Published: Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Measure C: Completing the renovation
Ravenswood officials are asking for a second school bond in four years

by Charlie Breitrose

Voters in the East Palo Alto school district will be asked to pass another bond on Nov. 7 to finish the job they started four years ago. Known as Measure C, it would provide $10 million for projects such as new classrooms on six campuses, a gymnasium/community center at Costano Elementary School and new bathrooms at five schools.

Four years ago the voters of East Palo Alto and east Menlo Park passed Measure U, a school bond to modernize campuses in the Ravenswood City School District. But it didn't finish the job. Parts of the 10 schools in the district have a gleam to them, but portable classrooms fill the school yards of most campuses.

"If you have a chance to look around the district, the schools look as good, if not better than schools in Redwood City and Mountain View," said school board member Lois Frontino. "But we need (more) permanent buildings, we need new schools. We might look at the opportunity to have grades 9-12 in the district."

The last bond measure passed with 87 percent of the voters, which was a record for school bonds in California for a time. Measure C needs to have the support of more than two-thirds of the voters to pass.

Ravenswood's enrollment has been growing at a steady rate of about 100 students a year. Before a high school, or new schools, can be added, overcrowding at present schools must be dealt with.

Ravenswood business manager Leon Glaster said the district stretched the money from the last bond as much as possible.

"We did everything we could to make a difference with the Measure U bond money," Glaster said. "But we ran out of money."

District officials are proposing four major projects, of $1 million or more, to improve Ravenswood's schools.

• A $3 million overhaul of Costano Elementary School, including: a gymnasium, a community center, new classrooms, a new computer lab and completion of the Measure U projects.
• Classroom renovations and improvements at Edison-McNair Academy, East Palo Alto Charter School and James Flood Elementary school for $2 million.
• Construction or renovation of existing, gymnasium/cafeterias at Belle Haven Elementary School, Menlo Oaks Elementary School, James Flood, East Palo Alto Charter, Edison-Brentwood Academy and Edison-McNair at a cost of $2 million.
• New classrooms will be added, for $1 million, at Willow Oaks Elementary School, Belle Haven, Cesar Chavez Academy, Menlo Oaks, Edison-Brentwood and Green Oaks Academy.

Other projects include fixing fences at several schools to improve security, playground repair at Costano, Cesar Chavez and Menlo Oaks and roof repairs at most schools in the district. All schools in the district would have asbestos removed and upgrades of the electrical system and installation of computer network cables.