PLANS TO REVAMP 3 HART SCHOOLS GET BOARD REVIEW.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS 

Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The Hart school board reviewed plans Wednesday night for a $20 million renovation plan to fix deteriorating conditions at three of the school district's oldest campuses.

Under a master plan presented by Rob Gapper, chief operations officer for the Hart Union High School District, flagship Hart High and Placerita and Sierra Vista junior highs will get new ceilings, floors, paint, lighting and furniture in the first phase of a three-phase plan. Electrical outlets will be upgraded and science labs and restrooms modernized.

"This phase one is consistent with other first phases done in the district in that it will be a widespread modernization of existing facilities," Gapper said.

Aware of the community pressure that has mounted from teachers, students and alumni of Hart High to give the 60-year-old campus a complete revamp, Gapper said tearing down buildings was not in his plans.

"Those are beautiful buildings, a capital asset for the district."

But Hart board member Gloria Mercado-Fortine suggested installing a permamnent prefabricated building that would include 12 classrooms and all science rooms.

"What you show me here is still substandard," she said, referring to the renovation plan. "Hart High has waited so long, I would like to see something more."

The school board met well into the night, hearing from Hart teachers, students, parents and alumni demanding immediate repairs.

If approved by the board, the projects would be paid for by voter-approved bond money and some state funding earmarked for modernization.

In total, $17.24 million of Measure V funds would be used for the modernization of the three schools -- $10 million will go to Hart High, $5 million for Placerita Junior High and $2.24 million for Sierra Vista Junior High.

Sierra Vista would also be using $3.36 million of its state modernization dollars.

Gapper described the district's efforts to find funding for the modernization of these three campuses "creative."

Previously the district had explained that Measure V funds, supposedly earmarked for the modernization, were gone. But Gapper said some expenses, previously taken from the bond fund, were transferred to other district pots of money.

The board also looked at a new design for Castaic High School, already three years behind schedule and expected to open in 2010.

Michael Otavka, the district's director of facilities, recommended in a report to the board that members consider using modular and prefabricated buildings on the new campus to cut costs. The original plan for the high school, that included agricultural facilities and a large vocational center as well as more square footage than any other Hart district high school, would have cost $175 million.

"This design should bring the plan back to the Hart district model standard," Gapper said.

Golden Valley and West Ranch high schools, built in recent years, were constructed with 24 modular classroom buildings at each campus.

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