Roseville Joint Union High School District trustees are expected tonight to hire an architect to design a sixth high school campus for an area of the district with few homes and few students.
Although the district was forced to make significant budget reductions this school year and faces a potential cut of $3 million from its 2009-2010 budget, a $115 million school construction bond approved by voters two years ago can't be used as a budget bailout.
By law, it can only be used to build school facilities.
One thing is certain, district board member Garry Genzlinger said, "There will be a sixth high school eventually."
Such are the challenges school districts face planning for the future in the midst of a unpredictable economy.
"It's all about housing starts. Development is slow right now," said district Superintendent Tony Monetti.
In January 2007, hoping to get ahead of the growth curve, the district created a school facilities improvement district to tax future property owners for a new high school in a sparsely developed portion of Placer County.
Later that year, the handful of registered voters living within the improvement district approved a bond to help fund the new school.
The final tally in the special election was 11 to 1 in favor.
The improvement district is anticipated to someday have 25,000 homes.
However, with the sluggish housing market, homes aren't popping up as quickly as anticipated.
"There are still some developers who've been able to keep moving but they are definitely being impacted," said Christopher Grimes, district facilities director.
But the planning process for the 53-acre school site can't afford to lag behind, district trustees say.
"You still have to go through the hoops in case in two years it all takes off," Genzlinger said.
From initial planning to opening day, Grimes said, a new high school can take 15 years.
The district began planning for the school sixth high school in 2002.
"It was originally scheduled to open in 2013," Genzlinger said. "Now it could be four years later."
Call The Bee's Walter Yost, (916) 321-1146.
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