District to raze Fountain Valley High School building

Angelique Flores

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- A plan to demolish the No. 300 building at Fountain

Valley High School and replace it with one half its size has parents and

school officials upset.

The ground beneath the building’s foundation is settling, adding

stress to the columns and beams, officials said. Huntington Beach Union

High School District officials want to raze the building before it

becomes unsafe.

Because the price to repair the building -- $9 million -- is about 80%

of the cost to rebuild -- $13 million -- the district wants to tear it

down and start from scratch, said Ed Baker, the district’s assistant

superintendent of facilities.

The new building would be less than half the size of the existing

facility and would primarily consist of a cafeteria and restrooms. The

existing 55,000-square-foot building also houses the band, wood and auto

shop, photography lab, vocal music program, and drama and technology

classes.

“My concern is that these kids will be displaced and the programs will

disappear,” parent Mary Ellen Pascucci said.

So far, the state modernization funds secured for the project cover

costs to replace only half of the building. The district is still trying

to get additional funding from the state. The rest of the building will

be replaced if the district can get additional money, possibly through

grants or a bond, officials said.

According to the plan, portable classrooms would be installed to house

what the new building can’t.

“These are space-specific classrooms,” Principal Connie Mayhugh said.

“You’re not replacing regular classroom space.”

The large class sizes and special equipment make relocation of these

programs difficult, and students say they are concerned about their

programs and what’s available to them, Mayhugh said. Parents and teachers

are also concerned about the noise and distraction that will accompany

the construction.

“My concern is to maintain programs with little disruption,” Mayhugh

said.

The district is continuing to look at alternatives. Baker said the

project will not negatively affect the programs, but he said the building

will most likely come down.

The No. 300 building is more than 30 years old, is not earthquake safe

and doesn’t meet modern safety codes.

“We have to address the safety issue of that building,” Baker said.

“And we need to react soon.”

Other projects scheduled for the school will address its accessibility

to individuals with disabilities, fire and earthquake safety, and power

supply and wiring to make the school ready to participate in the state’s

Digital High School program.

Construction -- whether on the No. 300 building or other repairs and

improvements -- is scheduled to begin next summer and will continue

during the school year.