The Sonora Union High School District Board of Trustees has received a report from superintendent Ed Pelfrey about actions needed to develop and pass a bond measure to provide funds to renovate the Dome building and fund other needed projects. The Board decided not to pursue a bond measure. Mr. Pelfrey also presented four options for the District to retain ownership of the building with another entity funding and managing renovation of the Dome. These options are 1) lease agreement, 2) licensing agreement, 3) joint occupancy agreement, 4) public/private agreement. Our preferred arrangement is for us to own the building and proceed with our vision for renovation. However, for five years the Board has not even considered this idea. So, it seems that the best chance for saving the building may be one of the four agreement options presented by Mr. Pelfrey.
It does not seem practical for the District to continue to own the building and become a landlord. They do not now have the ability to properly maintain the building and there is no indication that their ability will improve. The District would not receive any funds for maintenance from the building while it was being renovated, and all renovation costs payed by the lessee would off-set lease payments for many years after the building became occupied. So the cost of maintenance would continue be the responsibility of the District for many years. This is a financial responsibility the District cannot afford. In addition, continuing to own the building and becoming a landlord, does not contribute to the educational mission of the District.
We can see no rational reason for the District to retain ownership of the Dome, and all of the options presented have sever negative issues that may make them completely untenable, so the building may be destined to decay beyond repair.