School District Considers Selling Properties to Ease Budget Strains

Amidst the , the board met Thursday to identify the process of appointing a new member, plan for .

Process to appoint new board member

Former School Board Vice President Charles Gardner unexpectedly after diagnosed with a serious illness.

“It’s very unfortunate but a good opportunity for someone else,” said Superintendent Rob Gaskill.

Gaskill read aloud a letter sent from Gardner before addressing the agenda item.

“I believe it is the intangibles that make Cabrillo great,” the letter said.

The board was presented with two plans to appoint the new member: a lengthy and expensive special election process or a lightning-quick provisional appointment.

“You have one extended timeline in one case and a very compressed timeline in the other,” Gaskill said.

The board agreed that the costs involved with holding a special election outweigh the stress induced provisional appointment. By accepting this process the board must appoint a new member by October 9.

“There are 25,000 reasons not to hold a special election,” said Board President John Moseley said.

A press release was distributed Friday with information as to how one could apply for the position. The deadline to apply is September 26. More details on the process can be reviewed .

“I’d really like to see someone up here to help us make these decisions,” said board member .

McCamant headed a presentation to the board concerning the four companies bidding to implement solar energy into the district.

Cupertino Electric, Inc, REC Solar, Solar City and Tioga Energy, Inc. have made bids to begin solar energy projects at and .

”We wanted there to be no upfront costs, but there will be costs when developing the RFP [Request For Proposal],” McCamant said.

The RFP, Moseley said, will begin with the development of a plan.

The board discussed the possibility of the solar energy installation to become part of the curriculum for students.

“We’re talking about an AP Environmental Science class,” said Half Moon Bay High School principal Mary Streshly. “This could be a part of that.”

Streshly said she does not believe there is anyone on the high school staff that has an expertise in solar energy, but the community seems to be very supportive.

“I think if we put it out there we would have an instant steering committee,” she said.

The board unanimously approved to continue with developing the RFP.

There will be two more board meetings until the board will need to take formal action.

As a way to cope with looming budget cuts, Superintendent Gaskill suggested that the district consider selling unutilized properties.

“When things get bad enough, you think about selling that vacation home,” Gaskill said. “We’re at tough, tough financial strains.”

Cabrillo currently has nine properties. Six are being utilized. One must conditionally be used for educational purposes.

“There are two pieces property that may be used strategically,” Gaskill said.

The board showed concern that there is no way to know that selling would be beneficial at this time.

“Until you put it on the market and willingly put up a bid with a signed check, you don’t know,” said board member Kirk Riemer.

Of the properties, Gaskill said, the most attractive of which is the one they were sitting in at that moment.

The Cabrillo Unified District Office, located on 498 Kelly Ave. off of Highway 1, could be a very attractive commercial property given its location, Gaskill said.

“There’s some opportunity, I just don’t what that is,” Freya said. “It breaks my heart to think of a million or $2 million in cuts to this district.”

Riemer suggested that the staff formulate a list of how selling properties would affect schools and the total costs of maintenance.

“We’ve recognized it’s not a great time to sell,” Gaskill said.

The next CUSD board meeting is scheduled for October 13.

On that date, a new board member will be sworn into office.

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