COUNTYWIDE : Educators Hope for Prop. 146 Approval

South County school officials will be crossing their fingers on Election Day for the passage of Proposition 146, an $800-million bond measure, which would fund the construction of new schools in quickly developing areas such as Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon.

Both the Saddleback Valley and Capistrano Unified school districts are waiting for school construction funding from the state’s “fast track” program, in which the state Department of Education and school districts each fund 50% of high priority schools.

But while the districts have come up with their share through property taxes and developer fees, few state funds have been allocated. This has forced South County school officials to put projects on hold, redraw boundary lines, hold year-round classes and house students in portable classrooms or on other campuses until new schools can be built.

But if voters approve Proposition 146, South County school districts could be eligible for millions in state funding to build up to 12 schools in the area.

In Saddleback Valley, officials estimate they would receive $16 million to build three schools: an intermediate school in Rancho Santa Margarita and elementary schools in the Trabuco Highlands and Portola Hills areas.

Capistrano Unified officials speculated that the bonds could contribute to the $160 million needed to build nine new schools currently on hold because of a lack of state funds.

But even if the bond issue passes, South County could still be left in the cold if state education officials decide to give the money to other districts, said Jacqueline Cerra, Capistrano Unified spokeswoman.

“There’s absolutely no guarantee we would get money, we are in competition with a host of other school districts,” Cerra said. “But if (Proposition 146) passes, it would better our chances for receiving state funding in the future.”

Capistrano officials estimate they will need to build 10 more schools by 1992 to meet enrollment projections in Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo.