HBCSD Corruption

The Misleading Statements:

NOTE: HBCSD School Board member Greg Breen, HBCSD Superintendent Pat Escalante and HBCSD Attorney Terry Tao seemingly coordinated their comments to the public to MISLEAD the community about the Americans Disabilities Act compliant Community Center and North School. It is assumed that this was done in order to convince taxpayers to pass a $59M bond to rebuild North School and eliminate the Community Center for use by HBCSD.

(1)      Greg Breen former HBCSD School Board member (2002-2009):

"The building does not meet disability access standards.” …”add

American Disabilities Act compliant elevators and bathrooms,…” 

Pier into the Past by Greg Breen, Letters to the Editor 07/30/15, Easy Reader News

(2)      Pat Escalante, HBCSD Superintendent (2012-2020):  [Speaking of North School]

“The very first thing that comes into my head and is the most

critical is there is no ADA access.  So if you’re disabled you can’t

get in that campus unless you come in, um, even if you come in the

back way, they can only access one, in one of the buildings, so that’s

critically important component.”  Please see: Hermosa Beach City

School District Measure S Informational Meeting, May 25, 2016, time

stamp: 01:04:37

http://hermosabeach.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=4167

CORRECT INFORMATION:

1. Of course North School is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible.  Since 1990 ALL public buildings are required to be ADA accessible.  Why would HBCSD expose itself to expensive lawsuits by NOT having already provided ADA access to North School?   North School had been leased out to Children’s Journey and the South Bay Adult School for years.  Both of those businesses would require that North School have full ADA access.  See: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleII_2010_regulations.htm#a35130; Subpart B – General Requirements.

2. North School is a one-story campus that has ADA access to each building.  North School has wheelchair ramps at both the front and rear buildings.  North School also has three handicap parking spaces and one handicap accessible toilet.  See: Photos of North School and ADA access.

NOTE: School board members Pattie Ackerman, Mary Campbell, Maggie Bove-LaMonica and Monique Ehsan (former member of the Facilities Planning and Advisory Committee) all stood by as Superintendent Pat Escalante gave misinformation to the community.  None of the school board members corrected her statements.  Had none of the school board members visited North School prior to this meeting to assess it's condition?

(3)      Terry Tao, HBCSD Attorney (2002-):

“I know that the city has put in a bunch of money for ADA

upgrades. Um, but there are still a lot of ADA upgrades necessary for

a building of this age and this vintage.”  May 31, 2016 presentation

to the Joint meeting of the HB City Council members and HBCSD

School Board members. Time Stamp: 02:24:15

COMPETING INFORMATION: This should not be a reason to disqualify the Community Center for district use, this should be a reason to make ADA improvements at the Community Center.

NOTE: According to the 2013 Facilities Master Plan both Valley School and View School are also in need of ADA upgrades, however, HBCSD did not use the need for ADA upgrades at Valley and View campuses as an excuse to not use either campus, instead they simply made the required upgrades.