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Published on 04/20/1998 All articles from this issue

Shoot for school bond proposal this year

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Editorial

The hefty bond measures recently passed in the Fremont Union High School and Mountain View school districts is good news for Los Altos School District officials.

Officials in the eight-school district will likely seek a bond measure to address what school districts statewide are facing: aging buildings that are falling apart.

The question is not if, but when? Officials will likely look at two options: unveiling bond plans by July for a November election or by October for an election the following March.

We think there's a strong case for putting a bond before the voters sooner than later. No doubt, the healthy local economy played a role in overwhelming voter support for the Fremont and Mountain View bonds.

However, we believe that the biggest drive comes from the real need to act. Mountain View's $36 million proposal passed with a whopping 82.1 percent of the vote, while Fremont officials, who felt they were going out on a limb, were surprised by 78.8 percent in support of a costly $144 million bond. Why not strike while the iron is hot?

And it makes sense to go with a proposal as part of the general election in November and avoid the special election in March that would cost additional taxpayer dollars.

In terms of construction costs and addressing the district's immediate enrollment growth (the district is expected to expand by almost 1,000 students over the next 10 years), getting a bond passed in November is none too soon.

Many specifics about such a proposal need to be ironed out. How much to ask for? What specifically would it address on each campus?

Fortunately, a district facilities committee is already at work and is set to report on each school's needs by June 1. Then the school board must decide how to pay for those facilities needs. A bond measure is really the only viable option.

Yes, the district must be careful with the ballot language and be able to justify all repairs and costs before the voters. But Los Altos voters seem to understand, as they have in nearby districts, that facilities needs at the local schools are real.

Los Altos elementary schools have not had major repairs since they were built between 30 and 50 years ago. We believe our students deserve the best and they certainly don't have it. The time is now.