By Richard A. Patterson

Regardless of whether you embrace or defy the inevitability of change, one thing remains constant — the realization of a greater public good, which is created when resources are maximized to bring the highest benefit to the community.

In 1998 our community schools were in crisis with severe overcrowding. The number of students significantly exceeded the designed capacity of the school facilities. Forty-five percent of the then-17,000 William S. Hart Union High School District students were considered "unhoused," with most occupying temporary facilities.

Funding for new schools was difficult to come by and locating suitable sites was even harder. The community faced tough times having faced the defeat of two school bond measures.

Something had to be done to break the bottleneck. With forward-thinking ambition, the Hart District board developed a concept for a public-private partnership that could get a school project off the ground, move it along quickly, while minimizing costs and maximizing state funding.

The school district's concept was to form a public-benefit corporation — a private non-profit foundation — that could focus on a single school building project and bring it to fruition.

Working with prominent community leaders, the school district board helped establish the Santa Clarita Valley Facilities Foundation with a mission to find a way to build the much-needed Golden Valley High School and relieve severe overcrowding.

The task was not an easy one, nor was it without setbacks and challenges. With steadfast determination, unwavering resolve, and in partnership with the City of Santa Clarita and the Hart District, the Facilities Foundation set out to accomplish one of the largest public works projects in the City's history.

The resulting joint venture resulted in the completion of a key portion of the Golden Valley Road cross-valley connector at a substantial cost savings to taxpayers. And then in August 2004, Golden Valley High School opened its doors helping to alleviate overcrowding in other local high schools.

The Facilities Foundation is pleased to have completed its strategic plan to assist the Hart District in locating future school sites, identifying opportunities, and funding other education-related projects, and of its ability to bring outside assistance to the complex financial school funding system.

• Purchased land and made improvements for construction of Golden Valley High School, which helped relieve overcrowding in other local high schools. (1998-2004)
• Construction of a key segment of the cross-valley connector in partnership with the City of Santa Clarita, realizing a substantial cost savings to taxpayers. (1998-2002)
• Contribution toward the construction of the City of Santa Clarita Aquatic Center and initiated a Joint Use Agreement for District swim programs. (2003)
• Participation in funding for the construction of the Sierra Vista Junior High Boys & Girls Club s tate-of-the-art facility. (2003)
• Acquired land in Castaic for potential high school. (2003)
• Extension of city trail system along Golden Valley Road between Sierra Highway and Centre Point Parkway. (2004)
• Sale of Golden Valley residual properties to Centex Homes for residential development, with proceeds reinvested in land for future schools. (2005)
• Acquired land along the Vasquez Canyon Road and Sierra Highway corridor for two potential schools in Canyon Country. (2006)
• Transferred two properties along the Vasquez Canyon Road and Sierra Highway corridor to the Hart School District. (2011)
• $100,000 donation to the WiSH Education Foundation (2012)
• Transferred Castaic property and Golden Valley remainder properties to the Hart School District. (2014)
• $1,000,000 donation to the Hart School District for the purchase and installation of shade structures at most district schools. (2014)