The Sun Sunnyvale's Newspaper Districts may not cash in on state funds By Steve Enders In late budget negotiations three weeks ago, the California Legislature passed a measure that, if signed by the governor, will place a $9.2 billion bond initiative on the November ballot. The plan was being touted by legislators as an historic agreement that will enable schools to implement and meet badly needed modernization and space needs in the state's public schools. Voters in the Fremont Union High School District recently passed Measure H, a $144 million bond to fix its aging high schools. But even with the prospect of more money coming into local school district's coffers, district officials realistic about their chances of getting a piece of the pie. Although he said it's too early to say how much the district could benefit, FUHSD chief business officer Mike Raffetto said it's not going to be much once it's doled out to the hundreds of other districts vying for the same money. According to Raffetto, the proposed bond offers an 80-20 split in funding for modernization projects. That means if districts can come up with 80 percent of the costs for repairs, it will get the remaining 20 percent from the state. Superintendent Joe Hamilton said the FUHSD will apply for any money available to it under the new bond, but he isn't sure if the district will qualify. "We'll certainly put in for it, but we'll be in a line with other districts, and if there's any money left at the end, we could get some," he said, adding that up to $10 million might be possible from the bond. "But there are certainly no guarantees," he said. Hamilton said the state is also determining which districts will qualify to get the money. Previous state bonds stipulated that each school within a district must be at maximum enrollment to qualify to receive funding. Fremont Union, therefore, could not receive funding because it leases out Sunnyvale High School. But, he said, new rules are being worked out, and he hopes the regulation will change, allowing the district to receive a portion of the funds. "The state bond is one thing," he said, "but it's another thing [as to] what rules and regulations exist to get it." The district makes a $1.4 million profit each year by leasing the Sunnyvale site. "Right now we don't have justification to open the high school. That would put the operation of the district in the hole," Hamilton said, adding that the FUHSD is holding onto the property for possible future use. The Sunnyvale School District is also keeping an eye on the initiative. Although his district hasn't asked Sunnyvale voters to approve a large bond measure in the recent past, Superintendent Joeseph Rudnicki said he's not sure how much it will benefit from the statewide bond. "For as big as it is," Rudnicki said, "I'm not sure this is going to do it. The state needs to develop a long term solution." Rudnicki called the initiative a small Band-aid for a gaping wound--schools that haven't been fixed in more than 20 years. [ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 23, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.