CAMARILLO : 4th School Bond Attempt Considered

Wanting to take advantage of any post-election momentum, the Pleasant Valley School Board tonight will consider whether to launch a fourth attempt at a multimillion-dollar school bond measure.

After seeing Measure G lose by less than 1% in the June 6 election, a bond-weary school board will consider trying again to secure a $55-million bond initiative--funding that officials say is critically needed to make repairs to the 13 schools in the elementary district.

The funds also would go toward the construction of at least three new elementary schools to make room for 900 new students expected over the next few years as developers build and sell about 1,800 homes in the eastern Camarillo area.

“I am willing to consider it,” said school board President Dolores (Val) Rains. “It’s going to be a tough decision, but we were agonizingly close.”

The recent election saw 65.8% of those voting support the measure, but the bond nevertheless failed because it did not receive the needed 66.6 approval required by state law.

Instead of attempting to change the attitudes of the minority of voters who opposed the measure, board members said they probably will try to get more residents who support the bond to vote.

“We’ve enjoyed the strong support of the community,” said school board member Jan McDonald. “But we’ve been ruled by the minority in this case and it’s been mighty frustrating.”

Under the terms of the bond, homeowners in the district would be charged $2 per $100,000 of assessed property value each month. That means the owner of a home worth $200,000 will pay about $48 a year.

The school board will consider the item at its 7:30 p.m. meeting at Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive.