HBCSD Corruption

Proof of the lie:

Misinformation told by HBCSD Superintendent Pat Escalante in a video taped and televised presentation regarding North School only two weeks before the district's $59M bond vote.   School board members stood by and did not correct the Superintendent's misinformation to the public.

(1) North School has ADA access to each building it also has three handicap parking spaces and one handicap accessible toilet.  It is illegal for North School NOT to be ADA accessible.  According to the 2014 Facilities Master Plan all District schools require additional ADA upgrades.  The need for additional ADA upgrades is not a reason to tear down the entire campus.   

(2) North School is grand-fathered-in as an HBCSD campus.  It is considered code compliant as is.   It is safe for students as is.  It has always been used as a school even if the campus has been leased out to private schools.  Many schools in California are leased out to private businesses such as preschools, etc. when not in use by a school district. Manhattan Unified School district leased portions of Robinson School to a private preschool. HBCSD had leased out View School to a private Japanese language school before returning the campus to HBCSD students in 1994. ALL the school board members should know this.  There is no excuse for school board members not to have done their homework on the use of North School for HBCSD students as is.

The CDE does not require that school districts bring all existing schools up to relatively new (since 1993) Title 5 standards.  Title 5 standards only apply to new construction. According to Article 2, Section 14010, item 'u', any Title 5 standard can be exempted by HBCSD.

"Some school components contained in Title 5 (e.g. gym, multipurpose room) are not mandated. Title 5 is structured to allow a LEA [school district] to vary from any standard if the LEA [school district] demonstrates to the CDE that student safety and educational appropriateness are not compromised."

(3) The Division of State Architect oversees the structural safety for all public school building projects over $42,218.00.*  The Field Act passed in April 1933 made it a felony to build public schools without the approval of the Division of State Architects and without the use of licensed architects and structural engineers.  North School was reconstructed in 1934 by renowned architect Samuel Lunden to stringent Field Act specifications.    All building modifications at North School have been overseen by the Division of State Architects. 

*NOTE: The threshold for DSA review of public school structural projects increased from $42,218 to $100,000 in 2016.  The threshold for DSA review of public school nonstructural projects also was increased from $168,187 to $225,000 in 2016.  HBCSD could have made up to $225,000 in non-structural improvements and $100,000 in structural changes at North School without using an architect and engineer before triggering a DSA review period.   The elimination of the DSA review period would allow the district to use North School immediately for students rather than wait for a months-long review period.

(4) The North School campus buildings were were approved for District use as is by the Department of General Services, Office of Public School Construction in their letter to Pat Escalante on March 26, 2014. The entire North School campus was eligible for state modernization funds.

"The District may re-open and establish modernization eligibilty at the site if they intend to use the site as a school for at least 5 years." Page 4 of DGS, OPSC letter to Pat Escalante, March 26, 2014.

NOTE: The State Allocation Board, the board responsible for awarding state matching funds, offers additional modernization grants for buildings 50 years or older. Office of Public-School Construction regulation 1859.78.7, Additional Eligible Utility Cost for 50 Years or Older Permanent Buildings.  Neither updating of electrical systems nor replacement of water fountains would require the complete demolition of North School in order to renovate the facility for students. HBCSD could have taken advantage of these additional modernization funds to renovate North School versus tearing it down.

(5) There is a kitchen with a serving bay and tray return at North School.  There is an indoor eating area adjacent to the kitchen.  See the floor plan of North School showing the kitchen and indoor eating area/Multipurpose Room. Please also see photos of the North School kitchen.

NOTE: Didn't HBCSD School Board members know that North School did indeed have a kitchen? Didn't HBCSD School Board members know that Superintendent Pat Escalante was lying to the public when she made claims that North School did not have a kitchen or a Multipurpose room? Why didn't School Board members correct her misinformation?

(6) There is a multipurpose room at North School. The multipurpose room at North School is attached to the kitchen and can double as an interior eating area. The multipurpose room at North School had been partitioned for use by Children's Journey as their baby-care room.

(7) The absence of a formal library should not prevent the district from using North School for students.  The District’s other school for K through 3rd students, View School, did not have a dedicated library building either.  Any existing room at North School can be set up as a library or a separate library can be built.