*** Hart Parent for Reform suspend active opposition to the bond. ***

The Hart school board has stated that they are going to give the new Measure SA bond committee more PRE-Oversight and Involvement with how the Measure SA money would be spent. The Board representatives and Measure SA representatives had been meeting with local stakeholders to try to find out what the real concerns were about another bond measure. Our committee was also able to meet with the District and the following is what the district has agreed to do in the best interest of the community as a whole.

*** Measure SA, EXPANDED (function of) oversight committee assuming Measure A passes, by law, we will need to select a new oversight committee. At the beginning of each project whether it be modernization/new construction, all designs and or conceptual drawings will be shared with the committee. Additionally, all related budgets (hard and soft costs), funding sources, project timelines, scope of the projects, will also be discussed with the committee. This would provide the committee multiple opportunities to ask questions, clarification, provide input into the process, and keep the committee up to date with the progress of all current and future projects.

There was discussion of keeping the committee membership to about 7-9 members provided that we meet board and prop 39 requirements about the qualifications of at least 7 members of the committee (i.e. one being from real estate, prop 13 Howard Jarvis, etc.). Selection members for the SA committee would be provided through a committee of 5 composed of 2 Hart District board members, 2 citizens and 1 Hart staff member. (This would be a change from past practice and current board policy so it would require board action to change this.) Community concerns have centered around the three areas of increased transparency, input into the process from the beginning rather than at the end and merely rubber stamping, and accountability.

We feel that the steps the board is taking should help put these to rest. We spoke about the importance of communicating about the progress of projects to the community on at least a quarterly basis so that we could keep all informed as to the progress of our various projects. And the importance of the Committee and the Board getting information to each other, We also thought it would be a good idea to have a member of the oversight committee on the Castaic High School educational specifications committee. There are other smaller details but these cover the major issues. We want to again thank the Board for taking all the input from the community and coming up with a plan that works for the success of the bond and our children…

In 2001 Santa Clarita Valley residents approved Measure V, a $158 million bond to fund facility modernization projects, improve classrooms and build new schools, including the construction of a high school in Castaic. Unfortunately, many of the projects promised under Measure V have not been completed and taxpayers are now being asked for more money to pay for Measure V projects.

The projects described in the new Hart District bond, Measure SA, are almost identical to those that were proposed under Measure V, which will not be paid off until 2030! Measure SA will be the second bond issued by the Hart District in the past seven years and would be the most expensive. Moreover, Measure V has been plagued by cost overruns of nearly $80 million, due to poor management and oversight by the Hart District.

Bond proponents argue that additional bond funds are necessary to finish the facility improvements, and are subject to audit. However, the results of prior audits have not all been favorable. Bond proponents also incorrectly assert that the cost of the bond will only be $10.00 per $100,000 of assessed value, even though the express language of the bond permits a tax increase of up to $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value.

 

 

*** Previous Issues ***

Hart District parents want budget reform before a bond proposal is put to voters

Santa Clarita – Key parent leaders who serve on the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Measure V Oversight Committee announced the formation of the Measure V Parents for Reform Committee.

The group had sent a letter to the Hart Governing Board requesting them to withdraw the $300 million bond proposal set for November’s ballot until the following items had been accomplished:

  • A site finalized for the proposed Castaic High School
  • Measure V Bond processes are fixed
  • Additional safeguards incorporated into the new bond proposal

In addition, the parents group asked for the following reforms in regards to the management of school construction, renovation and the control of bond funds:

  • Accurate Budgets/Accountability
  • Checks and Balances
  • Transparency
  • Stakeholder Input

In the letter to the Hart Board the parents group made clear they are not opposed to a bond in the future, but they are opposed to this bond as currently drafted.  The letter stated, “Working together with all stakeholders we can produce a bond proposal that will address the needs of all students of the Hart District, protect the integrity of taxes dollars, and be successful when presented to the voters.”

Measure V Parents for Reform is being spearheaded by three co-chairs Joe Messina, Renee Garneau-Sabol and Phil Ellis. 

“We are NOT against funding facilities for our Children’s education, we want to make sure we have enough this time and we do it right with the proper safeguards,” stated Joe Messina, current vice Chair of the Measure V Oversight Committee.

Renee Garneau-Sabol, current Member and Past President of the Measure V Oversight Committee, declared, “Our organization is interested in helping the board of the Hart district to become familiar with the process of due diligence.  We believe that the next bond measure that comes before the citizens of this valley should be better planned to ensure that projects are completed on-time and within the original budget."

“The Board missed it again, the consulting company stated that this bond will have a hard time passing due to a number of negative issues the least of which, the poor economy, leading to a 49%  no vote, why waste the time and energy on a poorly planned bond measure  that is doomed for failure” said Phil Ellis, current Chair of the Measure V Oversight Committee and former Governing Board member of the Hart School District.

To join the fight for reform please log onto www.HartDistrictParents4Reform.org.

26017 Huntington Lane Suite B  Valencia, California   91355
FPPC# Pending

This committee is not part of or affiliated with the Hart District Measure V Oversight committee.
This committee does not express the views of all the Measure V members past or current.