Saratoga News

Good Government Group supports high school bond

Decision was based on merit of repairs

By John Pancharian

The Saratoga Good Government Group has come out in favor of Measure B on the June 2 ballot.

Members of the local group decided at their April 28 meeting to endorse the measure, which authorizes a $79 million bond to repair and upgrade facilities at both Saratoga and Los Gatos high schools.

Neither high school has received any major repairs in more than 20 years.

"My poor husband is taking Italian over there [at LGHS]," GGG board president Marlene Duffin said. "If more people had to spend time in one of their classes, they'd see the need."

The GGG board considered issues such as the need for such a seemingly large amount of money and the details of bond repayment. Members took into account whether the allocation of funds between the two high schools matched the amount of indebtedness each city would accrue.

In the end, Duffin said the decision to back the measure came down to the merits of the planned repairs and the need for remodeling at both high schools.

Ron Adolphson, president of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board of trustees, presented the district's case at the GGG board's March 24 meeting. He addressed board members' questions and gave out copies of the district's inch-thick facilities assessment. The assessment describes leaking roofs, aged heating, electrical and plumbing systems and general wear and tear at both high schools. The assessment also identifies the need to upgrade science facilities at both schools, which lag behind the information age in their design and are inadequate for expected increases in enrollment over the next few years.

The Saratoga Good Government Group is a collection of about 200 Saratoga residents who monitor civic affairs in the hope of promoting responsible local government.

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