SPUSD: Board urged to be more aggressive on bond before June election

April 20, 2016
Santa Paula News

A member of the committee formed to help pass a $39.6 million bond to improve the elementary schools spoke at the Santa Paula Unified School District meeting last week urging more action before the June election.

Tim Hicks addressed the SPUSD Board at the April 13 meeting noting the measure was approved by the panel February 1 and will be voted on June 7; 55 percent of voters must support the bond for it to be passed.

“So far the committee has met with the consultant once,” said Hicks. 

“We need to see the consultant more than once, they have to be here each week or every two weeks,” to update the committee on issues related to the campaign to pass the bond including phone contacts. 

Hicks said campaign calls need to display an 805 area code and ensure communications are specific — “Who they are and what the measure will do” — to ensure no misunderstandings or questions on the part of voters.

“What mailing address do you use for support checks, do you have a PO Box that is local?” he asked. “We need signs around town to let people know we’re asking for their support.”

Hicks noted that he and his wife Cathy “Volunteered to be on this committee and I was asked to get endorsements,” but most approached were unaware of the particulars of the bond measure, which focuses on the middle and elementary schools.

If approved, the bond money would be used to modernize classrooms, restrooms and other school facilities; replace leaky roofs; construct new science labs and classrooms; improve access to computers; upgrade outdated electrical and plumbing systems; and provide ventilation and air-conditioning.

New media and literacy centers — such as the one recently unveiled at Glen City School — would be at each school, new technology would be introduced and furniture and other classroom upgrades undertaken to improve the learning environment.

That the bond measure would concentrate on existing infrastructure must be communicated “to the public…it’s not like when they did the high school,” including the impressive technology building. 

“This is not a big flashy building project,” said Hicks. “It is repairing aging structures,” that sorely need upgrading. “When you read the bond measure,” it is apparent that campuses — six elementary schools and one middle school averaging 70 years old — need help.

“We can still get this done,” added Hicks, “we just have to work…”

In February the SPUSD Board also approved creating a school facilities improvement district, setting the boundaries of the area that would be taxed under the proposed bond measure. The boundaries match the former Santa Paula Elementary School District, which with voter approval merged with the former Santa Paula Union High School District in 2013.

If the bond measure passes property owners in the former high school district and in the Mupu, Briggs and Santa Clara elementary school districts would not be taxed.

The bond measure would cost homeowners about $59 per $100,000 of assessed property value annually.

According to the measure in addition to the bond money, the district would use developer fees, state money and its own funds to pay for the improvements, costs that the bond would cover about 70 percent of.

The bond repayment period is expected to be 30 years.





Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster