NEW-SCHOOL FUNDING OFF THE TABLE.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS 

Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The Hart district has shelved plans for a deluxe Castaic High School -- with a 14-room career technology building among its amenities -- to save money to repair deteriorating conditions at the district's oldest high school.

With finances bleak and pressure mounting among Castaic residents, the Hart Union High School District announced at a board meeting Wednesday night that the $175 million design for the long-anticipated Castaic campus has been frozen, as has design work for performing arts centers planned at Saugus and Canyon high schools.

"We have done very well on many of our projects and stayed within budget on four comprehensive schools, but in order to continue to do that, in a changing marketplace and changing construction environment, we need to look at new methods of delivering projects so that we can continue to deliver a quality product within the amount of dollars we have," said Rob Gapper, Hart's chief operations officer.

Gapper explained that design work on all projects has been put on hold until the board and district staff identify design and funding sources.

This comes as Castaic residents are rallying to get Castaic High built as soon as possible. That campus was planned with a career center, but such amenities might be too costly given problems at 60-year-old Hart High School that include leaky ceilings and musty carpeting.

Gapper, who presented the board with a list of construction options, said the board's input as it studies different philosophies is critical to keep up with the region's fast-paced growth.

"In order to move forward with projects, with our now-limited resources, we need to be certain that we're using every dollar wisely. To do that, we need to evaluate how we have done business and look at new methods."

Gapper focused on two construction models. When the board approved construction of its newer campuses, it created a budget, then came up with designs. Another idea is to plan the project, then view the budget and make any adjustments.

Hart board member Gloria Mercado-Fortine brought up a third idea, a construction design model that she said would increase competition among architects. Under that method, the board comes up with a design, then puts it out for bid.

"(Architects) came back with something great," Mercado said, describing her observations of the Corona Unified School District. "The board was in control; it brought competition into the design process without having the district invest money in conceptual designs.

"We have to take a look at what other districts are doing, find out what we're doing wrong and change our methods."

But board member Dennis King disagreed, saying the staff should make such decisions.

"We still don't have the expertise to question these people," King said. "I defy anyone to do a better job."

Some members in the audience seemed excited about the idea of change.

"Why are you trying to justify a model that you know doesn't work?" asked Eduardo Espana, a member of the oversight committee formed to oversee spending of a voter-approved bond for school construction and renovation.

Espana said change could help the district avoid the kind of cost overruns that have plagued recent projects.

Michele Lecrivain, a member of the Hart High School Alumni Association and an advocate for that school's modernization, has toured several school districts and said many are significantly reducing construction costs.

"Hart High is already five years past due for modernization," Lecrivain said. "They cannot move fast enough to satisfy me."

connie.llanos(at)dailynews.com

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