School lease renewal wanted

A first public meeting to discuss proposals for four closed Huntington Beach City School District elementary school sites was a mix of anger and slow-moving public policy. Residents called repeatedly to renew the leases of two private Christian schools and expressed frustration with what they called a secretive process. Council members, on the other hand, focused their energies on piecing together the rationale used by their consultants to compare the pros and cons of each proposal, and asking for appraisals of the properties.

More than 100 residents turned out at a Huntington Beach City School District board study session this week. They came to hear the first discussion of 11 specific options on the table for the sites, whether to lease, sell or trade. But they also came in force to register their frustration at council members for even considering any sales.

Nine proposals made it past the consultants’ review.

Of those, seven would have residential developers buy land and build houses on it, while the other two would reinstate the leases of Huntington Christian School and Brethren.

Resident Pam Birch said that despite trustees’ statements the board had in no way decided to sell any property, she wasn’t reassured.

“If you were a tenant and the landlord terminated your lease and put a request out for proposals, wouldn’t you believe they had intentions to sell?” she asked. “The only thing missing is a ‘for sale’ sign.”

Board member Celia Jaffe said those who made comments didn’t have the right idea about council members’ motivations.

“The fact that some under public comment characterize how they view board’s goals does not make their view the case,” she said.

Trustees asked their staff and consultants numerous questions about how they came up with the list of nine proposals.

“Particularly with the community aspects [like having to move playing fields], there are places you said it would be neutral and many people would consider it negative,” Trustee Shirley Carey said.

Consultant Ron Bennett, president of School Services of California, told the board that selling property and leasing it provides money for different things: leases can pay for school programs, while selling land can finance building projects.

As a result, he said he believed the district could likely serve its interests best by negotiating leases with the two Christian private schools already on district property, and selling one of the other two properties to finance a new district office.

“I believe those two lease proposals from the existing tenants look pretty darn good,” he said. “A lot of you want that program money. If you want that program money the leases can get you that.”

At the same time, Bennett said, the council shouldn’t let the heated debate push them to rush a decision.

Discussion will continue at another study session meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at district headquarters, 20451 Craimer Lane. Again, there will be no vote allowed.