Blog: LVUSD and Fountainwood Homeowners Agree to Location of New Portables for Mariposa

At the school district’s Facilities Committee Meeting Thursday morning, in response to homeowner’s concerns, LVUSD provided an alternate location for the four portable classrooms (or “bungalows”) needed on Sumac’s property to accommodate Mariposa’s anticipated increase in enrollment for 2013-2014.

Instead of four lining the fence on Eagleton and creating a wall (which was originally planned), moving forward, they will put two on the Eagleton side of the field, where the flat field meets the hill, and angle them so they are in a row, diagonal to the field. Moreover, the District will delay placing the two additional portables on the property until enrollment warrants it (in two or three years). At that time, they will either add them next to the ones going near the hill or put one there and one in line with the portables that already are on the blacktop and line the field, between Sumac and Mariposa (some are Sumac’s and some are Mariposa’s). They will not take any classrooms away from Sumac.

To be in compliance with ADA, a walkway will be paved to the bungalows along the Eagleton fence.

This new location will cut into the size of the field and most likely impact AYSO’s use of it. But they are more concerned with the students than AYSO – and rightly so.

This decision came after testimony by homeowners (about a dozen were in attendance – myself included), and information from the district regarding the history of both Mariposa and Sumac and the projected future of each. This was two hours of open, honest and civil discussion before the options were presented.

Every homeowner who spoke voiced support for Mariposa and Sumac and the leadership of each. I think they left satisfied with the outcome of this one issue. I think they also left feeling their concerns had been heard and will be addressed.

Both sides were “blindsided” at last week’s meeting at Sumac, and I think that will not happen again. The homeowners were assured that more information will be forthcoming either through the school board or future committee meetings or posted on LVUSD’s website.

Two things came out of this meeting that I find interesting:

1. The school district was under the impression that the Homeowner’s Association represented and communicated with the homeowners. When last Thursday’s meeting at Sumac turned contentious, they found out that Fountainwood HOA membership is voluntary, the majority of homeowners DO NOT belong to the Association, and the Association has no way of contacting all homeowners, short of putting a flyer in every single mailbox. So now the district is committed to other channels of communication to alert homeowners of issues that will affect them.

2. When Sumac was built, it was approved by the state of California for 1000 students. Sumac  has never had 1000 students and the district assured us combined enrollment of both schools never will (In fact, Mariposa will be capped at 450; Sumac is currently around 400). But the District is using this designation when approving enrollment numbers and deciding if specific studies are required (like traffic and pollution). Many homeowners pointed out that Sumac was built 40 years ago during a different time. One Fountainwood neighbor told us he attended in 1978 and walked to and from school, up and down Eagleton. A child walking to school (alone or with a parent) is no longer the norm and therefore this designation is out of date. This means the traffic patterns of 40 years ago are irrelevant to the reality of 2013. Homeowners requested to see this report and the district will post it on their website.

The rest of the concerns–safety, parking/driving and trash problems that still permeate both campuses–will be addressed at later meetings as the purpose of this meeting was only the placement of the portables.

I want to point out that the leaders of our district are no strangers to Fountainwood or Sumac/Mariposa. While Dr. Stepenosky doesn’t live in Fountainwood, his children attend Mariposa. While school board member Dave Moorman doesn’t live in Fountainwood, his children attended Sumac. In fact, for many years, Dave was part of the PFC’s parent traffic brigade and I saw him make sure morning drop-off ran smoothly.

The school district is open to suggestions from the public on how to solve the above-mentioned problems. If you have any ideas, or just concerns or questions, you are encouraged to email Dr. Stephenosky directly at dstepenosky@lvusd.org or Mrs. Lesli Stein (School Board President) at leslibstein@gmail.com or Mr. Dave Moorman (School Board Vice President) at davem@imageresources.net.  Mrs. Stein and Mr. Moorman are the Board representatives for the Facilities Committee. I have first-hand knowledge that they respond to emails (sometimes with a phone call). And continue to check the website at LVUSD.org.