Members of the Measure C Bond Oversight Committee for the San Jose Unified School District recently confirmed at a Dec. 2 meeting that remaining campus renovations from Measure C bond funding will be completed by fall 2004.

In June of 1997, Measure C—a $165 million bond—was passed to address school repairs and modernization needs. In the summer of 1998 construction began.

The district recently received $19.1 million in additional funding from the state of California, as a result of interest and adjustments in budget projections. This additional funding will reimburse the dollars that were applied from Measure C funds toward modernizing school campuses in 2003.

With this new infusion of revenue, Willow Glen High School will receive new window coverings that are scheduled to be installed in December 2003.

The remaining bond money from Measure C is part of the final renovation phase on district campuses. These funds, earmarked as "Scope D," will be used immediately for some projects, with the majority of additional renovations scheduled for next summer. Scope D projects are anticipated for completion by September or October 2004.

Additional Measure C upgrades during the final phase include the demolition and replacement of three modulars at Willow Glen Middle School, scheduled for completion by the end of the summer of 2004. Sinks and casework will be installed by the summer of 2004 at Booksin, Hacienda and Schallenberger elementary schools so children will be able to wash their hands in the classroom.

Many Willow Glen children and parents will also be glad to hear that playground improvements are scheduled at Booksin, Gardner, Hacienda, River Glen, Schallenberger and Willow Glen elementary schools. Upgrades are planned to begin in the spring of 2004 and continue through the summer.

The enclosure of the open plan classrooms at Gardner Elementary, which was completed with Measure C funding in the summer of 2003, was already paid for and unfortunately destroyed in the recent school fire.