School board approves bond measure

The Huntington Beach City School District will once again ask voters

for $30 million to fix crumbling schools.

School board members agreed Tuesday night, before a crowd of more than

100 supportive parents and community members to put a school bond measure

before voters in March.

Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the proposed bond, with board

member Brian Rechsteiner absent.

If approved the measure will improve the quality of education, by

repairing existing schools, replacing 35-year-old roofs and classroom

heating and ventilation systems at deteriorating district schools, said

Supt. Gary Rutherford.

It also would upgrade technology, classroom electrical and fire alarm

systems and replace deteriorating water and sewage systems.

“There was such strong and passionate support for this bond, and that

was a wonderful thing to see,” Rutherford said. “Our needs still exist in

the district and we feel that this is what the community wants.”

For voters the $30 million in annual tax is estimated to be $16 per

$100,000 of assessed property value.

Although he was absent for the vote Rechsteiner issued a statement in

strong support of the bond.

This is the district’s second attempt at such a measure.

The similar $25-million bond measure that was put before voters last

June failed by a slim margin, gaining 62.4% approval -- falling short of

the required two-thirds majority vote of 66.7%.

With the passage of Proposition 39, which calls for a 55% majority

approval for school bond measures, proponents feel that the measure has a

good chance of passing.

And, they say, it is definitely needed. The average age of a school in

the district is 30 years old. Some are far older. The main building at

Dwyer Middle School, for example, has been in use for 67 years, said

trustee Cathy McGough.

“You reach a point where you need to do major renovations that a

yearly budget cannot cover,” she said.

Sowers Middle School Principal Paul Morrow, attended Tuesday’s meeting

in a show of support.

“It is what our community deserves,” said Morrow, who has been in the

school district for 14 years and at Sowers for nine years. “Normal

deterioration happens to schools and homes, but you need the money to

cover repair costs.”

Some of the areas identified for improvements are classroom repairs

and upgrades, school improvements such as multipurpose rooms and

libraries, disabled access, windows, floors, doors, ceilings, site

security, modern technology, renovation of support facilities, walkways

and playing surfaces, communications systems, heating, ventilation and

air conditioning systems, water and sewer upgrades, roof replacement,

electrical upgrades and replacement reserve.

The cost of these repairs is nearly $47 million.

If voters agree to spend $30 million, district officials will be

eligible for $16.7 million in state-matching funds.

During the past two months a “bond planning summit” was held to look

at last year’s campaign and consider plans for a new one. Participants

included teachers and classified employees, site and district

administrators, parents representing all schools as well as other

community leaders. That group unanimously endorsed a plan to place a

general obligation bond on the March ballot.