No back-pedaling on
Prop H
The public approved the
Proposition H bond measure in March of 2004. It was titled, “The
Neighborhood School Repair, Safety, and Overcrowding Bond
Measure.” Since then, the Grossmont Union High School District’s
Measure H has suffered under questionable management practices.
We now expect a dramatic about-face (the paradigm
shift) in Prop H programs as project management and bond
spending reforms are implemented. Can an about-face in
management practices actually happen? Will all the Measure H
projects come to be as they were promised?
The GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission (BAC) has provided
reforms that can save Prop H. These reforms must be backed by a
public outcry to uphold and deliver on all that the Prop H bond
language promises. The numerous recommendations boil down to two
necessary attention areas:
Funding — all possible new money sources & saving means must be
aggressively pursued.
Management — all levels must be reviewed, overhauled, and
reformed (now underway).
The BAC Finance Subcommittee has suggested that even
after implementing the best cost saving techniques, and
maximizing all sources of funds; there is going to remain a need
for an extension, or add-on to the original Prop H bond. This is
the only means to pay for all the original bond program’s
projects.
A bond extension, or add-on bond would cost taxpayers
little. The average district homeowner would pay about $50 in
additional property taxes per year. This small amount would
provide an additional $100 million, or more, and enable the full
project list to be completed.
Fifty more bucks from each homeowner, and the district
will be able to totally upgrade and modernize nearly every
school building, rid GUHSD campuses of all aging temporary
classrooms, and the benefits just go on and on. It would also
assure a brand new state of the art 12th high school campus to
be constructed in the Alpine or Blossom Valley area, as
promised.
The governing board has recently made tremendous
about-face changes in Prop H project management. Construction
expert Gafcon-Harris (hired about one month ago) is now in
charge of all Prop H projects. They also brought in AF
Consultants, an independent firm, to review the entire Prop H
program.
Colbi Technologies was hired to provide professional
expertise to the Prop H Citizens Bond Oversight Committee. These
changes are giant, and each is a “paradigm shift” at the
management level.
On Sept. 26 the GUHSD introduced its new
superintendent. Robert Collins has left behind a 39-year career
with the Los Angeles Unified School District to become the
governing board's unanimous choice to lead our 24,000-student
Grossmont district.
“We are standing as one behind him,” trustee Richard
Hoy is quoted saying. Alpine resident, and GUHSD trustee Larry
Urdahl said, “Robert Collins will help restore the district's
reputation as a jewel of education.” Collins responded, “I look
forward to meeting that challenge.” He was given a multi-year
contract that starts in November and expires on June 30, 2011.
Reform is paramount at GUHSD. Governing board trustee
Jim Kelly has recently spoken negatively on important BAC
recommended finance reforms. Kelly has not commented publicly on
the independent AF Consultants review yet. If Kelly can be
impartial he will recognize that the AF Consultants’ Prop H
program review validates the recommendations of the BAC finance
subcommittee report, including a bond extension, or add-on.
Assessing boardroom comments made by governing trustees
Schreiber, Urdahl, and Hoy, each are supportive of reforms and a
Prop 39 enabled bond extension. Jim Kelly seems closed minded,
but I hope this assessment is proven wrong. Trustee Richard
Shield appears to be a thinker who remains undecided. Trustee
Shield’s boardroom comments indicate that he is looking for
clarity on the issues.
Appealing to the undecided trustees on reason and
understanding will persuade them. The necessity for the Prop 39,
55 percent approval threshold, bond extension is obvious. If two
board members were to vote NO, our Prop 39 bond extension hopes
are dashed.
A board minority (40 percent — only 2 of its 5 members)
could kill any chance of finishing all Prop H listed projects.
Only the public should make the final decision on whether Prop H
listed projects get completed, or not!
A supermajority (4 of 5 members voting yes) is a
requirement for a Prop 39 school bond add-on extension. Prop H
was passed under the Prop 39 55 percent rule. It requires a
Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), and restricts how
bond funds are spent. Prop H passed with 62 percent.
During the most recent school board election, incumbent
candidate Jim Kelly, and candidates Dick Hoy and Richard Shield,
all favored the new high school campus promised in the bond. At
a governing board candidate’s forum held only one year ago on
Oct. 17 they each said:
Jim Kelly… “We will have an Alpine High School. I have
looked into the camera, looked into people’s eyes, and said you
will have a high school. The last board built Steele Canyon [H.S.]
instead of supporting an Alpine High School.”
Dick Hoy… “I will support Prop H. It says we will build
a high school for Alpine.“
Robert Shield… “I am concerned about Alpine and the
status of the High School promised to the Alpine community.
Various boards in the past have promised the Alpine community a
school. I intend to see that it is built. The current board is
looking at various sites for an Alpine school. Prop H promised a
high school in Alpine. I intend to continue to honor that
promise for an Alpine High School.”
Unless board member Jim Kelly supports a bond extension
ballot measure to be on the November 2008 ballot, he is
back-peddling on his campaign promise to support the Alpine area
high school.
The entire GUHSD governing board has obligations to all
Prop H stakeholders to honor their own board resolution, and the
completion of all the listed bond projects.
Their next meeting is on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.
Please let each board member know, in writing or in person, that
we want a Prop 39 (55 percent) Prop H bond extension measure
placed on the November 2008 election ballot.
Board member contact information may be found at
www.guhsd.net, or go to;
www.ahscc.com, then
click Meetings & Alerts, the third tab down on the left. Or,
contact Debbie Peterson — Executive Assistant, Superintendent’s
Office; 644-8083, or by e-mail;
dpeterson@guhsd.net.
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.
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