HBCSD Corruption

Proof of the lie:

The district hired an “expert” on school buildings to advise the FPAC members during the 2013 facility meetings who had a legal complaint against him and seemed to have skewed his information to support school board members’ desire to demolish and rebuild North School.

(1) March 13, 2013 – Consulting Agreement for Facilities Planning Advisory Committee Expert B-46/12/13  (TL-2013Mar13 FPAC Consultant)  Agreement for Educational Consulting Services  (TL-2013Mar13b Consultant Agreement)

“RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the Consultant Agreement with BCA Architects to act as an expert on school buildings for the Facilities Planning Advisory Committee to consult at a cost not to exceed $5,000.00”   NOTE: BCA Architects is Paul Bunton, AIA

“BACKGROUND: The Facilities Planning and Advisory Committee [FPAC] is researching the options of modernization, new construction and property acquisition/exchange for the North School site, in order to report their findings to the Board of Education.  The committee requires a school architect expert opinion to provide relevant data to the committee for their consideration.”

                “FISCAL IMPACT: The cost of $5,000 is budgeted to Capital Facility Fund #25”

NOTE: BCA Architects and Paul Bunton were based in San Jose, CA.  Why would HBCSD choose Paul Bunton to be their “Expert Advisor” for the FPAC versus an architect who wouldn’t have travel down from San Jose, CA to advise the committee?

(2) Legal Complaint against Paul Bunton of BCA Architects by San Diegans for Open Government, Case #37-2012-00101391-CU-MC-CTL in San Diego Superior Court.  (TL-2012Jul30 BCA Accusation) “On or about July 30, 2012, plaintiff San Diegans for Open Government filed Case No. 37-2012-00101391-CU-MC-CTL in San Diego Superior Court against respondent and other named defendants who also had contracted to perform services to the District [Southwestern Community College District (District)] for the same project.  According to the complaint, respondent had sought to provide architectural services to the District, a public agency.  In the weeks and months leading up to making of the contract with the District, respondent gave food, entertainment, and other gifts of substantial value to the District’s vice president for business and financial affairs (vice president), and the senior director of business, facilities, and planning (senior director).  These District’s officials would be involved in the making of the contract or would make recommendations that would carry substantial weight by District’s final decision maker as to whom to award the contract.  As a quid pro quo exchange, these officials would affirmatively lobby and encourage the District’s governing board to enter into a contract with respondent.”

“The complaint also alleged that respondent engaged in a civil conspiracy to bribe public officials.”  …”Respondent, for its part in the stipulation, agreed to pay $250,000 to the District.  Respondent however did not report this settlement to the Board within 30 days.”

“Third Cause for Discipline, False Statement on Renewal Application, Business and Professional Code sections 498 and 5579.  “Respondent has subjected his architectural license to discipline for submitting a false statement under penalty of perjury on an application to renew his architectural license…”  “On or about July 31, 2013, respondent submitted an application to renew his architect license.  He signed this application “under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that all of [his] representations on [the] knowledge and belief.”  On this application, he answered “no” to the following question: “In the preceding renewal period, have you been disciplined by a public agency or have been convicted of a crime in any state, the USA and its territories, …?”  However, on March 26, 2012, in The People of the State of California v. Paul Curtis Bunton, San Diego County Superior Court Case No. CD239827, respondent pled guilty to aiding the commission of a misdemeanor (Pen Code 659), a misdemeanor.”

NOTE: BCA Architects have since rebranded themselves as Studio W Architects.  https://studiow-architects.com/about/

NOTE: HBCSD school board members chose Studio W Architects to create their 2024 plans for a renovated Valley School campus.

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