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Vote for Measures H and J in March
By Sheila Sánchez
Measure H is a great idea for the Campbell Union School District and its approximately 7,500 students in kindergarten through eighth grades. District Superintendent Johanna VanderMolen is strongly supporting it as well as is the Campbell Education Foundation.
Last December, the district's governing board unanimously approved ordering an election of general obligation bonds to continue repairs and renovations at its 13 elementary and middle schools. The measure will be in the upcoming statewide primary ballot March 5.
Every school is expected to receive much-needed improvements.
The district's project list includes repairing old, deteriorating buildings and upgrading classrooms, upgrading electrical systems in schools too old to handle computers, alarm and safety systems, and other technology. The bond will also fund improved parking and traffic flow conditions at schools, fixing bathrooms, drinking fountains, and other aged plumbing; renovating and expanding school libraries to accommodate new books, technology, and space for students' learning, thorough modernization of schools which have received only minimal improvements and repairs since they were built, including Monroe Middle School and Hazelwood Elementary.
In 1994, district voters approved the $42 million Measure D to begin upgrades and renovations throughout the district. All of the projects funded by that bond--including large-scale fixes to Campbell Middle School, Rosemary Elementary School, and Sherman Oaks Charter School--came in on budget.
The bond would raise $74.9 million.
Passage of Measure H would cost property owners about $29 a year per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Similarly, Measure J is a wise investment for Moreland School District schools and its more than 4,000 students. If approved it will raise $35 million in bonds to allow the district to improve campuses that are more than 40 years old.
The measure will give the district--with schools in Campbell, West San Jose and Saratoga--the ability to apply for state construction funds without raising taxes above 1995 levels. Unlike other bond measures around, it will require a 66 2/3 percent of voter approval to structure the debt to protect a no-tax rate increase.
Since 1995, the district has improved six of its nine schools. The campuses have received updated and improved wiring, roofs, seismic and fire safety, plumbing and heating systems, classroom space, libraries and media centers and computer labs.
But more needs to be done.
District officials say Leroy Anderson Village, Easterbrook School and Moreland Discovery School haven't been modernized at all since they were built more than 35 years ago. The other campuses also need better lighting, improved security, asbestos removal, energy management systems to be energy efficient, new wiring for computers and technology, new kitchens since current ones date back to the early 1960s and new windows, doors and roofs. The funds will also allow the district to build a new gym at Rogers Middle School. It participated with San Jose in building a community center at Elivira Castro Middle School. San Jose paid $2 million and the district paid $2 million from its reserve funds to build that. But a smaller one is needed on the other campus so that both communities have access to it. Improvements would begin next summer.
District officials also say that through a combination of good luck and good planning, Measure J will raise the money without raising the tax rate because it will only raise the amount absolutely necessary for current and immediate needs, the assessed valuation within the district has gone up dramatically in the last two years. The figure, which is based on the most recent sale price of properties within the district, is used to set the bonding capacity or debt limit of the district. Since the assessed valuation has gone up, the district can issue new bonds under the 1995 tax rate ceiling. The district says it's managed debt from its 1995 bonds wisely, selling when it was mot advantageous.
Safe, modern and efficient facilities are important to teachers and students as they work hard to maintain the district's quality of education. Since 1995, district officials report that each of its schools' academic record has steadily improved. During the last 10 years, Moreland schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools.
It's also a good investment for the community to have its schools looking good. Students learn and feel better when attending and schools become a source of community pride, enhancing property values.
A bond overview committee has also given the district good grades in its usage of tax dollars.
Sheila Sanchez is the editor of The Campbell Reporter. She can be reached at 408.200.1051 or by email at ssanchez@svcn.com
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Campbell, California
