GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Setting the Record Straight Latest Legal Action by Alpine Group Threatens GUHSD Communities and Halts Planned Bond Projects Dear Faculty, Staff, Parents, and Taxpayers:

FEBRUARY 2015

Update on Alpine Lawsuit

On January 22, 2015, in response to the ongoing Alpine lawsuit, a Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction directing our District to set aside nearly $42 million ($14 million immediately and $28 million set aside by January 2016) in bond funds that we planned to use on needed improvements to classrooms and infrastructure around our District. We believe that there was no legal basis for the Court’s finding and, in fact, the Court found there was no evidence supporting the plaintiff ’s claims that our District has been wasteful in using bond money. The ruling is especially troubling in that it limits the authority of our locally-elected school board members to manage our voter-approved bond program and inserts the judicial branch in that role. We have filed an appeal of the court’s decision and will continue our efforts to return control of our bond program to our District. As it stands, the decision impacts many of our District’s communities. Although three bond projects will proceed, planned work at many of our high schools will not commence, and the fate of those projects will rest on the outcome of our legal battle against this injunction. Not only will students continue to be housed in older facilities, there is also a risk that our District will lose millions in State matching funds. The negative impact of the Court’s preliminary injunction to schools throughout our District has prompted Helix Charter High School to join Grossmont in appealing the Court’s decision. Together, we will defend the interests of students and taxpayers throughout all of East County against the devastating impact of this lawsuit. We have filed a Writ of Supersedeas (a motion to appeal

Ralf Swenson superintendent

and stay the injunction) on) to suspend the preliminary injunction until our appeal can be heard by a higher court. I want to remind ourr community that the GUHSD Governing Board has never wavered from the plan to build a 12th high school when the time is right. We have made significant investments by purchasing property in Alpine and acquiring the necessary permits for that land. Those steps required an expenditure of over $23 million to date, and our Board authorized an additional $42 million to be designated in the bond program budget for construction. However, in light of the ongoing funding challenges facing California’s schools, as well as years of declining enrollment throughout East County, the time for that actual construction is several years in the future. The voter-approved bond language authorized proceeding with actual construction of a new high school in Alpine only when enrollment in our comprehensive schools and two charter schools reaches 23,245 students. The most recent enrollment figures from those schools leaves us more than 1,600 students short of this threshold. It is simply not time to build a new high school, and setting aside available bond funds as the court has ordered dramatically limits our ability to complete many necessary projects in our existing schools. As this process unfolds, I will continue to keep you updated. In the interim, you may contact members of the Governing Board to express your concerns and provide feedback. Detailed information is available on the District’s website, including: specific bond programs affected at each school, legal documentation, GUHSD Board resolutions, and more.

www.guhsd.net

alpine | dulzura | el cajon | jamul | la mesa | lakeside | lemon grove | santee | spring valley

Alpine High School: Fact and Fiction FICT FI FICTION CTIO IONN The Grossmont District isn’t planning a new school in Alpine FACT FACT

More than $23 million has been spent in acquiring property and obtaining permits for construction of a school in Alpine. The project remains on the schedule of bond projects and — once the enrollment threshold is reached — plans for construction will resume.

FICT FI FICTION CTIO IONN The District has wasted money in spending bond funds FACT FACT

Multiple independent sources agree that our District has administered the bond program efficiently and without waste. In his ruling, the judge dismissed the Alpine lawsuit’s claim of wasteful spending. Multiple bond reviews conducted by the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and independent third-party reviews have consistently found an efficiently run program. In addition, a report by the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation gave our District high marks on measures of accountability and transparency for bond administration.

Community Reaction

Th Art The A t building b at Grossmont was built in the 1940s. Presently we have no heat…the vent system is very old and debris flows into the classroom along with the air. Ceiling tiles continue to fall down. Cabinets and walls have peeling paint. That peeling paint is lead-based. Since the building was built in the late 40's there are asbestos concerns.…The classroom is so small there are no usable aisles or walkways. Please fight to support the thousands of students in all our present schools by completingg the building projects in our present schools…

FICT FI FICTION C IOON Setting aside money shouldn’t be a problem if the school will be built CT The result of setting aside money well in advance of construction is two-fold: 1) the amount of the set-aside significantly reduces the available funds for ongoing construction, and 2) because of legally-required limitations on how schools can invest, the millions in set-aside funds will not earn enough interest to cover the debt-service costs. This results in wasted taxpayer dollars that could otherwise be used for improvements in our schools.

Eileen Mandell

Teacher, Grossmont High School Comments to the Governing Board on February 12, 2015

Declining Enrollment in East County GUHSD Enrollment 1,600 Students Under Voter-Approved Bond Threshold

www.guhsd.net

23,245 23 245

23k 23 3k

Current enrollment is 1600 students (nearly an entire high school) below bond threshold

22k

21k

2016

Source CDE/CBEDS Enrollment of comprehensive high schools (including Helix and Steele Canyon charter schools) in the Grossmont Union High School District

PROJECTED

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

20k 2010

Consistent with the patterns in recent years in the East County, student enrollment in the Grossmont district is projected to continue declining for the near future. In the 2014-15 school year, the enrollment of comprehensive high schools — including Helix and Steele Canyon charter schools — was more than 1,600 students under the bond-required language.

BOND THRESHOLD

24k

2009

The voter-approved language of Proposition U included a specific enrollment threshold before construction could begin. Subsequent to the bond passing in 2008, our District spent more than $23 million in bond funds to acquire property and obtain the necessary permits needed prior to construction of a new school.

2008

FACT FACT

Effects Ripple Through GUHSD Community $42 Million Set-Aside Jeopardizes Classroom Modernization and Safety Upgrades at Existing High Schools

Bond Projects in Danger Because of Alpine Lawsuit GRANITE G RAN HILLS

GROSSMONT G RO OSSMONT

Construction CCo onstruction of an events center with witth ddrama, ram ma, choral, dance, scene shop serving 1,000+ students in perform-ing arts program

Modernization M Mo oder of twelve classrooms house students in tthat th hat currently c relocatable classrooms (portables) reloca relo

HELIX H E CHARTER

SSANTANA AN N

Modernization M o of antiquated classrrooms oo and a critically needed fire l for emergency vehicles lan lane

CConstruction onn of performing arts sspaces paa and modernization of older buildings buil

MOUNT M OU MIGUEL

WEST W ES HILLS

Modernization M Mo od of 50 year-old classroom buildings and construction of a ro multipurpose space mult mu

Replacement Re RRep epla of twenty-five year-old HVAC equipment and modernization HV H special education classrooms with of sp the addition of hygiene facilities for students with special needs

DISTRICTWIDE D I Upp UUpgrade of security cameras and ssafety af systems

CBOC VValidates lid t PProjects j t W Were AAuthorized th i d iin BBondd LLanguage The Plaintiffs in the Alpine Lawsuit — and a few of their more vocal supporters — have claimed that our District has authorized projects on our campuses not called for in Propositions H and U Bond Language. We invite you to take a look at the facts. The link on the right will provide you with information presented to our Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee in February 2014. That presentation served as the process for validation that all Bond Projects completed to date were called for in Bond Language and approved by the GUHSD Board of Trustees. Each project is cross-referenced with the Bond Language that supported the project.

CLICK ON Approved Bond Project List as a Result of the Bond Program Review February 2014

GUHSD Earns High Marks on School Bond Transparency

Who is affected by the Alpine lawsuit?

In a report by the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation, entitled School Bond Transparency in San Diego County, the Grossmont Union High School District was consistently rated high on measures of accountability and transparency for bond program administration.

Many of our District’s communities and most high schools are affected by the Court’s preliminary injunction. The immediate effect of the ruling will be a halt to all but three bond projects that would benefit thousands of students districtwide What is the Grossmont District doing to avoid the negative consequences of the Alpine lawsuit? Our District has appealed the judge’s decision requiring our District to set aside $42 million by January 2016. Pending consideration of the appeal, the projects remain on hold.

Community Reaction

What is the status of the Alpine High School?

A a parent, I feel strongly that all As students at all schools in our district should have classrooms and facilities that meet the current educational needs of the students, and ensures their safety. The court's ruling prevents our district from making necessary improvements to p our campuses. This is not in the best interest of our students. students.

The Grossmont District has spent $23.5 million on acquiring property and obtaining permits needed for construction. The high school remains on the bond schedule and is budgeted for $65 million (total project) once the voter-approved student enrollment threshold is reached. Didn’t Alpine file a petition for unification? Yes, a group of petitioners convinced the Alpine Union School District to support a petition for unification over one year ago. The San Diego County Office of Education forwarded the petition to the State Board of Education with a recommendation that would limit voting on the issue to only those living in Alpine. The State Board isn’t likely to begin initial consideration of the petition until early in 2016. In response, our District will provide testimony to the State Board recommending denial of the petition. What are State-matching funds? On certain eligible construction projects and improvements, the State provides funds that supplement district expenses. Our District’s bond program has received over $120 million in State matching dollars to date and has qualified for an additional $21 million. However, work must be completed to eliminate any danger of losing the funding.

Lisa Stewar Stewart District Parent PTSA President Comments to the Governing Gov Board on February 12, 12 2015

(619) 644-8000

WHAT CAN I DO?

PO BOX 1043, 1043 LA MESA MESA, CA 91944

How can I voicee m myy support upport pp for ou our ur Di District’s ’s appeal appeal? l?? Grossmont Union U High h School Di District istrict G Governing Board B Members M

RRobert Ro bertS t Shield Shield ld

Dr.. G D Dr Gary aryW W Woods oodds

Jim JJi im KKelly elllly

PPriscilla Pr iscill illa SSchreiber chhreiiber

Jim Ji im St Sti Stieringer ieringer i

PRESIDENT

VICEE PRESIDENT

CCLERK LERK

MEMBER

MEMBER M EMBER

[email protected] robshield@hotm robshield@hotma ail.com

[email protected] gw woods@socalsem. w [email protected] ed

[email protected] ja aameskelly@allstat meskelly@allst te.com

pschreiber@guhsd n [email protected]

[email protected] tieringer@cox n [email protected]

PROUDLY REPRESENTING G

alpine | dul dulzura lzura | el cajon ca ajon | jamul jamu ul | la mesa | lakeside l e | lemon grove g | santee | spring valley