5-20-07 - Drafts of the Final Reports for the Facilities & Curriculum, Repair & Renovation & Site Subcommittees have been posted on their web pages.  The Finance Subcommittee is reviewing the Reports for any financial issues which they may need to include in their Report.  The Finance Subcommittee Report will be posted after their review.  These Reports will remain in Draft status until the Commission reviews and votes on them at our last meeting on May 28th.

5-15-07 - The Final Commission meeting has been scheduled for Monday, May 28, 2007 at 6:00pm at Alpine Elementary School, Alpine, CA.  Please note that this is a change, the meeting was originally scheduled for May 22, 2007.  There will be NO meeting on May 22nd.  The purpose of this meeting is to approve the Final Reports.  The Final Reports will be presented to the Grossmont Board of Trustees at their June 14, 2007 meeting.

5-14-07 - Posted Draft Final Report for Repair & Renovation & Site.  Also posted 5-15-07 Meeting Notice & Agenda for Facilities & Curriculum.  See respective websites.

5-11-07 - At last night's regular meeting of the GUHSD Board of Trustees they voted on 5 recommendations put forward by the GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission Finance Subcommittee.  All 5 were passed by the Board.  This represents a positive sign that the District wants to work together and fully embrace the new paradigm that in order to accomplish and keep all of the promises made in the Prop H Bond the District would have to work together.  Tonight was a very positive move in this direction.   

The District staff reported on the Bond and actions taken thus far.  They presented a slide that made it clear that they believe it was going to cost nearly $600 million dollars to keep all the promises they made in the Bond.  I spoke to this point and stated that even if you pull the high school (approx $100 million dollar expense, according to District projections) out of the list, the District would still be, by their own numbers, nearly $100 million dollars short.  In other words they would need an additional $100 million dollars just to keep the repair and renovation promises they have made.   

It would require additional funding, an additional bond, just to meet the repair and renovation promises.  Based on the Districts past record of passing bonds, it is highly unlikely that they would pass another bond if the District is divided. 

Therefore, to keep the repair and renovation promises they need to keep the district in harmony.  The only way they can retain and or build harmony is to move forward, proactively and in good faith on all the promises made; the repair and renovation as well as the new high school.   Therefore, I view tonight's meeting, and tonight's embracing of the 5 GUHSD BAC recommendations as a positive step in the right direction.    

The following are the 5 recommendations.  It is important to note that the Board modified the recommendations, but the modifications were accepted by the GUHSD BAC Finance Subcommittee:    

Revised Recommendation #1:  On or prior to May 30, 2007, the Board shall establish, and thereafter properly maintain, a segregated reserve fund dedicated solely to (i) the construction of the 12th high school, and (ii) enumerated Repairs & Renovations that, as of today, will not be commenced prior to December 31, 2008. The reserve fund shall initially be capitalized with $65 million and shall have accumulating interest and additional funds added, without subtraction, so that a total reserve fund of $100 million is achieved by or before December 31, 2008.  On or about December 31, 2008, the Board shall make a final decision on how to allocate the reserve fund toward Proposition H mandates including whether to combine the fund with additional monies obtained, or to be obtained, from an extension bond if approved by the voters.   

Commission Recommendation #2:  The District should divide Phase 3B into “new” 3B and a 3C.  Phase 3C would consist of the last one-third of the projects considered from a priority importance.  It would certainly include those projects presently in Phase 3B that were not listed in the bond text.  

Commission Recommendation #3:  Appoint an Independent Project Construction Expert (“PCE”) that Reports Directly to the Board.  

Commission Recommendation #4:  The Board should accept that a “paradigm shift” needs to take place, along with the appointment of a PCE, in evaluating and implementing a creative execution for 3 major discrete Prop H components.  They should thus embrace the following initiatives immediately:  

Commission Recommendation #5:  As soon as possible the Board should implement a website schedule that tracks the construction phases and percentage of completion to allow the greatest amount of transparency to voters and District employees and parents.

The 5 recommendations along with GUHSD Staff recommendations are available at the Commission website on the Finance Subcommittee page - Finance Subcommittee webpage -  Click here

5-9-07 - See The Finance Subcommitte Webpage for the addition of a Section "Memos".  Also, you will find under Reports a Revised BAC Recommendation for our Recommendation # 1 - 12th High School Reserve Fund.

5-8-07 - Please visit the following webpages for newly posted Reports:

Finance Subcommittee - 4 new Reports responding to GUHSD Staff recommendations on the BAC Finance Subcommittee Recommendations to the GUHSD Board at the Special Meeting on April 16th.  Click here

Site Subcommittee - Draft Final Report.  Click here

5-5-07 - The following is my response to an e-mail from Scott Patterson regarding GUHSD staff's recommendations of the GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission's Finance Subcommittee:

    "Scott,   Thank you for the information.  I am waiting for comments from Jim & Patrick before a final comment is made on your Board recommendations.  I do have one overriding concern; the language you use implies that there has been no decision made on the 12th high school.  The Commission takes the position that the decision to build the 12th high school has been made.  It was made when it was included and sold to the public in the Bond.  The only major questions that remain regarding the 12th high school are:

*  Where it will be built    

*  It's size    

*  How to structure paying for it  

The Commission has a problem with any and all inferences that the 12th high school is merely a possibility.   When the Commission releases its Final Report the Grossmont board and District will have a "road map" to achieving all the promises made in the Bond.  When the Commission refers to a needed paradigm shift it is referencing in great part the need for the District to embrace the concept that all of the promises made in the Bond will be met.    I would like to make a recommendation that the language in your recommendations regarding the Commissions preliminary Finance Subcommittee recommendations be edited to reflect an embracing of the paradigm shift.   Thank you for all of your efforts and ongoing support of the Commission,   Respectfully,   Mark Price"

4-26-07 - It has been brought to my attention that some are having trouble opening some of the PDF File links.  It looks as though the problem may be the version of the PDF Reader being used.  If you are having trouble opening a PDF link, please go to the Adobe Acrobat Reader website and download the newest version - it is free. 

 http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/

4-16-07 - Letter to San Diego Taxpayer Association in response to letter dated 4/9/07 (below) - Click Here

4-12-07 - Agenda for the GUHSD Special Meeting - April 16, 2007

4-9-07 - Letter to Grossmont Union High School District Governing Board - Click Here
"You may recall that in 2005, our Association communicated our concerns regarding the CBOC to the Governing Board and Superintendent. Since then, the District has made limited progress and we believe there is still significant room for improvement..."  Author: Lani Lutar

4-5-07 - The GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission will present a status report at a Special Meeting of the GUHSD Board of Trustees on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 6:00pm.  The meeting will be held at the East County Regional Education Center (ECREC) 924 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020.

3-29-07 - The GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission held it's second meeting.  At the meeting the Subcommittees reported on the status and recommendations to date.  Please see the individual Subcommittee pages (links on the left) for specifics and links to the Reports.

3-8-07 - The GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission's Site Subcommittee addressed the GUHSD Board of Trustees at the request of the Board.  The Site Subcommittee presented it's recommendations for three sites to be considered for the twelfth high school.

2-21-07 - The first meeting of the GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at Alpine Elementary School. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the Commission members, provide an overview of the Commission's goals and responsibilities and set the tone for the process.

Mark Price opened the meeting by welcoming those in attendance and introducing the staff and Board members from Grossmont. He then provided an overview of the Commissions responsibilities. He pointed out that this is a rare opportunity, "It is not often that a government entity welcomes and invites the recommendations of the taxpayers after they already have their money." He also pointed out that the focus of the Commission must be the entire District, "We in Alpine must understand that the repair and renovation portion of the Bond is just as important as the 12th high school portion. And those in the District who are focused on the repair and renovation portion of the Bond need to accept that the 12th high school carries equal weight and is as important. We must be willing to work together for the entire district to turn the promises made in the Bond to promises kept. We must be willing to set personal agendas aside and work together for the sake of the kids." He pointed out that there is a short period of time to address these issues, "We have less than 100 days to report back to the Grossmont Board of Trustees with our set of recommendations. What happens now is up to us. We can choose to spend the next 100 days complaining, pointing fingers and affixing blame or we can choose to roll up our sleeves and develop a credible set of recommendations. It's up to us. In some ways, this may be our last best opportunity."

Mark then introduced the Commission members. The Commission members each had an opportunity to introduce themselves and describe their vision for the Commission generally and their Subcommittee specifically.

Then the approximately 75 people in attendance were given the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns with the Commission members and the representatives from Grossmont.

Mark then encouraged all in attendance to sign-up for the Subcommittee(s) of their choice stating that, "The world is run by those who show up."

The next Commission meeting will be on March 29, 2007.

Subcommittee Updates

Facilities & Curriculum

        
      The Facilities & Curriculum Subcommittee will work with the community to determine the type of school and variety of curriculum possibilities which would best serve their needs. There has been a great deal of discussion in the Alpine area regarding a full and comprehensive high school. One goal of the Subcommittee will be to define full and comprehensive. The Subcommittee would also discuss further the above-mentioned joint and shared-use opportunities.

3-29-07 - Please go to the Facilities & Curriculum page for Reports and updates.
 

Finance

      The Finance Subcommittee will investigate all possible funding options for the 12th high school as well as the remaining repairs and renovations as outlined in the Bond. They will be instructed to review ongoing bond expenditures and investigate all available State matching funds as well as any other possible sources. They will present to the Commission all possible funding sources and options.

3-29-07 - At the GUHSD Bond Advisory Commission on March 29, 2007 the Finance Subcommittee presented it's status report.  The Report included the subcommittees findings and recommendations.  Please see Finance Subcommittee page for links to the Reports presented.

Repairs & Renovation

     The Repair & Renovation Subcommittee will work with the long list of needed repairs and renovations as listed in the Bond. They will prioritize those remaining items and, working with the Finance Subcommittee and District staff, will attempt to place a cost on each of the repairs and renovations.    Please see Repairs & Renovation Subcommittee page for links to the Reports presented and Agendas & Minutes.

Site

         The Site Subcommittee will be tasked to look at the 4 sites presently before the Board and any and all other possible sites. They will narrow the list and make a recommendation to the Commission. Grossmont has been very vocal in their desire to build a 12th high school with many shared and joint-use opportunities. Some of the discussed possibilities are ball fields, swimming pool, library and performance center. There has also been talk of a possible satellite opportunity working with the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District or our local universities. The Site Subcommittee will need to recommend property large enough to meet the needs of these possibilities.

3-29-07 - Please go to the Site page for Reports and updates.