District moves on school repair bond

Andrew Wainer

The Huntington Beach City School District took two concrete steps forward

Tuesday night toward resolving its simmering school repair debate.

The board has been deadlocked on deciding how to raise the money needed

to improve the district’s schools. Putting a bond issue to vote, selling

some of the district’s unused school sites and taking out a loan are the

three options the board has debated.

On Tuesday the board voted 3 to 2 to award a contract to Caldwell, Flores

and Winters consultant services to help survey voters on whether they

support a bond issue, or selling unused school sites to help fund school

repairs.

Board member Brian Garland, who voted against the contract, said the

board was moving too fast in spending money for a public survey when the

board itself has not decided on how to raise the funds.

“It is another step toward a goal that the board isn’t ready to sell to

the community,” Garland said. “We are trying to make something happen

without laying the foundation for further success.”

Trustee Catherine McGough also voted against the contract.

The board also voted 4-1 to award a $275,000 contract to architect David

Ydeen to survey the district’s school sites to determine which of those

would qualify for Proposition 1A school modernization funds. Ydeen will

update the district’s school blueprints and determine which sites need

repairs. Brian Garland was the lone dissenter on the board.

In other business, Huntington Union Council PTA President Rosemary Saylor

presented to the board her organization’s endorsement of the bond, known

as “Measure A.”

The council includes 24 PTA/PTSA units within the school districts of

Huntington Union High, Fountain Valley, Ocean View and Huntington City.

Saylor said she is confident that the safeguards included in the measure

will ensure that the funds are spent efficiently and fairly.