Local Elections : Escondido Schools Try for $27-Million Bond in Anti-Bond Climate

Escondido Union School District has an A on Tuesday’s ballot, but voters could still choose to “flunk” the elementary district’s proposed $27-million bond issue by failing to give it a score of at least 66.7%.

Proposition A backers, who call themselves Classrooms for Kids, have received about $11,000 in early contributions, mostly from developers (who need schools to go with the houses they are building) and educators (who are most aware of the crowding).

Leading the list are Lomas Serenas/Lomas Del Lago interests, developers along the northern edge of Lake Hodges, with a $5,000 contribution. Robert Childers Inc. donated $3,000 in office space for campaign headquarters.

Poor Track Record in Southern California

There is no organized opposition to the proposition, but that does not mean it has clear sailing. Recent school bond proposals in Southern California, although unopposed, have gone down to defeat because of the built-in negative factor. A bond issue carries an automatic property tax increase for all of the city’s property owners.

In the past two years, five county school bond issues have failed. Twice, Ramona schools tried to win approval of a $5-million bond, the Sweetwater Union High School District failed on a $112-million bond, Poway Unified just missed the 66.7% mark with a $58-million issue and Vista Unified failed in its attempt to raise $63 million.

However, Kent Price, a Bakersfield political consultant, and Brad Senden, his Indianapolis-based associate, have been hired by Classrooms for Kids to break the 66.7% barrier and bring Escondido grade school students the classrooms they need. The two have plenty of statistical fodder to work with and a track record of victory in 11 of 12 school bond campaigns they have handled in California.

Dawna Nerhus, spokeswoman for Classrooms for Kids, said the practically painless property tax bite for the 20-year bonds would average $24 a year on a $100,000 home.

The need is evident because the district’s 10 existing elementary schools are filled to the gills. Eight of the schools, designed to house 650 students, house 800 or more. About 3,500 Escondido elementary school children now go to class in portable rooms or temporary trailers. The district is running out of property on which to place portables.

New Students Could Fill 2 Schools a Year

Each year, about 1,250 new enrollees arrive--enough to fill two schools. State projections indicate that the district will have an enrollment of 20,000 by the 1996-97 school year.

With the $27 million in bonds, state funds and assessments on new development, district officials hope to raise $80 million to bring the schools up to par and end crowding, at least for a few years.

The bond funds are earmarked to build new schools ($14 million); expand two schools ($5 million); pay off debt on construction of 48 classrooms and restrooms at the district’s middle schools, grades six through eight ($4.5 million), and to improve existing schools by adding restrooms, expanding libraries and improving parking and playgrounds.

Proponents stress that lottery funds cannot be used on school construction and that year-round scheduling would only ease crowding temporarily. Bond proponents say that, without more money from the state or taxpayers, the Escondido elementary district faces a crisis without a solution.