Why did SMUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss contradict 6 of his principals on the state of school facilities???

Six (6) San Marino School Principals over 4 years wrote and published high praises for the conditions of our school facilities and systems.

San Marino High School: “San Marino HS facilities are comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned, and well designed for instruction.  Sports facilities are have been significantly upgraded.  School facilities are a source of pride for our district.  They are well maintained, clean, safe, and functional.  No complaints have been filed.” 

Carver Elementary: “Carver school facilities are well maintained in a manner that is clean, safe and functional.  The academic facilities are comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned, and well designed for instruction”

Valentine Elementary echoed the same as Carver Elementary plus added:  “We take pride in our beautiful gardens and large grass playfield.  Inspections show NO areas of deficiency.  No complaints have been filed.”

Carver, Valentine and Huntington Middle School gave the “State of Repair” of its facilities and systems the highest grade of “Good” and Overall Rating of “Exemplary.”

The same or similar reports of exceptional facilities and ratings have been recorded over 4 consecutive school years by 6 principals.  

San Marino High School did rate its Mechanical / Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning systems (“HVAC”) as “Fair” but above the lowest grade of “Poor” (for 2017-2018) and an Overall Rating of “Good.” 

A new HVAC system for SMHS does not need $148 million of tag-along projects.  The new HVAC system can be self-funded by SMUSD with some salary and non-teaching position hiring freezes, e.g. not backfilling the assistant principal or retirees returning as consultants.  Try doing more with less.

And the schools are in a “Good” state of repair, “Exemplary” Overall Rating, safe and functional, spacious, air-conditioned and well designed for instruction.” The “spacious” facilities at the High School and both elementary schools should not need additional or new facilities in 2 years when the ballot measure might be floated again for more classrooms, and sports facilities that have already undergone extensive upgrades.

If 6 principals say facilities and systems are Good with no complaints filed, spacious and well designed for instruction, why does the Superintendent say otherwise and contradict his own “managers ?”

The under-construction Barth Athletic Complex requires $12 million dollars for modernization.  Who approved the antiquated design for the new complex that now needs $12 million of modernization before it is even completed?

This is what you do when you didn't have enough funding to complete the Barth and pushed construction into the future to be funded by part of the Alex Cherniss proposed $148 million bond.

Why didn't any of the SMUSD School Board members like Shelly Ryan, Lisa Link, Chris Norgaard, Nam Jack and C Joseph Chang ask questions? Or Read the statements from the 6 principals? Or Do their homework to understand why a yet to be built athletic complex requires upgrade?  

REMEMBER the new $10,000 cap on tax deductibility of property and state income taxes that will add to your taxable income.  Any San Marino homeowner who bought his home in the last 15 years will very likely have a property tax bill of $10,000 or more.  Now all your state income tax deductibility will go away and the amount will be added to your Federal taxable income line on your IRS 1040.