HART ORDERS MASTER PLAN SCHOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES' NEEDS WILL BE COMPILED.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The Hart District, with new bond money to spend, is conducting a facilities study to see what is needed on local campuses - restrooms, labs, athletic fields and other amenities.

The William S. Hart Union High School District has hired a construction management firm to create an extensive master plan that details the facility needs of each campus, the cost of improvements and the cost of building facilities.

``We anticipate, as we're master-planning the renovation of our older schools and the building of new schools, the aspect of additional auxiliary facilities, which will have to be under a master plan,'' said District Superintendent Bob Lee.

The district intends to identify and fix shortcomings in certain schools compared with others, and to increase the life span of each campus by 30 years after significant wear-and-tear due to overcrowded schools.

The firm will look at each classroom in the district, conducting a detailed evaluation of its current condition to identify the work that needs to be done.

``We're nailing down the details of it, determining what everything will cost, looking at what is possible and prioritizing everything,'' said Rory Livingston, director of business and fiscal services for the district.

Already, district officials are anticipating that the final list of projects will overshadow available funds that could be paid for by multiple sources, including Measure V, state money and other grants the district could receive. The plan alone is estimated at $1 million.

``We'll probably wind up with more projects than we have dollars for, and the board will then prioritize,'' Livingston said.

The plan, which is expected to be completed by early July, will address all facilities from bathrooms, libraries and offices for staff to parking lots and parent pick-up and drop-off zones.

``We will look at every single facet of junior high and high school instructional and co-curricular programs,'' Livingston said. Athletic and instructional facilities are among the major facilities the district is focusing on.

As the district builds more high schools, Livingston said, at some point they will address the needs for athletic facilities, including a football stadium and lighted baseball and softball fields.

The district is also interested in upgrading instructional facilities including science labs, and assessing the technology available at the schools.

Livingston acknowledged that hiring a construction firm to create a facilities master plan is non-traditional, but said the district wants to spend time and money for the detailed overview and cost estimates to ensure the money is spent where needed.

``With the bond issue, everybody is in a big hurry to spend money, but you need to take a deep breath and get a clear view so you can be effective and spend your money in an efficient and timely matter,'' Livingston said.

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Valencia High School's football field is among the facilities in the Hart District to be studied for repair and upgrade needs.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer