Measuring new school bond proposal

o7The Newport-Mesa Unified School District last month approved plans

for a $282-million bond to update its campuses. The November ballot

measure, known as Measure F, comes as work continues at the schools

-- work being paid for by the 2000 Measure A bond. We asked our

parents for their thoughts on this new plan for money-raising and

construction work.

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I’ve been the co-chairman of the Measure A site committee at

Estancia High School since its inception and have been involved with

the Measure A process since the very first study groups were formed,

when my kids were at Adams and TeWinkle. The need for what is now

Measure F (then called Measure B or A-plus) was cited in some of our

earliest Measure A committee meetings, so this is no surprise to

anybody even remotely connected to the process. By the time the

Measure A work is completed at Estancia next year, both my kids will

have graduated. I won’t really have a direct personal stake any more

in the public schools, but I still think that we need to finish the

job that Measure A started.

I agree with a recent Pilot editorial that we need to learn from

the lessons of Measure A. We need specific commitments for specific

projects, not a list subject to shortening as prices rise. I’m not

prepared to write another check and then see how much we can buy.

Even though I’m optimistic that won’t be the case, right now the

Measure F proposal refers to the items on the bond project list as

“priorities.” Many of the items themselves on the list are vague,

with “as needed” as part of many descriptions. That’s probably for

both brevity and flexibility, but there’s way too much wiggle room in

the information that is currently available. For example, “Upgrade

wiring to support modern classroom technology as needed” could be a

$50,000 project or a $5-million project. I want to know beforehand

which it is.

It’s possible and probable that we’ll get better results this time

around if we do it right. Based on all the Measure A work, as well as

the hundreds of other similar school projects throughout the state,

we know much better how much things cost. Many of the projects

proposed for Measure F have already been designed and estimated,

which is way ahead of Measure A. Another interesting aspect of the

Measure F information is that it goes out of its way to let us know

that state matching funds aren’t guaranteed or even expected in any

significant way. More money is always good for education, but waiting

for the state and running the gauntlet to get that money takes a lot

of effort and time. We can pass Measure F and essentially get right

to work, which is definitely the idea. We can keep the momentum that

we have from Measure A and get projects out to bid before the prices

rise another 30%.

If we tighten it up, Measure F can and should be done. Residents

in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa have a stake, even if they don’t have

kids in the schools. Great public schools drive real estate prices in

a big way, more so than any other type of infrastructure. Ever hear

of anybody buying a house because of “great streets” or “great

sewers?” Even “ocean view” gets upgraded by great schools. But

mostly, great schools drive great communities and great societies. It

won’t be the last project and it won’t be perfect, but it’s a small

price to pay for the value we’ll all receive.

* MARK GLEASON is a Costa Mesa resident and parent.

Five years ago, we agreed the need to modernize our local schools

was so great we were willing to increase our property taxes. We saw

the dilapidated buildings, knew the bathrooms were gross and heard

stories of students being struck by falling acoustical tiles while

seated at their desks. There were complaints of leaky ceilings and

flooded walkways. Conditions were less than conducive for learning in

many classrooms. The community rallied behind the school board and

overwhelmingly passed Measure A.

We’ve watched the construction teams improve our neighborhood

schools and could see our tax dollars were being used to create

excellent teaching and learning environments.

Most people are happy with the way Measure A has improved our

schools and our property values. Regular audits have been completed

along the way. It’s too bad a lot of the bond money has gone to many

consultants and not just the bricks and mortar. Also, construction

costs have increased. It is also disgraceful that Sacramento

lawmakers have been so stingy for many years and have failed to send

adequate maintenance money, forcing districts like ours to raise

property taxes to give the kids a safe place to learn.

Unfortunately, the $110-million Measure A bond and matching state

funds were not sufficient to pay for all the repairs.

Now the school board, nearing completion of Measure A projects, is

asking taxpayers on Nov. 8 to go the second mile and fund a

$282-million bond, but there will be no additional property tax

increase. It’s like Measure A will be rolled into Measure F.

Property taxes would not increase to a level higher than what we

currently pay and would not exceed $22 per $100,000 of assessed

valuation. A complete list of Measure F proposed projects is on the

district’s website. The list seems fair and balanced.

Under Measure A, there was a 30- to 40-member Citizens Oversight

Committee, and each school had its own site-based committee. However,

in Measure F the oversight committee is pared down to “at least seven

members,” and there is no mention of the site-based committees.

I hope there are more than seven people representing the entire

district who have the power to decide how to divvy up the money on

the projects. A future resolution by the board will address

organization of the site-based committees that will give the board

input about each school’s needs and wants. Those Measure A committee

members worked hard to give input and manage the local school’s

construction challenges, so it’s good to know about this additional

resolution.

It is not a secret that Supt. Robert Barbot will be retiring soon,

and with school board elections next year, it seems the board is

using the same proven accountability structure that worked so well

with Measure A. Should leadership change, the oversight system with

its checks and balances from community members is in place.

Also, it is time to implement some timely housekeeping measures

and require all parents to present three proofs of residency. If we

are going to go all out with a larger bond for the second round of

repairs, then let’s go all out to send students who don’t have

legitimate transfers back to their neighborhood schools.

The strength of a neighborhood school and the entire community

comes from the families that are involved through the PTA. Also, any

student, other than a special education student, who lives in another

school district should be sent back to that district where the

parents pay taxes.

In keeping with this idea, if Measure F passes, and all of our

schools are modernized, the next step would be to work very hard to

strengthen the academic programs at each of the lower-performing

schools so parents who have chosen to enroll their children in a

higher-achieving school across town might return to their

neighborhood school.

I normally vote against any increase in taxes because it is

reasonable to assume that our taxes provide sufficient money to

repair and update our schools.

But in this case, as with my support of Measure A, the money is

not there and won’t be coming down from Sacramento soon. It would

seem that the right thing to do is to go ahead with Measure F and

complete what was started in June of 2000.

* WENDY LEECE is a Costa Mesa parent, former school board member

and member of the city’s parks and recreation commission.