HBCSD Corruption

Proof of the Lie:

HBCSD made shamelessly inaccurate, misleading and incorrect statements about the district's use of the Community Center as an alternate to demolishing and rebuilding North School in the Environmental Impact Report.   Part #2: #1. Again, HBCSD did not disclose the true facts surrounding the seismic safety and condition of Pier Avenue Community Center for use by students. #2.  HBCSD spun information as to City and District options when using Pier Avenue Community Center instead of tearing down North School. #3. HBCSD spun information, omited relevant information, and made inaccurate statements regarding the issues surrounding Pacific Coast Highway and school operations. #4.  HBCSD made 'red herring' statements about the need to sell North School site and purchase new property versus either exercising it's valid contractural provisions to use classrooms at the Community Center or renovating North School. #5.  HBCSD made a shamefully inaccurate statement that "Development of a school at any of the [other] locations could potentially result in greater environmental impacts than the proposed project." 

NOTE: The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for North School was inexplicably ONLY released for public review during the busy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays. The EIR was not released any other time during the year. The EIR filled two large notebooks with several volumes of information that took a lot of time to assess. During the holidays many people were busy, or out of town. During the release period the school district offices were often closed so community members would not be able to ask questions of the district.

The EIR review period is normally an important component of the EIR. The review is supposed to be for the community to ask questions and make comments. It is believed that the release period ONLY during the holidays was done on purpose to discourage public review of the school district's EIR.

NOTE: See also, OTHER FACTS #14: There were significant Issues with the Place Works Environmental Impact Report for the reconstruction of North School.

From the Environmental Impact Report for North School (renamed Vista School). This report was given to the Coastal Commission in summer 2019.

7. page 7-8: Alternatives to the Proposed Project:

7.3.2.3, page 7-8: Alternate 3, Alternative Locations: Alternate 3d, Community Center, page 7-8, 7-9:  Conclusion, page 7-9.

(1) “The District considered the four sites listed under Alternate 3, Alternate Locations, as potential locations for the proposed new school and determined that they are infeasible for the following reasons:” 

"§  Alternate 3d would have substantial development constraints due to its historical designation and requirement to meet seismic standards for public school development."  This is a shamelessly untrue statement.

See:

Lie #6: Misleading the public as to the condition and safety of the Community Center [or the grandfathered-in North School] for students.

Lie #8: Claiming that renovating historical schools such as Pier Avenue School or North School are very expensive and cost prohibitive.

Lie #48: HBCSD made shamelessly inaccurate, misleading and incorrect statements about the district's use of the Community Center as an alternate to demolishing and rebuilding North School in the Environmental Impact Report.   #1. HBCSD did not disclose the true facts surrounding the seismic safety and condition of Pier Avenue Community Center for use by students. #2.  HBCSD did not disclose the true details of the district’s contractual provision to lease classrooms at the Pier Avenue Community Center as an option to tearing down North School. #3. HBCSD did not disclose the true details of the City and District's history when it comes to the Open Space designation. #4. HBCSD shamelessly incorrectly states the official Naylor Act provisions in Section 17491 of the California Department of Education as a reason North School should not be sold.

(2) "§ The potential loss/displacement of the community center (Alternate 3d) would require the search for a replacement facility to accommodate such a community-valued resource." **   From the Environmental Impact Report for North School: Alternate 3d, Community Center, page 7-8, 7-9:  Conclusion, page 7-9.

COMPETING INFORMATION:

1. As of Fall/Winter 2025 these are the low-priority classes held inside the Community Center classrooms from M-F 8am to 4:30pm* during the school year: Music classes for babies and toddlers (0-5 yrs), Basics in Art (6yrs +), Twinkle Toes Ballet & Jazz Combo (under 2 yrs to 4 yrs).

*Classes that would be replaced by HBCSD students.

2. **Possible alternatives for city-run for low-priority community classes: The Clark Building, Community Services Building, Kiwanis Building, Rotary Building, 4 rooms at South Park, joint use of North School (aka Vista School) campus.

3.       HBCSD does not need a long-term solution for their temporary overcrowding problem.  The Community Center would just be used until enrollment dropped back down below 1,266 students as it did in 2020. There were no new large housing complexes that would possibly increase the future student count at HBCSD. In fact, since 2014, when the population of Hermosa Beach was 19,868, the overall population of Hermosa Beach has declined by 854 people down to 19,014 people in 2025. Hermosa Beach demographics are trending older, with less young people and students.

4.       Declining enrollment was also projected by district consultants Decision Insite in 2016 and again in 2018, the California Department of Finance demographics 2016 and 2018, and LAUSD demographic presentations from 2012 and 2015.  

5.       HBCSD has valid contractual leasing rights to classrooms, office and storage space at the Community Center when HBCSD enrollment exceeds 1,266 K-8th grade students.  There is no expiration to this provision. 

6.       According to the Sale and Purchase Agreement for Pier Avenue Community Center Arbitration Agreement, Article 4, item d., Hermosa residents have priority rights to use the classrooms at the Community Center.  

7.       Many of the classrooms rented out at the Community Center are used primarily by people who do not live in Hermosa Beach.  See Arc Association for Retarded Citizens, classrooms 15, 16 and 17.

8.       HBCSD can use the Community Center classrooms from 7:30am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday.  The City of Hermosa Beach can use the Community Center auditorium, gymnasium, tennis courts, basketball courts and Clark Field at Pier Avenue School as joint use facilities after school and on weekends.  According to Ed code the City and the District can also choose to exchange Pier Avenue School and North School.  HBCSD can also choose to lend North School classrooms to the city while the district uses the Community Center until enrollment declines below 1,266 students.

9.       HBCSD and the City of Hermosa Beach already have a Joint Use Agreement since 2008. 

"City and District have previously maintained a cooperative working agreement which has shown that the Joint Use of City/District facilities provides the community with educational, recreational and athletic opportunities at a lower cost than if provided separately; and..."

"The further cooperative arrangements between the City and District, including solid waste removal, recycling, joint emergency training, after school transportation, after school day care among other joint activities provides for the optimum use of public funds; and..."

10.       In July 2014 the City of Hermosa Beach leased out three classrooms at South Park to HBCSD for district offices.

a. The cost to HBCSD to lease three classrooms from the city was set at $1/year.

b. Four classrooms at South Park had only been used by the city and HBCSD in the afternoon for after school childcare. Therefore, the four classrooms were empty during the morning hours.

c. The city decided to move the afternoon childcare to View School reportedly saving the city $40k in busing costs. 

d. The city and the school district could have decided to keep students at View School for afterschool childcare long ago which would have saved taxpayers $40k/year. 

11.   Email from Hermosa Mayor Michael DiVirgillio to resident Miyo Prassas dated July 19, 2014 regarding district use of classrooms at the Community Center. 

“The city is not aware of any prohibition that would prevent us [the city] from entertaining requests about the Community Center from the District, or from any entity for that matter.  However, as you saw during our most 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].”

12.   Email from Hermosa resident Julie Nunis to Elaine Doerfling regarding empty classrooms during the daytime at the Community Center dated February 10, 2015. 

“Please do move forward with considering existing buildings to alleviate overcrowding.  A few things to think about:"

-"Population ebbs and flows, using existing buildings could save the city money and construction headache if/when our beach population ebbs."

-"I have worked at both the theater in the Community Center and can attest to empty classrooms during the daytime, they could be used for classes."

-"We have many unused spaces that could be used for extended classes for the middle schoolers”…

13.   Letter to the Editor by former city councilmember George Barks, April 5, 2018 – Reopening Pier Ave. School (former City Council member 1974-1978 and signer on the Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Pier Avenue School in 1978), Letters to the Editor, The Beach Reporter. 

“As a homeowner, business owner, graduate of the Hermosa School system and a former city councilmember and mayor of Hermosa Beach, I have first-hand knowledge of the great schools we have in Hermosa Beach.” …

“As a graduate of Pier Avenue School, my memories of middle school in addition to excellent academics included a gymnasium, baseball stadium, and an auditorium for school assemblies, plays and graduations.  These facilities were all shared with the community outside of school hours for more than 50 years.”

“To set the record straight, as a former city councilmember during the time of the sale of the 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 between the district and the city.”

“This entire matter of current overcrowding could be quickly resolved by City Council member honoring the contractual agreement between the city and school district to allow the 7-8grade students use of the classrooms at Pier Avenue School while construction at View and Valley Schools takes place over the next few years.”

(3) "§  Alternates 3c and 3d are on Pacific Coast Highway, which is a major arterial and presents traffic, noise and safety concerns for school operation."  From the Environmental Impact Report for North School: Alternate 3d, Community Center, page 7-8, 7-9:  Conclusion, page 7-9.

COMPETING INFORMATION:

1.       According HBCSD attorney Terry Tao's slide presentation (i.e. An hour of curated misinformation and misleading information one week before the bond vote.) at the May 31, 2016 Joint City and HBCSD meeting (time stamp 02:13:23), the CDE Title 5 requirement for NEW campus street vehicle emission is less than 100,000 vehicles average daily traffic.   The traffic on Pacific Coast Highway falls well below the CDE requirements for traffic. The average daily traffic on PCH at Pier was only 50,000 vehicles in 2016.  (https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/census/traffic-volumes/2017/route-1)  The school district knew this.

2.       There are many Hermosa families with children already living alongside Pacific Coast Highway.  The families living near PCH do not seem to have a problem with exposing their children to the vehicle emissions produced on PCH.

3.       There are crossing guards already stationed before and after school at the major intersections at PCH and surrounding streets.  The presence of crossing guards mitigates any safety concerns surrounding students’ travel to and from the Community Center. 

4.       The streets surrounding North School are very narrow and the area is densely built.  The narrow streets make passing vehicles which are stopped to pick up or drop off students difficult and dangerous.  There are also multiple driveways and areas that do not have sidewalks in the surrounding neighborhood making travel to and from North School more dangerous.

5.       North School is being used as a commuter school, meaning 3rd and 4th grade students from all over Hermosa Beach must travel (often times by car) somewhat far distances to North School causing dangerous conditions for students. This did not seem to affect the district's view of rebuilding North School into a larger commuter school in a densly populated residential area than using Pier Avenue School temporarily until enrollment dropped, as was expected.

6. The district's commissioned traffic study by Richard Garland and Associates for the EIR was highly suspect in a multitude of ways. (See List of Lies #53)

(4) "§  The sale of the North School site would not result in an equitable return for the District due to redevelopment limitations from the OS zone and Naylor Act, and the District would not have adequate funds to purchase new property.”  From the Environmental Impact Report for North School: Alternate 3d, Community Center, page 7-8, 7-9:  Conclusion, page 7-9.

COMPETING INFORMATION:

1.       These are non-issues, dressed up in the EIR for effect. HBCSD did NOT need to sell North School in order to adequately provide for Hermosa Beach students. The district's claim is completely misleading.

See Lie #48:  HBCSD made inaccurate, misleading and incorrect statements about the district's use of the Community Center as an alternate to demolishing and rebuilding North School in the Environmental Impact Report.

2.       HBCSD does NOT need to sell North School in order to use the Community Center for students. 

3. HBCSD did not disclose the true details of the City and District's history when it comes to the Open Space designation.

4. North School is owned by HBCSD. School districts are separate entities from a city. City rules do not apply to school districts. The use of Open Space (OS) designation was disputed by the school district shortly after the 1986 Proposition O passed.

"In a suit filed against the city late last month, the district contends that the proposition conflicts with a state law that allows unused school sites to be developed to the same extent as adjacent properties unless the site has been leased or purchased for park or recreactional purposes. The suit also says that state law requires cities, at a school district's request, to rezone school land to use compatible with surrounding properties."  from Hermosa Beach Sued by School District over Propostion O Rezoning Restrictions by Karen Roebuck, Los Angeles Times, December 21, 1986.

5. The City of Hermosa Beach does not always follow their own rules about not rezoning Open Space without a vote of the people.

a. In 1989 City Council members rezoned the City Maintenance Yard site from Open Space designation to Industrial zoning to allow Machperson Oil Company to possibly drill for oil in Hermosa Beach. Apparently there was no vote of the people of Hermosa Beach to allow this change of Open Space.

b. In 1995 the Hermosa Beach City Council (including former School Board member Lance Widman, who was also signer of the Sale and Purchase Agreement for Pier Avenue School) voted to change the Open Space zoning of the Alano Club (702 11th Place - behind the Pier Avenue Community Center) to General Commercial (C-3). This move was contrary to the provisions of the Sale and Purchase Agreement Grant Deed. Pier Avenue School was sold to the city in February 1978. Apparently there was no vote of the people involved in this rezoning.

6. History of Open Space (OS) designation in Hermosa Beach, CA

7.       The school district and the city can also swap the Community Center for North School. According to an email between Superintendent Pat Escalante and former School Board member Cathy McCurdy, HBCSD and the City of Hermosa Beach can swap properties is they so choose.  North School could have been used as a Community Center and Pier Avenue School could have been used by HBCSD as a school.

8.       HBCSD and the City of Hermosa Beach have exchanged property in Valley Park and at Valley School in the past.

9. HBCSD shamelessly incorrectly states the official Naylor Act provisions in Section 17491 of the California Department of Education as a reason North School should not be sold. (See List of Lies #48.)

10.       This statement ALSO ignores the fact that HBCSD demographics did NOT support the need for another campus, especially since HBCSD also had plans to expand View School.

(5) "§  Development of a school at any of the locations could potentially result in greater environmental impacts than the proposed project.  Additional technical analysis would be required to confirm.” From the Environmental Impact Report for North School: Alternate 3d, Community Center, page 7-8, 7-9:  Conclusion, page 7-9.

COMPETING INFORMATION:

1.       This is an incorrect statement.

2.       Using the grandfathered-in North School as is (using the existing campus with improvements) would NOT potentially result in greater environmental impacts than tearing down and rebuilding the campus.

3.       Using the Community Center as is (using the same footprint) would NOT result in greater environmental impacts than tearing down and rebuilding North School.

4. The Community Center is located OUTSIDE of the Coastal Zone. If HBCSD had used the Community Center to immediately house students per HBCSD's valid contractual agreement with the City of Hermosa Beach, students and parents would not have had spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and wait 2 years for the Environmental Impact Report to be finished and receive Coastal Commission permission before demolishing and building a brand-new campus.