GUHSD moves ahead with purchase
of remaining Lazy A site

By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun

     EL CAJON — The Dec. 10 Grossmont Union High School District’s board meeting was a lengthy compilation of reports and reviews on project progress and budget woes. Board members were updated on the progress on the Bond projects, along with a review of how the current Program Manager Gafcon/Harris is performing. However, the GEA, Grossmont Educators Association, approached the board with significant concerns.
     Fran Zumwalt, president of the GEA approached the board with the teachers’ concerns, as they have been working without a contract for 17 months. Concerns include the fact that the superintendent has continued to requests new projects and funding, but has not backed the teachers. The budget cuts have been severe but Zumwalt asks why GUHSD can not do at least as well with their budget as the Sweetwater District who has increased their class sizes by two, creating classes of approximately 33 students per classroom, where as GUHSD has increased their class sizes to 37.
     Zumwalt says that teachers deserve better than what the district is proposing. With the current proposal, teachers will be losing $5,000 annually, including a rise in health care costs. Zumwalt calls this unconscionable when new programs are constantly being initiated which include new consultants to be flown in for these programs. She asked questions about the budget regarding projections, ADA, and end numbers. Zumwalt asks the district to return to core values, and honor teachers with their actions regarding the budget and budget cuts.
     The CBOC is currently working on an annual report that will be available to the board by February. They are hoping that the quick reference sheet they are creating will be an easy reference for the public concerning on-going projects.
Tony Fulton, owner of AF Consultants, reported on the third party review on the Proposition H and Proposition U projects. The significant findings include potential areas for improvement, however the program, as Fulton says, appears to have stabilized since the last review in January 2007. The district has progressed with site development, project tracking reports, and program management that has significantly enhanced since the hiring of Gafcon/Harris.
     Fulton recognized the slow progress that the State of California is showing in selling bonds to reimburse the District so the firm recommends that the district closely monitor state matching funds and prepare cash flow scenarios with and without these sources. This is to insure that they are prepared if the funds come in, or if they actually don’t come in.
     Fulton reported that Program and Project Management costs have been less than 3.5 percent of construction, but they should average less than 3 at program completion. This is less than average for a complex program of this nature, and was compared favorable to the Cuyamaca College program that is averaging at about 5 percent. Fulton recommended that the Program Manager prepare invoices with more clearly defined show of expenditures to date and not-to-exceed budgets and remaining balances.
     Katy Wright from Gafcon/Harris presented to the board the actual progress on the bond projects. The Science buildings on several campuses are nearing completion. On the 12th high school, land acquisition was the topic. Wright asked the board to move forward with the purchase of the third parcel on the Lazy A Ranch.
     They are currently continuing their efforts with Agency coordination such as USACE, USFWS, California Fish and Game, and utility agencies. They are also continuing on the public input at key milestones, along with conceptual design efforts. A discussion has begun with Viejas regarding a Museum.
     They are preparing scenarios that anticipate possible delays in the receipt of State funding. This is to ensure that that program progress is projected correctly. Wright is planning on a monthly update on this as it will possibly effect construction and acquisition schedules in mid-2010.
     Scott Patterson reported on the first interim financial report. He did caution that what he reported on could very well change in a month, but still allows the district to take stock of their budget thus far. The report focused on the calendar year and the effect it has on Average Daily Attendance.
     The ADA projection came out at 19,179, which was an increase. However, ADA is expected to decline, but Patterson remains hopeful.
     The district cannot forecast mid-year State budget cuts at this time. The district does not foresee the State funding future forecasted COLA, (cost of living allowance) so they have backed this out of their budget. Patterson also said that there is a significant difference in what the State can fund and what the State budget must fund. Spending then is higher than the budget because all of the solutions that the budget put forth have yet to be achieved. Everyone is looking ahead to the Governor’s January proposal.
     The calendar change has had a better impact on the budget. The attendance is overall better with school start after Labor Day. In addition, there is a savings in utilities as classes are not in session during the hottest times of the year. There is a projected $400,000 savings to start school after Labor Day.

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