Gay Geiser-Sandoval -- EDUCATIONALLY SPEAKING

The former Balearic School has been the Balearic Center for a number of

years. There always seems to be numerous soccer games going on, as well

as preschool and community classes, and community events.

It would be a real shame for the community to lose such a valuable and

well-used asset. I can understand why the neighborhood is already

lobbying the school board, and why residents will be in full attendance

at the study session on Feb. 15.

The question I have been asking myself is whether the school district is

responsible for providing the community with a park and community center.

Isn’t that exactly what Balearic Center has become? The property has been

leased to the city of Costa Mesa for a number of years, and the city runs

and maintains the premises.

The reason the Facilities Committee recommended the sale of the Balearic

property wasn’t to add more homes or businesses to the community. They

saw it as a way to provide funding for future maintenance. They contend

that we must plan for and fund ongoing maintenance, so if the schools do

get back into shape, they don’t deteriorate again.

The city of Costa Mesa says it wants to buy the property, but it isn’t

sure it can afford it. The perfect solution -- to meet both entities’

needs -- is for the city to buy the property with long-term payments over

20 years. This will distribute the outlay of cash by the city. It will

work especially well if the payment is funded by an increase in the hotel

tax.

More importantly, it will allow for a steady stream of cash to the school

district. Lump sums tend to be used up by that moment’s needs. A

long-term payment plan would give the district the money it needs to

maintain school facilities. It gets the school district out of the park

business. If another school is needed in that part of town, Mesa Verde

School, which is currently leased to Coastline Community College

District, is available.

If you like this idea, go to the school board study session on Feb. 15

with a big sign that says “We like Gay’s idea.” Then, go to the city

council meeting and do the same. If we can get both of them to agree, we

will save Balearic Center for the purposes that we have all come to

appreciate.

Congratulations to the winners of the Author’s Festival Bookmark Contest.

They are: Lindsay Nieto, fifth grade, Mariners; John Barrett, third

grade, Eastbluff; and Gabriella Di Chiro, first grade, Harbor View

School.

Thanks to the PTAs and PFOs, as well as the Newport-Mesa Schools

Foundation, which sponsored the 41 authors that visited all of our

schools with K-6 students last week.

Most of these kids won’t be writing best-selling novels for a while. But

the inspiration provided by these authors will make the kids practice

their prose now. That could reflect positively on future Academic

Performance Indexes and SAT-9 scores.

The district is hosting a parent Computer Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 16.

The event, to be held at Costa Mesa High School, will allow parents to

get great deals on computers and Internet services. Child care and

transportation are available. Call (714) 424-8776 to make a reservation.

* GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL is a Costa Mesa resident. She can be reached by

e-mail at o7 [email protected] .