Another busy week: Activist Mark Jackson speaks (Tues) and BUSD calls a special board meeting (Thurs). Will BUSD vote for Attempt #6 to build a massive high school in Gird Valley? Stay tuned! 

Thanks to everyone who showed up at the Aoril 12 Bonsall Unified School District (BUSD) board meeting. Please see our website for full details on what happened. In a nutshell, we learned that voters polled in BUSD went a little shaky when asked about the Gird Valley site. No wonder. Building a high school in Gird Valley has lost five times at the ballot box, starting with Attempt #1 way back in 1978. Facing organized community resistance, the pollster/bond expert (Jason List of Urban Futures) advised the board to reach out and find a solution that is broadly supported. He's the second bond expert to caution the BUSD Board about the dangers of moving forward with a bond measure in 2018, Attempt #6, when faced with opposition that has built over generations. 

After listening to Mr. List and public comments, BUSD's Board deviated from its stated objective, Agenda Item 9.2: "Board Discussion and Approval of Building New Bonsall High School Campus at Gird Road Site". Instead it voted to "affirm" its own Superintendent's Advisory Committee's Site Report (which stated Gird Valley, located at the northern edge of the district, is the best site for a Bonsall high school) and to educate the public. Here's our analysis of that Site Report plus additional comments (pages 15 and 16) on its inadequacy, submitted during the Draft Environmental Impact (DEIR) process. 

Will there be a bond measure in November 2018, Attempt #6, to build a high school on Gird Road? We still don't know. 

We are told  BUSD is holding a Special Board Meeting Thursday April 26, 6:00 PM.  Two bond experts (Jason List, April 2018, and Dale Scott, Nov 2017) have advised the BUSD Board to listen to the community and deliver a product they are willing to accept in 2020, to skip 2018's ballot. Will the Board ignore this advice and approve Attempt #6 at this Special Meeting on April 26? The Agenda should be posted soon so we shall see. 

VERY IMPORTANT -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Come and listen to  Mark Jackson, Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 PM at the Fallbrook Library: Mark Jackson helped organize citizens to defeat the massive Lilac Hills Ranch proposal in 2016. Since Lilac Hills Ranch, a huge development which attempted to bypass the General Plan via the election box, was a major financial supporter of Attempt #5 (BUSD'S failed Measure DD in 2016) to build a Walmart-sized high school in Gird Valley, we need to listen to, and learn from, Mark Jackson. See you there! 

Should be interesting! See you Tuesday, 6:30 PM, at the Library to listen to Mark Jackson and we'll be at the Bonsall Community Center, Thursday, 6 PM, for the  BUSD Special Board Meeting. 


Sincerely,

Teresa Platt
Steering Committee Member
   

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE GIRD VALLEY:  
P.S.  We engaged in the Draft Environmental Impact Report's public comment period THANK YOU to those who helped with legal fees and, to those who have not yet contributed, we need you!  Please mail your checks for  SaveGirdValley.com, c/o  Teresa Platt (2915 Lakemont Drive) or drop off at the homes of Dolly Harty (3502 Oakcliff Drive) or Mary Polopolus (2239 Gird Road).  In the meantime, there is still time for you  to submit your own comments

Protect Fallbrook's rural character! Gird Valley looking south to Monserate Hill
and the San Luis Rey River Valley. April 2017
REMINDER! BE THERE! 
Mark Jackson, Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 PM, Fallbrook Library
and
 BUSD Special Board Meeting, Thursday, April 26, 6 PM
Bonsall Community Center, 31505 Old River Road, Bonsall. 

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone! 
Working together we can save Fallbrook's Gird Valley! 

SaveGirdValley@gmail.com