Huntington Beach City School District Wrap-up

Marissa Espino

Issue: Enrollment

Vote: None

Summary: District staff reported Tuesday night that 6,539 regular

education students and 128 special education students have enrolled in

district schools. Since the first day of school, Sept. 7, 288 more

students have enrolled in district schools, but the district continues to

be below projections by 165 students.

Issue: Playground Matting

Vote: 4-1, with Brian Rechsteiner dissenting

Summary: The board approved a resolution to issue a contract to

Spectraturf Inc., to provide and install playground safety matting for

four pieces of playground equipment at Huntington Seacliff Elementary

School.

The cost for the matting is $33,341, which was included in the district

budget for the construction of the new school.

Federal and state law requires that safety matting be installed under

playground equipment, including slides, jungle gyms and other climbing

equipment.

Issue: Voter Survey

Vote: 4-1, with Brian Garland dissenting

Summary: The board approved a contract with Price Research to issue a

voter survey so the district can determine if there is enough community

support to issue a school repair bond. Price Research will conduct random

telephone interviews with a minimum of 400 of the 48,141 registered

voters in the district. The cost of the survey will not exceed $18,000.

Garland said he would not vote in favor of the contract because he felt

the district was rushing the possibility of issuing a school bond and

$18,000 was excessive.

“I’m concerned we are jumping the gun a little bit,” Garland said.

Issue: Consultant Services

Vote: None

Summary: The board will vote Oct. 5 to approve a contract for consultant

services with Caldwell Flores Winters Inc., on an as-needed basis to help

the district assess community support for a school repair bond election

or other facility funding alternatives.

According to the contract, the consultation group will only be paid for

the work if the district decides to pursue a general obligation bond and

it is approved by voters.

If approved by voters, the district would pay $25,000 plus costs incurred

for the sale of the bonds.

Issue: Study Session

Vote: None

Summary: The board will have a special meeting Tuesday to review the

district’s 1999-2000 budget at 6 p.m. at the District Education Center,

20451 Craimer Lane, Huntington Beach.