Bond Advocates Give Tour of Run-Down School
Hoping to persuade at least two-thirds of the district’s voters to approve an $80.5-million bond measure next month, officials of the Torrance Unified School District on Tuesday put on a tour of Hickory Elementary School that featured sinkholes in the playing fields, leaky roofs, inadequate lighting and wiring and closed restrooms.
“I have speed dial to Roto Rooter,” quipped Principal Jann Feldman in telling an audience of parents, elected officials and reporters about the near-constant problems with the plumbing in the school, built in 1961.
Officials say tight budgets over the last several years have not allowed them to perform routine maintenance, replace roofs or upgrade wiring at the district’s 31 campuses, which have buildings that are between 30 and 80 years old.
Opponents of Measure K, however, say the district should have found ways to perform the work within its year-to-year operating budgets.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Jane Harman (D-Torrance) and Assemblywoman Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey), both of whom took the tour, concurred with district officials.
“Measure K is for kids, Measure K is for me and, I hope, Measure K is for all the voters of this district,” Harman said.
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