Council looks at site switch

Huntington Beach City School District board members have narrowed down the scenarios on what to do with the district’s surplus property, which they will discuss in detail Feb. 5.

But as they discussed ways to raise revenue for building and remodeling, the same study session had them hearing dire news about the state budget’s effect on money for school programs.

Both of the choices most favored by trustees would keep two private Christian schools in the district, but the one some members appeared to favor would have Huntington Christian School move from the Burke Elementary School site to Kettler Elementary, keep Brethren Christian Junior/Senior High School where it is at Gisler Elementary, and work on selling the other sites, LeBard and Burke Elementary Schools. All of those public schools are closed.

Two other members, Shirley Carey and Brian Rechsteiner, said they preferred to renegotiate leases with the two private schools, sell LeBard to the city of Huntington Beach, and leave Kettler alone until officials decide what to do.

“That would save the fields,” Rechsteiner said. “I’m a member of this community. When we can make it work financially and help the community, in my opinion we’ve got a win-win situation.”

As for Kettler Elementary, Carey said, “I’m unsure of what we should do with Kettler until we are positive where we have the district office [currently on the LeBard site] moved.”

Whatever decision is made, it will take four out of five votes to sell a site, and likely to lease one as well.

Discussion of the four scenarios will take place at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at another study session in the district offices, 20451 Craimer Lane, with the expectation that an actual vote might be taken Feb. 19.

That night, trustees also heard from Asst. Supt. Mike Curran on the future budget, who said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed state budget cuts would slash funding for the school district’s programs, especially special education.

“Is this a good budget?” Curran asked. “In a word, no.”

Curran said the district would have to shrink its projected budget for the 2008-2009 school year by $2.5 million, out of about $49 million. As the governor’s proposed budget has not been voted on by the legislature, it is likely to change somewhat. But Curran said the district’s financial projections would work from the assumption that 10% across-the-board cuts in statewide spending would go through.