LVUSD citizens’ committee reports to school board

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The Citizens’ Construction Oversight Committee, which was formed to advise the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) Board of Education on facilities issues, reported to trustees recently on their first meeting.

The six members of the community who make up the committee are Jerry Orland, chair; Eric Smith, assistant chair; Jeff Allen; Sharon Pfeifer; Howard Littman; and Jeff Thomas.

The advisory committee was formed in response to the many problems surrounding the relocation of the new Yerba Buena Elementary School, which currently shares a campus with Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills. Construction costs skyrocketed to an estimated $33 million, which forced a decision to scale down the size of the project.

Other hurdles included costly conditions set by Southern California Edison. In addition to construction of a new road and a bridge, power lines must be placed underground, and a 28-foot retaining wall along Lindero Canyon must be built. Edison’s non-negotiable demand for a 40-foot easement was a critical change in the plan, according to earlier reports from Donald Zimring, LVUSD interim superintendent.

"This group brings incredible talent, skill and background," said Zimring about the committee.

Orland told trustees that the committee has met several times, visited the Yerba Buena site, and reviewed other potential sites.

"Our committee has determined that the present site will serve the district’s needs best, on the assumption the project proceeds forward to construction," Orland said in his report. Committee members also examined the bids submitted by hazardous waste removal firms. They agreed with district staff that the best decision was to reject all bids and reopen the process (see related story below).

"Yerba Buena is our number one goal," Orland said.