“A Blog on the Alpine/BV High School” the GUHSD and Propositions H and U;

This meeting presenting the Draft 12th new high school sites EIR Review and Report went without any significant drama…. it lasted a full 2 hours.

District Superintendent, Mr. Robert “Bob” Collins , Asst. Supt. Scott Patterson, Media/PR Representative Catherine Martin, and meeting moderator & Facilities Director, Mr.  Bob Keisling all represented the GUHSD.

GUHSD Engineering Consultant Essentia’s Engineer - Mr. Daryll Hernandez, and the EIR Consultant’s were also there, and on the panel answering audience questions…

From the floor; Lazy A Ranch residents made a plea for fairness, if they are to become the “chosen” 12th high school site. Overall, there were no meeting surprises, and it was a relatively uneventful 2 hours.

This is a necessary EIR public presentation now done. The process continues on as time runs ’till the Feb 23rd date when the public written comment period ends.

Here is the link to our home website’s posting of the AHSCC’s official “meeting” statement, as delivered by AHSCC meeting spokesperson (Alpine resident & parent) Mr. Sal Casamassima…

AHSCC Official Statement - Made At GUHSD Public D-EIR Meeting Of Feb 4th, 2009

This message was posted as an update for information purposes;  Blog “comments” by the meeting attendee’s, or others are encouraged!

Bill Weaver, AHSCC Chair

[ recent updates are within these brackets ]

At the December 11th GUHSD Governing Board meeting the first two hours were for the swearing in of Priscilla Schreiber (re-elected) and Gary Woods (new-elected) … plus a procession of awards and recognitions, a refreshment break, and Board formalities, including the election (5-0 vote) of the new Board President; Rob Shield. Dick Hoy was re-elected as Board V.P. (5-0 vote), and Jim Kelly is now the Board Clerk (5-0 vote).

In running his first meeting, Shield established a sense of decorum and superbly handled the meeting after the gavel was turned over to him. Kelly at least had the good sense not to push himself for Bd. President in light of the Helix High School press conference he and new board member Gary Woods called for. It was ill advised, and poorly conceived, and political - happening just prior to the November 4th general election.

The real action started at 8:15 PM. Katy Wright (Gafcon) gave the Prop H update. They are ready to move on to the last remodel phase (3BR), and are looking to tap the $65 M escrow account, which staff has recommended be done, and the Board approved by a 5-0 vote (more detail later).

But most important was Katy Wright’s discussion of the EIR for the 3 Alpine/BV school sites. The draft EIR is complete and will be released Jan 5th  [ Actually released Jan 7 ].  There will then be a 45 day public comment period  [45 days is to end on Feb 23 ]  and other key parties  [ A GUHSD sponsored public meeting is scheduled at the Alpine Community Center for Wed., Feb. 4th at 6PM to provide an update on project & draft EIR Report ] will also be asked their views, including our 2nd district supervisor Diane Jacob and the Alpine Planning Group. It was said that the APG’s input will be requested tentively on Jan. 22nd  [ Not actually scheduled yet -likely to be February ].

The now scheduled comment period will end on [ Feb 23rd ]; then the GUHSD Board will finalize the EIR for certification in May  [ A GUHSD Bd. meeting is now scheduled for May 14th ]  or at latest perhaps June. At that point a site will be recommended, State approval required, along with the various mitigations or overrides that will lead to site purchase.

The actual site acquisition now seems targeted for the latter half of 2009. With that scenario on the table, the core issue of the $65 M escrow was up next. Under the resolution, the $65M is to be divided; $45M for phase 3BR works, and $20M for purchase of the school site following completion of the EIR and site selection. But the new twist was that the $20 M would come from either Prop H or Prop U whereas the other $45M was solely from Prop H.

Priscilla Schreiber objected to this change - correctly noting that all of the $65 M escrow was Prop H and that this was once again a signal that the Board was sliding away from an Alpine school. Jim Kelly defended this new course by saying that by the time the site was selected we’d already be digging into the Prop U funds so this change actually gave the district more flexibility. He added that there was no deception intended.

Collins said that indeed funds could be used from either H or U to acquire the property and that they were now committed to build the school. AHSCC members in attendance noted this as the first slight fudge of Prop U… because it is clear from the U ballot text that U funds were to be used for site infrastructure and school construction - clearly contemplating site acquisition funds were to come solely from Prop H.

Board VP - Dick Hoy said it was his intent in voting for this resolution that the Board was now agreeing to moving forward with the Alpine/BV new school. This prompted new Board Member Gary Woods to make his one and only statement of the evening, “I support the Alpine high school.” Keep in mind that just 2 months ago Woods was quoted in the UT as being completely opposed to the high school. After little discussion, the vote was 4-1 in favor of the resolution with Priscilla Schreiber casting a symbolic NO vote because of the revision.

The “As The GUHSD World Turns” saga continues… the next episode;

Thursday, January 15th at 6PM… the next regular board meeting.

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Review the 650 + page draft EIR for the three (3) 12th High School Sites Here… Go directly to links that break this large 72 MB file into manageable & down-loadable smaller files - CLICK HERE!

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This Report/Blog submitted [ w/bracketed updates ] by Bill Weaver on behalf of the AHSCC.

The www.AHSCC.com Website Provides A Wealth Of Reliable Information - Click Here and Visit Us!

As Chairman of the Alpine High School Citizens Committee I want to stress how important that it is for us to all come together and support the Grossmont Union High School District’s Proposition U.

This bond measure is essential to keep all of our GUHSD East County high schools viable. Proposition U is an investment in our local economy. Especially in light of school funding shortfalls, and our crumbling infrastructure.

It will provide our public high schools with the minimal funds necessary to assure a future state of readiness. Our East County businesses need what Prop U promises;

We all need a new 12th Alpine/BV high school, and district wide modernized classrooms to assure success for college-bound students.

We also need the 30 planned magnet career technology centers created for the training of non-college bound students.

Prop U has something in it for everyone, and at a cost that is insignificant when weighed against the certainty of increased local prosperity for all of us, especially for all future East County high school graduates.

Bill Weaver

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Review the 650 + page draft EIR for the three (3) 12th High School Sites Here… Go directly to links that break this large 72 MB file into manageable & down-loadable smaller files - CLICK HERE!

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The www.AHSCC.com Website Provides A Wealth Of Reliable Information - Click Here and Visit Us!