City will settle on schools’ foundation

Deirdre Newman

The $2-million Home Ranch educational grant, in limbo since July,

will take a giant step closer to benefiting three schools when the

City Council determines Tuesday what type of foundation will be

entrusted with the funds.

The city received the $2 million as part of the development

agreement with the Segerstroms for Home Ranch, a massive project

slated for the property bordered by the San Diego Freeway, Fairview

Road, Harbor Boulevard and Sunflower Avenue.

Costa Mesa High School, which serves grades seven through 12, will

receive $1 million, while the other million will be split between

Estancia High and TeWinkle Middle schools.

The City Council will choose among three options that vary in

features such as the number of board members, what the funds should

be used for and if the foundation’s meetings should be subject to the

same open-meeting requirements that the City Council is.

On Dec. 2, council members opted to postpone the disbursement

issue to give themselves more time to consider the options.

The Segerstrom proposal calls for two different foundations -- one

for Costa Mesa High School and one for Estancia and TeWinkle schools.

Each would have five to 15 board members. The funds would be

restricted so that no more than 25% of each year’s expenses could be

used on activities or facilities involving athletics. The foundations

would not have to adhere to open-meeting laws.

Another recommendation is for the city to form an ad hoc

foundation consisting of seven board members. None of its funds could

be used for facilities, athletics or athletic equipment. It would be

subject to open-meeting laws.

The third proposal also calls for a single foundation to be formed

by the city. It would only have three board members to start, would

not be able to use any funds on facilities, athletics or athletic

equipment and would be subject to open-meeting laws.