Regardless of how you feel about the Middle School property in La Costa Valley, or feel about the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD), you should vote in the upcoming November election.
In addition to the national Presidential races, La Costa Valley citizens can vote for up to 2 new SDUHSD Board Members, and 2 of the 3 contenders are incumbents.
How would you vote if you voted today?
You can read more about the candidates on SmartVoter.org created by the League of Women Voters.
Here’s what they have to say for themselves as shown on SmartVoter. Any typos were left in.
Beth Hergesheimer
Occupation: President, Board of Trustees
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, California Polytechnic University, Pomona
Masters in Governance, California School Boards Association
Prior positions as Human Resources Administrator and Consultant
Christ Presbyterian Preschool Advisory Committee Chairperson ‘02-’08
PTA President, Flora Vista Elementary School
Foothill Greens Homeowners Association Board Member before relocating to San Diego County
Priorities:
Fair and adequate state funding for the public school system
Reducing the achievement gap
Developing cooperative partnerships among students, teachers, businesses, parents, and administration
Michael Klein
Occupation: Dentist/Parent
Graduated Tufts Dental in 1993
Practicing Dentist In Encinitas for the past 13 years.
On the board of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce for the past 10 years.
Served as president of the board of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce for 2 years and now serve as the past-president.
Priorities:
I bring to the board experience and a fresh perspective.
I will pursue the highest standards for our students and their well- being is paramount.
Joyce Dalessandro
Occupation: Vice-President, Governing Board
B.S. Cornell University; M.A. Columbia University
California School Boards’ Association Masters of Boardsmanship
California School Boards’ Association Masters in Governance
1996-present San Dieguito Union High School District Board of Trustees –all positions, currently Vice President
Past Vice President for Business Fundraising, Torrey Pines High School Foundation
Redbook Magazine’s Volunteer of the Year, 1994
Priorities:
Continued reponsible fiscal management that ensures that every education dollar is used wisely.
Continued commitment to strong academic programs, technology and the arts, with expanded offerings in Career Technical Education
Support faculty and staff in their efforts to close the achievent gap
Things are moving right along in building a dialog between concerned residents, the school district (SDUHSD) and the FONC group (“Friends of North County”).
The new supertintendent, Ken Noah, is a refreshing addition. Instead of circling the wagons after flaming arrows were rained down on the district, he’s moving to transparency and openness. It’s a great thing to have more of this out in the open, as that will both help homeowners in La Costa Valley and the other neighborhoods which have been paying into the Mello-Roos assessment, and it will also help the district.
Mr. Noah’s letter was mailed to every taxpaper in CDF 94-2, so if, for some reason, you’ve been paying your assessment and didn’t get your copy, contact the school district right away.
In the meantime, hopefully the October 3rd meeting with Mr. Hoah and the Honorable Judge DeDiglia will help us all have a better understanding of the facts, as well as the motivations of the FONC group, the school district, and other concerned homeowners.
Be sure to put the date October 3rd into your calendar. Contact the district for exact details about the place and time. Also, contact members of the La Costa Valley Homeowners Association Board and the middle school steering committee to make sure they know your concerns and interest.
Take this poll. Do you plan to be at the meeting, or will you let others speak for you?
Ken Noah, the Superintendent of the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) sent a letter to all residents of the Mello-Roos district CFD 94-2.
Mr. Noah has scheduled a hearing for October 3rd to hear any claims of district wrongdoing or improprieties. This is to be before a retired judge, the Honorable Vincent DiFiglia. Mr. Noah requests that anyone wishing to participate by bringing forth a claim should contact his office by September 26th, to give a general discription of the claim you wish heard, and how much time you would need to make a presentation.
In the letter, he gives his direct extension and email.
It looks like a good time to make specific complaints known.
Apparently, the previous methods and strong language by FONC has not been effective. This might be a good opportunity for homeowners/taxpayers to have concerns actually heard. September 26th is very soon!
The Coast News reported on the La Costa Valley vacant school property and the move to put members of “Friends of North County” onto the La Costa Valley HOA as well as special committees. They also mentioned the need to change the CC&Rs & By-Laws before the HOA can get involved in the sorts of things Friends of North County wants to do. The article quoted attorney Greg Brucia, new HOA Board Member, as saying that a special assessment would only be needed “if the district sues or if we need to sue the district.”
La Costa Valley Homeowners, what are your thoughts?:
However, think about it. What would you do with an extra $5,000 and $800 per year?
If, for some reason, the SDUHSD followed the original terms of the Mello-Roos Bond, yet sold the vacant property in La Costa Valley, they’d be obligated to pay the bond back. (Okay, you lawyers and finance types that know how to read bond-speak can sift through this and confirm or deny)
The middle school currently serving La Costa Valley kids in grades 7 and 8 is Oak Crest. It is part of the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD).
Enrollment has grown by less than 1% per year for the last 10 years. This is based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Center for Education Statistics. The following chart was created from that data by SchoolDigger.com.
Other middle schools are in nearby Encinitas and Carlsbad.
The La Costa Valley HOA is having a special HOA meeting on Tuesday May 6th at 7pm, at the Coastline Community Church on Calle Barcelona.
The topic of the meeting is the vacant property next to the church, and how much we will be involved in its future. Specifically, the meeting is regarding La Costa Valley Master Assoc.’s authority-limitations and capabilities regarding School District property.
Can La Costa Valley Homeowners have a say in the use of the property?
Will this be as citizens of the City of Carlsbad?
Will this be through the LCV Homeowner’s Association?
Will our voices be heard as parents of middle-age school children?
It’s very important that homeowners get involved now however they feel about the school district’s property.
Please tell your La Costa Valley friends and neighbors about the meeting, because we did not get much advance notice.
There’s the possibility that this special HOA Board meeting may not be valid for any voting purposes.
According to the HOA by-laws, we need to be told about upcoming meetings well in advance. Notice for HOA special meetings must be within 20 days after a board president calls a special a meeting or after the board receives a petition asking for one, and must be no sooner than 35 days and no later than 90 days after that decision or petition. See section 4.6 in the by-laws on the official La Costa Valley HOA website (you will need Adobe PDF).
The notice will be in the paper newsletter, but at best that will only arrive one or two days before the meeting, certainly not enough time for busy La Costa Valley HOA homeowners to change their schedules.
