Overcrowding is a
major concern
at Grossmont high schools
March
2, 2004: On this date Grossmont Union H.S. District voters
approved an initiative (Prop H) to provide for repairs,
renovations, and safety upgrades, and to relieve overcrowding at
district high schools.
Prop H was to finance these needs, and to build a new
12th High School to better serve the Grossmont Union High School
District (GUHSD) and its most eastern region.
Alpine and Blossom Valley now send more than 1,000
students to Granite Hills High School. Originally built to
accommodate fewer than 2,000 students, GHHS now enrolls nearly
2,900 students. It has more temporary classrooms (portables)
than permanent and is in overall poor condition.
More than 300 Alpine area students go to Steele Canyon
Charter High School. SCHS is the newest campus and over its
intended 1,800 Students. All except Santana and Mt. Miguel High
are over, or squeezed near their capacity. In the 50s, 60s and
70s when our high schools were built, they were to accommodate
between 1,500 to 2,000 students, as a normal capacity range.
I’ve toured every school as a GUHSD-BAC Repair and
Renovation Subcommittee Member. We were told each time, “We are
within capacity.” I’d like to see the papers assessing this. The
oldest schools need major modernization. Some should be fully
renovated, or replaced.
At Valhalla High School, modifications to make single
classrooms into doubles, to handle overcrowding, have made
emergency school/classroom egress a safety issue. The on-site
administration is concerned.
Overcrowding, safety, and old facilities are the
problems for which Prop H was the intended solution. Realigning
student populations among schools is a part of the solution,
along with a new 12th high school. We need a high school serving
the Alpine area, and most of the existing schools need major
renovation.
Completing Prop H fully likely brings more students to
East County, with more students come more state funds.
Modernization (a new replacement school) of San Diego’s Lincoln
High School did just that. The Lincoln High rebuild is only part
of this story. There are four different magnet academic programs
embedded into the new Lincoln’s curriculum. Its enriched
curriculum has attracted and produces new high achievers.
The high tech (and magnet school) model is one that
GUHSD should embrace. We could be a district of magnets and
attract additional new students. We would achieve revenue
increases, and exude all around excellence. Area quality of
life, and property values would go up, and local business
economies would benefit considerably.
Crowded schools hurt education quality, crowding
adversely affects a school’s facilities, and campus safety is
threatened. Poorly maintained schools hurt enrollment, morale,
education quality, and damages local economies. We need Prop H,
and we need a bond extension, an add-on, or a follow-up bond
initiative.
Yes, it is time to let bygones be bygones. Not
supporting funds needed for quality education of our children
and grandchildren, or advocating for withholding support of a
bond extension is without merit.
More money for our schools is an investment in our
local economy and in our own children’s future. It creates a
nearly undisputable win/win scenario. There will be naysayers;
I’m saddened by this reality.
The $274 Million Prop H initiative taxed each district
homeowner about $28 per each $100,000 of assessment on their
property. Because of rising property values Prop H is now at
about a $22 rate; thus the average homeowner, “saves
approximately $50 annually in property taxes.”
Prop H’s $274 Million is not enough to complete all its
projects. Even after adding the State matching and other
earmarked funds, estimated to come in at around $475 million
total.
It is expected that at least $100 Million additional
funds are needed to supplement the Prop H bond. Upon review of
the (third party experts) Gafcon-Harris assessments, these needs
will be quantifiable.
“What are we to do, to see that Prop H gets done; don’t we have
a moral obligation to act on this with more funds if needed?”
“Is school modernization, upgrades, and providing for the
education of our children important, or not?”
Prop H listed direct project costs have grown to over
$600 million. There are few choices; a choice to provide
additional bond funds via a follow-up extension, or not. So,
what are the district’s needs?
The third party Prop H project and construction experts
of Gafcon-Harris are doing the, “needs” determinations now. The
figures will be public soon. Transparency; is an important part
of district reforms, and the current new management.
At the last board meeting they voted unanimously to
seek a comprehensive 20-year demographic study. This study
should also investigate redistributing student populations, with
magnets throughout GUHSD.
“Replace over repair” is the cost effective approach in
rebuilding our oldest schools. The Prop H 12th high school is
the first new school. Others should come as we rebuild,
modernize and plan the district’s future.
Should we support a bond extension? YES, we must —
because without a bond extension, the GUHSD modernization
projects will not be completed. The 12th High School will
possibly be scuttled or not built. GUHSD and its future will be
certain to suffer.
Some are unhappy with GUHSD administration, along with
the governing board for past missteps. Myself included. We must
move past this. On March 2nd, 2004 when the bond was approved,
the administration and governing board was markedly different in
it’s’ makeup than the management group of today. Reform is
underway.
As of Dec. 6 there were at least 15 out of 17 positions
with either a new person in place, or the position was newly
created to manage or oversee Prop H programs.
For the sake of our children and grandchildren, let's
support a bond extension (or new bond) to complete what Prop H
started. It is time. Give GUHSD credit for its changes, reforms,
and let’s start re-building.
|
 |
 |
Bill Weaver is
the Chairman of the Alpine High School Citizens Committee and a
resident of Alpine. He can be reached at 445-1234; or e-mail him
at b.weaver@usa.com.
The Grossmont Solution Report is an opinion column written for
The Alpine Sun.
E-mail
the Editor
|
