Apr 14, 2008

Push for renovations

Proponents launch a campaign to pass $378M bond measure

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Parents, teachers and politicians in Palo Alto kicked off a six-week campaign Sunday to pass Measure A, a $378 million bond initiative that would fund major renovations throughout the Palo Alto Unified School District.

Among those present Sunday were Superintendent Kevin Skelly, City Council Members Sid Espinosa and Pat Burt, and state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, who served on both the local school board and the Palo Alto City Council.

Simitian told the crowd of roughly 100 people that quality education keeps communities and individuals up to speed in a highly competitive global marketplace.

"But that isn't widely understood in other parts of the state, especially in Sacramento," Simitian said. "That means we have to do it ourselves."

He urged everyone to write a check, e-mail friends or even "lick, stick and stuff envelopes" in coming weeks. Given that about 75 percent of Palo Alto voters don't have children in the district, Simitian urged the measure's supporters to put in extra effort, especially with the country falling into a possible recession.

"These are tough economic times," Simitian said.

The long-term benefits of the measure are worth the cost, Superintendent Skelly said. After nine months on the job, Skelly said he still can't believe the discrepancy between district's high student achievement and the below-par quality of its facilities.

"Do we want facilities worthy of the talents of our kids?" Skelly asked. "I don't think I've ever seen such a contrast."

Proponents of the measure complain the district's facilities are aging and in dire need of renovations. Some infrastructure, such as the swimming pool at Gunn High School, was built in the 1950s. The pool is too shallow for the water polo team to practice or play in, some parents at the event said. The same group of mothers said Palo Alto High School has numerous issues as well. Melissa Anderson attended Paly and now has children there.

"I can tell you, walking around that campus, hardly anything has changed," Anderson said.

The measure, set for a June 3 election, would pay for new classrooms, technology, security and seismic upgrades, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities act and a host of renovations to make campuses more energy efficient. Both high schools would be set for stadium upgrades, including a new soccer field at Gunn. The district also has plans to build a new theater at Paly.

The Palo Alto Unified School District Board voted in late February to place the bond measure on the ballot. It requires 55 percent approval to pass. The money would go toward capital improvements and cannot be used for any other purposes, such as teacher and administrative salaries.

If voters OK the measure, the district plans to set up a citizens oversight committee within 60 days of its passage to ensure that the money is spent properly. The committee would also carry out a yearly audit of the bond balance and expenditures.

Measure A co-chair and former school board member Mandy Lowell said the effort continues the improvements that started in 1995 with the $143 million from Measure B, which passed with around three-quarters support from voters.
If Measure A passes, taxpayers will not see their yearly bill go up, Lowell said. Rather, the current yearly rate of $44.5 per $100,000 in assessed home value from the 1995 measure will be extended.

"Measure B was the first step," Lowell said. "This will keep it going."

The measure already has a growing opposition, through, made up of district parents and grandparents, said Wayne Martin, a district resident behind Palo Alto Residents Against Measure A.
He argues that the district just finished spending Measure B money yet now claims it is in terrible shape. In addition, because of the high interest, he argued, bond money is best spent on long-term infrastructure, not smaller projects such as new computers and painting. Martin said he's planning to launch a Web site later this week against the measure.

"A lot of what the district is promoting as targets should be paid for from the district's general fund," Martin said. "This is extremely wasteful."



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.