HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WRAP-UP

ISSUE: NEW SCHOOL BUSES

Vote: 5-0

Summary: The board of trustees authorized the purchase Tuesday of three

special education buses to replace three older, worn-out vehicles that

are specially designed to accommodate students with special needs.

The cost of the buses is about $42,000. The district has an ongoing fleet

replacement program that allows the district to replace deteriorating

vehicles.

Money for the purchase of the buses will come from the general fund.

ISSUE: SYSTEMS ANALYST

Vote: 4-1, with trustee Matthew Harper dissenting

Summary: The board approved the hiring of a systems analyst in the data

processing department.

The board also recommended that savings from the purchase of certain

technology be allocated to the department. The amount allocated is not to

exceed $115,000 per year for three years.

Assistant Supt. Patricia Koch said the district’s change from a data

processing system that was custom designed by district staff to a

commercial software system has resulted in fundamental changes in the way

the district conducts business. The change has created a need for more

analysts.

ISSUE: Proposition 26

Vote: 4-1, with Harper dissenting

Summary: The board voted to support Proposition 26, which would make it

easier for districts to win general obligation bond elections.

Proposition 26 seeks to lower the threshold for a school bond from a

two-thirds majority to a simple majority.

All districts in the area have endorsed the proposition, which will go

before California voters in less than a month.

Harper is the only trustee in the Huntington Beach-Fountain Valley area

to vote against the proposition.