This past week the William S. Hart School Board finally made a decision by choosing the Romero Canyon property to build the proposed new Castaic High School. This puts to rest the long drawn-out political jockeying over where to site the new school and actually gives hope to all parents in the Hart School district that the Castaic High School will open its doors for the 2013-2014 school year.

Now it is time for the Hart School Board to turn its attention to cutting ties with the Santa Clarita Valley Facilities Foundation. It is the SCV Facilities Foundation that purchased the Hasley/Sloan property which has proved not to be a suitable suit for the proposed Castaic High School.    

For those unfamiliar with the foundation here is what the their website claims; “The Santa Clarita Valley Facilities Foundation is dedicated to locating, acquiring and developing sites for new schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District. Since 1998, the Facilities Foundation has continued to make great progress toward fulfilling its mission to assist the Hart District in providing school facilities through land acquisition and infrastructure development.” 

I would argue that locating, acquiring and developing sites for new schools is the responsibility of the William S. Hart Union High School District elected board members and the District staff. The vast majority of school districts across this great nation handle their own locating, acquiring and developing of sites for new schools which is a much more transparent process.

For years now there have been comments, rumors and questions being raised about the Facilities Foundation and who is actually benefitting from that organization. Essentially there are more questions then there are answers as to why there is a separate organization making land deals on behalf of the Hart School district.

The local school district tax payers also need to question some of the choices that are being made and whether there are any questionable dealings going on with some of these land acquisitions. Just take a look at this biology diagram prepared by Padre for the Hasley/Sloan property:

Notice the endangered Slender Mariposa Lily locations; the Coastal Sage Scrub areas and Western Spadefoot Toad habitats. After this biology report was completed there have been reports that local live stock were apparently allowed to graze on this property.

Now take a look at this grading diagram by Lund the Civil Engineers which was completed after the biology report:

Is it me or does it strike you as well that there doesn’t seem to be any indication that the endangered habitats ever existed? There is no indication on this grading plan that any of the habitats are untouched or are being graded around or mitigated in any way.

The SCV Facilities Foundation also has several hundred acres of land known as the Sierra/Vasquez property. Apparently they are in the process of getting a $7 million dollar grant to put in road infrastructure which would be required for a school. Why so much? Because the infrastructure requirements seem to be expanded as the foundation is apparently planning on developing some home sites on a portion of this parcel of land.

If the Hart School District is suppose to caring for our children’s education then they need to be 100% focused on that and not spending time engaging in land speculation, some of which will be developed into housing tracts, with a third party facilities foundation. It’s a school district not a real estate development group. The Hart School District should be using all the tax dollars from measures “V” and “SA” for schools and school facilities only.

Since the choice of Romero Canyon has been made, the William S. Hart School Board needs to now direct the SCV Facilities Foundation to sell the poorly conceived and environmentally challenged Hasley/Sloan property. The property was bought with monies borrowed from the Hart General Fund so the proceeds for the Hasley/Sloan sale should be returned to that fund. Regardless if the sale is at a loss because the property was purchased at the height of the real estate bubble. The Hart District General Fund money should be used for General Fund purposes not land speculation.

The Hart School Board members need to work diligently towards complete transparency in how they operate. They must sever whatever relationship they have with the SCV Facilities Foundation; cut all financial ties with that foundation even if it is at a lose; and take care of the districts business themselves. This includes not having Hart School Board members on the SCV Facilities Foundation Board which gives the appearance of a complete conflict of interest.

There is no need for a facilities foundation especially since the responsible developers in the Santa Clarita Valley are building schools in a timely fashion going forward. Plans are already on the drawing boards for the appropriate schools to be built out as new homes are added to the area.

The Hart School Board has made a great leap in rebuilding their credibility and their reputation this past week with choosing the Romero Canyon site for the new Castaic High School. Now they need to continue on that course and jettison the SCV Facilities Foundation relationship.    

Dave Bossert- Commentary

Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.