Recall: It's Not Just for Capo Unified Anymore

Not wanting to miss out on all the recall fun over the last year or so, Huntington Beach City School District is looking to jump in.  What is prompting this is a looming decision to sell off four school sites to developers; they call it "asset management" on their website.  Call it what you want, it is not too popular with the locals.  Compounding the problem is that two of the sites have leases with private schools.  So, it is not as though these are truly unused, vacant properties.  The other sites, I believe, are used for community sporting events and by the boy scouts.  Nevertheless, the Board--before knowing what their plan is--has given the private schools lease termination notices.  This opens the door for them to sell the property for development.

The money from the sale is to benefit increased/renovated administration facilities for the district administration.  But I've heard the Board--in considering this move--might not have been aware that sale proceeds can (by law) only go to classroom (not administration) improvements.  Regardless, selling off valuable properties (two of which already have operating schools on them, which in turn pay the district monthly rent) for administration perks is unwise.  While the district might not need the properties in the immediate future, at some point the student population will rise.  The district will then need to use--our favorite--eminent domain to get the needed space.  It would be far better to continue leasing to existing private schools and other community groups until there is a need for more public schools.

If a new Taj Ma-dministration building really is needed, the Board should ask the voters to fund it (a bond.)  Knowing they won't is what is prompting this mess.  They think they can sell the property, use the money for their own building, and then, later, when space is tight get a bond for "new school sites"--which will be a more attractive ballot statement than "big, lavish administration hall."  Of course, the sites will be significantly more expensive by then.  But, by then everyone will have forgotten that WE HAD THE SITES and sold them. 

This dumb idea, however, is not lost on local residents.  One board member consistently opposed has been Shirely Carey--who has over 150 letters supporting her opposition.  "Save Our School Sites" lawn signs are already popping up.  A new group "www.savehbcommunity.com " is already up and on the web.  It has a nice link to all the articles covering this story.  You can find it here.  The HB Independent has been following the story and conducting online (admittedly, never the most scientific) polls on the topic.  343 of 348 oppose the proposed sale.  I've also started hearing talk about a recall effort. Apparently the Independent has too.  In a new poll, 11 of 11 support a recall of those board members voting for the sale. 

I think the Board is stepping into something they want to avoid. Recalls against school boards seem to be all the rage in OC lately. You have here, for starters, soccer teams, boy scouts, and two schools worth of parents ready to take to the streets.  That doesn't even account for all the neighborhood residents that don't want further development in their area.  Sell property with schools and parks for administration perks (while forcing two schools to leave)=recall in the wind.

Keep your eye on how this 'develops.'  A Board "study session" for this is planned for October 30th.  I think they might want to 'study' Capo Unified's history.

Comments

[CUSD Constituent]

If they want to learn about the whole mess in Capo Unified, they should log on to www.cusdrecall.com

[B]

Keith for School Board!

Who voted in favor of and against the selling of the properties in question?

[Keith Carlson]

As I understand it, Shirley Carey has been the only one 'against' consistently. There has been another member who seems to have switched to the 'against' camp recently. That makes it 3-2 'for' selling. I will try to get the sames of the for's v. against's.

For clarification sake;
This is a different board of trustess than the one that Matt Harper sits on? Am I correct or is this the same board that Matt Harper is on?

[Keith Carlson]

Clarification sake:

You are correct, this is not Matt Harper's board.

As for the names, I'm told:

Celia Jaffe, Catherine McGough and Rosemary Saylor appear to still be in favor of selling at least some property;

Shirley Carey has always been opposed; and

Brian Rechsteiner might be moving from "for" to "against" the sale. (He voted to rescind the termination of the leases with the two private schools and in his public comments appears to be reconsidering his position on selling the school sites.)

I don't have personal knowledge on these people or their positions, but that is what I'm told.

I'm trying to get an update about last night's study session.