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Board approves long‑term Prop 39 deal letting Saba College Prep stay at Locust Street
Summary
After months of closed‑session negotiations, the board voted to approve an in‑lieu Prop 39 agreement and a zoning exemption that will let Saba College Prep remain at its current campus through the term of its lease. The board and counsel said the deal reduces uncertainty while noting related CEQA litigation.
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board voted unanimously March 26 to approve an in‑lieu Prop 39 agreement with Saba College Prep and a companion zoning‑exemption resolution that allows the charter to remain at its Locust Street site through its lease term.
District counsel and outside counsel presented the package as an expedient, long‑term solution to a compelled facility request under Proposition 39. Outside counsel Bryce Chastain said the agreement would preserve the status quo at Saba’s current campus and bar the charter from seeking district facilities elsewhere while the lease remains in force; he said the written term runs through July 2044. Chastain also described the primary legal concern raised in public correspondence — compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act — and said the district’s analysis concluded the agreement would not constitute a new project requiring an additional CEQA process because it would maintain historic campus activity.
Saba Head of School Josh Ripp urged the board to approve the tripartite arrangement, saying the waiver of Prop 39 claims would save both parties resources and “bolster our partnership” with the district. Community members who oppose the charter’s current site also spoke; several asked the board to press for stronger neighborhood protections and traffic mitigation. The board acknowledged the objections and said city approvals were part of the overall package. After public comment, trustees voted 7–0 to approve the agreement and 7–0 to adopt the zoning exemption.
What happens next: Legal counsel and district staff said the agreement will become binding once all parties execute the final documents and city action is complete. Trustees and staff said they will continue to monitor litigation and city processes related to the Saba campus and to coordinate with neighborhood stakeholders on traffic and safety measures.
Why it matters: Prop 39 requires districts to provide facilities for charter petitions on a functionally equivalent basis, and disputed facility requests can force districts into time‑consuming and costly compliance or litigation. The board described the in‑lieu agreement as a negotiated path that removes immediate uncertainty for students and staff while preserving the district’s planning flexibility for other sites.
