CUSD Pursues Unsuitable High School Site

For the fourth time in two years, the Chico Unified School District (CUSD) was told this July that their current choice for a new high school is not suitable. The federal and state agencies responsible for wetlands and endangered species told the Chico community as far back as 1996 what areas were and were not suitable for development purposes. Despite this clear direction and the parallel information contained in the Chico General Plan adopted in 1994, the Chico Unified School District (CUSD) has pursued an environmentally sensitive property owned by George Schmidbauer for a new high school site. Many of the lands in southeast Chico, including all of Schmidbauer's, were designated as Resource Management Areas in the General Plan due to the natural resources found there.

The CUSD and the developer have refused to listen to the direction provided by state and federal agencies, so two years have quickly slipped by after the $48.75 million bond measure was passed. Maybe the fourth time is the charm! Lets hope that the consultants for the CUSD will tell the truth at the next Bond Oversight Committee meeting on September 21, 2000, and pursue a site that will benefit both the children and the environment of the community. It makes sense for educational institutions to set a good example and be good stewards in all arenas for future generations.

This column originally appeared in August 2000 in the Chico Examiner.