Deadline looms on Building No. 300’s fate

Angelique Flores

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Everyone seems to agree Fountain Valley High

School’s Building No. 300 must be demolished or retrofitted. But a task

force created to review the situation is having a tough time preserving

classroom space and ensuring safety, while also staying within the

confines of the district’s funds and tight deadlines from the state.

In July, the state awarded $40 million to the Huntington Beach Union

High School District to be divided among five schools for upgrades and

repairs. One of the restrictions, however, is construction must be

underway within 18 months of receiving the money.

Construction plans, which must be submitted to the state by Jan. 1,

must also be approved by the state’s Department of School Architecture,

which could take up to five months.Tearing down and rebuilding the

structure would cost about $16 million, but Fountain Valley High has

$11.4 million for the project. The district has applied to the state for

more money but has receive no response yet.

“We need to move forward in the direction as if the building is going

down,” Principal Connie Mayhugh told the task force during a meeting last

week.

However, if the district waits too long to find out if it will receive

more state money, all of the funds may be lost because it will exceed the

18-month time restriction.

After last week’s meeting, the task force -- comprised of teachers,

staff, parents, students and community members -- submitted a list of

classroom dimensions needed and suggestions to the architect.

The goal is to replace all of the space now housed in Building No.

300. One plan includes using portables. Another includes building a

permanent building with a later addition and portables. Estimates now

show half of the space could be lost if the structure is replaced.

“Space is very tight, and we had to be creative,” said Bobbi Witten,

teacher and department coordinator for the consumer and family studies

program. “But we feel it’s a doable deal.”

The architects will return to the next meeting, Wednesday, with costs

and possible designs. A structural engineer is also expected at the

meeting to explain the costs of reinforcing the building.

“I think there are some questions on the table that we’re going to get

some solid answers to,” Mayhugh said.

Teachers such as Witten risk losing up to half of their instructional

space if they don’t come up with a viable plan to accommodate the

programs now housed in the building.

“Anything less than what we have cheats children unnecessarily, and we

aren’t willing to cut corners,” Witten said. “We’re trying to keep the

integrity of the instructional space so the integrity of the curriculum

would be intact.”

Besides the outcome of the plan they choose, the task force must also

consider housing programs during construction. The school has considered

renting space across the street at Fountain Valley Elementary School in

the interim.

“Any time there is any construction on campus, there are concerns

getting students from class to class safely,” Mayhugh said. “It is a

disruption. . . . Getting students across the street will be something to

deal with.”

Besides student instruction, the building also houses weekly bingo

games in the cafeteria. This program is a major fund-raiser for the

school’s athletics program and annual grad night activities.

Parents say they are concerned about the possibility of losing the

space to hold the bingo games.

Mayhugh and members of the task force say they hope to continue to

work toward resolving the dilemma at the next meeting.

“When there’s a will, there’s a way,” Witten said.

Teachers and parents will have a chance to look at the task force’s

proposals.

“Ultimately, any decision is the board’s decision,” Mayhugh said.

FYI

The next task force meetings are scheduled for Wednesday and Dec. 6

from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the school’s media center, 17816 Bushard St.,

Fountain Valley.