Some unification of Fountain Valley schools possible

Angelique Flores

A smaller unification effort solely within district boundary lines is

looking more viable for Fountain Valley School District.

Meanwhile, the dreams of some to unify schools within the city

boundaries seems to be fading.

Trustees announced last year that they are undertaking a study of the

effects of reorganizing from a kindergarten through eighth-grade school

district to a kindergarten through 12th-grade unified school district.

A report recently completed by consultants concluded that unification

along district boundaries, that is taking in Fountain Valley and Valley

Vista high schools from the Huntington Beach Union High School District,

appears to be a fiscally sound proposal.

“It’s not an easy process, but the district has the financial

resources to do it,” said consultant Christy White during a presentation

to the board Thursday night.

White pointed out that the most significant number is the additional

10% increase per student in revenue that a unification would create.

“This is an effort to improve long-term,” Supt. Marc Ecker said. “We

don’t want to do it just for money, but for more resources that allow us

to do more.”

More revenue could go toward educational programs and higher salaries,

Ecker said.

While Fountain Valley would benefit from the change, Huntington Beach

Union High School District would have to curtail its expenditures to

match the loss in revenue.

Because the high school district has a solid balance in reserve and a

record of good fiscal management, it could manage the transition without

significant disruption to the educational program, White said.

“There’s a lot more studying to do on our end,” said Huntington Beach

Union High School District Supt. Susan Roper. “It’s still early in the

game to know. It could impact a number of students in the high school

district and have other impacts on programs.”

While Fountain Valley trustees don’t want to create problems for their

neighbor, they also have concerns about how costs of the deferred

maintenance of the two high schools would effect their own district.

“If we’re taking on a larger liability, we need to know that,” said

Trustee Robert Sedlack.

White’s report assessed only two of the state’s nine criteria for

unification, the financial effects and the division of facilities. The

board requested a report on the feasibility of the other seven criteria,

financial statements for both districts, the deferred maintenance needs

of the two high schools and the financial effect of unification on the

high school district.

Consultants expect to have that information ready in six to eight

weeks.

Because the district would not likely meet the five of the nine

criteria outlined by the state, the board has decided to focus its

attention on unifying along district rather than city lines.

“These are issues a state panel would not approve,” Ecker said. “If

you fail to meet just one criteria, you would not be successful.”

Among those criteria not met are substantial ones such as the

inability to immediately provide access to equal programs districtwide

and a lower revenue limit that would prevent a common salary schedule and

equal materials and equipment.

The district would also lose three closed schools that generate

income, as well as pick up schools that have a small number of students

that live in Fountain Valley. This would take away needed schools from

other districts such as Ocean View and Garden Grove Unified school

districts.

Still, the board’s decision not to unify along city boundaries

disappoints some.

“People living east of the park want to be part of district,” Ecker

said. “We understand that there’s a great deal of interest.”

Mayor Larry Crandall, an ardent advocate of unification along city

lines, said a strong contingent on the north side of the city wants to be

a part of the Fountain Valley district.

“The reputation of the Fountain Valley School District is excellent,”

Crandall said.

The district’s recent survey reflected a strong support to move

forward with unification. The survey went out to district families who

are the most easily accessible and most immediately affected by a

unification. Of the district’s 6,322 families, 1,660 families -- or 36%

-- responded.

“There’s strong support in Fountain Valley for [unification], less

support in Huntington Beach, and a large component of ‘I don’t knows,”’

Ecker said.

Results showed that 46% of the respondents favor unification, 20%

oppose it and 34% don’t know. Also, 31% support unification along school

district lines, 28% support unification along city lines, 16% support

either one and 25% are still unsure of how they feel.

Huntington Beach residents who live within the Fountain Valley

district boundaries are closely split on support, with slightly more

against unification.

Fountain Valley residents favor unification along city lines, while

Huntington Beach residents prefer to unify along district boundaries.

The most surprising finding that came out of the survey was a large

amount of families who don’t know about the district’s exploration of

unification.

“There’s a lot of education that needs to be done,” Trustee Julie

Larson said.