HART DISTRICT PUSHING BOND REFERENDUM; $50 MILLION WOULD BUILD SCHOOLS.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Knee-deep in overcrowding issues, the William S. Hart Union High School District is seeking a $50 million bond referendum on the November ballot to raise money to build new schools.

The Hart board was meeting late Thursday, but members in past discussions have indicated they would approve the bond measure for a vote Nov. 2. It would require approval of two-thirds of the voters to pass.

With an 80 percent reimbursement rate from the state, the $50 million bond would cover the junior and senior high school district's contribution to an all-inclusive $227 million plan to build at least two new facilities, as well as renovate and modernize existing schools.

``It's basically everything we need, including new shoes for Aunt Sallie,'' board President John Hassel said in an interview before the meeting.

If voters approve the maximum proposed bond, it would cost property owners $17.47 per every $100,000 assessed value to finance the debt over 25 years, with anticipated interest rates ranging from 4.3 percent to 5.45 percent, Superintendent Robert C. Lee said.

The average single-family homeowner would see annual property tax bills increased by $31.21.

``I think we're in a position with no choice. I hate to get in someone's pocket,'' Lee said of the foreseen impact on taxes. ``I don't like spending my own money, never mind someone else's, but this is the only way to meet the demands on our school district from all the growth going on around us. It's time to put this before voters and let them decide.''

Last week the board unanimously passed an emergency resolution to award a $750,000 contract for the installation of portable classrooms at seven junior and senior high schools by September, without bidding the project. The district plans to install an additional 41 portable classrooms before the fall.

Thirty-five to 40 percent of the district's total student population is housed in portable classrooms, according to school officials.

The Hart District at present maintains 10 schools - one for adult education, continuing education, four junior high and four senior high schools. All would undergo renovations or additions, school officials said.

Also, plans are under way to construct the Rio Norte Junior High School off McBean Parkway in Valencia and Golden Valley High School off Golden Valley Road in Canyon Country.

Hassel said a high school has been discussed for the north end of the district in Castaic, but so far that plan has not fully evolved. A small portion of the bond might be set aside for construction of that facility, but school officials have not determined how much, he said.

Hart District school officials favor pitching one $50 million bond referendum to cover all pending construction and renovation projects, rather than seeking voter approval for each individual project, because the latter choice ``would be a nightmare,'' Hassel said.

``If you were to put this on the ballots separately, your costs for running those elections would be prohibitive,'' he said, noting that expenses to run elections and market the bond issues would be unnecessarily duplicated.

Asked how long the proposed $227 million renovation and construction projects would accommodate the growing community, Hassel said school officials are focused on alleviating immediate overcrowding needs, as a result of funding sources that place the district in a Catch-22.

``Unfortunately with state funding, when the ink dries on the plans, you're already overcrowded,'' said Hassel, explaining that communities must show a minimum 20 percent overcrowding rate and have a local funding source to provide matching funds.