APB Archives

THE MODEL SCHOOL (Jan 9, 04)

THE JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY (Oct 11, 03)

The San Diego Unified School District, the City of San Diego, the San Diego
Redevelopment Authority, and the San Diego Housing Authority, acting in response to the loss of low income ousing that occurs when a school site is
chosen, tried to find ways to build replacement low income housing. Starting in early 2001, meetings were held among senior school district and city officials, hunting for a way to put back lost housing. Very quickly in the process, it also became clear that a school could be the focal point for a
small, new neighborhood around it. It also became clear that a larger project
might even be possible, with recreation, space for small commercial, possibly childcare, and other community serving activities added to the mix.

The four government authorities involved then created a separate agency, a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) called the San Diego Model School Development Agency, and gave it the task of integrating the school district's construction of a new school with replacement housing and other amenities. The JPA was organized during late 2001 and early 2002. It began operating in the Fall of 2002 and has been working since to accomplish the tasks it was given.

The JPA hired a program manager, Sedona Pacific, to screen the four City Heights school sites and see which are better or worse for a model school
project. The JPA then chose two of the sites (the Mary Fay site on 52nd St.
and the Florence Griffith Joyner site) for more detailed study. The Program
Manager is now working on the detailed study and the JPA expects to choose a
primary site in early 2004. The program manager has also begun a series of presentations to community groups and neighborhood associations to introduce the project. It expects to make other visits to provide updates as the work continues.

The JPA has been given much of the authority that each of the member agencies holds. It has NOT been given the authority to spend any agency's money. Its operating expenses are divided among the member agencies, then referred back to the four of them for approval and funding. The JPA's proposals for a model school project must also be referred to the member agencies for approval and funding. The JPA has no independent source of money or independent authority to raise money. All funding is supervised and authorized by the member agencies; the school district, city, redevelopment agency, and housing authority.
-

THE JPA MEETING SCHEDULE (Jan 9, 04)

The JPA board meets in the SDSU Foundation building at 4283 El Cajon Boulevard at 10:00AM. Usually the meetings are held on Thursdays in room 220, but on some occasions they move to room 240. Signs are posted. Meetings are set for Feb 19, Mar 11, Apr 1, Apr 22, May 13, June 3, and Jul 1. I'll
post future schedules as they are adopted.
-