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GUHSD hears final report from BAC subcommittees
By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun
EL CAJON — On June 14, the Bond
Advisory Commission completed their monumental task in
delivering the most complete compiled data and information
regarding the Proposition H Bond monies, to the Grossmont Union
High School board of trustees. The board members were not only
impressed with the compilation, but many were stunned at the
over 180-page document that was delivered printed and bound,
giving the board a “road map” to complete all the promises made
in the Prop H Bond measure.
After 100 days, all the subcommittees submitted their
findings and recommendations to the board, which was no small
undertaking. Many of the members who served on these committees
had travel commitments, work commitments, and juggled the
seemingly full time job of the BAC — and still they completed
their task.
One member who began with the commission, Debra O’Coyne,
who fell ill during the process, was credited as an integral
part of making the process so much easier because of the
impeccable research data that she was able to submit before she
had to resign her position. Mark Price announced in the board
meeting that O’Coyne’s efforts were paramount to the compilation
of the BAC’s report, and gave her an enormous amount of credit
for her work. O’Coyne passed away this month on June 8, and
Price added that she will be missed.
Price once again, explained the purpose of the BAC, the
measures that the BAC subcommittees took to comply with the
Brown Act, as well as the steps that were taken to make the
whole process as transparent as possible. Price pointed out that
the number of students that were coming from the Alpine is
actually almost double the current number that is acknowledged.
SANDAG reports that there are actually 1,600 high school
students in the Alpine area, instead of the currently believed
900.
Price also reported that throughout this process he
found that the district may have no desire to build a 12th high
school. He said that the high school was the main project in
this bond issue that kept being pulled from the list of things
to do.
According to Price, during a recent meeting with one of
the staff members he asked the question, “If you had the money,
let’s say we went out for another bond, and you had the money,
am I right or wrong, would you go forward with the new school?”
He said the staff member answered that the district
doesn’t have the money to run the new school.
Price then proceeded to direct the board’s attention to
the report, where he notes that the district must overcome the,
“We can’t afford to operate the 12th school” myth. According to
Price, this is really not true, because education is funded by
the student attendance, and the money follows the students not
to mention that the district will have to redirect funding. In
the report, there is a complete section that details answers in
regards to “How you operate a new school.”
Every measure in the bond was an important issue in the
process, and each subcommittee focused on its established tasks.
Facilities and Curriculum worked with the community to determine
the type of school and variety of curriculum possibilities that
would best serve the needs their needs. The Finance Subcommittee
investigated all possible funding options for the 12th high
school as well as the remaining repairs and renovations as
outlined in the Bond.
The Repair and Renovation Subcommittee worked with the
long list of needed repairs and renovations as listed in the
Bond. And the Site Subcommittee set out to look at the four
sites presently before the board as well as any and all other
possible sites, and to consider many of the joint-use
opportunities that have been discussed and offered in the
community, such as a joint-use library, ball fields, swimming
pool, and performance center.
During the reporting process each member stood up and
submitted their findings and recommendations to the board
members. This report can be read in its entirety at the
BAC website.
Included in the reports, Price submitted the
recommendation that the board start to take steps to follow the
recommendations set forth in this report to regain the trust and
support of the community. Price reiterated that a paradigm shift
needed to take place to support the promises made, and a belief
keeping all the promises made is required.
Among the highlights of this report is the need to:
Rebalance populations to reduce overcrowding and repair costs.
Encourage public support of a November 2008 vote on a bond
extension that could raise $70 million plus matching funds.
Define a realistic 12th high school.
Price summarized the reports given by adding that the
GUHSD board must restore public confidence and trust through
effective oversight and management; the board has to take
ownership in Prop H, by setting clear goals and rigorous
management and establish real time controls.
Expert Project Management can be achieved when the
Project Manager is selected, who will manage and report directly
to the board under tight controls and restraints. The board must
establish a master check-list of the BAC recommendations. And
lastly, that the board clearly establishes a vision to support
keeping all promises made in the Proposition H Bond.
Price ended by saying that the BAC has compiled what
they believe is a credible, viable and fiscally responsible road
map for the district to complete all the promises made in the
Bond. He said that the BAC believes that if the district follows
the recommendations in the BAC road map, they will achieve the
goal in keeping all the promises made.
In the closing of this report, the board passed
unanimously the acceptance of this report and to acknowledge,
review and consider all the recommendations set forth in this
report.
E-mail
Christy Scott
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