Hermosa Beach City School District Accepting Applications for Measure S Citizens’ Oversight Committee

HERMOSA BEACH, CA — The Hermosa Beach City School District is currently accepting applications for a Citizens’ Oversight Committee to assist in the process of implementing the Measure S: School Facilities Program.

The program, which was approved by Hermosa Beach voters with 59.72% support in the June 2016 election, includes the project to rebuild a new school for grades 3-4 on the North School site while providing for renovations,classrooms and modernization to the district’s two current schools.

The Citizens' Oversight Committee, which is recommended to meet at least on a quarterly basis, is being established to inform the public about the expenditure of bond revenues in an oversight capacity, not in a decision-making capacity. The committee will monitor that revenues from the bond are spent only as described in Bond Measure S and will report to the board and the public.

The school board is required to provide responses to any and all findings or concerns noted by the committee and post the committee’s minutes, proceedings, documents received, and reports issued on the district website for the Hermosa Beach community to review. There is no financial compensation for participating on the committee.

“The creation of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee continues the district’s dedication to keeping the public informed and engaged around all aspects of Measure S,” notes Patricia Escalante, Superintendent for the Hermosa Beach City School District. “Our open communications process started with dozens of public meetings and workshops around the creation of Bond Measure S and will continue during each phase of the facilities program for all district schools.”

The application is available for download on the district website and must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The board will then begin reviewing submissions and will hold a Special Board Meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 31, 2016 in the City Council Chamber to finalize the composition of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee, which will have least seven members.

Under Proposition 39 the committee will include a member active in the business community, a member active in a senior citizen’s organization, a member active in a taxpayer’s organization, a parent/guardian of a child attending a Hermosa Beach public school, a student’s parent/guardian who is involved in a parent-teacher organization, and pair of members from the community at large. Employees, officials, vendors, contractors, or consultants of the school district are not eligible to sit on the committee.

Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. Aug. 9 via email to superintendentoffice@hbcsd.org, by drop off at the District Office (425 Valley Dr. in South Park), or by mail to 1645 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Late submissions will not be accepted. Any additional requests for information or questions may be emailed to superintendentoffice@hbcsd.org or called into 310-937-5877.

The stated mission of the school district is to ‘provide a comprehensive K-8 program which is rich in technology and includes a wide variety of learning strategies, experiences, enrichment activities and support services to promote student learning.’

— News release from the Hermosa Beach City School District