Community centers, repairs part of proposed master plan

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Although the money from the leasing of the Crest View

school grounds to Wal-Mart hasn’t started rolling in yet, the Ocean View

School District is already making plans to spend the funds.

A significant portion of the money needed to pay for the improvements and

additions included in the district’s proposed master plan will come from

the long-term leases at the Crest View and Rancho View sites.

The Crest View and Rancho View properties will be leased to Wal-Mart and

Lowe’s Eagle, respectively.

The district’s master plan, which is approved project by project,

outlines each school’s growth, needs and the district’s major projects

for the next five years. The proposed plan includes enrollment

projections, anticipated facility needs, demographic data and budget

forecasts. It also includes a number of improvement and modernization

projects.

The master plan projects will be paid for by a combination of state funds

totaling up to $1.6 million and about $926,000 of the district’s money.

The district will collect much of that money from the Rancho View and

Crest View leases, which are expected to bring in $880,000 a year.

The construction of Lowe’s Eagle will be completed by December 2002.

Wal-Mart, which will break ground in August, is expected to be done by

February 2001.

“As soon as we start getting the money, we’ll be in good shape,” Supt.

James Tarwater said.

First priority will be given to the construction of community centers at

each of the four middle schools. These centers will be designed for use

as gymnasiums, auditoriums and stages. The elementary schools will also

have access to the centers, which will be complete by June 2002.

When the centers are built, the schools will no longer have to hold three

staggered assemblies to accommodate the student body.

“This will develop a cohesiveness, morale and school spirit among the

students,” Tarwater said.

The centers will also free up the multipurpose rooms at each site, which

will make them available for cafeteria use during rainy weather.

The construction of these centers will finish the reconfiguration of the

schools that began in 1992, when the middle schools were split from the

elementary schools.

Repairs and modernization projects are also a priority. All of the

district schools are at least 25 years old. Some need new carpet, paint,

asphalt and alarm systems. With the plan, some of the old portables that

housed libraries and classrooms will be replaced by permanent building.

The improvements and modernization will be done school by school,

starting with Harbour View Elementary, Tarwater said.

“We’ve been talking about this all year,” said Roni Ellis, principal at

Harbour View.

The 33-year-old school will see 10 of its portable classrooms replaced by

11 permanent ones, a new library and media center and teacher work areas.

Construction may begin this summer if final plans are approved.