This is a golden moment for those who believe in second chances.
The final particles of the clouds of doom that suddenly gathered over the School District on the night of July 1 – when the surging campaign to pass a bond measure abruptly was halted due to lack of information – disappeared last evening when plans for a renewed campaign to pass a bond measure sprang to life.
With an array of bond measure experts on hand, a School Board work/study session in the District’s Board Room was devoted to a thoroughgoing discussion of a fresh community telephone survey.
It will be conducted next month among 500 participants to see how residents feel about a bond measure of unspecified value – $40 million, $60 million – that means a long-term financial commitment for residents.
For the next two months, everyone in the School District will devote at least one eye to the ticking calendar.
Wording for a new bond measure must be finalized and posted with the County by March 7 to earn a position on the June primary election ballot.
There is scant drama about the outcome of the survey.
In the succinct and historic words of Supt. David (Shakespeare) LaRose:
“To be or not to be.”
Said Mike Reynolds, assistant superintendent for business:
“We are going to undertake an enhanced opinion poll. Sufficient calls will be made to known voters to make sure we get complete responses from at least 500 community members.
“When calls are made, if the person is too busy, another household will be called to make sure that we get 500 complete responses to every question.”
Mr. Reynolds said that “the community, the School Board and the administration will be working collaboratively to develop the questions that will be in the opinion poll.”
One question in the survey will deal with support for a future parcel tax. The last funding of the present parcel tax will be received during the ’14-’15 school year.
