Voters Pass 1 School Bond Issue, Reject 2nd

Voters produced a split decision on two school bond measures in Alhambra, narrowly approving a $30-million measure for elementary schools while rejecting a $43-million measure to repair the high schools.

Measure A to repair and replace dilapidated infrastructure at elementary schools appears to have won approval, garnering 66.8% of votes cast Tuesday.

Measure AA, to upgrade and rebuild high schools, received 64.2% of the votes but was defeated because the bond measures needed a two-thirds margin for passage.

About 400 absentee and provisional ballots will be counted later this week.

School Supt. Richard A. Keilhacker said it is unlikely those votes will significantly affect the result.

“We got half a loaf,” he said. “The high schools need the money just as much as the elementary schools.” He said the school board will have to decide whether to put the high school bond to voters again.

The high school district includes part of south San Gabriel and Rosemead, which are served by another elementary district.

Measure A will cost an average household $22.08 per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value. Measure AA would have cost an additional $24.96 per $100,000 of assessed value, district officials said.