Vote to approve alternate funding for auditorium delayed
Project is $4.4 million over budget
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Unified School District board on Tuesday delayed a vote on alternate funding for the proposed Santa Susana High School auditorium.

President Rob Collins postponed the item until the next scheduled school board meeting on March 18 because board member Jeanne Davis was absent. Davis missed the meeting because of a prior commitment.

"It's such a big item and (Davis) wanted to be part of the discussion," Collins said. "We usually do that on really important items. We feel better when all the board members are there to make a decision. This involves a lot of money."

According to the school district, the auditorium's estimated cost is currently $4.4 million over the $7.7-million budget allocated to the project in the C4 Bond Measure. In response, a budget study workshop was held during which associate superintendent of business and facilities Lowell Schultze and his staff developed alternate ways to fund the 420seat auditorium.

The plan is for the district to use $2 million in leftover developer fees from the Big Sky and Mar Vista housing developments, and $2.4 million from the C4 Bond Refunding Fund to make up the difference.

The fund is from a portion of the C4 Bond which was refinanced to get a better rate, resulting in an additional $6 million for the district from improved interest.

After the project received its long-awaited approval from the Division of the State Architect last Thursday, several Santa Susana High teachers, students and parents decided to attend Tuesday's meeting, expecting to hear a vote.

When that vote did not take place, the group of about 20 was clearly frustrated.

"I feel like a deflated balloon," said Janis Bowers, president of the high school's performing arts boosters club.

Others outside city hall echoed Bowers' reaction.

"We're just really disappointed," said Sue Martinez, president of the Performing Arts Center Team (PACT) and a longtime supporter of the auditorium. "It pushes everything back a whole month. It's just very frustrating."

According to the district's latest estimates, the project will go out to bid late in the year with construction beginning in early 2009.

"The theater to us is like athletic (facilities) at other high schools- it's our team spirit," said resident Linda Sgaraglino, who had two children graduate from Santa Susana.

While some parents and teachers were visibly put off by the delay, others were eager to attend the next meeting.

"We were disappointed that the vote couldn't be made tonight," said Irene Silbert, a stagecraft and broadcasting teacher at SSHS. "However, we look forward to March 18 when their vote will easily show their support and concern for Santa Susana High School and the community of Simi Valley at large. On March 18, we will certainly have a large contingent."

While school board members said they want to build a community arts center in Simi Valley, they remain aware of the state's current financial crisis.

"I can't speak for my other board members, but I think I would probably support (the alternative funding plan)," Collins said. "The only problem I would have is we promised all these schools that we would bring them up to certain safety standards. I would hate to go through all that bond money and have some schools not get anything. . . . If we cannot shortchange them and still come up with the money for the arts center, I'd be all for it."