We continue to work together to stop a massive development proposed for Gird Road!
Thank you to everyone who took time from their busy schedules to attend the Bonsall Unified School District's (BUSD) July 13 meeting where the
Interim Property Report was formally presented to the Board. Volunteers spent many hours over five months researching properties and the Interim Property Report details the findings. It includes info on the proposed Gird Road site and others including the Ocean Breeze Ranch property located adjacent to the existing Sullivan Middle School/Bonsall High School campus.
Community leader Jack Wood spoke at the July 13 meeting, stating that he agreed with the decisions made in 2010 when he chaired a committee process that resulted in Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD) declaring the Gird Road parcel surplus. He stated, "I still feel the same way as back in 2010. That property is not suitable for a high school."
FUHSD transferred the land, plus $2 million, to BUSD during its unification process and both the State and the County recommended BUSD sell the property. BUSD ignored that advice and went to the community to fund a massive development. BUSD lost that ballot measure (Measure D) last November, the fifth time the community has rejected funding a high school in Gird Valley.
Mr. Wood said, "So, I am here to speak ... on behalf of Fallbrook because constituents are calling me repeatedly, all up and down the Gird Valley. ... It is not an appropriate location and I think it would be ill advised for this school district to continue to pursue that property for a high school."
Board Members Dick Olson and Dr. Sylvia Tucker are opposed to spending more money on prepping Gird Road for construction in light of the realities of tight budgets and organized community opposition to the Gird Road location. They are, however, outvoted every time by Dr. Tim Coen (president), Lou Riddle and Dr. Erin English who continue to dig BUSD into a deeper and deeper financial hole.
BUSD has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on surveys, design work, construction services and the lengthy and expensive Environmental Impact Report process required for the massive 1,500-student high school and performing arts center it's proposing for Gird Road.
BUSD's 2017-2018 budget projects only 352 high school students will enroll for the 2019-2020 school year. Such a small school district can't afford all these expenses and so something has to give and it's the budget and school reserves.
BUSD revealed, "The District has been deficit spending since the 2011/12 fiscal year, a total of six years; this structural imbalance of revenues versus expenses ... is an unsustainable trend. ... The multi-year projections show the District ending the 2019/20 fiscal year with an ending balance available for reserves of 0.4%, far below the legally required 3%."
BUSD's Board is interviewing candidates to replace retiring Superintendent Justin Cunningham. We wish the new Superintendent luck on righting this sinking ship.
In the meantime, we will continue to work together to save beautiful Gird Valley!
