SJ District hoping Measure F approved on March 5

Bond for $420 million to improve WG area schools

By Kate Carter

Supporters of the school bond Measure F kicked off their campaign on Jan. 15 with a bevy of political and education leaders touting the importance of improving San Jose Unified School District schools and positioning it to receive more money from the state.

Voters in the district will vote on the $420 million bond March 5. The bond money will continue improvements to the district's 40 school facilities, improvements that began after 74 percent of voters passed a $165 million bond in 1997. The possibility of the Department of Education offering a $20 billion bond for school improvements raises the stakes for districts throughout California to prioritize their needs by showing they can bring in local money to match state funding, as well as having well-coordinated projects already under way.

The bond is estimated to cost property owners a maximum of $60 per $100,000 of the property's assessed value for about 30 years, said Chuck Corr, the district's director of facilities and construction.

The 1997 bond allowed the district to complete the first phase of improvements at the schools to bring them in line with health and safety codes and modernize them technologically, but didn't include provisions for landscaping and other work on the schools' appearance. The Measure F bond will continue that work to make the schools institutions that students, parents and community members can be proud of, supporters say.

Modernization efforts at Willow Glen schools have been ongoing for the past several years. Willow Glen Elementary School's modernization, consisting of a new modular administration building and three new modular kindergarten classrooms, as well as other internal upgrades, is nearing completion, as is work at Willow Glen High School.

Under the new bond, Willow Glen High and Middle schools will receive classroom and restroom upgrades, including new technology facilities, window replacement and exterior improvements such as new concrete, fencing and landscaping.

The school's need for the exterior beautification was discussed at a joint meeting of leaders from Willow Glen Middle and High schools Jan. 11. Both high school Principal Pat Day and middle school Principal Lois Allen agreed the schools' unattractive appearance can be a deterrent for prospective students.

Corr said that, although a master plan for landscaping the adjacent campuses on Cottle Avenue has been designed, existing funds will cover only a small portion of the project, much of which must be new irrigation and other infrastructure systems. Even assuming the new bond passes, the district will have to work hard to spread improvements throughout the campus, to include the frontage along Cottle, repaving and landscaping at the corner of Cottle Avenue and Dry Creek Road, and some work to the fence and fields along Dry Creek. The schools' leaders agreed to work to make the dollars stretch as far as possible rather than trying to work piecemeal to create a lavish exterior.

The Measure F bond will also bring similar external and infrastructure improvements to Willow Glen Elementary, Schallenberger Elementary, River Glen, Gardner Academy, Ernesto Galarza Elementary and Booksin Elementary schools in Willow Glen.

Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, who has served on the state's board of education for the past three years, spoke to the more than 100 people gathered at the Silicon Valley Capital Club Jan. 15 in support of the bond measure.

"Kids in fact do learn better if they are in facilities that are comfortable and create a good learning environment," she said. "When San Jose passes the measure, it will be one of the first in line" to qualify for the state money.

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce President Jim Cunneen presented the campaign with $5,000 on behalf of the Chamber's political action committee COMPAC.

"One hundred percent of this money stays here in your local community," Cunneen said of the bond money. "We have to all put our money where our mouth is."

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, along with numerous other members of the San Jose City Council, including District 6 City Councilman Ken Yeager, District 3 City Councilwoman Cindy Chavez and District 9 City Councilman John Diquisto, also showed their support for the measure.

"F is not for failure; it's for the future of our children," Gonzales quipped after noting the irony of naming the district's measure for a failing grade. "It's all about the opportunity to work together to make sure the children of this community" benefit the future.

District Superintendent Linda Murray told the Willow Glen Resident that the school board of trustees last fall discussed whether to put the measure on the ballot. It conducted a survey of likely voters--after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks--that resulted in a 68 percent approval of the bond. The bond only needs a 55 percent approval to pass March 5.

"It's going to make San Jose schools second to none in this region," Murray told the group.

Measure F campaign manager David Chilenski said the only group to come out against the measure is the Libertarian Party.

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