also made the suggestion that the district further divide the phases, to better manage the jobs, and hire a Project Construction Expert. This PCE will then report directly to the board. This will allow the board to actually own the bond projects, and keep the management of the bond projects at an executive level instead of at an administrative level.
Perkins said that with more creative and tighter executions of work and management practices, the district can save money and control overruns, they can fix prices and reduce the administrative workload.
     For more information on the BAC one may see the Alpine High School Citizen’s Committee at www.ahscc.com or you check the BAC pages at www.markprice.com/guhsd.

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