Residents petition against park sale

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- With the presentation of the much-awaited facilities

report to the school board Tuesday night came a resident petition against

the sale of the Balearic Park site in Costa Mesa.

In its final report, the facilities committee recommended a bond of up to

$110 million be placed before voters this year. The bond would be part of

$163 million needed to repair the crumbling schools in the Newport-Mesa

district.

The remaining $53 million, the committee proposes the district gain from

the state.

Although the bond itself is a source of concern to residents, the more

immediate concern of many Costa Mesa residents is the potential sale of a

neighborhood park.

Along with the endorsement of a general obligation bond, the committee

suggested the sale of two district-owned properties to help pay for

future maintenance upkeep.

The recommendation was for the sale of the Banning Ranch and Balearic

sites, with the revenue being invested.

The Balearic site, located next to the Estancia Adobe and bordered by Boa

Vista, Balearic and Adams streets, currently serves as a neighborhood

park where children play soccer and other sports.

“I’d like to look into a partnership with the city to keep this open

space,” said Dana Black, president of the school board, in response to

community concerns.

Along with others, resident Fran Hill has formed a petition to fight the

possible sale.

Hill did not address the board Tuesday night, saying there was plenty of

time to prevent the sale.

A second concern regarding the funding sources for the maintenance upkeep

was raised by Linda Mook, president of the Teachers Federation.

The federation supports the bond and recognizes the need for a fund to

maintain the improvements, she said. But at the same time, it is

concerned that earmarking specific sources of funding would be

detrimental to the district.

“As a school district, we are funded on an annual basis,” she said. “As

the recently proposed budget by Gov. Davis attests, you’re in for

surprises every year in how the funds to schools will be packaged.”

Mook is specifically concerned with earmarking a significant portion of

the general fund, which varies from year to year.

That fund is used for supplies and teacher salaries, among other things.

“The board needs to retain flexibility to adapt to the changes in

funding,” she said.

The report came as no surprise to board members who said it was exactly

in line with what they expected to hear.

“The shock factor wore off a long time ago,” said David Brooks, vice

president of the school board. “They have given us a good sense of where

they were heading in the past.”

The board accepted the final report, directing district staff to set up

future study sessions to discuss the issues and questions raised by the

board and community.