If the unexpected announcement that the Hart School board is going to select a site for the new Castaic High two weeks before new board members are sworn in surprised you, you weren’t the only one. LA Count Supervisor Mike Antonvich’s eyebrows were also raised. From The Signal:
The meeting is the last for Hart district board members until Dec. 9, when Bob Jensen and Joe Messina will be sworn in. Some individuals criticized the Hart district for rushing to a decision before the new members are seated.
Jensen and Messina will be able to take part in the discussion of each property but will not have a vote.
“My hope is that I’ll be at least able to participate as an upcoming board member,” Jensen said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich issued a letter to board President Steve Sturgeon saying it is “vital” that the vote be delayed until the new board is seated.
“I would anticipate the current board would continue the decision of site selection until the two new board members are sworn in the first week of December,” the letter reads.
Superintendent Castellanos says he can’t wait two weeks until the newly-elected board members, Bob Jensen and Joe Messina, are sworn in. “Now is the time to move forward,” he told the Signal. Seriously? After ten years we can’t wait an additional two weeks?
By all accounts, Bob Jensen is a competent and well respected individual who got more votes than incumbent Paul Strickland in last week’s election. Joe Messina’s positions on Castaic High are well known too; he’s run for the Hart Board since 2001.
When even Supervisor Antonovich is urging a delay on local development, something is fishy. What’s the Hart District up to? Are the three sites so bad that it’s best to put the decision on the current Board members, or is the rush to select a new site intended to avoid questions from the new board members?
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