So what is the big deal about the sale? Why not sell it for fair market value and be done with it? Because there are regulations about how to “dispose” of government owned surplus property and it can get a little tricky. Fair market value is not an option when selling government to government because there needs to be a substantial discount. So here are the steps as I understand it: public agencies selling real property must first offer it to other public agencies (for example, city, county, state entities) at a discounted rate, though the discounted rate facet seems to be debatable when reading various legal opinions on this. If the various tiers of public agencies and non-profit entities are not interested in the property, then the property may be offered at auction to any bidder.
In 2007 the DMUSD made a deal with the city of Del Mar to sell the approx. 4.94 (or 5.3)-acre piece of land at a discounted price of $8,500,000. In March, just a week before they were scheduled to close escrow, the city asked for a 30-day extension. It gets a little “sketchy” here, since personnel issues are secret and our board isn’t talking in open session about the Shores property, but somewhere in the middle of all this re-negotiation talk the board forced the Superintendent’s resignation. Is this the “rest of the story” as Paul Harvey might say? Why would this be an issue worth spending nearly $300,000 of reserve money to buy out a contract unnecessarily? Oh, and by the way, what is the fair market value of the Shores property?
From what I have learned from reliable sources, a private trust is (or at least was) ready to make an offer to purchase the Shores property for a great deal more than $8,500,000 – I have heard numbers between $20,000,000-$25,000,000, just to let it sit. (Sounds logical since I recall that the Solana Beach School district paid $4M+ for each acre of land they purchased to build Solana Pacific School a few years ago.) I was told that this particular Buyer would preserve the integrity of the property as a ball park and school for a number of years. This seems like it could be a win-win for everyone if the city is unable to purchase the land.
I feel that we as parents and community members must take note of the spending and big financial decisions being made by our board of Trustees right now. If we add up the ancillary implications of just one decision to oust the Superintendent, that’s close to $300,000. Add to that $500,000 more this year (or next) to make up for the fundraising crises caused to the Foundation by the board’s decision, along with hiring costs of a new Superintendent, this brings us well over $800,000 in unforeseen expenditures from our district reserves! Is it worth it?
Personally, I am not proposing that the district sell The Shores to one entity over another. As a matter of fact, the sale is pretty much a done deal now. What I am asking is that the board of trustees bears in mind that they have had options. Their decisions affect everyone in the Del Mar Union School District boundary area and they should work with all diligence to make decisions that will best benefit the entire district and move forward.
More recently, there has been a movement to call in to question budgeted expenditures that have been a part of DMUSD's successful Strategic Plan. These expenditures afford our teachers planning time and parallel and vertical collaboration opportunities at their school site and throughout the district. I would hope our families will take the time to really understand the benefits our district has enjoyed by daring to be unique. Please don't forget that we can boast having the finest schools because we dare to think outside of the box and be all we can be by working together!
It is obvious that the board of trustees wants control of our district and now they have it. So from this point on I would expect them to make responsible decisions and point us in a positive direction, not a non-specific, non-clarified direction. They should stop the micromanagement and begin supporting the very capable staff in place, empowering them to do their jobs.
I would hope they want to move forward together with a collaborative plan to heal and stabilize our district from the repercussions of their decision. What’s done is done, and now representatives from the Foundation, PTA, community at large, and district personnel from throughout our district should have a say in our future. The next superintendent should be chosen together and given authority due them under the law to be the district’s “CEO.” The superintendent should feel supported by the board of trustees and be allowed to make personnel decisions and over-see the day to day learning at the school sites- keeping our children’s successful education always first and foremost!
Comischell Bradley-Rodriguez
Concerned DMUSD Parent and Volunteer
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