Community Commentary

As the chief executive officer and president of the Hilton Waterfront in

Huntington Beach and a local resident, I try to keep abreast of the

issues facing our community. We are fortunate that we live in a strong

and vibrant community.

Part of the strength that holds our community together is the quality of

education that we provide our kids. Local business is dependent on an

educated work force.

In the past few years we have done a great deal to spruce up our

community, but now we need to focus on our high schools.

Some of our schools are 30, 40 and 70 years old. They are in need of

major repairs, not just new paint.

As a taxpayer, I am constantly aware of how our tax dollars are being

spent within the community. It is critical that our money support the

quality environment we created and wish to maintain, if not improve.

On Nov. 9, Measure A, a school repair bond measure will be on your

ballot. Passage of this $123-million bond measure will enable the school

district to make the major repairs it so critically needs -- from repair

and replacement of sinking buildings to wiring that will bring our

classrooms into the 21st century.

I was honored to be a part of a community task force that reviewed and

oversaw the development of the list of critical repairs desperately

needed for our high schools in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and

Westminster. Our task force consisted of builders, parents, architects

and community activists from local businesses and organizations.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District schools are in serious

disrepair. Broken plumbing pipes, sewage back-ups, termite-infested

buildings, leaky roofs, rotting floors, worn-out electrical systems,

bathrooms without stalls, rusted drinking fountains, cracked stairways

and sinking buildings -- something must be done.

Providing a safe school environment extends beyond eliminating violence

in our schools. It is our obligation to ensure that we provide our

children with a safe, secure and healthy learning environment.

We not only devised the list of needed school repairs, we developed

specific safeguards to be included in the bond language to mandate

accountability. The safeguards ensure that funds are spent appropriately.

For example, the community task force created an independent citizens

oversight committee. This committee, created by a public vote, will

include leaders with expertise in finance and accounting, construction

and procurement, and architectural and engineering projects. They will

have access to all records involving bond expenditures and report

regularly to the public and school board.

Other safeguards include:

- an annual independent audit documenting the expenditure of the bond

funds.

- a repair and replacement fund to ensure that money is available for

future needs.

- and no bond funds can be spent on teacher or administrative salaries.

These safeguards are why I am in full support of passing the school

repair bond measure.

I’ve got this sinking feeling that if we do not act now, the integrity of

our school facilities will diminish.

How can we boast about a thriving community if our school buildings are

in such disrepair? We must reaffirm our commitment to creating a clean,

safe and enjoyable learning environment by voting “yes” for all the kids

in our communities.

Believe me, this is the best money we will ever spend.

Vote yes on Measure A, for all of our kids.

* Stephen K. Bone is chief executive and president of the Robert Mayer

Corp.