School Bond Committees Report $25,000 Raised for Campaigns

Committees to support school bond measures in the Conejo Valley and Moorpark filed their two-month campaign disclosure forms on Thursday--with their combined ending balances totaling $25,000.

The Conejo Valley’s Committee for Measure V has about $19,000 in its treasury, and Moorpark’s Yes on Measure W has nearly $6,000.

Both campaign periods are from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, and both school districts are trying to pass bonds in special elections on April 14. Both districts attempted to gain approval for the bonds in November, but voters narrowly rejected each measure.

Conejo Valley Unified School District officials are asking for $97 million to modernize, repair and do construction work on their 30-year-old campuses. Moorpark Unified School District officials want $16 million, mostly to accommodate enrollment growth, but also to add technology and renovate two older campuses.

Thousand Oaks’ biotech giant Amgen was Conejo Valley’s biggest donor. The company gave the committee $10,000 last election and $15,000 this election.

“I think it’s great that Amgen sees the importance of the bond,” said committee treasurer Ethel Larisey. “I’m sure they want better schools for their employees’ children.”

Larisey said the committee probably will use the bulk of the money for postage and for printing mailers.

Moorpark’s committee raised $3,640 this campaign period. The biggest gift, $3,000, came from Agoura architect Kal Porter. Smaller donations of about $100 came from principals Michael Berger, Linda Bowe and Gabino Aguirre, as well as from Moorpark Assistant Supt. Frank DePasquale. Much of the money raised was spent on consulting fees and printing costs.