HBCSD Corruption

Proof of the Lie:

The Pier Avenue Community Center does not need to be purchased by HBCSD in order to use it for students.

(1) There is an existing and valid lease agreement specified in the Memorandum of Understanding that gives HBCSD priority rights to use the Community Center when enrollment exceeds 1,266 students. 

(2) There is no expiration to this provision, it is based solely on district enrollment above 1,266 students. HBCSD enrollment surpassed 1,266 students from 2010 to 2019. 

(3) HBCSD sold the Community Center to the City of Hermosa Beach for 40% below fair market value so that it would retain rights to use the campus in the future if district enrollment rose past 1,266 students.  Exhibit G Resolution of intention to sell real property to the City of Hermosa Beach and prescribing the terms thereof, Section 4.02 (page 5): 

“The nature of this memorandum of understanding shall be

construed as being analogous to a lease in that a part of the

consideration for the District selling the subject property to the City

for less than fair market value is the District’s right to use the

subject property facilities without cost as more particularly set forth

below; and,conversely, a part of the consideration the City is giving

to the District, is allowing the District use of the facilities at the

subject property as more particularly set forth below.”

(4) Letter from former City Councilmember George Barks and signer of the Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Pier Avenue School in 1978. 

“To set the record straight, as a former city council member during

the time of the sale of Pier Avenue School to the City, I can attest

first-hand that when this issue came before the council, we absolutely

guaranteed that the students could return to use the school if needed

in the future.  A simple lease-back option was included within the

contract (the Memorandum of Understanding) between the district

and the city. As I have always said: "Why wouldn't the City Council

allow Hermosa students priority use of Pier Avenue classrooms and

facilities?"”

(5) Email from former City Councilmember Michael DiVirgilio to Miyo Prassas, July 9, 2014:  

"The City is not aware of any prohibition that would prevent us

from entertaining requests about the Community Center from the

District or from any entity for that matter. However as you saw

during our recent joint meeting neither the City nor the District

are interested in considering the Community Center [as a lower cost

alternative for taxpayers AND immediate relief for HBCSD students

and staff].” Consequently, absent a directive from the City

Council, the City Attorney will not be studying this issue further."

See also: Lie #4: Claiming that the Community Center does not meet CDE Title 5 Regulations,   Lie #6: Misleading the public as to the condition and safety of the Community Center [or the grandfathered-in North School] for students, Lie #7: Claiming that the Community Center AND North School are not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible, Lie #8:  Claiming that renovating historical schools such as Pier Avenue School or North School are very expensive and cost prohibitive.

NOTE:  The City of Hermosa Beach and HBCSD seemingly collaborated to provide false and misleading information to compel taxpayers to pay for an unneeded brand-new campus at North School for $29 million dollars.  As of September 2021, there were approximately 768 unused seats/over capacity at HBCSD after the school district demolished and rebuilt North School and expanded View School for $59M.   The Measure S bond will ultimately cost taxpayers approximately $98M after interest is added over 40 years.   

NOTE:  HBCSD school board members and superintendent were willing to keep Hermosa Beach students in egregiously overcrowded conditions while holding out for a $59M bond to build a brand-new, now unneeded campus at North School.  In fact it seems as if school board members purposely used the overcrowding at district schools to compel the community to pass a $59M bond despite the option to renovate the grandfathered-in North School or use Pier Avenue Community Center to immediately relieve overcrowding.