News Flash

  February 22, 2007, 8:02 a.m.

School board passed motion last night to send the next two years of incoming Castaic freshman to Valencia HS starting in the 2007/08 academic year.  Then starting in  the academic year 2010/11 and again in 2011/12 incoming Castaic freshman will attend West Ranch HS.  (note that once at a school, students will graduate there)

Publisher's Blog:

February 22, 2007 11:30 a.m.

On Wednesday, February 21, 2007, the William S. Hart Union High School District board met at the Hart HS auditorium to discuss what to do about the potential overcrowding of West Ranch HS next year.

I don't know how many seats the Hart high auditorium holds but I can say that 90% of the seats were filled with concerned residents.  Unlike the last board meeting on February 7th, Stevenson Ranch residents were at least 50% of the audience and that had to make an impression upon the board, not to mention the hundreds of emails they claimed to have received.

There were two proposals discussed:

The first involved having 9th or 10th graders housed in portable classrooms currently on site at Rancho Pico Jr. High and walk back and forth to WRHS for different classes and lunch, etc.  (this might have also involved fencing off the high school students to keep them from the junior high students)

The second proposal was to have incoming Castaic freshman attend Valencia HS for the next two academic years (2007/08 and 2008/09) and then two years thereafter (academic years 2009/10 and 2010/11) incoming Castaic freshman would attend West Ranch HS.  Once a student started at a school, they would attend all four years there.  Exceptions would be for Castaic students already attending WRHS (who would be allowed to graduate there) and for their siblings who would be allowed to attend WRHS.  Also included in this proposal is to allow open enrollment for 9th and 10th graders to attend any other district high school with available space.

There was also some discussion amongst the board about moving portable classrooms from Valencia HS to WRHS for the 2007/08 academic years and whether there was time to complete the move by the start of the school.  Several board members discussed the wisdom of spending up to $3 million in district funds to accomplish this task. 

Board member Dennis King then made a motion to approve the second proposal above and was seconded by Board member Steven Sturgeon, after he apologized to the audience for the board's tardiness in addressing this issue so late in the year.  Board member Paul Strickland then said that he believed that all district high schools were excellent and students would get a good education no matter where they went.  He then said that for him it was a fiscal responsibility issue of not spending up to $3 million to move portable classrooms so he would support Mr. Kings motion. 

The floor was then opened up for public comments.  I was called as the second speaker (which caught me off guard).  Since I knew that the vote was at least 3 - 2 in favor the 2yr/2yr campus split I kept my comments brief and focused on my main issue of fiscal responsibility of the board by advocating that they NOT consider spending money to move portable classrooms to WRHS to solve a temporary problem and urged them to approve the motion pending.

There were at least 20+ speakers after me, which were split almost evenly between Castaic and Stevenson Ranch residents.

Some of the more memorable comments included those of Karen Malchus who said that the Stevenson Ranch community should help Castaic get their high school built; Cindy Lyzinski (sic) who is the Castaic chamber of commerce president who asked for the board to allow one more year of status quo while they look deeper into long term solutions; Pam Thompson, assistant principal at Rancho Pico JR High who said that if high school age students were allowed to attend the junior high that if would be taking away from the junior high school experience that those kids deserved.  In addition, she said that by possibly fencing off the high school kids we'd be treating them as "guests".  She also said that Rancho Pico should continue as a middle school with a middle school philosophy; Tripp Dunn said that we should all support the timely construction of the Castaic high school by residents attending LA County regional planning meetings to show their support for the project.  He also said that Valencia has the capacity for these students and would provide an excellent education; There was one gentlemen who even invoked the founding thirteen colonies and their revolt against “taxation without representation” and said people moving into a community expect to go to school in that community;  Castaic resident Flo Lawrence said that although he saw the "the writing on the wall" about the pending vote he voiced his opinion that he felt Castaic kids were unfairly being moved (again) and that in two years we'll all be back at this issue again. 

There were many other speakers but these about sum up the type of comments made.  It should be noted that all speakers (and audience members) were professional and respectful of one another.

Board President Patricia Hanrion called for the vote on the pending motion (on the second proposal as shown above) and here is how the board voted:

Patricia Hanrion:                     YES

Gloria E. Mercado-Fortine:       NO

Steven Sturgeon:                   YES

Dennis King                           YES

Paul Strickland                       YES

As such, the motion was passed.  The only confusion (I have) outstanding with the second proposal is whether open enrollment will be allowed for all grades of high schoolers or just 9th and 10th grade. I didn't get clarification of this so I believe that at this time it would only apply to 9th and 10th graders.

In closing, I would like to thank all residents who submitted comments and circulated emails keeping the Stevenson Ranch community up to date.  I know that it made a difference and the vote shows it.

However, keep in mind that our community needs to remain active in this issue because in two years (or less) it will be back when the Castaic freshman are due to arrive at WRHS.  Will they need portable classrooms?  Will the Castaic HS be under construction?  Will the board revisit possible boundary redistricting?  All good questions that have yet to be answered.

Please check our site www.HomesofStevensonRanch.com on a regular basis for community updates and/or subscribe to the free newsletter to be kept up to date.

One last thing.  After sitting through the meeting last night I felt the passion (for their community) from each resident of Stevenson Ranch and Castaic and have decided to change our site's tagline from "Your home.  Your community" TO "Our Home. Our Community" because this is our home and this is our community and we all need to participate in it to make it a better place to live.

Sincerely,

Tim Pluma

Publisher, HomesofStevensonRanch.com

Publisher's Blog:

February 21, 2007 1:30 p.m.

We've heard from many Stevenson Ranch residents that they will be attending tonight's meeting and that's good news.  HOWEVER, please don't assume other people will attend and speak for you.  We need bodies in attendance to show the board that Stevenson Ranch residents are very concerned about the West Ranch overcrowding issue and that our voices need to be considered in their decision.   There will no doubt be a strong showing of Castaic residents there so please make sure and attend.

I've attached tonight's agenda above and ask that you read through it.  The West Ranch action item is on page 3 (after Hart HS cheerleading recognition) and I ask that you pay particular attention to the procedure for addressing the board.  Each speaker needs to fill out a Request to Address the Board so if you plan on addressing the board, please complete this form the minute you arrive so that you have a chance to do so.   I'm sure there will be a short time limit on presentations so please be brief, concise and clear.  Please do not tell your personal story about kids being moved from school to school because they've already heard that.   Read the Call to Action guidelines above for suggested topics.

Personally, my micro issue is not wasting $1.9 to $3.0 million of educational funds to move portables that are already in place at Valencia HS and ready to use.  I feel there is a strong fiscal responsibility argument against the move and if portables are NOT moved then there's no room for extra students.   Plus, I believe there is not enough time to move the portables by next school year so even trying to do so would be a waste of time and money.   Other people have other opinions about the new proposal for crossing guards and shared campuses, etc., but I feel strongly in opposing the portables because, once in place, they'll be there for a long, long time I'm sure.

Tim Pluma
Publisher and Southern Oaks Resident

Some Concerned Citizens of Stevenson Ranch have written a well thought out announcement and we're proud to prominently feature it below.

THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS

Meeting tonight!  Feb. 21st @ 7:30pm

 Hart High Auditorium

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY BEING THERE

Issue:  West Ranch High School overcrowding.  Rancho Pico Jr. High overcrowding.

New proposal made by staff:  The staff will propose to the board at the meeting on the 21^st that all 9^th graders coming in to West Ranch High School attend classes in the portable trailers that are located on the Rancho Pico Junior High campus until Castaic High School is built (estimated to be completed in 2010 if every step of the process goes perfectly).  These students will have to walk across the street to the high school in between classes, for lunch and for additional activities.

This proposal is not the best option.

What the proposal DOES NOT DO:

• It does not address the issue of overcrowding a brand new school where programs are not yet solidified.  The quality of education is slipping with each new proposal.
• It does not address the congestion of a one-way access location and the safety hazards that go with it.
• It does not address all of the years that Castaic will have to be displaced.  The board will have to revisit this issue in two years because there will not be enough portables at Rancho Pico to house the entire West Ranch overflow.

What this proposal DOES DO:

Overburdens and overcrowds TWO new schools.

• Ignores the issues and concerns of our community.
• Compounds an already unbearable, congested drop-off/pick-up situation by adding approximately 800 more students next year. 
• Puts the students at risk by having them walk back and forth between campuses.
• Jeopardizes our school's closed campus policy.  It seems that having students coming and going will negatively impact the security of the schools.
• Pits two communities against each other because it will not solve the issue.

We recommend that the board adopt the staff's recommendation from the February 7^th meeting and have the entering Castaic classes for the next two years go to Valencia HS (where the students will stay for all 4 years) and the classes for the following two years go to West Ranch HS (where the students will stay for all 4 years).  This equally divides the weight of overcrowding and no one school is unduly burdened.  WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND???

The board is not limited to the proposals made by staff.   Any option may be considered, including redrawing boundaries.  Be there to let the board know how you feel.  Be a voice. Be a silent presence. 

For our children and our community - be there.

 CONCERNED CITIZENS OF STEVENSON RANCH

Publisher's Blog:

February 15, 2007 4:30 p.m.

The emails are flying around and things are heating up here in Stevenson Ranch as more and more residents start to get involved with the school issue. The board just released the time and place of the next board meeting (although not on their site like they said it would be) and we've posted it above. Please plan on being there. In the interim, I'm including a CALL TO ACTION guideline that was circulated at the Feb 12th meeting of Southern Oaks residents at the I-HOP and I ask that you take a look at it and follow the recommendations. There's a new posting today from Concerned Citizens of Stevenson Ranch which does a pretty good job of summarizing the issues before us. Please read it in our COMMENTS section.

More postings to come later tonight so please check back.

Tim Pluma
Publisher and Southern Oaks Resident

Publisher's Blog:

February 14, 2007, 11:00 a.m.

The residents of Stevenson Ranch / Southern Oaks are currently in the middle of a huge controversy (seemingly brought on overnight) with the William S. Hart Union School District regarding their upcoming decision about the Castaic area students and their desire (more like demands) to continue attending West Ranch area schools until a new high school can be built in Castaic somewhere around 2010 (at best).  Basically, the Castaic overbuilding boom has now become a Stevenson Ranch problem and it's a big one folks! We really need all Stevenson Ranch / Southern Oaks residents to get involved on this issue NOW, because at the next School Board meeting on February 21, 2007, it could be all over and if West Ranch schools become grossly overcrowded, then the quality of education (and school life in general) for your children could be impacted as well your sanity when trying to drop off & pick up kids.

Rather than reiterate what's already been discussed in email form between hundreds of concerned Stevenson Ranch / Southern Oaks residents, please click on the Comments tab (here or above) to see the most up-to-date discussion and history of the conversation that directly affects every resident in our community in one way or another!

We ask that you read all posts and that if you have something new to add to the discussion, that you post your own comments.

Since this is a fast moving issue, we'll be updating our site daily.

Thanks for checking out the new HomesofStevensonRanch.com. 

Tim Pluma

Publisher

(Southern Oaks Resident)

Click here to email publisher

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