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District initiates campaign for bond

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- A drive to support the school bond kicked into full swing

following the school board’s decision Tuesday to put a $110-million bond measure before voters in June.

Members of the campaign committee, calling themselves Citizens to Rebuild

Our Schools, grew from a core group of members from the recently

disbanded facilities committee. That body was charged with scrutinizing

Newport-Mesa schools’ repair needs and recommending a solution to the

board.

“We’ve changed from information gathering to information distribution,”

said Hank Panian, one of the panel’s four co-chairpersons. Panian is in

charge of distributing information to senior citizens in Newport-Mesa.

The group had already formed and met several times in anticipation of

Tuesday night’s decision. Members said they wanted to be ready to move

ahead as soon as possible.

Having done the leg work, former facility committee members said they are

more dedicated than ever to seeing the bond pass.

“Once people perceive the need, helping our children will be easier,”

Panian said.

The group’s goal is to distribute all of the information on the state of

Newport-Mesa’s schools that was gathered during the last several months

in preparation for the bond measure.

“We firmly believe that if people understood the true condition of the

schools and the true condition of the district’s finances, they will

support the bond,” said Mark Schultheis, another of the group’s

co-chairpersons.

If residents pass the bond in a special election June 6, the tax will be

used to repair all 29 of the district’s crumbling schools.

“There will always be people that will oppose any tax,” Schultheis said.

“The goal is to get 100% approval, although we know that won’t happen.”

But proponents say they have received an overwhelming number of positive

responses already. Enclosed in a district mailing last month was a

comment card asking residents for ideas or comments on the bond.

“We have been very encouraged by what we have received,” Schultheis said.

“The comment cards have been vastly supportive.”

The committee is recruiting volunteers, working to raise money and

distributing information, said Jill Money, co-chairperson in charge of

volunteers.

A campaign headquarters will be opening within the next few weeks at 170

E. 17th Street, Suite 212, Costa Mesa.

“Our only enemy is people making up their minds without obtaining

information,” Schultheis said.

FOR GOOD MEASURE?What is your opinion of the school district’s

$110-million bond measure to repair schools? Call our Readers Hotline at

(949) 642-6086 or send e-mail to o7 [email protected] . Please

spell your name and tell us your hometown and phone number (for

verification purposes only).

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