Schools May Place Bond Issue on Ballot

Needing about $30 million in repairs and improvements, Ojai school officials are considering whether to seek a bond measure early next year.

Tonight, Ojai Unified School District trustees are expected to hear the results of a survey indicating whether it’s feasible to ask voters for money to renovate school buildings.

The survey, which will be presented by bond specialists from Dale Scott & Co., should show whether the community understands the needs of the school district.

Then in June, the district will review the data and decide whether to place a bond measure on next January’s ballot, Supt. Gwen Gross said.

“What we wanted to do in a nutshell is to bring the schools to what they were when they were built,” Gross said. “With no money from the state we had to set aside many maintenance projects.”

A district study indicates about $30 million will be needed in the next 10 years for repairs and upgrades. Projects include:

* Repairing leaky roofs

* Wiring classrooms for computer technology

* Repairing heating/ventilation systems

* Replacing old portable classrooms

* Fixing restrooms

* Replacing old pipelines

District officials earlier weighed the idea of placing a bond measure on the spring ballot, but decided to wait.

“We did not feel that our community was provided enough information about the needs of the district,” Gross said.

Tonight’s board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at 414 E. Ojai Ave.