I completely disagree with the School Board majority vote last week to shelve the bond measure.
In saying that the Board and the public need more information, I cannot help but think of the climate change debate where the insistent cry of “we do not have enough information” is repeated and repeated. Then nothing gets done. Meanwhile, the temperature swings become more volatile, flooding, hurricanes and wildfires abound.
In our schools, the leaking pipes continue to leak, the concrete crumbles, the conditions deteriorate, paint peels, ceiling tiles fall, the dry rot spreads, ancient HVAC systems wheeze along uneconomically, outdated technology continues to break down, unable to support increased demands, and the lack of proper air filtration remains an issue.
Facts About the Bond Measure Survey
I did my homework. Instead of innuendo and conjecture about skewed questions, kickbacks and other matters, this is what I discovered:
1. The consultants hired by the District have a 95 percent success rate in predicting whether measures they investigate will pass. Allegations concerning their lack of professionalism or capability are unfounded.
2. The survey showed that 67 percent of the respondents favored a bond measure after being informed of the issue and answering questions about it.. Read it yourself: http://ccusd.org/ourpages/auto/2013/7/2/43463886/SurveyResults-June30.pdf
3. Of 49 school districts the consultants have been hired to advise on bond/taxation measures since 2004, 47 districts had success.
4. An allegation or assumption has been stated that the poll results were predetermined by the nature and content of the questions asked. Read the questions yourself. Make up your own mind. My husband took the survey. He did not find any inherent bias in the questions.
5. The cost to the School District of conducting the survey was $23,500, not $67,000, as suggested elsewhere. The survey company has no further interest, nor does it benefit whether the bond measure goes forward or not. Phone polls are a well-established tool of the election process.
6. In previous years, this campaign team advised three school districts to not go ahead with bond campaigns due to their survey results.
7. Lack of sufficient information: The statement that there is not enough information for either the public or the School Board to make a responsible choice is specious. The School District, booster and PTA/PTSAs at each campus all participated in numerous school site visits detailing the maintenance, construction, repair, air quality and technology issues. The sites, with assistance of the campus administration and parent input, completed a wide ranging and comprehensive study of the physical and educational needs of each campus. All of these groups recognize the urgency of the situation. They offered their support of pursuing a bond measure in November. The bond campaign will be all about providing information, prioritizing, and refining. Whether this is the right time for a bond or the specific requirements of the process is what the next five months is for and why we live in a democracy. Let the public be heard at the ballot box.
8. The campaign to support the bond measure will NOT be paid for with public money. While the School Board and School District cannot hire a consultant to pass a bond measure, it can hire one to assess its feasibility. (Robert Zirgulis, in his quick reading of state law, is incorrect.) That is exactly what they did. The consultant studied the issue, assessed the schools' needs, created and performed a survey. Then it made its recommendation to the Board that a bond measure on the November ballot was supported by over 66 percent of participants. If the School Board had approved going forward, then the campaign committee for the bond measure would have taken over raising money to support the election measure, inform the public, sent out fliers, hosted forums or whatever other means to educate and inform the public.
9. Every day the conditions at the school deteriorate, and our technology becomes further out of date. Every week interest rates are creeping upwards. Why not wait? Because this issue needs to be put before the public NOW.
Ms. Wallace may be contacted at jamie@imbob.net
