By Mary-Justine Lanyon
At the Sept. 5 meeting, Dr. Paul Sevillano, the superintendent of schools for the Rim of the World Unified School District, updated the Lake Arrowhead Municipal Advisory Council on the bond measure, Measure E, that will be on the November ballot.
The school board’s decision to float this bond “didn’t come lightly,” Dr. Sevillano said. They had conducted a poll on what the community would support in terms of a local tax. That came back as $30 per $100,000.
As for what the district would spend the money on – Measure E would provide the district with $71 million – Dr. Sevillano said they had hired a consultant to do a facilities master plan. “Many of our schools have not been modernized in years,” he said. “There is no air conditioning in classrooms.” The consultant had identified $114 million in facility needs “to bring the schools up to a standard we believe all students deserve,” the superintendent said.
He also brought Prop 2, which will be on the November ballot, to the MAC’s attention. This state construction bond would provide matching construction funds to modernize schools.
Under Cal/OSHA’s new heat index program, Rim has had to come up with compliance plans. “We have to get students to cooler areas but without air conditioning it’s a difficult task,” Dr. Sevillano said. “We need a positive learning environment for students.
MAC member Peter Venturini asked where the money will go. “There will be an oversight committee,” Dr. Sevillano said, “that will look at what we spend the money on.” He added that none of the bond funds could be used for teacher salaries.
When asked by a community member if all the buildings within the Rim district are needed, Dr. Sevillano noted there are two vacant properties: the former Grandview Elementary School and Lake Gregory Education and Community Center. The latter is being used as the district office. “We will be bringing back adult education,” the superintendent said. “There is a tremendous need for it.” He added there will be CTE (career technical education) classes linking to some programs at Rim High.
Grandview, he said, is on the market for sale. “We are entertaining offers. We are being careful about what the community wants it used for.”
Dr. Sevillano also told the MAC the district is looking at opening preschool programs at all the elementary school sites and at the district office. Rim will be partnering with the county, which will provide a grant. “We are excited about that opportunity,” he said, adding the biggest need is at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, where they hope to open the preschool program in a vacant classroom within a year.
Carrie Harmon described what the Community Development and Housing Department does.
The special guest at the September MAC meeting was Carrie Harmon, director of the San Bernardino County Community Development and Housing Department. Her department serves unincorporated communities and 13 participating cities. Through a consolidated plan process they are engaging the communities to find out what they need.
“We look at impediments to fair housing,” Harmon said. “It’s more of an issue in certain communities, not necessarily yours.” They look for pockets of poverty and what poverty looks like. In the Inland Empire the poverty rate is 11.9 percent.
“We want everyone in the community to have access to the best possible housing,” she said. “San Bernardino County has been a place to realize home ownership dreams. Rental housing used to be affordable.”
Since the pandemic, Harmon said, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,611. “If you are a minimum wage worker, you would have to work 77 hours a week to afford that – almost two full-time jobs.” She added it’s just over $2,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, which would require a person to work 97 hours a week. A three-bedroom is $2,707, requiring a person to work 130 hours a week at minimum wage.
“The wage rate has not kept pace with rents,” she said.
When asked if her department has done any affordable housing projects on the mountain, Harmon said they have not.
0 Comments