Bond Issue Proposed for Building at Schools

A proposal to sell bonds to finance school construction is on the agenda for today’s school board meeting, the second time in as many years that officials have considered such action.

Trustees of Santa Ana Unified School District talked about placing a $32-million bond measure on the ballot last year but could not agree on specifics. The money would have been used to support technology.

Some board members argued then that any bond money raised should pay for school construction to ease overcrowding. Others pointed out that, under state law, bond money may be used to pay for capital improvements such as wiring but not for furniture and equipment such as computers.

The school district’s staff is raising the issue again because the district remains overcrowded, said Mike Vail, senior director of facilities planning. He cited the use of more than 600 portable classrooms and said that many schools are on year-round schedules to accommodate the number of students.

Vail said tens of millions of dollars would be needed for construction.

The earliest that voters could consider a bond measure would be next spring, Vail said. The school board would have to vote by Jan. 30 to place the issue on the April 14 ballot.

As part of last year’s investigation, the trustees commissioned a survey that found that half of respondents would be willing for the district to take on debt of $75 million of construction and upgrades. Passage requires a two-thirds majority of voters to approve the issue.

Today’s school board meeting will be at 7 p.m. at district headquarters, 1601 E. Chestnut Ave.

Information: (714) 558-5512.