Saratoga News

Measure B is an excellent investment

By Cynthia Hall Ranii

Before I became superintendent of the Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District, it was not news to me that the two high schools were outstanding. Like so many people up and down the state, I had heard about the exceptional quality of education at Los Gatos High School and Saratoga High School.

Nothing I have learned since I became superintendent last July has changed my mind. In fact, as I have observed what goes on in classrooms, in labs and during arts and cultural activities and in our communities, I am even more impressed with the educational achievements here. We are fortunate to have dedicated teachers and staff, motivated students and supportive parents and community members.

What was news to me, however, was the deteriorating physical condition of the two schools. The rundown facilities were not readily apparent from the street.

Before I applied for the job of superintendent, I, of course, visited the two schools. On first glance the two high schools looked beautiful and well cared for. When I got out of my rental car and started walking around, however, I could see the facilities did not adequately reflect the quality of the communities or of the staff and student accomplishments. In short, the buildings were falling apart from the inside out.

Fortunately, I learned that the board of trustees and others in the district were working to resolve this paradox of excellent schools with substandard facilities. Together, we revitalized our mission--to maximize the academic, artistic and technical achievement of our students and to provide them an exemplary learning environment.

To achieve the latter goal, the board established a broad-based District Facilities Assessment Committee made up of maintenance supervisors, teachers and administrators. The committee looked over the facilities at both schools, developed a list of plant needs and analyzed anticipated enrollment growth figures.

What committee members found were

* rooms that were either too hot, too cold, too stuffy or too noisy;

* restrooms in dire need of renovation;

* leaking roofs, ceilings and windows;

* substandard portable buildings;

* overcrowded and inadequate science labs;

* plumbing and sewer and drainage pipes that were 30 to 60 years old; and

* insufficient electrical capacity to run modern technology.

Considering the committee's recommendations, the board concluded that there was only one way to fund such extensive improvements and additions, and that was to seek voter approval for a general obligation bond. Our district last passed a school bond 30 years ago. It is clearly time to rehabilitate our two high schools, which have served well generations of Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno children.

Measure B on the June 2 ballot will provide local funds to repair and renovate the two schools and to build additional classrooms.

The need is there. Despite its architectural beauty and the grandeur of its front landscaping, Los Gatos High School is a collection of buildings 28 to 73 years old. There have been no significant upgrades and renovations in more than 20 years. Nine "temporary" portable buildings are 32 years old. Although younger than most of Los Gatos High, Saratoga High School, at 38 years of age, needs major upgrading, too.

The two schools have similar facilities needs. Restrooms must be renovated. Roofs and windows leak, and they in turn damage ceiling tiles and other parts of classrooms and hallways. The electrical wiring is out of date and needs to be modernized to provide more classroom outlets and greater capacity to handle today's technology.

It is truly remarkable how well our students do in science classes, considering the old and inadequate labs. Because of their ages, buildings at both schools require structural strengthening to withstand earthquakes. The inefficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems must be replaced.

Both schools have as many students as their facilities can accommodate. We anticipate considerable enrollment growth--9 percent in the next four years and 27 percent over the next 10 years --and we must prepare for that. We need more classrooms to be able to teach more students and to maintain our commitment to the highest academic standards.

Measure B is a prudent, cost-conscious plan to make possible significant renovations and additional classrooms. Passage of Measure B improves our chances of receiving state matching funds, which in turn would reduce the cost to local taxpayers of fixing up our schools. By law, we cannot use state lottery funds for facilities repairs.

Not one cent of Measure B funds will be used for teachers' salaries or administrative overhead. All Measure B funds will go directly to improve the health and safety conditions of the two high schools. An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee would be established to ensure the prudent and appropriate use of funds.

Our communities are wonderful places to live and bring up children. Measure B is fully compatible with our tradition of supporting positive improvements in the quality of our lives. Measure B will maintain property values. Measure B is an excellent investment in our communities and in the future of our children.

Cynthia Hall Ranii is the superintendent of the Los Gatos- Saratoga Joint Union High School District.

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