The Town Council had a spirited discussion about the proposed Castaic High School selection process and the various sites currently under consideration by the Hart School District. Some council members questioned safety issues as well as the potentially long and protracted permit process at several of the sites.
A motion was made and seconded to support the selection of the Romero Canyon site for the proposed new Castaic High School. Romero Canyon was sited as being the most viable of the three sites being reviewed and the one that could have construction of the new school begin the quickest.
The West Ranch Town Council voted to send the following letter to the Dr. Castellanos of the William S. Hart Union High School District in support of the Romero Canyon site for the proposed new Castaic High School:
West Ranch Town Council
25876 The Old Road #213
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381
Dr. Jaime Castellanos, Superintendent
William S. Hart Union High School District
21515 Centre Pointe Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
RE: In Support of Romero Canyon Site for Proposed Castaic High School
Dear Dr. Castellanos:
We are writing in support of the Hart School District moving forward with selecting the Romero Canyon site for the proposed Castaic High School.
As members of the West Ranch Town Council we know first hand the damage the Hart School District has caused Westside students by their ten (10) year delay in building Castaic High School.
Last fall the Hart School Board selected three potential sites to locate the new Castaic High School. The Sterling-Gateway property was at the top of that list with number two being the former Ion Communities parcel and third a property in Romero Canyon. The Board selected Sterling Gateway even though the District knew of a deed restriction that prohibits a school from being built.
One would think with Sterling Gateway being rejected the District would return to one of the other priority sites; however, the District is now going back to the already rejected Hasley Sloan site and two other new sites!
This defies logic and calls to question the Board’s commitment to building a Castaic High School.
The District should select the Romero Canyon site for the following reasons:
1) Willing seller;
2) The site has an initial approval as a high school site from the state Dept. of Education;
3) The parcel is in the path of future development (meaning homes are currently not
there, but will be);
4) The parcel is large enough to house a high school as well as other administrative
buildings;
5) The high school will finish the community’s road circulation plans; and
6) Most of the permits have been approved or ready to pull making the Romero Canyon
site the location that can come on line the quickest for this under served community.
The community was told we needed to support Measure SA so Castaic High School could be built. The community gave you their support, now you need to honor your word and do the right thing.
Please move in an expeditious manner in securing the Romero Canyon site so the students on the Westside can have the facilities they were promised, and deserve.
Sincerely,
Ronald Mechsner David Bossert
President, West Ranch Town Council Vice President, West Ranch Town Council
cc: Castaic Town Council
West Ranch Town Council
Hart School District Governing Board Members
Supervisor Antonovich, L.A. County 5th District